Barca are now second on 66 points, two behind Real who have a game in hand as they chase a first title triumph since 2012.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
India, hosting its first ever FIFA tournament in the U-17 World Cup, will set the record of having the farthest distance between two venues in the event's history.
The United States government has expanded trade preference benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences to cover about $900 million more imports a year from India.
After not much action barring the 2-2 draw against Bangladesh in an international friendly in March this year, India slipped eights places to be ranked 158th in the latest FIFA rankings headed by World Champions Germany.
Five-times world champions Brazil plummeted further down the FIFA rankings as they hit a record low of 22nd place on Thursday, leaving them sandwiched between Ghana and Mali.
A piece of the original World Cup trophy, which was stolen in Brazil in 1983 and never recovered, has been found in a basement at FIFA's headquarters.
India on Monday unveiled a roadmap to step up trade with Latin American countries by ten times to over $22 billion in the coming years.
Costa Rica's World Cup goalkeeper Keylor Navas and United States women's team striker Abby Wambach were named CONCACAF's Players of the Year for 2014 on Tuesday.
Indian man scored a victory over unfancied Uruguay in their first round at the Chess Olympiad.
Brazil striker Ronaldo, who is going through one of the most barren patches of his career, says he accepts the pressure and that scoring goals is the only way to silence his critics.
Barcelona's injury crisis deepened on Wednesday after tests confirmed first-choice centre back Javier Mascherano will be out of action for upto 15 days after damaging a thigh muscle in Tuesday's 4-1 La Liga win at home to Real Sociedad.
Carlos Tevez scored from a free kick for the second game in a row in a 3-0 win in the Copa America football semi-final.
Barcelona's five-time soccer World Player of the Year Lionel Messi went on trial on Tuesday along with his father on accusations of defrauding the Spanish state of millions of euros (dollars).
After more goals came from set-pieces in this World Cup's group stage than any other, dead-ball strategy has continued to have a huge impact in the knockout phase, with five of the 11 goals scored in the quarter-finals coming from free kicks or corners.
Andy Murray is within one match of securing his place in the ATP World Tour Finals after easing past local favourite Julien Benneteau 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday to advance to the third round of the Paris Masters.
Real Madrid trimmed Barcelona's lead at the top of La Liga to one point when they recovered from conceding an early goal to secure a stirring 3-1 comeback win in the 'Clasico' on Saturday.
Angel Di Maria unleashed a stunning long-range strike in the 41st minute to draw Argentina level at 1-1 against France at halftime of their round of 16 World Cup clash on Saturday.
The world number two will not be fielded in India's first round match against unfancied Uruguay in the Chess Olympiad.
France, Argentina and Italy grabbed the spotlight with impressive friendly victories on the first major international soccer night of the season on Wednesday.
Napoli have agreed to buy Spain centre back Raul Albiol from Real Madrid, the Serie A club said on Sunday.
the countries assured of places in the 32-team field for next year's World Cup finals in Russia after Tuesday's qualifiers.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
As we prepare to cruise into the New Year, Rediff.com gives you a glance back, through photos, into all the sporting moments that made the last 12 months memorable.
A special forum to promote inter-regional trade between India and Mercosur countries will be held on June 9 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Brazilian World Cup winner tore a muscle in his right thigh and will almost certainly miss Barcelona's clash with arch rivals Real Madrid.
The Barcelona forward will miss Brazil's WC qualifiers against Peru and Uruguay due to a torn thigh muscle in his right leg.
Noted economist Arvind Subramanian is favoured as the choice for the government's Chief Economic Advisor (CEA).
Germany will retain their World Cup title in Moscow to equal Brazil's record of five wins in the tournament, according to a Reuters poll of financial specialists more used to predicting market moves.
A stoppage-time goal helped Ecuador rescue a 2-2 draw at home to Paraguay in World Cup qualifying on Thursday, preserving their record as South America's only unbeaten side and keeping them top of the 10-team standings in the race to Russia.
