By Tim Stannard

1) Double Madrid crisis threatens fabric of universe

And that’s why soccer remains the most intriguing game on the planet behind badminton – seriously, give it a whirl – and Trivial Pursuit played in a language foreign to all the participants after a case of white wine.

Both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have quite the armory going forward – Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale (sometimes), Marco Asensio, Isco, Fernando Torres (sometimes), Antoine Griezmann and Yannick Carrasco. Yet both sides are going through goal-scoring droughts that are fretting the front covers of the sports papers in Spain on Thursday. With good reason. 

This is in reaction to goalless draw for Atletico Madrid against Qarabag in the Champions League – just one strike scored in three matches and 13 in 8 in La Liga – and Real Madrid’s own performance issues up front. That blockage has been most prevalent in the Santiago Bernabeu with Marca pointing out that just 11 goals have been scored in seven games in the Spanish capital across the Champions League and La Primera. Indeed, it is the joint worst goal scoring drought at home over the past 75 years. 

The reaction has been shown out on the pitch with Atletico Madrid facing a very early exit from the Champions League with just two points from three games and Real Madrid sitting five points behind Barcelona and laboring to beat Getafe. Never before have both Madrid’s big boys been in CRISIS! mode. And it could tear apart the fabric of our reality. 

Tune into the XTRA at 7PM ET / 4PM PT to find out what exactly is going on in the city of Madrid. 

2) Koeman in last ditch chance to save Everton job

Thursday is another big day for some European outliers like Skenderbeu Korce, Sheriff, Zlin and Arsenal. It’s Europa League time. 

One manager who might benefit from the experience – or not, if matters go badly wrong – is Everton’s boss Ronald Koeman. Despite the promise of a top-six finish in the Premier League this season, the Merseyside club are facing a relegation battle in England and are not doing much better in their Europa League group, sitting rock bottom with one point from two. 

The chance to rectify this situation comes live on beIN SPORTS CANADA from 2:55PM ET / 11:55AM PT preceded by the tasty encounter between Nice and Lazio from 12:55PM ET / 9:55AM PT.

And as for Arsenal, the Gunners will be having quite the time of it in Serbia taking on Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade) in one of the friendliest atmospheres in world football.

Tune into the XTRA from 7PM ET / 4PM PT for all the best goal action from the around the grounds. 

3) Neymar invites Mbappe into his circle of trust

Well Neymar is getting all with the paternal, the footballer who is to contracts what Steven Bannon is to layered clothing. 

After PSG’s customary demolition of Anderlecht in the Champions League on Wednesday which saw all four goals shared out amongst the forward players, the Brazilian star said that he was going to place Kylian Mbappe tenderly under his wing and “do for him the same thing that Messi has done for me.” 

Presumably, that means give the ball to Neymar at all times, and never, ever, ever, ever to Edinson Cavani except without expressed written permission. Find out how that selfless mission from Neymar goes on Sunday with ‘le Classique’ – a mega clash between Marseille and PSG live on beIN SPORTS on Sunday 2:55PM ET / 11:55AM PT. 

4) Cubs Live!

Baseball time and the New York Yankees are on the brink of clinching its first World Series berth since 2007 after a 5-0 win over the Houston Astros. With the series now at 3-2, the Yankees can seal the deal in Texas on Friday in Game 6.  The Chicago Cubs are still clinging on hope after a win over LA Dodgers to take the series to 3-1.

In the NBA, a bad couple of days for the Boston Celtics continued. After news broke that Gordon Hayward is set to miss the rest of the season after his leg break, the Celtics lost out to the Milwaukee Bucks in a 108-100 defeat. 

WHAT IS SPORTS BURST?

The life philosophy of Sports Burst is that if you are not upsetting someone, then you are not trying hard enough. SB is a daily trawl and troll through the morning's sports news to bring you fact-nuggets to make you both smile and swear. Hopefully at the same time.