Football

Mourinho has refused to criticise Cole for attending Arsenal's Christmas party, but has revealed he is not likely to start against his old club on Monday.

Rodgers says Henderson is showing the kind of form that convinced the club to splash 16 million pounds on the midfielder two years ago.

Also, Atletico Madrid continue to show no signs that their season-long form is a fluke and will take on ninth-place Valencia on Sunday.

Mourinho will keep faith with Luiz despite persistent rumours of a January move away from Chelsea for the maverick Brazil centre back.

Sneijder ended a year of contrasting fortunes by scoring the goal that took Galatasaray into the Champions League knockouts.

Japan playmaker Keisuke Honda will leave CSKA Moscow to join AC Milan in January, the Serie A club said on Wednesday.

Wesley Sneijder scored a late goal to help Galatasaray advance to the knockout stage with a 1-0 win over Juventus in a weather-delayed match.

Ronaldo became the first player to score nine goals in the group stage of the Champions League on Tuesday.

FIFA announced the shortlist after voting rules changes made Ronaldo the favorite after helping Portugal qualify for the World Cup last month.

Real were held to a drab 0-0 at third-division Olimpic Xativa, while Atletico started their title defense with an easy 4-0 win at Sant Andreu.

Barcelona conceded a surprise early goal but a double from Pedro helped them fight back to secure a 4-1 victory.

Everton's 1-0 victory means that Manchester United now find themselves at ninth in the table.

According to commissioner Don Garber there will not be a new team in South Beach until a stadium deal is in place.

At least three World Cup stadiums in Brazil will not be finished by the end of December as FIFA had requested.

Last-place Real Betis have fired coached Pepe Mel after a poor start to the Spanish league season.

Herrera, whose previous appointment in mid-October was only for the two-leg playoff, will take up the job at the end of the Mexican Apertura championship.