A first-half goal by Maxi Lopez gave Sampdoria a 1-0 win over Genoa in their derby on Monday as they avenged their 3-0 drubbing by their old rivals earlier in the season.

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell resigned on Thursday in the aftermath of a Spanish court's decision to investigate last year's signing of Brazil forward Neymar.

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell is to resign in the aftermath of a Spanish court's decision to investigate the signing of Brazilian striker Neymar last year, Spanish media reported on Thursday.

Barcelona's board of directors have rejected the option of building a new stadium and will push ahead with a remodelling of the Nou Camp.

Lionel Messi and some of his Barcelona colleagues paid warm tribute to teammate Xavi on Friday after he extended his appearances record to 700 in the midweek King's Cup match at Getafe.

Prosecutors in Florida dropped charges of battery and stalking against Jennifer Capriati on Monday after the retired tennis player completed community service and an anger management class.

Football's world governing body FIFA named Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery as the three nominations from a 10-player shortlist for the Ballon d'Or award. The winner will be announced on January 13.

Football's world governing body FIFA named Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery as the three nominations from a 10-player shortlist for the Ballon d'Or award on Monday.

Barcelona's Lionel Messi, Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo are the three final contenders for the 2013 Ballon d'Or award.

Barcelona's 2-1 loss at Ajax Amsterdam in the Champions League last week was down to a lack of intensity while Sunday's 1-0 reverse at Athletic Bilbao in La Liga exposed their relative physical frailty.

Real Madrid's record signing Gareth Bale was hailed as the 'Prince of Goals' after his hat-trick and assist in Saturday's 4-0 La Liga win at home to Real Valladolid.

Manchester United ended Arsenal's 15-game unbeaten away run in all competitions with a 1-0 Premier League win at Old Trafford. Unbeaten Barcelona moved three points clear in La Liga with a 4-1 victory at Real Betis, while Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed a hat-trick in Real Madrid's 5-1 win over Real Sociedad. Bayern Munich extended their unbeaten record to 37 games with a 3-0 triumph over Augsburg in the Bundesliga.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has called Atletico Madrid's Brazil-born forward Diego Costa into his squad for the first time for this month's friendlies away to Equatorial Guinea and South Africa.

Gareth Bale is likely to play against Malaga on Saturday as Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is eager to have the Wales winger in form for the Champions League tie against Juventus and the game with La Liga leaders Barcelona over the following week.

The campaigning for the Mumbai Cricket Association's biennial elections, on October 18, is approaching the slog overs, and 'Cricket First', which is still at the crease, is launching a fantastic assault, promising voters the best possible value for their votes.

Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt renewed his long-standing sponsorship deal with Puma until after the 2016 Games in Rio, the German sportswear company said on Tuesday.

Real Madrid's bid to land Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur for a world record fee in the region of 100 million euros is out of place in the current economic climate, Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino said on Saturday.

A successful Olympic track cyclist, O'Grady won a madison gold at the 2004 Athens Games, following a team pursuit silver at the 1992 Barcelona Games and a pair of bronzes at Atlanta in 1996.

This week, we bring you the top 10 parks that featured in TripAdvisor's Travellers' Choice listings.

Spain's 3-0 reverse to Brazil in the Confederations Cup final was a mere "blip" and they will be back in Brazil next year confidently chasing a second straight World Cup triumph, according to forward Fernando Torres.

Mercedes accused Formula One's governing body of double standards on Thursday at a tribunal that could impose stiff sanctions on their team for allegedly breaking the rules with a 'secret' tyre test.

Argentine footballer Lionel Messi, star player for Spanish soccer club Barcelona, and his father Jorge have been charged with tax fraud by a Spanish judge, media reports said on Thursday.

Formula One's governing body accused the Mercedes team on Thursday of breaking the rules by testing in Spain with tyre supplier Pirelli last month and benefiting from their involvement.

Neymar, inspired by the protest movement which has swept Brazil in the last few days, gave possibly his best performance for his country in a 2-0 win over Mexico in the Confederations Cup on Wednesday.

Lionel Messi's picture was on the front pages rather than the sports sections of the Spanish media on Thursday, after the World Player of the Year and his father were accused of tax fraud.

Former England captain David Beckham will visit Miami this week as he steps up his interest in owning a new Major League Soccer (MLS) team.

Red Bull made a formal protest at the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday after it emerged that Mercedes, who swept the front row in qualifying for the Formula One race, carried out a secret tyre test with Pirelli last week.

Brazil's Neymar is on the verge of choosing one of two offers from un-named clubs, reported to be Spanish suitors Barcelona and Real Madrid, after Santos agreed on Friday to transfer him.

Here is a look at the life and career of Jose Mourinho, the charismatic Portuguese manager, who will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season after reaching an agreement with the club on Monday to leave three years before the end of his contract:

Jose Mourinho will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season after coming to a mutual agreement with the Spanish club three years before the end of his contract, president Florentino Perez said on Monday.

Paul di Resta added six more points to Sahara Force India's kitty with a seventh-place finish at the Spanish Grand Prix of the Formula One Championship, while teammate Adrian Sutil finished 13th in Barcelona on Sunday.

Iron Man 3 boasts of the headiest of action setpieces, writes Raja Sen.

The main conundrum for Spain coach Vicente del Bosque ahead of Friday's World Cup Group I qualifier at home to minnows Finland is who to deploy in place of Xavi should the injured Barcelona playmaker be ruled out as expected.

Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho did not attend the FIFA Ballon d'Or gala because he was warned by some of those who voted for him as coach of the year that their votes showed up as supporting other candidates instead.

A dog's life in Formula One, if your owner is Lewis Hamilton, means a VIP pass to the races and being pampered by the sport's supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

Germany's Adrian Sutil and Frenchman Jules Bianchi, rivals for the coveted last remaining seat on the Formula One grid with Force India, will both test for the team in Barcelona this week.

Stressing on the fact that coach should get a freehand, while selecting to training, AIFF technical director, slammed the club presidents for their over interference in the selection and training matters.

Pedro extended his recent purple patch for Spain when he struck twice to help the world and European champions to a 3-1 win over Uruguay in a friendly in Qatar on Wednesday.

Felipe Massa delivered his eagerly-awaited verdict on Ferrari's new Formula One car after the first day of testing on Tuesday, with sighs of relief likely to be heard around Maranello.

Barcelona midfielder Xavi has withdrawn from the Spain squad to play Uruguay this week because of a hamstring problem, the Spanish football federation (RFEF) said on Monday.