Lionel Messi helped Barcelona shake off the hangover from their midweek defeat by AC Milan as the leaders rallied to a 2-1 win at home to fellow King's Cup semi-finalists Sevilla in La Liga on Saturday.
Barcelona's dismay at losing 2-0 at AC Milan in Wednesday's Champions League last-16 first leg was offset on Thursday by the news that defender Eric Abidal had been cleared to play after almost a year out to undergo a liver transplant.
Former AC Milan and Barcelona striker Ronaldinho walked out on Flamengo on Thursday after winning a court injunction releasing him from his contract, his lawyer said.
The French defender said he wants to leave Chelsea for AC Milan but the English champions are refusing to let him go.
AC Milan's match against Torino was abandoned as fans clashed.
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is likely to miss both legs of the Champions League semi-final because of a thigh muscle tear.
His best days may be well behind him but Ronaldinho's name still rings a bell. The 32-year-old having had a stellar career in Europe, that included spells with Paris-Saint Germain,FC Barcelona and AC Milan, is now back in native Brazil, playing with Atletico Mineoro.
The result left second-placed Inter on 39 points from 18 matches, 10 points behind Juventus, who beat Palermo 2-1 on Saturday.
Serie A leaders Juventus maintained their eight-point cushion at the top of the division with a 2-0 win over Siena on Wednesday.
Coaches finally put World Cup hopefuls out of their misery on Tuesday when they named their final squads for the tournament, shattering some dreams while also handing out the opportunity of a lifetime.
Real Madrid and AC Milan led a procession of six teams into the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday while big-spending Manchester City failed again on the European stage to further dent English soccer's standing.
Real Madrid coach Mourinho surprised many by including Kaka in the starting lineup for Wednesday's 4-1 Champions League win at Ajax and he responded with a performance full of verve and creativity that suggests he may be working his way back into contention.
Cristiano Ronaldo hit a hat-trick in Real Madrid's 4-1 Champions League win at Ajax Amsterdam on Wednesday but big spending trio Zenit St Petersburg, Paris St Germain and Manchester City failed to win.
Italy striker Antonio Cassano has confirmed he is a major doubt for Euro 2012, saying he needs six months to return to action after undergoing emergency heart surgery in November.
Argentina striker Hernan Crespo, who spent last season on loan at AC Milan, is to resume his career at Chelsea
Zlatan Ibrahimovic will become the first player since Jean-Pierre Papin to score at least 30 goals in a French league season, the former France striker predicted on Tuesday.
Gennaro Gattuso faces the prospect of disciplinary action for his headbutt on Tottenham Hotspur assistant coach Joe Jordan after UEFA said on Wednesday it was opening a case against the AC Milan captain.
A summary of football matches played across Europe over the weekend.
Holders Barcelona will play Bayer Leverkusen, a team famous for fading in the final straight, while their arch-rivals Real Madrid face a trip to icy Moscow in the Champions League round of 16 following the draw on Friday. Bayern Munich, whose Allianz Arena will host the final, take on FC Basel, the underdogs who spectacularly ousted Manchester United, in another of the top ties.
Juventus moved one win away from the Serie A title after they beat Parma 2-0 while AC Milan were held 2-2 at Lecce.
Lazio, having endured a miserable start to the season, had high hopes of victory at Genoa, who were languishing in the relegation zone at the start of the day.
Brazil winger Ronaldinho has become the central figure in the latest embarrassment to befall Blackburn Rovers' Indian owners, Venky's, following a Twitter post suggesting that they had offered the AC Milan ace a six million a year deal.
Juventus have 13 points from seven games, three behind leaders AC Milan who host Verona later on Sunday. Lazio have 11 points.
The French side moved to the brink of the Champions League quarter-finals with a ruthless 3-0 victory over Werder Bremen.
After Manchester took top billing in the Champions league on Tuesday it was London's turn on Wednesday when Chelsea and Arsenal recorded impressive, though contrasting, victories as the Premier League again flexed its muscles.
A round-up of action in Europe's main leagues over the weekend.
Former France World Cup winner Marcel Desailly is among the candidates to become new Ghana coach, the Black Stars said on their website (www.ghanafa.org) on Monday.
Juventus produced a stunning performance to beat holders Real Madrid 3-1 in their Champions League semi-final second leg and advanced to the final.
Midfielder Riccardo Montolivo missed out on his second straight major tournament due to injury on Tuesday while Daniele De Rossi was included in Italy's 23-man squad for next month's European Championship in France.
A 'winning culture' may be one of the most over used terms in modern football but Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti proved on Saturday, at Liverpool's expense, that there truly is meaning and value in the concept.
Not even 100 metres world record holder Usain Bolt could have caught AC Milan's Alexandre Pato when he streaked through to score against Barcelona after 24 seconds on Tuesday, Barca coach Pep Guardiola said.
Cristiano Ronaldo delivered the knockout blow for Real Madrid in their aristocratic battle with AC Milan on Tuesday, as Arsenal, Chelsea and Bayern Munich maintained their own perfect Champions League starts.
Juve star Ronaldo's agent rules out Sporting return
Last season's runners-up suffered a 3-1 defeat to Newcastle United in the Champions League.
They scored their 11th successive Champions League win with a 3-0 victory over Inter Milan.
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