Chelsea set a UEFA Conference League record with an emphatic 8-0 win over Armenian side FC Noah at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.

João Félix and Christopher Nkunku each scored twice for the Premier League club, who were six goals to the good by half-time. Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Axel Disasi and Mykhailo Mudryk scored the other goals as Chelsea recorded the biggest win in the competition's history.

The previous largest margin of victory in the Conference League, which began in 2021, was six goals.

The result also equals the second-biggest win in Chelsea's history. The club's largest victory remains a 13-0 triumph over Hungarian side Jeunesse Hautcharage in 1971.

Chelsea sit top of the Conference League league phase standings with a maximum nine points from three games.

A brace from Amad Diallo earned Manchester United a 2-0 win over PAOK Salonika in the Europa League on Thursday, as interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy achieved what Erik ten Hag had failed to do with the club's first victory in this season's competition.

United had drawn their three previous Europa League games, but Amad's looping header back across the goal into the bottom corner from a Bruno Fernandes cross five minutes after the break sent Van Nistelrooy's side on their way.

With both sides searching for their first win the Greek visitors to Old Trafford had their chances to take something from the game and United keeper André Onana had to tip over a shot from Mady Camara in the first half.

PAOK had an excellent opportunity to equalise in the 64th minute, but the unmarked Taril Tissoudali could not get enough power in his shot from close range to beat Onana and Diallo made sure of victory 13 minutes from time.

This time he did it all alone, dispossessing Baba Rahman and holding off the defender's challenge to make his way to the edge of the area before unleashing a curling shot which took a slight deflection on its way into the far corner.

Van Nistelrooy, who will shortly make way for new manager Ruben Amorim, replaced the sacked Ten Hag 10 days ago and is unbeaten in his three games in charge.

United have six points in the Europa League standings.

BALTIMORE -- The Ravens, who boast the NFL's No. 1 offense, are adding an explosive playmaker for Thursday night's game against the Bengals.

Running back Keaton Mitchell was activated off the physically unable to perform list Thursday, the team announced. Mitchell, who was a full participant in practice all week, has not played since he suffered a full tear of the ACL in his left knee in December 2023.

Baltimore opened up a roster spot Thursday when it waived outside linebacker Yannick Ngakoue. In five games this season, Ngakoue has recorded 1.5 sacks and four quarterback hits.

The Ravens had long expected Mitchell to return sometime in November. As an undrafted rookie last season, Mitchell provided a jolt for the Baltimore rushing attack, averaging 8.4 yards on 47 carries. He totaled 396 rushing yards in eight games, scoring touchdown runs of 39 and 40 yards.

On Monday, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said the team would activate Mitchell "when he's ready to go and can compete and protect himself."

When asked whether there was any chance Mitchell would play Thursday, Harbaugh said: "There's a chance."

In Week 15 of last season, Mitchell sustained a knee injury in the fourth quarter of the Ravens' 23-7 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars when he was tripped up by safety Andrew Wingard, causing his left leg to bend awkwardly after he landed on it. He returned to practice 10 months later on Oct. 23, and Harbaugh described Mitchell's progress as stellar.

Mitchell's speed would complement the power running of Derrick Henry, who leads the NFL with 1,052 rushing yards and 13 total touchdowns. The Ravens' offense has been dominant through nine games this season, ranking first in total yards (445.9) and rushing yards (191.9).

Mitchell could also help as a kickoff returner for Baltimore. The Ravens rank 27th in kickoff returns this season, averaging 24.2 yards per return.

The Ravens (6-3) host the Bengals (4-5) on Thursday night, looking to complete a second straight season sweep of Cincinnati.

FRISCO, Texas -- Once again, the Dallas Cowboys turn their hopes to Cooper Rush.

In 2022, Dak Prescott suffered a broken right thumb in a dispiriting opening day loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and all Rush did was help keep the Cowboys' season afloat, going 4-1 as the starter.

This time, Prescott is out for an extended period of time because of a partial avulsion of his right hamstring, but now Rush is needed to turn around a season that has been nothing short of a major disappointment with a 3-5 record, beginning Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium.

"I mean we're just trying to beat Philly." Rush said. "That's kind of our approach this week. Got to take them one at a time. It's a cliché but it works. And so that's kind of the goal and you're really just taking it practice by practice, game by game and we'll see what happens."

