Erling Haaland and Phil Foden scored hat-tricks to fire champions Manchester City to a rampant 6-3 thrashing of local rivals Manchester United in the English Premier League on Sunday.
David Villa and Xabi Alonso netted long-range free kicks from near-identical positions to help Spain to a 3-0 win over Venezuela in a friendly international on Tuesday.
Here's a glimpse of the carnival-like atmosphere in the stands...
Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas has admitted he made mistakes at Chelsea and that they were right to dismiss him after less than nine months in charge.
Barcelona's David Villa proved he still has a sharp eye for goal by scoring twice as the holders cruised into the King's Cup quarter-finals by beating second division Cordoba 5-0 at the Nou Camp on Thursday.
Substitute David Villa scored a superb last-gasp winner and Cesc Fabregas netted twice as leaders Barcelona came from two goals down to stun 10-man Sevilla 3-2 and extend their perfect La Liga record on Saturday.
The Gunners' only league defeat of the campaign was in September away to one of England's traditional top-six clubs, Manchester United, drawing criticism that their strong start to the season was based on wins against lesser opposition.
'Who is the aggressor and who is the victim is not clear, each blames the other.'
Chelsea scored twice in the last two minutes in a stunning comeback against Aston Villa on Sunday only to concede an injury-time equaliser in a 3-3 draw that severely dents their hopes of retaining the Premier League title.
Andy Carroll helped himself to a hat-trick as Newcastle United stunned Aston Villa 6-0 to mark a memorable home return to the Premier League on Sunday.
Lionel Messi's double and a David Villa goal on his return form injury helped Barcelona hammer visitors Real Sociedad 5-1 to give new coach Tito Vilanova the perfect start to their La Liga campaign on Sunday.
Arsenal dominated the opening period in the Villa Park sunshine.
Spain striker David Villa spent a lot of time dodging questions about his future last summer and is likely to have to do the same again at the World Cup finals in South Africa from next month. Valencia's leading marksman was on the brink of joining Florentino Perez's new Real Madrid project last June, before his president Manuel Llorente pulled the plug on the deal.
Images from the Premier League matches played on Tuesday.
Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus' second-half goals gave West Ham a 2-0 win over Manchester United in the Premier League's early game on Saturday, as the Hammers briefly moved into the top six.
Darron Gibson fired holders Manchester United through to the last four of the English League Cup on Tuesday with a 2-0 win at Old Trafford that ended Tottenham Hotspur's hopes of a third successive final.
David Villa, a miner's son from the northern Spanish region of Asturias, has struck a rich seam of goals in South Africa that may help lift the Iberian nation to a first World Cup triumph.
Chelsea's hopes of winning a third consecutive Premier League title have taken a knock with a third straight draw, their first match this season without scoring.
Images from Saturday's action in the Premier League.
The stadium erupted in cheers once more with Fernandez's late strike which sealed Argentina's first win in the tournament and rekindled Messi's hopes of a first-ever World Cup title.
Manchester United may have kept their powder dry in the transfer window but they remain the team to beat in the Premier League as two goals by Wayne Rooney helped them to a 3-1 home win over Aston Villa on Tuesday.
Bradford City produced another giant-killing to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Two abandoned houses were set on fire by unidentified people in Manipur's Imphal West district in the early hours of Wednesday, an official said.
David Villa struck twice to lead Barcelona to a 5-0 rout of Real Madrid on Monday with a scintillating performance which put the champions two points clear of their arch-rivals at the top of the Spanish La Liga.
IMAGES from Saturday's action in the English Premier League.
Images from the FIFA World Cup Group E match between Germany and Japan on Wednesday.
IMAGES from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday
West Bromwich Albion inflicted further misery on Manchester United, winning 2-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday to condemn the champions to their worst start to a Premier League season and leave them in the bottom half of the table after six games.
Champions Manchester City slipped to a shock first Premier League defeat of the season at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, while Manchester United's campaign of woe continued with a loss to Crystal Palace.
IMAGES from the EPL matches played on Saturday
Arsenal scored three goals in a seven-minute burst after halftime against visitors Aston Villa, including two penalties from Robin van Persie, as they staged a dramatic comeback to win 3-2 and reach the FA Cup fifth round on Sunday.
'It's not possible for me, or any middle class family, to purchase a new home in Mumbai.'
'The moment we found a goal it changed everything'
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger expects big-spending Manchester City and much-improved Aston Villa to turn the Premier League's established big four into a big six this season.
IMAGES from the Premier League matches played on Saturday.
Emiliano Martinez said he had always wanted to come to India.
'I overslept a bit. It can happen.'
IMAGES from the English Premier League matches played on Sunday.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances