Sports

Madrid host struggling Rayo Vallecano on Saturday with Benitez under heavy pressure again following a loss at Villarreal in the previous round.

Neymar's chances of playing in the Club World Cup appeared to improve on Wednesday, as he trained for the first time since Barcelona arrived in Japan.

“Yes, I believe in miracles. We will have to attack, attack and attack and defend whenever we have the ball in possession tomorrow,” Habas said.

Qatar's 2022 FIFA World Cup committee chief Hassan Al-Thawadi said that the Gulf state does not expect to lose the World Cup, regardless of an ongoing investigation, amid allegations of corruption.

Manchester United and their under-fire coach Louis van Gaal face a tricky task against little-known Midtjylland in the last 32 of the Europa League following Monday's draw.

The closeness of this season's Premier League race has led Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini to predict that the title could be won by a team with less than 80 points for just the fourth time in the competition's history.

Juan Cuadrado scored against his former club to help Juventus beat Fiorentina 3-1 in Serie A on Sunday, as the Turin club's title challenge gathered pace.

Former winner Italy landed in arguably the toughest group for Euro 2016, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Sweden and a rejuvenated Belgium currently top of FIFA's rankings.

An internal investigation of suspended FIFA President Joseph "Sepp" Blatter has found no evidence of wrongdoing over a 2 million Swiss franc ($2.02 million) payment to European soccer head Michel Platini, a Swiss newspaper reported.

Neymar was named La Liga's "Player of the Month" for November on Tuesday, marking the first time anyone from the club has won the award since its introduction in September 2013.

United will be looking for the goals that have been so hard to come by this season when they travel to VfL wolfsburg with their hopes of sealing qualification for the Champions League knockout stage still hanging in the balance.

World champions Australia lived up to their reputation as they bested Belgium 2-1 in the final to become the champions of the Hero Hockey World League Final on Sunday.

India prevailed 3-2 (5-5) in a penalty shoot-out against the Netherlands to clinch the bronze medal in the Hockey World League Final at the Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel International Stadium.

With strikers Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi in spectacular form, Barcelona visits Valencia on Saturday aiming to keep a winning streak going and extend their lead of the Spanish league.

Chelsea striker Diego Costa has "trained very well" and is in contention to return to the team at home to Bournemouth on Saturday, after his temper tantrum at Tottenham Hotspur last week, said manager Jose Mourinho.

VR Raghunath and Talwinder Singh scored crucial goals as India, who were winless in the tournament, stun the Group A toppers to reach the last four.