Two goals from Colombian striker Falcao put Atletico Madrid in the driving seat as they defeated fellow Spanish side Valencia 4-2 in the first leg of their Europa League semifinal.
Arsenal's attempts to cement a place in next season's Champions League were thwarted on Monday as Wigan claimed a notable 2-1 win at the Emirates Stadium in the English Premier League.
updated: Tue Apr 17 2012 05:41:00
Is the English Premier League title race done and dusted? Manchester United's Alex Ferguson gives us his opinion.
A glorious attacking display by Athletic Bilbao earned the Spanish side a 4-2 win at Schalke in the first leg of the Europa League quarterfinals at the Veltins Arena on Thursday.
Lionel Messi scored five goals in a single game last week, becoming the first player in the Champions League ever to do so. Most were impressed; some were not. Against Bayer Leverkusen, they said: So what? It is a familiar argument -- and one that Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in particular have been forced to confront time and time again. Between them, they have racked up astonishing goal scoring figures, breaking records at every turn -- Messi has scored 50 goals already this season, Ronaldo 40 -- but the nagging doubt lingers. Yeah, they say, but against who?
The English Premier League top two Manchester City and Manchester United suffered embarrassing defeats in their Europa League last 16 ties Thursday.
There were four minutes to go against Sevilla on Sunday evening and Athletic Bilbao were on course for their first victory at the Sánchez Pizjuán in 18 years when the coach Marcelo Bielsa made his final substitution.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a superb hat-trick as Real Madrid thrashed Osasuna 7-1 to increase their lead at the top of the Spanish La Liga to three points following Barcelona's surprise 2-2 draw at Athletic Bilbao.
English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur eased past Irish champions Shamrock Rovers in their Europa League Group A match, but only after surviving a massive scare against the part-timers.
Why doesn't José Antonio Reyes get a call-up for the Spanish national team?
Barcelona and Real Madrid have roared back to form ahead of next week's Champions League challenges, with the Spanish giants recording comfortable victories in La Liga on Saturday.
Palermo edged Inter Milan 4-3 in a thriller in Sicily, while Juventus opened their new stadium in style by defeating Parma 4-1 in Sunday's Italian Serie A matches.
Players in the top two tiers of the Spanish league have announced they are to go on strike for the first two weekends of the season.
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo equaled the Spanish league scoring record with two more goals in Sunday's 3-1 victory at Villarreal.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his second hat-trick in successive matches to help Real Madrid thrash city neighbors Getafe 4-0 on Tuesday and keep alive their slim hopes of winning the Spanish Primera Liga title.
After their fractious Champions League meeting in midweek, Barcelona and Real Madrid both suffered shock defeats in La Liga on Saturday.
It was the night of the Academy Awards and the red carpet was rolled out, ready. Everyone was waiting, there was little over an hour to go and the excitement built. "That was the performance of his life. I'm sure they'll give him an Oscar tonight."
David Villa gave Barcelona a 1-0 lead against Athletic Bilbao last weekend, but he shouldn't have. Or so they said. Xavi Hernández spread a diagonal pass to the right where Dani Alves was dashing in, he laid it back on the volley and Villa finished. Alves, though, was miles offside. Definitive "proof" came in the Madrid-based sports newspaper AS the following morning -- a photographic reproduction of the move, showing Alves a long way ahead of the last defender.
Barcelona restored their lead at the top of La Liga on Sunday night with a hard fought 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao at the Nou Camp.
Real Mallorca climbed into the top half of the Spanish Primera Liga after a 1-0 win over Champions League-chasing Athletic Bilbao.
David Villa continued his remarkable scoring run against Deportivo La Coruna as Spanish champions Barcelona won 4-0 on Saturday night to move five points clear in La Liga.
Barcelona battled into the quarterfinals of the Copa Del Rey on Wednesday night as veteran French defender Eric Abidal scored his first goal for the Spanish champions in a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao.
Spanish champions Barcelona were held to a battling 0-0 draw by Athletic Bilbao in their Spanish Cup last-16 first-leg tie at the Nou Camp on Tuesday night.
MADRID -- The phone lines opened at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. At the same time, ATMs all over Spain were activated. Tickets were on sale for Atlético Madrid's Copa del Rey match against Universidad de Las Palmas at the Vicente Calderón -- the ground where the fans are proud of their loyalty and where season-ticket sales actually increased in the summer in which Atlético was relegated. When the lines closed that evening, 12 long hours later, 24 tickets had been sold.
When Vicente del Bosque decided to leave Fernando Llorente out of Spain's starting XI for their visit to Hampden Park to face Scotland on Oct. 12, no one could quite believe it. The national team coach appeared to have taken leave of his senses. If anyone had to play, it was Llorente -- the man of the moment, the country's most in-form striker, and the hero just four days earlier with two of his side's three goals. He was the blonde, blue-eyed boy fast becoming the subject of a tug of war between two titans: Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Cristiano Ronaldo continued his sensational scoring form with a hat-trick on Wednesday night to keep Real Madrid's Spanish title hopes alive going into the final two matches of the season.
Unsung English Premier League side Fulham upset holders Shakhtar Donetsk to reach the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday night.
Spanish club Villarreal will wait until the end of this season to appoint a permanent new manager after deciding to give reserve coach Juan Carlos Garrido the reins on a short-term basis.
Barcelona increased their lead at the top of Spain's La Liga to eight points after they strolled to a 3-0 victory over Valladolid on Saturday.
Real Madrid returned to the top of the table in Spain after edging past Racing Santander 1-0 on Saturday, while previous leaders Barcelona could only draw 1-1 at Athletic Bilbao.
Getafe moved into the next round of the Copa del Rey as a 1-1 draw at Espanyol on Wednesday saw them go through 3-1 on aggregate.
Sevilla retained third place in Spain as Luis Fabiano netted twice in a pulsating 3-2 win at home to Villarreal.
Real Madrid reduced Barcelona's league lead to one point after returning to winning ways with a 2-0 victory against Getafe on Saturday night despite having a man sent off.
Aside from transfer news and gossip, the close season is a time when many football fans are scrambling around to grab their beloved team's new playing kit before the new campaign begins.
German champions Bayern Munich have sacked coach Jurgen Klinsmann and appointed the experienced Jupp Heynckes as his replacement for the final five games of the Bundesliga season.
Lionel Messi scored a 19th minute winner as Barcelona moved ever closer to regaining the Spanish title with a 1-0 victory at Getafe on Saturday night.
Barcelona held off a late rally from city rivals Espanyol to reach the semifinals of the Spanish Cup for the third year in a row.
A football match in Spain's top division had to be halted by officials for a minute Sunday after fans laid siege to the visitor's goal with a barrage of snowballs.
Valencia stayed top of the Spanish Primera with a 1-1 draw at Recreativo Huelva on Sunday while reigning champions Real Madrid moved to within a point of the leaders with a 3-2 win over Athletic Bilbao in a later match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
Team of the week -- Barcelona Despite a faltering start to their La Liga campaign, this week Barcelona made it clear that they are a definite threat to opponents both in and out of Spain.
A makeshift Barcelona side fell to a 2-0 defeat at Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday -- meaning Real Madrid now have a chance to win the Primera Liga title on Sunday if results go their way.
Real Madrid can claim a 31st Spanish title success this weekend if they beat Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona and Villarreal fail to win.
Real Madrid are poised to clinch a second successive Spanish league title after going 10 points clear at the top with a 2-0 victory at Racing Santander on Sunday.
The Real Betis fan who threw a bottle at Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Armando Ribeiro said he was angry at the score.
Real Madrid's title bid stuttered with a 1-0 defeat at Deportivo Coruna while Saturday's Spanish League action was marred by further crowd trouble at Real Betis which saw their home game against Athletic Bilbao abandoned.
Villarreal, lying third in the Spanish Primera Liga, failed to make up ground on second-placed Barcelona when they were held to a goalless draw at home to Racing Santander on Sunday.
Real Madrid moved nine points clear in Spain with a 3-2 victory at home to third-placed Villarreal on Sunday.
Villarreal held Barcelona to a goalless draw on Thursday night in the first leg of their Spanish Cup quarterfinal.
Barcelona's clash with Sevilla is the highlight of the draw for the Spanish Cup's round of 16, in which all the clubs are from the Primera Liga for the first time.
Real Madrid returned their Spanish league lead to four points ahead of next weekend's showdown with Barcelona, beating Osasuna 2-0 at home on Sunday night.
Thierry Henry helped Barcelona claim a rare away win, but they were far from impressive in seeing off third division side Alcoyano 3-0 in Tuesday's Spanish Cup round of 32 first leg clash.
Atletico Madrid recovered from their painful recent defeat by Barcelona to crush European rivals Real Zaragoza 4-0 in the Primera Liga on Sunday.
Spain left-back Asier del Horno has returned to his former club Athletic Bilbao on loan from Valencia.
Celta Vigo scored an injury-time penalty to beat Real Betis 2-1 at home and keep alive their hopes of avoiding relegation from the Primera Liga on Sunday.
Striker Samuel Eto'o returned to the Barcelona squad on Saturday after missing out on the team's back-to-back defeats against Valencia and Liverpool.
Borussia Moenchengladbach coach Jupp Heynckes has resigned a day after a 0-0 draw against visiting Nuremberg, which extended their winless run to 13 games.
Midfielder Javi Martinez struck twice to help Athletic Bilbao to their second victory in a row under new coach Mane, a 2-0 win at out-of-form Deportivo Coruna in the Primera Liga on Saturday.
Center-forward Ismael Urzaiz struck twice as Primera Liga strugglers Athletic Bilbao hauled themselves out of the relegation zone on Sunday with a 4-2 victory at home to high-flying Recreativo Huelva.
Athletic Bilbao have sacked coach Felix Sarriugarte after a 3-1 home defeat by Sevilla saw them drop into the bottom three in the Primera Liga.
