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LOS ANGELES -- Clayton Kershaw is growing more optimistic that he will return to pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers this season, encouraged Tuesday after another bullpen session to test his ailing lower back.Kershaw, who has not pitched in a game since June 26, warmed up on flat ground in the Dodger Stadium outfield and then threw 41 pitches to regular catcher A.J. Ellis in the left-field bullpen.It was a good test, Kershaw said afterward. We got to go through sequences, simulating facing hitters. It was all good steps. I feel good and Im ready for the next step. Im not quite sure what that is at the moment. It will be either another [bullpen] or facing hitters.Kershaw has been trying to rehab what was originally diagnosed as a minor disk herniation. He had one simulated start in mid-July, just after the All-Star break, against Dodgers minor leaguers, but reported more discomfort and was shut down again.No timetable has ever been given for Kershaws return, and the left-hander would not guarantee he would pitch this season, saying only that he has optimism.Its such a hard question, he said when asked if he will pitch this year. I was this far last time too. Im optimistic obviously, but its just that I need to face hitters to know. I need to know that with that added intensity that I will come out of it OK.When Kershaw does eventually face hitters, it could possibly be in a simulated game session. He could then go on a minor league rehab assignment, but the regular season in the minor leagues ends the first week of September.I didnt get a chance to put eyes on him but in talking to [pitching coach] Rick [Honeycutt] and hearing from Kersh, he was really encouraged, manager Dave Roberts said. I think it will be a couple of days of playing catch and then ramp up to 60 pitches and then well see where to go from there. But today was a good day for us.Kershaw was 11-2 in 16 starts this season before his injury. He had a 1.79 ERA in 121 innings and had 145 strikeouts to just nine walks. He also seemed confident he could reach something resembling his top form when he ultimately returns.I dont like to take things for granted, Kershaw said. Thats why I try to do everything like I did before, because I feel like if I take a day off, I might forget. Thankfully, I feel like I have some muscle memory built up to remember how to do it. It was a little better than I thought it would be today, so thats a good sign. Cheap Nike Dunk Mid . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. Nike Air Foamposite Sale Cheap . The players spoke Jan. 13 during a Major League Baseball Players Association conference call after Rodriguez sued the union and Major League Baseball to overturn an arbitrators decision suspending him for the 2014 season and post-season. http://www.cheapwholesalenikesb.com/ . Galatasaray said in a statement on its website Monday that Mancini signed a three-year contract and will be paid 3.5 million euros for the upcoming season, with his salary upped to 4. Nike Sb Sale . -- Peyton Manning will have all of his wide receivers available for the first time in a month when the Denver Broncos begin their playoff run Jan. Nike Sb Sneakers For Sale . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action.Real Madrid can clinch qualification for the Champions League last 16 if they avoid defeat away to Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday. With two wins and two draws in their opening four games, Real sit second in Group F, two points behind Borussia Dortmund, who have already qualified.However, boss Zinedine Zidane will not be focusing on the points tally and their final position in the group, but solely on the game in Lisbon. I dont think about the maths. When youre at Real Madrid you just focus on doing everything to win the games and on nothing else, he said before the match. Highlights of the Madrid derby between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid Therell be time to look at the table later on. Tomorrow, well be doing everything to win. We shall not be doing any maths.The gap between Real and third-placed Sporting is five points, and the Portuguese side know its win or bust when the two sides meet at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.Team newsZidane remained coy on the chances of Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema starting on Tuesday, with the duo appearing on the bench for the Madrid derby over the weekend.Benzema made an 11-minute substitute appearance on Saturday, but Toni Kroos (foot), Alvaro Morata (hamstring) and Casemiro (leg) remain sidelined. Sergio Ramos is still a slight doubt for Real Madrid after recovering from injury Cristiano Ronaldo will also be making a return to the club where he learnt his trade as a youth player, and also made 25 appearances for the first team before moving to Manchester United in 2003. Sporting will be near full strength for the visit of Real , with only Lithuanian forward Lukas Spalvis missing out through injury. Opta statsReal have won none of their two previous visits to Sporting in European competition, losing 2-1 in the 1994/95 Uefa Cup and drawing 2-2 in the 2000/01 Champions League group stages. Sky Sports Black Friday sale Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get 12 months half price! Real have never failed to score against Portuguese opposition, in all competitions (20 games). In their encounter with Sporting in September (2-1), Real scored their two goals in the 89th and 94th minute.None of Sportings last 10 home gamees in the Champions League has ended in a draw (W6 L4).ddddddddddddMeanwhile, Real have won none of their last four away games in the Champions League (D3 L1), their longest drought on the road since their winless run of six matches from December 2006 to February 2008.Reals two away games in this seasons Champions League have produced 10 goals (2-2 v Borussia Dortmund, 3-3 v Legia Warsaw). Find out how you can win an all-expenses-paid trip to Sevilla v Real Madrid in January thanks to Sky Sports and La Liga Santander Real Madrid have failed to score only once in their last 48 Champions League group games (PSG 0-0 Real, October 2015).Only Barcelona have scored more goals (14) than Real Madrid (12) in this seasons Champions League.However, Real have already conceded more goals in the Champions League this season (seven in four games) than over the whole of last season (six in 13 games). Following the #CR7Live event with Sky Sports earlier this month, Nike asked Cristiano Ronaldo about his return to Sporting with Real Real have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League in each of their previous 20 campaigns, whilst Sporting have made it out of the group phase only once in their previous six campaigns (2008/09).Cristiano Ronaldo has scored in each of his three Champions League appearances against his ex-team Sporting (2007/08 group stages with Manchester United, 2016/17 group stages with Real).Karim Benzema is the only player, alongside Lionel Messi, to have scored in each of the last 12 Champions League campaigns.Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get 12 months half price. Hurry, offer ends December 4! ' ' '