Colombian super-sub Jhon Duran scored two late goals as Aston Villa salvaged a 3-3 home draw with Liverpool.
Spain's World Cup winners Xavi and Andres Iniesta were joined by holder Lionel Messi on an all-Barcelona shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d'Or announced on Monday.
Spain and England have experienced very different journeys to Sunday's Euro 2024 final. We look at their path to Berlin below.
Spanish midfielder Xavi, who orchestrated Spain's World Cup triumph, was named as World Soccer's Player of the Year on Thursday. The world champions completed a Spanish double by being named Team of the Year.
Barcelona midfielder Xavi has withdrawn from the Spain squad to play Uruguay this week because of a hamstring problem, the Spanish football federation (RFEF) said on Monday.
Xavi brought his glittering Barcelona career to a fitting and emotional end when he hoisted aloft the European Cup following a 3-1 victory over Juventus in the Champions League final.
It is time for Spain to take their place at the top of world soccer by beating the Netherlands in Sunday's World Cup final, midfielder Xavi said on the eve of the clash.
Barcelona midfielder Xavi is close to an agreement on a new contract that will mean he ends his playing career at the La Liga club he joined more than 20 years ago, the Spain international said.
Good news for Barcelona and Spain, bad news for all their rivals. Xavi says he is in the best form of his life. The diminutive playmaker put in a match-winning performance against Real Madrid on Saturday, setting up both Barcelona goals in a 2-0 victory at the Bernabeu that put the champions top and made them favourites to retain their league title.
Barcelona endured a frustrating evening in their La Liga season opener with a 0-0 draw in a feisty affair at Getafe.
Xavi celebrated setting a club record for La Liga appearances when he netted a superb free kick to give an otherwise listless Barcelona a 1-0 win at Granada on Tuesday in a scrappy game in which the home side finished with nine men.
A Xavi free kick and an exquisite lob from Lionel Messi fired Barcelona to a 2-0 win at Sevilla that cut Real Madrid's lead at the top of La Liga back to seven points on Saturday.
Xavi produced a goal of surgical precision to give Barcelona a 3-2 win over AC Milan on Wednesday in an enthralling Champions League match which also featured Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring against the Catalan club he left acrimoniously last year.
A summary of Wednesday's action in the Champions League quarter-finals first leg.
Austria's aggressive and hard running approach propelled them into the last-16 of the European Championship on Tuesday after a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Netherlands.
When asked about Barcelona's youth and talent in midfield especially, Gundogan said he had a lot to offer the team with his experience.
LaLiga leaders Real Madrid's pursuit of a record-extending 36th Spanish title
Here is a quick guide to the eight games which get underway on Saturday.
Bayer Leverkusen beat Freiburg 3-2 to edge closer to a first ever Bundesliga title.
Barcelona won their 27th LaLiga title and first for four years after a 4-2 win at city rivals Espanyol on Sunday.
Vinicius Jr scored a hat-trick in the first half as Real Madrid were crowned Spanish Super Cup champions
While the tournament saw the emergence of young stars, the usual suspects, the big names flattered to deceive.
Seydou Keita and Xavi struck in the last 11 minutes to earn 10-man Barcelona a nervy 3-1 home win over lowly Sporting Gijon that kept their La Liga title hopes alive on Saturday.
Barcelona's Xavi crashed a shot into the top corner three minutes from the end and Lionel Messi forced a stoppage-time own goal as the hosts overcame stubborn Granada 2-0 to maintain their perfect La Liga start on Saturday.
It will be the fifth edition in a row that the two heavyweights have met head to head at a European Championship.
Barcelona have won the Champions League five times, most recently in 2015, and face a tough task to get back to the top table of European football after being forced to sell club legend Lionel Messi due to financial problems.
The main conundrum for Spain coach Vicente del Bosque ahead of Friday's World Cup Group I qualifier at home to minnows Finland is who to deploy in place of Xavi should the injured Barcelona playmaker be ruled out as expected.
Barcelona midfielder Xavi has damaged a calf muscle in his right leg and will miss the Champions League last-16 second leg at home to VfB Stuttgart on Wednesday, the club said. The Spain international picked up the injury during traing on Tuesday and after tests was ruled out of action for around 15 days.
Barcelona won 3-1 at Alaves in La Liga on Saturday thanks to goals by Robert Lewandowski, Ilkay Gundogan and substitute Victor Roque, who was sent off after picking up a second yellow card.
'Trust me, the comeback of Leo Messi only depends on him.'
Spain have a very good chance of winning their first World Cup in South Africa next year but it might just be England's turn and Ivory Coast are potential dark horses, midfielder Xavi said.
Barcelona have a doubt over midfielder Xavi as they prepare to go on the offensive in their Champions League quarter-final second leg against AC Milan on Tuesday.
IMAGES from the soccer matches played across leagues on Friday
Girona reclaimed top spot in LaLiga after beating champions Barcelona 4-2
Barcelona playmaker Xavi may recover from a hamstring injury in time to feature in Wednesday's Champions League last 16 first leg at Serie A side AC Milan, interim coach Jordi Roura said on Friday.
Xavi scored a typical Barcelona goal to give the European champions a 3-2 win over AC Milan in a Champions League match which was enthralling but of little importance on Wednesday.
Juventus climb to top of Serie A with win over Lecce
Paris St Germain closed out the year on a high as they maintained their five-point advantage at the top of the table.
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