Substitute Javier Saviola scored a late equaliser for champions Real Madrid as they could only draw 1-1 at promoted Valladolid in the Primera Liga.
Brazil's defensive record under coach Tite has been remarkable, with only six goals conceded in 25 matches, and they have been just as miserly in Russia where they have only conceded one goal.
Barcelona lost more ground in the title race on Sunday with a 0-0 draw at Osasuna while Sevilla showed they are the Primera Liga's form team with a 4-1 stroll past regional rivals Recreativo Huelva.
After playing the most soporific game of the World Cup so far, France will feature in a seismic last-16 clash of former champions with a resurgent Argentina on Saturday, and they will have to drastically improve if they are to stop Lionel Messi.
The 29-year-old's composure on the ball, ability to pick a pass and tough tackling paid dividends at both ends of the pitch in the must-win game against Nigeria.
Madrid-based daily Marca added that the group of supporters were also heckling ex-River player Mascherano, criticising him for "forgetting" his roots
Pepe has blasted the Liga club's fans as "unenthusiastic", contrasting the hushed atmosphere of the Santiago Bernabeu stadium with the cauldron of noise he is now exposed to with Turkish champions Besiktas.
Luis Suarez scored a hat-trick, including an exquisite second goal, as Barcelona strolled into the Club World Cup final with a 3-0 win over Asian champions Guangzhou Evergrande on Thursday.
West Ham United stole the limelight with a stunning double swoop for Argentines Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.
News of all that transpired on and off the football field.
"I said last year that I was happy with the stadium and I haven't changed my mind. It is a fantastic stadium and most of the works which we have requested to be able to host four teams and all the logistical organisational aspects of the World Cup have been completed," Yarza told reporters after the inspection visit.
Announcing the window for the 24-team championship, which includes India as hosts, Tournament Director Javier Cepii told a media conference in Mumbai that the D Y Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai is among the four centres, which has been given provisional approval to host matches in the 23-day event.
Barcelona are convinced Brazil captain Neymar will commit his long-term future to the Nou Camp as protracted negotiations between the Spanish champions and the striker continue over an extension to his current deal, which expires in June 2018.
Barcelona's Brazil right back Dani Alves has decided to leave the Nou Camp after eight years with the Spanish champions, the club said on Thursday.
Champions Paris St Germain went top of Ligue 1 for the first time this season when Ezequiel Lavezzi's late goal earned a 3-2 win at Metz on Friday, the club's first victory there in 11 years.
Five-time world player of the year Lionel Messi of Argentina, Chile's Alexis Sanchez and Brazilian Dani Alves were among the big names in the final rosters announced on Monday for next month's Copa America Centenario.
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique defended his team's integrity on Friday after a week in which his players were criticised by the highest powers in Spanish soccer following last week's dramatic 3-2 win at Valencia.
European champions Spain will enter their final group match against DPR Korea as the firm favourites, looking to secure a Round of 16 berth in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, in Kochi, on Friday.
Star Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan struck a late goal as Mumbai City FC ended Atletico de Kolkata's unbeaten run with a 1-0 victory and jumped to the top spot in the Indian Super League football in Kolkata on Tuesday.
West Ham United were fined for breaching ownership rules over signings of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.
Javier Saviola and Wesley Sneijder set up champions Real Madrid for a laboured 3-1 victory over 10-man Almeria in the Primera Liga on Saturday.
Argentina have reached three major finals in three years but the team who came so close to winning the 2014 World Cup face crunch games against Peru and Ecuador that will determine if they miss out on the global showpiece event for the first time since 1970.
Barcelona lead the Primera Liga on goal difference, ahead of title rivals Sevilla and Real Madrid.
Two goals from Eidur Gudjohnsen helped put Barcelona back to the top of the Primera Liga as they overcame Real Mallorca 4-1.
The referee who presided over Real Madrid's 2-1 Primera Liga defeat away to Racing Santander on Saturday said he has received death threats.
The Tottenham Hotspur striker was at the centre of controversy after admitting to biting the arm of Javier Mascherano on Sunday.
There was controversy about West Ham's equaliser when Mexican striker Javier Hernandez stooped to head in from close range but replays suggested the ball went in off his arm.
Stoke thought they had secured all three points and their first away win since October when substitute Peter Crouch knocked a loose ball into the back of the net after West Ham's England goalkeeper Joe Hart spilled a shot after 79 minutes.
Paris St Germain fielded a second-string side and were held 0-0 at home by Montpellier in Ligue 1 on Saturday as they restored a 23-point advantage at the top of the table.
Barcelona wasted a chance to go top of the Spanish Primera Liga by slumping to a 3-1 defeat at city rivals Espanyol.
World-record signing Neymar greeted delirious fans at a grand welcome event at Paris St Germain's stadium on Saturday but must sit out the French club's Ligue 1 opener after his transfer was not registered in time.
Holders Barcelona must beat Levski Sofia to make sure of avoiding a shock exit from the UEFA Champions League.
The case was filed against Lapierre by DGP Puri.
West Ham United manager Alan Pardew said Argentina's World Cup pair would take his team to a new level.
News of all that transpired on and off the football field.
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez are both back for domestic duties as second-placed Barcelona resume their chase of La Liga leader Real Madrid with a tricky trip to red-hot Real Sociedad on Sunday. Barcelona, into the Champions League last 16 as Group C winners with a 2-0 win at Celtic on Wednesday, are four points behind Real Madrid who will host Sporting Gijon on Saturday without the injured Gareth Bale. "We have achieved our aim, which was to qualify as first of our group and now we need to turn our focus to La Liga," Barcelona centre back Javier Mascherano told www.fcbarcelona.com.
The future of Spain striker Fernando Torres at Atletico Madrid remains uncertain, the club's coach Javier Aguirre said.
Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak was the hero as the Spanish side reached the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the fourth year in a row after drawing 0-0 with Bayer Leverkusen in an open last-16 second leg.
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