Spain

Spanish princess moves to US

Spanish princess moves to US Madrid - Spain's Princess Cristina, 43, the second of King Juan Carlos' three children, will move to Washington DC with her family, news reports said Thursday.

The princess' husband, former handball player Inaki Urdangarin, has accepted a job in the United States with the Spanish telecommunications giant Telefonica, the royal palace said.

The couple, who have the titles of duke and duchess of Palma, have four children aged between 3 and 9 years. The family currently lives in Barcelona.

Valencia veteran Albelda out for three weeks after training injury

Valencia veteran Albelda out for three weeks after training injury Madrid - Valencia veteran midfielder David Albelda will be out of action for around three weeks due to injury, the Spanish football club said on Thursday.

Albelda, 31, twisted a ligaments in his left ankle in training on Thursday and had to be stretchered off.

He will miss upcoming matches of "Los Ches" against Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Valencia consolidated themselves in fourth place in La Liga on Wednesday with a 2-1 win away to Betis, with two goals from Euro 2008 top scorer David Villa.

Nalbandian wins into possible Barcelona test against Nadal

Nalbandian wins into possible Barcelona test against Nadal Barcelona - Seventh seed David Nalbandian completed a hat-trick of quarter-final placings at the Barcelona Open on Thursday as he beat Spain's Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 6-4.

The Argentine also reached the last eight at the Real club in 2004 and in 2007 but stalled in the third round a year ago.

The former Wimbledon finalist is more than likely to line up against king of clay Rafael Nadal if the world number 1 came through as expected later on Thursday in his third-round match with Belgian Christophe Rochus.

Crisis hits Spanish tourism

Crisis hits Spanish tourism Madrid - Europe's economic crisis is hitting tourism in Spain, where overnight stays in hotels fell 16 per cent in the first quarter, the National Statistics Institute (INE) said Thursday.

In March, hotel stays declined by nearly 19 per cent from the corresponding period in 2008 to 15.6 million, the lowest in five years, despite hotel prices going down by 7 per cent.

The March results were, however, affected by the fact that Easter fell in March in 2008, increasing the number of tourists that year.

Panenka critical of Casquero's imitation penalty

Panenka critical of Casquero's imitation penalty Madrid - Antonin Panenka, the man who won Euro 1976 for Czechoslovakia with an impudent chipped penalty, has criticized the bizarre attempt of Getafe's Francisco Casquero to imitate him.

Casquero absurdly tried to imitate Panenka's penaly, but instead floated a feeble chip straight into the arms of Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas on Tuesday night during Real's 3-2 victory.

"Yes, I have seen it," Panenka told Thursday's edition of the Spanish sports daily As.

Majestic Barcelona retake six-point lead in style

Majestic Barcelona retake six-point lead in styleMadrid  - Majestic Barcelona turned on the style once again, brushing aside third-placed Sevilla 4-0 Wednesday in a euphoric Camp Nou.

The latest exhibition leaves Josep Guardiola's sumptuous side six points ahead of second-place Real Madrid, who, in contrast, struggled Tuesday to beat lowly Getafe 3-2.

Barca now have 81 points from 32 games, while Real have 75.

Barca have won their last seven league matches without conceding a goal - and without their obvious superiority ever having been in doubt.

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