In six starts, Rush has seven touchdown passes and four interceptions. For his career, he has completed 165 of 275 passes for 1,786 yards with nine touchdowns and six interceptions.

He knows not to try to be Prescott.

"You play a ton of ball in college, it's stuff you've been doing your whole life, trust who you are and the system is the system," Rush said. "You do what you're supposed to do. You do what you're coached to do."

Throughout the week, teammates on both sides of the ball have expressed faith in Rush.

"I still believe we can make a run. I've seen what Cooper Rush can do," said edge rusher Micah Parsons, who is expected to return from his month-long absence due to a high left ankle sprain. "That's a good boy right there. Cooper Rush got a lot of talent. He won games for us by just doing the basics, just playing good football. So it's not like he can't do it."

Said wide receiver CeeDee Lamb: "We know what Coop can do. The confidence is still there. Stand in there and deliver."

Much of the confidence is tied to the success they had in 2022. In his first start, he won against the defending AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals, who finished 12-4 and made the playoffs that season. That was followed by wins against the New York Giants, another playoff team, and the Washington Commanders, who finished 8-8-1. The fourth win was against the Los Angeles Rams.

The loss came against the Eagles before Prescott's return.

Rush said he draws on the success from 2022 a lot.

"The more games you play, the more reps you bank, you put in your library, you draw on those," Rush said. "So [I] feel confident in that. Been around here for a while. Played with a lot of these guys before, which is huge when you're out there with live bullets, trusting those guys. Being out there with them is big."

As for Prescott, he has been in meetings this week, working with Rush. Coach Mike McCarthy said Prescott is still getting opinions on the hamstring injury. While the Cowboys have not placed him on injured reserve yet, multiple sources said he would need more than four weeks to recover.

"I think that would be his goal [to play again this season]," McCarthy said. "I know he wants to keep playing, but I think it's important to go through the process and gather all of the information. This is obviously a serious injury."

There is optimism that San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell could make his season debut on Saturday against the Utah Jazz, sources told ESPN on Thursday.

Vassell, the Spurs' second-leading scorer last season at 19.5 points per game, underwent offseason surgery to repair a stress fracture in his right foot. He also averaged a career-high 4.1 assists along with 3.8 rebounds while shooting 47.2% from the field and making 166 3-pointers a season ago.

The Spurs are 3-5 entering Thursday's contest against the Portland Trail Blazers -- the start of a five-game homestand.

Vassell, the 11th pick in the 2020 NBA draft, is a cornerstone player in San Antonio alongside superstar big man Victor Wembanyama.

San Antonio lost forward Jeremy Sochan for an extended period of time because of a fractured left thumb.

Spurs assistant Mitch Johnson is currently the team's interim head coach after legendary coach Gregg Popovich suffered a serious health issue Saturday.

The Los Angeles Lakers have assigned rookie Bronny James to their G League affiliate, South Bay, where he is expected to debut Saturday against Salt Lake City, sources told ESPN.

James will be on the Lakers' roster for Friday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers, then rejoin South Bay, according to sources.

The organization's current plan is for James to play in only G League home games as he shuttles between the Lakers and South Bay, sources said.

Lakers coach JJ Redick said last month that the "plan for Bronny to move between the Lakers and South Bay has always been the plan since day one."

As James and his representative, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, discussed development throughout his pre-draft process with NBA teams, sources told ESPN that the concept of G League play was welcomed. Those sources said Paul advocated for a standard contract -- not a two-way deal -- before the draft while making it clear he and James were fully open to the development process.

Players drafted in the mid- to late second round typically spend time in the G League, gaining coaching, game repetitions and structure in their respective teams' programs. During the 2023-24 season, 23 of the 28 players selected in the second round of the 2023 draft spent time in the G League.

James, the 55th selection in this year's draft, has appeared in four games this season for the Lakers.

Surefire Hall of Fame pitcher Clayton Kershaw confirmed he underwent foot and knee surgeries on Thursday and will begin rehabilitation with the intention of returning for an 18th season in 2025.

The surgery to his left foot was performed by Dr. Kenneth Jung, while noted surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache repaired the meniscus in his left knee.

