Madrid

Barcelona defender Abidal out of action for two months

Barcelona defender Abidal out of action for two months Madrid  - Barcelona's Eric Abidal will be out of action for around two months, after tearing the abductor muscle in his right thigh in Saturday's shock 2-1 defeat at home to local rivals Espanyol.

Abidal was stretchered off after just 24 minutes after a clash with Espanyol's Sergio Sanchez. A preliminary exploration by the Barca doctors suggests that he will be out for around eight or nine weeks.

Abidal, 29, will miss the upcoming Champions League round of 16 clash against Olympique Lyon, his former club.

Espanyol stun Barcelona, Real Madrid thrash Betis

BarcelonaMadrid  - Barcelona suffered their second league defeat of the season on Saturday 2-1 at home to lowly Espanyol, for whom ex-Barca star Ivan de la Pena was the two-goal hero.

At the same time, Real Madrid were scoring their ninth straight win by thrashing hapless Betis 6-1, with all the goals coming in a breathless first half.

These results bring the Liga race back to life because second-place Real are now seven points behind Barca, who held a 12-point two weeks ago.

"Tonight's games really brings the league back to life," said Real striker Gonzalo Higuain, who opened the scoring against Betis.

Maradona becomes a grand dad

Maradona becomes a grand dadMadrid (Spain), Feb.

Sevilla striker Chevanton to miss rest of season

Ernesto ChevantonMadrid - Sevilla striker Ernesto Chevanton will b

"Super Saturday" in store in Spain

"Super Saturday" in store in SpainMadrid  - Football fans across Spain are already looking forward to a "Super Saturday", with all of the top clubs in early action prior to next week's Champions League clashes.

Saturday's biggest game is the Catalan derby between record-breaking Barclelona and bottom team Espanyol.

Rarely before have the two Catalan teams been separated by so many points: Barca have 60, Espanyol just 18.

"On paper and in theory it looks like an easy game... but I'm sure that it won't be," Barca playmaker Xavi said.

Alaves players robbed whilst out training

Madrid  - Spanish news agency EFE reported on Wednesday evening that the players of second division team Alaves were robbed earlier in the evening whilst out on the training field.

An individual, who has still not been identified, allegedly entered the team's dressing-room and helped himself to mobile telephones, cash, credit cards and jewellery.

The suspect was spotted by one of the club's physio's and escaped in a car, only to be arrested later by the police. However, none of the stolen objects have so far been recovered.

The incident took place at Alaves' training ground in Ibaia, on the outskirts of the Basque regional capital Vitoria.

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