Sports

Atletico, inspired by a Falcao double, beat Valencia 4-2 in Madrid, while an impressive late comeback from Sporting meant they toppled Athletic Bilbao 2-1 across the border in the Portuguese capital. “It would have been unfair to lose,” said Diego Capel, who scored the winner for Lisbon.

“We played a spectacular game in every facet. We could have won by a wider margin with all the chances we had.”

Poor defending by Valencia’s Adil Rami was partly to blame for 2010 winners Atletico taking an 18th-minute lead. Arda Turan cut the ball back off the goal line and after taking a deflection Falcao headed past Diego Alves for his 31st goal of the season and his 11th in the last dozen games.

A midweek programme brings no respite to the battle for La Liga, as Barcelona entertain Getafe on Tuesday while leaders Real Madrid make the short trip to city rivals Atletico on Wednesday.

With seven games remaining and a trip to the Camp Nou later this month, Madrid cannot afford any more slip-ups after a 10-point gap over their rivals has been reduced to four in less than a month. In that period Madrid have won just two out of five, drawing three matches, while Barca have been victorious in their last nine league outings.

Real Madrid duo Pepe and Mesut Ozil were on Friday hit with two and one match bans respectively for arguing with a referee, raising pressure on the league leaders as Barcelona snap at their heels.

The Spanish Football Federation also handed a one-match ban to Real’s Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho over the bad-tempered 1-1 draw against Villarreal on Wednesday. Two Real Madrid players got red cards in the closing moments of the match: defender Sergio Ramos for a second yellow card, and Ozil for protesting that decision.

Titleholders Barcelona will have to again face seven-times winners AC Milan in the Champions League quarter-finals after a draw which also cleared the way for a final against their eternal rivals Real Madrid.

Rank outsiders APOEL Nicosia, taking Cypriot football into unchartered territory, were handed a glamorous last-eight tie against Real as they continued what chairman Phivos Erotocritou described as “a dream.”

Karim Benzema has returned to the Real Madrid squad in time to visit Real Betis in La Liga on Saturday, after three weeks on the sidelines with a thigh strain. The France striker has not played since having to be substituted with an injury during Real’s 1-1 draw at CSKA Moscow in their Champions League last-16 first leg on Feb 21, but should available for next Wednesday’s return leg.

“I hope he will be able to play tomorrow as long as there is no risk involved,” coach Jose Mourinho told reporters before their final training session on Friday.

Madrid expects its 2020 Olympic bid to help revive the country’s sluggish economy and reinforce Spain’s commitment to fight doping. Organizers presented their bid application to the media Thursday, two days after Rome dropped out because the Italian government refused to supply financial guarantees.

The remaining candidates — Madrid, Istanbul, Tokyo, Doha and Baku, Azerbaijan — will wait for the International Olympic Committee’s next meeting in Quebec City in May to see if they make the final shortlist.

Having made the final of the Copa del Rey, Barcelona are on the road at Osasuna in the Spanish league on Saturday looking to pressure Real Madrid, who hold a seven-point advantage.

Meanwhile, Espanyol and Athletic Bilbao will both looking for wins to leap into the Champions League places this weekend and overtake struggling Levante, who visit La Liga leaders Madrid.

Spanish leaders Real Madrid will be wary of a surging Athletic Bilbao as they look to shake off another disappointing loss to Barcelona and focus on maintaining their five-point lead over the defending champions.

Bilbao, who have won three straight and are unbeaten in seven matches, are fifth in the league and in the chase for a European place, maybe even a Champions League spot, under new coach Marcelo Bielsa going into Sunday’s game at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

Tropical storm Sendong killed more than 1,000 people and thousands are still reportedly missing. While debate rages  on who is responsible for the man-made tragedy what can be done in the meantime is to help the victims of the massive flooding that hit the cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro in Northern Mindanao. More >