Premier League leaders Chelsea suffered their biggest home defeat for nearly nine years when they were humbled 3-0 by Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Devising a strategy to thwart Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is Chelsea coach Guus Hiddink's main concern ahead of his side's Champions League semi-final first leg at the Nou Camp on Tuesday. The Argentina international is the top scorer in this season's competition with eight goals and Chelsea's task of preventing him from adding to his tally has been complicated by the suspension of left back Ashley Cole.
Guus Hiddink has disciplined Ashley Cole and had firm words with the rest of the Chelsea squad after the left-back was arrested for drunk and disorderly behaviour near a London nightclub on Wednesday.
Spain will play an international friendly against England in Seville in February after the visitors refused to play at Real Madrid's Bernabeu stadium, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) said on Tuesday. In a statement, the RFEF said it had decided to hold the match at Sevilla's Sanchez Pizjuan stadium on February 11, without giving any further explanation.
Chelsea's title hopes were boosted on Thursday when they learned that injured defender Ashley Cole was likely to return for the last three games of the season.
England coach Fabio Capello will be without at least six of his first-choice side for Wednesday's friendly against Germany in Berlin after midfielders Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard withdrew from the squad on Monday.
Chelsea's England defender Ashley Cole is expected to be sidelined for about three months after fracturing his left ankle in Wednesday's defeat at Everton, the London club said on their website.
Chelsea regained their dominant place in the Premier League title race with a 3-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday that restored their five-point lead over Manchester United.
Three goals in seven minutes gave Chelsea a 3-0 Premier League home win over Burnley on Saturday while champions Manchester United were thankful for an Abou Diaby own goal as they came from 1-0 down to beat Arsenal 2-1 at Old Trafford.
Midfielder Steven Gerrard will miss England's friendly against Germany in Berlin on Wednesday after picking up a groin strain in Liverpool's 2-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.
England captain John Terry has been ruled out of the 2010 World Cup qualifier against Belarus in Minsk Wednesday because of the back injury.
England captain John Terry has been ruled out of the 2010 World Cup qualifier against Belarus in Minsk on Wednesday because of the back injury which kept him out of last Saturday's match against Kazakhstan.
The Football Association has rejected appeals by Chelsea left back Ashley Cole and Aston Villa defender Zat Knight for wrongful dismissal in the 4-4 draw between the teams in the Premier League on Wednesday.
The Dutchman said he accepted responsibility for the incident but added that he had not intended to hurt Ashley Cole.
Chelsea and England footballer Ashley Cole was arrested early on Thursday morning on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly, a police source said. Cole was stopped by police on Brompton Road, in an upmarket area of London.
Ten days ago John Terry was carried off the pitch with a dislocated shoulder but that will be nothing compared with the pain he will be feeling after missing the chance to win the Champions League for Chelsea.
West Ham United stole the limelight with a stunning double swoop for Argentines Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.
Chelsea rounded off their pre-season tour of Asia with a 2-0 win over a Malaysia select X1 thanks to goals by Nicolas Anelka and Ashley Cole on Tuesday. The Champions League finalists secured the third win of their three-leg tour in hot and humid conditions in front of a crowd of 80,000 at the Shah Alam stadium in Kuala Lumpur.
McClaren has lost left backs Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge for the game on March 24 to suspension and injury, while striker Peter Crouch is also out.
Premier League sides Arsenal, Southampton and Blackburn Rovers reached the FA Cup quarter-finals with victories over lower division opponents in fifth-round replays on Tuesday.
Ashley Cole has fanned the flames of his acrimonious departure to Chelsea by accusing Arsenal of betraying him.
"I feel betrayed, confused and badly let down," the Arsenal defender said.
The EPL champions, Jose Mourinho and Ashley Cole were found guilty of breaking contract rules by the governing body.
Van Nistelrooy has to admit or deny the charges by Tuesday, with the case due to be heard on Thursday.
But the Arsenal manager is adamant the defender will still be at the North London club until January.
The Arsenal defender will take his "tapping-up" case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne after losing an appeal over the affair.
Jose Mourinho and Ashley Cole lost their appeals over the 'tapping up' affair but had their fines cut to 75,000 pounds each
However, Arsenal will be without Gilberto and Ashley Cole for the Champions League match against Celta Vigo.
Arsenal, as a club, have been charged with misconduct.
Chelsea stay a point clear of Arsene Wenger's unbeaten team with 36 points.
The striker created the goals that secured Arsenal's place in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Manchester City endured some anxious moments but escaped from fourth-tier Newport County with their FA Cup hopes intact as Phil Foden scored twice in an ultimately comfortable 4-1 fifth-round victory on Saturday.
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Chelsea will give a better account of themselves in the Champions League in Paris on Wednesday than they did in an unexpected weekend defeat at CrystalPalace, manager Jose Mourinho said on Sunday.
Chelsea have not given up hope of signing unsettled Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney, Blues manager Jose Mourinho has said.
Queens Park Rangers defender Rio Ferdinand has been suspended for three matches and fined 25,000 pounds ($40,030) after he was found guilty of misconduct by the Football Association (FA) for an 'abusive' comment he made on Twitter.
Bollywood Actor and owner of the Jaipur Pink Panthers, Abhishek Bachchan said that the inaugural addition of the Pro Kabaddi league has made a huge impact in the world of sports.
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