On the ball: Cristiano Ronaldo during training in Madrid on Monday Ronaldo had been a doubt for the match after suffering a hamstring injury against Atlético Madrid on March 19 that ruled him out of Portugal's two international friendlies and Saturday's La Liga defeat to Sporting Gijon. However, after the Sporting match, manager Jose Mourinho hinted that he might take a risk on Ronaldo t...Full Story »

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is confident that Gareth Bale will be fit for the Champions League quarter-final clash against Real Madrid. Bale has been struggling with a hamstring injury that he sustained on international duty with Wales nine days ago, but has travelled with the Tottenham squad to Madrid and looks set to play in the first leg at the Bernabeu. Redknapp has revealed, however, ...Full Story »

PETER CROUCH is convinced that Spurs can spring a Champions League surprise when they come up against Real Madrid tomorrow night. Spurs fly to Spain today ahead of a quarter-final, first-leg tie in which they are underdogs at the Bernabeu Stadium. But striker Peter Crouch said: “We’ve proved this year against top teams like Inter Milan and AC Milan that we’ve been able to g...Full Story »

Diego Costa's assured hat-trick guided Atletico Madrid to a deserved 3-2 victory in an enthralling Primera Division encounter at Osasuna. Atletico have been on a poor run and that sequence looked set to continue as Osasuna bossed the opening exchanges and deservedly went ahead through Kike Sola on 31 minutes. But after that it was all one-way traffic as Brazilian striker Diego Costa took centr...Full Story »

Miroslav Djukic enjoyed a dream debut as coach of Hercules as his charges downed Real Sociedad to climb off the bottom of the Primera Division standings with their first away win since September. Djukic took over from the sacked Esteban Vigo just before the international break and inherited a side that had picked up just four points from a possible 33 since mid-January, but the former Yugoslavi...Full Story »

Real Madrid may risk forward Cristiano Ronaldo in Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg at home to Tottenham Hotspur. The world's most expensive player, who has a leg muscle strain, was left out for Saturday's shock 1-0 La Liga defeat at home to Sporting Gijon. Jose Mourinho suggested on Friday his Portuguese compatriot would not be available until Real's game at Athletic Bilbao...Full Story »

Real Madrid's bid to end Barcelona's two-year reign as La Liga champions suffered a huge setback on Saturday when they slumped to a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Sporting Gijon and Barca won 1-0 at Villarreal. Real's failure at a stunned Bernabeu, three days before they host Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League, spoiled their perfect home record of 14 wins in 14 this season and ended coac...Full Story »

Barcelona took a giant step towards retaining their Primera Division title with a 1-0 victory at Villarreal on a dramatic night in Spain. With Real Madrid having lost at home to Sporting Gijon earlier in the day, ending Jose Mourinho's nine-year unbeaten home run in the league in the process, Barca knew a win at El Madrigal would put them on the brink of a third successive title. An eight-poin...Full Story »

MADRID, April 2 (Reuters) - Real Madrid’s bid to end Barcelona’s two-year reign as Spanish champions suffered a huge setback when their injury-hit side slumped to a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Sporting Gijon in La Liga on Saturday. The loss at a stunned Bernabeu, three days before Real host Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League, spoiled the club’s perfect home record of 14...Full Story »

Jose Mourinho lost his first home league match in more than nine years as Real Madrid's title hopes suffered a huge blow with a shock 1-0 defeat against Sporting Gijon at the Bernabeu. Miguel de las Cuevas, the former Atletico Madrid player, netted the only goal of the game in the 79th minute to end not only Mourinho's remarkable personal run but also Madrid's 100% record at home this season. ...Full Story »

WIGAN (AFP) - Tottenham were held to a 0-0 draw at struggling Wigan on Saturday as the visitors failed to sparkle ahead of their Champions League clash against Real Madrid. Harry Redknapp's side face Real in the first leg of their quarter-final in Spain on Tuesday and they will have to improve significantly on this lacklustre effort to get a result against Jose Mourinho's men. Spurs, without i...Full Story »

WIGAN, England (AP)—Tottenham looked out of form Saturday as it warmed up for next week’s Champions League meeting with Real Madrid with a 0-0 Premier League draw at Wigan. The home side could even have clinched victory and eased its relegation worries in the process three minutes from the end. Connor Sammon was released by fellow substitute Mohamed Diame, but sent his shot straigh...Full Story »

Atletico Madrid captain Antonio Lopez has warned his side they are likely to have to "suffer" to get three much-needed points against improving Osasuna at the Reyno de Navarra stadium. With just two victories in their last 10 games, Atletico's hopes of a Champions League berth are virtually over as they now lie 15 points adrift of the top four, but they can still salvage something from their se...Full Story »

Miroslav Djukic makes his bow as coach of Hercules tasked with the tough job of saving the club from an immediate return to the Segunda Division. Djukic, the former Yugoslavia international, has taken over from Esteban Vigo, who was sacked prior to the international break following a miserable run which saw Hercules claim just four points from a possible 33 since mid-January. That dismal form ...Full Story »

Brazil legend Ronaldo, who announced his retirement from football in February, will be honoured on Saturday by his former side Real Madrid at the club's home match against Sporting Gijon. The 34-year-old will take the honorary kick-off prior to the match and will be given a replica of a statue that sits in front of the team's dressing room, the club said in a statement posted Friday on its we...Full Story »

Ronaldo, Benzema and Marcelo would be certain starters against Spurs if fit Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho says Cristiano Ronaldo will not play in the first-leg Champions League quarter-final tie against Tottenham next week. The forward is struggling with a hamstring injury, while striker Karim Benzema has sustained a thigh problem and full-back Marcelo has sore ribs. Mourinho said the trio...Full Story »

Pedro has backed Barcelona to keep improving ahead of the Primera Division clash at Villarreal and says ambition remains as strong as ever at the Catalan club. With nine rounds of La Liga remaining, Barca lead fierce rivals Real Madrid by five points. The two teams meet in the league in a crunch clash at the Bernabeu later in the month and also cross swords in the Copa del Rey final, while a...Full Story »

Emmanuel Adebayor is hoping to fire Real Madrid to the Primera Division title and then secure a permanent move to the Bernabeu. Former Togo striker Adebayor is currently on loan at Madrid from Manchester City but is dreaming of remaining in the Spanish capital when his current deal expires at the end of the season. He said: "This club is fantastic, the environment, the way you work, the atmo...Full Story »

  Injury-hit Barcelona on Saturday face a difficult Spanish league trip to third-placed Villarreal, who have done well against them in recent years. The defending champions often slip up after national team matches, and this time Lionel Messi has returned from Argentina duty with a pulled muscle in his right leg. He will almost certainly make the trip down the coast, but might be kept o...Full Story »

  GERARD PIQUE's relationship with SHAKIRA has been well received in Barcelona - but not so at footie rivals Real Madrid. The Colombian singer's track Waka-Waka has been pulled from the Bernabeu playlist following her decision to go public about the Barcelona and Spain defender. The song, which was the official anthem for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa which Spain won, was regularl...Full Story »