"Thank you Dr ElAttrache and Dr Jung for fixing them! Planning to crush some rehab and be good as can be come next year," Kershaw posted to Instagram on Thursday. "Thanks for all the prayers and support! World Series champs!"

Kershaw, 36, was limited to seven games for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024 following left shoulder surgery in the offseason.

He made his season debut July 25 and pitched 30 innings before reporting damage to his toe, which turned out to be a ruptured plantar plate and arthritis in his left foot.

The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner and 2014 NL MVP didn't pitch in the postseason. He has been a mainstay in the Dodgers' rotation, spending his entire MLB career in Los Angeles.

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Kershaw pitched on one-year contracts in 2022 and 2023 before signing an incentive-laden $5 million deal for 2024 that included a 2025 option for $10 million. With incentives, he earned $7.5 million in 2024.

He declined the 2025 option, but it is expected he and the Dodgers will renegotiate another incentive-based deal for the season since he declared himself a "Dodger for life" at the World Series championship parade. As a free agent, he currently isn't on the 40-man roster, and that gives the Dodgers some roster flexibility to work with over the winter.

Information from Field Level Media was used in this report.

British men's number two Cameron Norrie continued his positive end to an injury-hit season by reaching the Moselle Open semi-finals.

The 29-year-old moved into the last four with a 6-3 6-7 (6-8) 6-1 win over Belgium's Zizou Bergs.

The former world number eight is playing in only his third ATP event since July because of a forearm injury which ruled him out of the US Open.

After being unable to take two match points in the second set tie-break, Norrie recovered to dominate the deciding set against 61st-ranked Bergs.

"I should have had the tie-breaker in the second set but he played quicker than me and took a bit more risk," said Norrie, who has dropped to 57th in the rankings.

"I was not happy but I managed to reset.

"He's a good player and had a really good year so it's a really great win for me."

Norrie will play France's Corentin Moutet in the semi-finals at about 14:30 GMT on Friday.

Moutet, ranked 66th, advanced when Russian top seed Andrey Rublev withdrew after securing his place at the end-of-season ATP Finals next week.

Philadelphia Flyers star rookie Matvei Michkov will be a healthy scratch for the first time, missing Thursday's game at the Tampa Bay Lightning, coach John Tortorella said.

The 19-year-old Michkov is second on the Flyers with 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) in 13 games, skating to a minus-8. The seventh overall pick in 2023, He is among the favorites to win the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year after leaving his Russian team earlier this year.

During his 23 years as an NHL coach, Tortorella has been infamous for benching top offensive players as a message-sending tactic. He said that Michkov sitting out was part of the process in growing the rookie winger's game.

"With young guys, they can watch games too as far as development," Tortorella said. "It's trying to help him."

Michkov won NHL rookie of the month for October with 9 points in 11 games, but that was frontloaded as he has just one assist in his last five games and has less than 14 minutes of ice time in two of his past three games.

Before the season, Flyers general manager Danny Briere predicted "fireworks here and there" between the rookie and his demanding coach.

"Just like he has with almost every single player," Briere said of Tortorella. "At the end of the day, Torts is the coach and he's going to manage him. He's going to teach him to be a pro. Torts' goal is to make Matvei the best player he can be."

Briere also said it could be a "tough season" for Michkov, despite his offensive potential.

"I'm realistic. This is the best league in the world. It's a big step. It's not going to be easy," Briere said. "So my expectations are actually pretty low. I'm excited to watch him play, but he's going to have to go through a lot before he's the player that he expects to be."

The Flyers are in last place in the Metro Division with 9 points in 13 games (4-8-1) and have lost two games in a row.

PHILADELPHIA -- The MLS' Philadelphia Union have fired coach Jim Curtin after 11 seasons with the club.

The team announced Curtain's dismissal Thursday and said it had begun the search for a replacement. The Union's statement said details about an interim coaching staff will be announced in the "coming days."

Union owner Jay Sugarman wished Curtin well and called him a "remarkable leader and an integral part of our team's success during his tenure."

Curtin was hired in 2014. He had a record-setting 2022 season as the Union reached their first MLS Cup final with their most wins (19), most goals scored (72) and fewest goals allowed (26).

Curtin was twice named MLS coach of the year in 2020 and 2022, both times finishing first in the league's Eastern Conference. But the Union won just nine games this season and fell to 12th in the East and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2017.