Before kick-off, Jurgen Klopp had tried to temper the fanfare surrounding his return to Borussia Dortmund. 'They don't have to celebrate when I come in,' the German had said in his pre-match press conference. Clearly, Dortmund didn't get the memo.

Anthony Joshua has pledged to 'go to war' with Charles Martin when the two square up for the IBF World Heavyweight title on Saturday. Joshua, undefeated in the pro ranks, predicted fireworks in the ring at the O2 Arena this weekend during a pre-fight press conference on Thursday. The Olympic gold medalist plans to put on a show in his own backyard and strip his opponent of his belt in spectacular fashion.

Marcelo has escaped retrospective punishment after his ignominious play-acting during Real Madrid's defeat by Wolfsburg. The defender feigned injury amid a confrontation with goalscorer Maximilian Arnold during the second half of Wednesday night's Champions League quarter-final first leg in Germany. Marcelo subtly kicked out at Arnold before appearing to motion his head towards the opponent's chest, then falling to the turf as if he had been struck in the face.

Manchester City were forced to wait until the 72nd minute for their equaliser against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night, and they were similarly late when it came to getting home. Instead of travelling back to Manchester straight after their Champions League quarter-final first leg, Manuel Pellegrini's men spent the night in Paris before flying to the North West on Thursday. And after deciding to delay their return, City's players touched down 26 minutes after their scheduled arrival time before being made to wait another 15 minutes for their team bus.

Ajax hope to be racing towards the Dutch Eredivisie and manager Frank de Boer has made sure he is kept up to speed despite surgery. The former Dutch international snapped his achilles during a game of 'foot volley', kicking the ball over a small net, and has since conducted first team training on crutches or from a golf buggy. Now the 45-year-old 'easy rider' has enlisted a £3,000 electric trike to help mobility around the training ground in a comical video released by the club. 

MIKE DICKSON INTERVIEW: County cricket may have receded from public consciousness in recent decades, but it still has the capacity to throw up some remarkable happenings. One such came at the end of last season when brothers Tom and Sam Curran pulled off the singular feat of taking all 10 wickets between them in an innings when Surrey played Northamptonshire. Sam being just 17 and still a schoolboy made it all the more exceptional. During the 2016 season, which starts on Sunday, English cricket will occasionally divert its attention from the national team to monitor their progress.

Gary Player was able to claim bragging rights for the second year running after joining Jack Nicklaus in getting the 80th Masters under way on Thursday. Player and Nicklaus continued their role as honorary starters by each hitting a tee shot on the par-four first hole, with 80-year-old fitness fanatic Player - who made a hole-in-one during Wednesday's par-three contest - producing the longest drive by 20 yards from 76-year-old Nicklaus.

Have you ever imagined what Arsenal players Petr Cech, Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck would get up to on a road trip? The trio have appeared in an advert for Europcar, an official partner of the club, which follows them on an imaginary journey to an away game.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is making sure his players a primed for the title race run-in with double training sessions. However it seems the soaring Spurs squad are relishing the extra workout, joking around as they rested up ahead of facing Manchester United at White Hart Lane on Sunday. Tottenham are currently seven points behind Premier League leaders Leicester before hosting Louis van Gaal's side knowing only a victory will suffice. 

Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach is sceptical about Manny Pacquiao hanging up his gloves following his rubber match with Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas this weekend. The Filipino superstar is tipped to call it a day and bring to an end a glittering fight career after his decisive showdown with American rival Bradley

Deborah Stokes (top right), the mother of England cricketer Ben, was put live on air without her permission after calling Radio Hauraki to complain about them bad-mouthing her son. Breakfast show hosts Matt Heath and Jeremy Wells (bottom right) had been mocking the bowler (left) after he was smashed for four consecutive sixes in the final over by Carlos Brathwaite as the West Indies dramatically claimed the World T20 trophy in Kolkata.

It was 35 years ago that one of the most uplifting sporting stories of the 20th century unfolded over the perilous fences of Aintree. There, from the brink of death, Bob Champion rode Aldaniti to victory in the Grand National. It was April 4, 1981, and the whole country was swept along by a tale of triumph over adversity.