Real Madrid midfielder Guti has bee handed a two-match ban by the Spanish Football Federation's Competitions Committee after being sent off against Racing Santander at the weekend.
Leaders Sevilla were held to a goalless draw at Racing Santander and missed the chance to pull clear at the top of the Primera Liga on Sunday.
Defender Iban Zubiaurre has been ordered to pay a thumping euro5 million (US$6.3 million) to his former club Real Sociedad as compensation for breach of contract.
The Spanish high court have rejected an appeal by Athletic Bilbao's Carlos Gurpegi and imposed a two-year ban on the midfielder after he tested positive for nandrolone in 2002.
Former Spain coach Javier Clemente will take charge of the Serbian national side for the next two years, he announced on Tuesday
Athletic Bilbao midfielder Julen Guerrero has announced his retirement from football after 14 years with the Primera Liga club.
Athletic Bilbao sacked coach Javier Clemente after his outspoken comments about the club's transfer policy.
Osasuna's new coach Jose Angel Ziganda has been presented to the media in Pamplona -- revealing that he is looking forward to the new challenge ahead of him.
Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o crowned a memorable season by finishing as the Primera Liga's top marksman with 26 goals as he scored in his side's 3-1 defeat at Athletic Bilbao.
Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o can cap a memorable season by finishing Primera Liga top scorer with a goal against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.
Barcelona were denied the chance of wrapping up the Spanish title when a stunning hat-trick from David Villa gave Valencia a 3-0 win at Athletic Bilbao.
An under-strength Villarreal, with their focus on next week's Champions League return against Arsenal, slumped to a 2-0 home defeat to Real Sociedad on Saturday.
Atletico Madrid strikers Fernando Torres and Mateja Kezman are likely to miss three of the remaining five league games because of injury.
Pablo Orbaiz drove home a 73rd minute penalty to give Athletic Bilbao a 1-0 home victory over Getafe as they battle to avoid relegation from the top flight in Spain for the first time.
Barcelona's Brazilian midfielder Thiago Motta will be out for about six weeks after injuring his right knee during training.
Champions Barcelona continued their irresistible form this season with a 15th straight win after a 2-1 Primera Liga victory over city rivals Espanyol.
Barcelona say that striker Samuel Eto'o will not hook up with the Cameroon squad for the African Nations Cup until after the La Liga game against Athletic Bilbao on January 15.
Central defender Jonathan Woodgate has returned to the Real Madrid squad almost two months after suffering a hamstring tear in his left leg.
Brazil striker Ronaldo injured his calf muscle in training on Thursday and is ruled out of Real Madrid's King's Cup match against Athletic Bilbao, the club's website said.
Athletic Bilbao have been fined 600 euros after a large firecracker was thrown into the goalmouth during the match against Atletico Madrid last Saturday.
Cameroon international Pierre Webo scored in the third minute of stoppage time to give Osasuna a 3-2 win over Athletic Bilbao, which sent them top of the Spanish league.
Third division giantkillers Alcoyano, who knocked out Primera Liga side Real Mallorca in the previous round, have drawn Atletico Madrid in the fourth round of the Spanish King's Cup.
Spanish club Athletic Bilbao have named Jose Luis Mendilibar as their new coach, handing the former Bilbao youth player his first job with a Primera Liga side.
Athletic Bilbao left-back Asier Del Horno will join Chelsea this summer, according to the player's agent.
Athletic Bilbao striker Ismael Urzaiz has agreed to extend his contract with the club until 2007.
Athletic Bilbao put in a spirited display to hold Real Betis to a goalless draw in their King's Cup semifinal first leg on Thursday.
Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde has rejected the Primera Liga club's offer of a contract renewal and will leave at the end of the season.
Real Betis and Athletic Bilbao, two of the most attack-minded sides in Spain, have been drawn to face each other in the semi-finals of the King's Cup.
Real Madrid striker Ronaldo is doubtful for Saturday's league match against Athletic Bilbao after returning from his lavish Valentine's Day engagement party in Paris with an injury to his toe.
Athletic Bilbao came from a goal down to earn a 3-2 win at home to second division Valladolid in the first leg of their King's Cup quarterfinal on Tuesday.
Second division Valladolid, having disposed of Real Madrid in the King's Cup earlier this week, have been handed a quarter-final tie with 23-time champions Athletic Bilbao.
Spanish Primera side Athletic Bilboa produced the performance of the night to rout Standard Liege 7-1 away from home to book their place in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup on Thursday.
Valencia midfielder Miguel Angel Angulo has earned his first Spain call-up for next week's friendly against England.
Ali Gunes showed Besiktas the way with an early goal as the Turkish club opened their UEFA Cup Group B account with a 3-1 home win over Spain's Athletic Bilbao.
Trouble-torn Real Madrid slumped to their second defeat in three Primera Liga games when they lost 2-1 to a classy Athletic Bilbao side.
Spanish champions Valencia fought back from two down to grab a 2-2 draw at Athletic Bilbao.
Real Sociedad ended a dramatic slump in form by coming from behind to win 2-1 at Malaga on Sunday for their first victory in 10 Primera Liga outings.
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