David Villa is an important member of the Barcelona squad, his club and international team mate Andres Iniesta said on Thursday amid speculation the Spain striker could move in the January transfer window.
Fernando Torres continued his recent resurgence as Chelsea brushed aside Mexico's Monterrey 3-1 with a confident display to reach the final of the Club World Cup in Japan on Thursday.
Chelsea surrendered another three points in their quest for a top-four Premier League finish as Newcastle United's new signing Moussa Sissoko struck in the last minute to grab a 3-2 win that left Rafa Benitez's side reeling.
Real Madrid's interim coach Santiago Solari says the squad are hurting but determined to turn around their dismal start to the season.
Two own goals from Stoke City forward Jonathan Walters set Chelsea on their way to a 4-0 Premier League victory on Saturday that gave under-fire interim manager Rafael Benitez some respite.
Chelsea brought a ray of light to a largely miserable December when they reached the Capital One (League) Cup semi-finals after a 5-1 triumph at second tier Leeds United on Wednesday.
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.
Burnley beat Blackburn Rovers 2-0 at Ewood Park in their East Lancashire derby but Premier League sides Southampton and Newcastle United crashed out of the English League Cup to Championship opposition in Wednesday's second-round games.
Images from the English Premier League match played between Manchester City and Newcastle on Wednesday
Manchester City gave renewed hope to the chasing pack in the battle for a Champions League spot as they were held to a battling 1-1 draw at relegation strugglers Newcastle United on Tuesday.
AC Milan clung on to beat Parma 5-4 away in Serie A on Sunday despite an dreadful defensive display which included Mattia De Sciglio scoring an extraordinary own goal from near the halfway line late in the match.
Atalanta forward German Denis took advantage of shocking defending by Napoli to score twice in a 3-0 win over Rafael Benitez's exasperatingly inconsistent team on Sunday.
Napoli put a foot in the Europa League semi-finals with a perfectly crafted 4-1 win at VfL Wolfsburg on Thursday as Marek Hamsik scored twice in an Italian masterclass to bring cheer to beleaguered coach Rafael Benitez.
Here are five talking points from the weekend's Premier League action:
Espanyol have agreed a deal for goalkeeper Kiko Casilla to join Real Madrid, the Catalan club said on Friday.
Champions Barcelona begin their bid for a sixth La Liga title in eight years at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday knowing that fellow heavyweights Real Madrid could, unusually, be just one of several challengers for their crown.
Inter Milan manager Rafa Benitez delivered another of his famous statistically-led retorts on Monday to prove that his team were not suffering more than their fair share of injuries.
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Tuesday
Last season's AC Milan coach Leonardo was named manager of city rivals Inter Milan on Friday in a move which has stunned the soccer world despite the Italian game's celebrated eccentricities.
Inter Milan reignited their Serie A title charge thanks to Morocco midfielder Houssine Kharja setting up a 3-0 win at bottom side Bari on Thursday.
Roy Hodgson has apologised to Liverpool fans after accusing them of failing to support him since he arrived to take over from Rafa Benitez.
Rui Patricio saved three penalties as Wolverhampton Wanderers defeated English Premier League champions Manchester City to claim the Premier League Asia Trophy 3-2 in a penalty shootout.
Holders Inter Milan earned their coach a reprieve to lead a group of seven teams through to the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday, a night lit up by Lionel Messi's customary finesse and Wayne Rooney's goalscoring return.
Inter Milan's crisis intensified on Sunday with a 2-1 defeat at Chievo, where Samuel Eto'o appeared to commit a Zinedine Zidane-like headbutt that could result in a lengthy suspension.
Real Madrid star striker Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted that his 'personal problems' have been affecting his form this season but insisted that he will not be leaving the La Liga giants this summer.
Roy Hodgson was tasked with reviving Liverpool's flagging fortunes on Thursday when the much-travelled 62-year-old was confirmed as the club's new manager after resigning from Fulham.
A first-half goal from new signing Alessandro Matri gave Juventus a sweet 1-0 victory over Inter Milan in the derby of Italy on Sunday, dealing a huge blow to their opponents' bid to win a sixth successive scudetto.
Zinedine Zidane got off to a flying start as Real Madrid coach when Gareth Bale hit a hat-trick in a 5-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday after a Lionel Messi treble had fired Barcelona to the top of La Liga.
Duvan Zapata scored a goal of sheer brute force and determination to set Napoli on the way to a 2-0 win over Sassuolo which moved them another step closer to second-placed AS Roma in Serie A on Monday.
Dismal domestic and Champions League campaigns have left Liverpool seeking Europa League salvation but they must first overturn a 1-0 semi-final first-leg deficit against Atletico Madrid on Thursday.
Manager Roy Hodgson has hinted that Liverpool are unlikely to mount a Premier League title challenge this season.
Midfielder Joe Cole was given the chance to rekindle his career on Monday when he joined Liverpool after being released by Chelsea in May.
Sulley Muntari came in from the cold and scored his first club goal in a year to hand injury-hit Inter Milan a battling 1-0 Serie A win at Genoa on Friday.
Samuel Eto'o scored a scintillating home hat-trick for holders Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday as former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi's magic went missing in a 1-1 draw in Russia.
Atletico Madrid gave new Inter Milan coach Rafa Benitez plenty to think about when they deservedly beat the Champions League winners 2-0 in the European Super Cup at the Stade Louis II in Monaco on Friday.
IMAGES from the EPL match played between Arsenal and Newcastle on Monday
Images from the English Premier League matches on Saturday.
French fair play could help keep Liverpool's UEFA Champions League hopes alive when they take on Debrecen in Hungary on Tuesday. Five times champions Liverpool must win to have any hope of reaching the last 16 but they also need France's Olympique Lyon, who are already through, not to lose against Fiorentina in Italy.
Liverpool's new chairman has reassured fans the club's debts will not lead to the sale of marquee players Fernando Torres or Steven Gerrard.
Zidane was accompanied on stage by his wife and four sons, who all look good to follow in the footsteps of their father.
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