Two Wayne Rooney headers midway through the second half gave Manchester United a slightly fortunate 3-2 win at AC Milan in their pulsating Champions League last 16 first leg on Tuesday. Seven-times champions Milan, who had never lost to United at home or over two legs, were quickly ahead when Ronaldinho's volley deflected in off Michael Carrick following a free kick from former United midfielder David Beckham.
Alexandre Pato fired home in injury time to give AC Milan a lucky 2-1 win at Fiorentina on Wednesday to send the Rossoneri up to second in Serie A.
AC Milan warmed up for next week's Champions League clash against Manchester United with a patchy 3-2 home win over Udinese in Serie A on Friday.
Serie A leaders Inter Milan ground out a 1-0 victory at Chievo and Juventus ended their bad run with a similarly battling 2-1 win at Parma on Wednesday.
Striker Adriano, who has been left out of Inter Milan's last two games for indiscipline, was named in Brazil's squad on Monday for this month's friendly against Portugal. World Player of the Year Kaka was also included by coach Dunga but Ronaldinho, who missed last month's World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Colombia, was again overlooked.
The football tournament at the Beijing Olympics bursts into life on Tuesday with a semi-final between two of the sport's fiercest rivals, Brazil and Argentina.
Gennaro Gattuso will stay at AC Milan following talks with chief executive Adriano Galliani, the Italy midfielder said on Monday. The 30-year-old had been considering his future and was strongly linked with Bayern Munich, while he had also spoken fondly of the English Premier League having previously played for Rangers in Scotland.
AC Milan sealed their first win of the Serie A season when they overpowered early pacesetters Lazio 4-1.
The opening day of the Olympic tennis turned into a nightmare for the organisers as rain washed out most of the schedule and women's top seed Ana Ivanovic pulled out with a swollen thumb. Just nine of Sunday's slated 45 matches survived the torrential downpours and thunderclaps that left fans frustrated and volunteers mopping the courts with towels.
AC Milan were held 2-2 at struggling Torino on Sunday, leaving city rivals Inter Milan three points clear at the top of Serie A. Torino's Alessandro Rosina scored a 78th-minute penalty, which was conceded for handball by Kakha Kaladze, to earn the hosts a draw after Ronaldinho had put Milan 2-1 up with a spectacular free kick in the 34th.
Brazil, captained by Ronaldinho, struggled to a 1-0 win over nine-man Belgium in their opening match at the Olympic games soccer tournament on Thursday. Midfielder Hernanes cut inside his marker and fired between Logan Bailly and the near post in the 78th minute to get Brazil off to a winning start in their quest to win a first gold in Olympic soccer.
Barcelona scraped to a 2-1 win over Zaragoza while Real Madrid lost by the same margin at Real Betis.
Barcelona reclaimed second spot in the Primera Liga behind arch-rivals Real Madrid after they maintained their 100 percent record at the Nou Camp with a 2-1 comeback win over Deportivo Coruna on Sunday
A Ronaldinho-inspired Barcelona booked their place in the final with a classic 4-0 demolition of Mexico's America.
The Catalans made a lethargic start and fell behind in the 16th minute when striker Joseba Llorente bundled the ball into the net but they salvaged a point when Ronaldinho equalised with a neat finish just before halftime.
The European and Spanish champions struggled to find their rhythm in the face of hard-running opponents Deportivo Coruna in the Primera Liga.
Brazil and Paraguay share second place in the World Cup qualifying standings with four points, behind Argentina on six.
Carles Puyol and Lionel Messi gave Group E favourites Barcelona a 2-0 win at VfB Stuttgart in the Champions League.
Barcelona are in intimidating form going into Tuesday's Champions League clash with VfB Stuttgart and the Germans are fearing the worst.
Lionel Messi proved too hot to handle for Real Zaragoza as he inspired Barcelona to a 4-1 home victory with two goals in the Primera Liga.
Brazil's players have rejected the idea that Argentina will start as favourites in Sunday's Copa America final.
The new managers of Manchester United and Manchester City will face an early confrontation when the teams meet in a friendly in Beijing on July 25. Jose Mourinho, officially confirmed as United boss on Friday, and old adversary Pep Guardiola, who is replacing Manuel Pellegrini at City, will renew hostilities in the pre-season International Champions Cup. There was little love lost between the pair when Mourinho was in charge at Real Madrid and Guardiola led Barcelona. The rivalry is likely to be just as fierce when United attempt to make up ground on their neighbours, who have finished above them in the Premier League for the past three seasons.
Barcelona were held to a 1-1 home draw, a result which leaves the champions three points behind league leaders Sevilla.
The Italian defender ended Ronaldinho's two-year reign as World Player of the Year after he also succeeded the Barcelona playmaker as European Footballer of the Year.
Substitute Adriano fired a dramatic 82nd-minute winner as Brazil's Internacional beat hot favourites Barcelona in the final.
Brazil drew 0-0 with Turkey in a friendly international on Tuesday.
The World champions will be banking on their 'Magic Quartet' to win them the record sixth title
Fabio Cannavaro, Ronaldinho and Zinedine Zidane have been shortlisted for the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
Leaders Real Madrid edged closer to the Primera Liga title beating Deportivo Coruna 3-1 in the Bernabeu on Saturday.
Two armed men held up councilors in Paris at gunpoint demanding free tickets to the Champions League final
Leaders Barcelona edged closer to their third consecutive league title with a 2-0 away win over struggling Real Sociedad in the Primera Liga on Saturday.
Champions League favourites Barcelona face an all-Iberian derby with Benfica in the quarterfinal
'Messi is the best player in the world, along with Ronaldinho. I see him as very similar to me,' Maradona said.
Valencia beat leaders Barcelona 2-1 at the Mestalla to put themselves firmly in the Primera Liga title race.
Champions Barcelona produced another sparkling display to crush Racing Santander 4-1 and reclaim top spot in the Primera Liga.
Have you joined the rediff fan club to support your favourite football team in the World Cup 2006?
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