Madrid- Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy is expected to be sidelined for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his right knee in the United States, the club said Thursday.

The loss of the Dutch striker is a further blow to the club's embattled German coach Bernd Schuster.

Van Nistelrooy, 32, was treated by knee specialist Richard Steadman, who had already operated on the striker's right knee in 2000.

He will be out of action for between six to nine months, depending on how the knee recovers, the club said.

Shanghai- Jo-Wilfried Tsonga claimed his third revenge win in two months over Novak Djokovic as he produced a 1-6, 7-5, 6-1 Gold group comeback to spoil the Serb's hopes for a perfect group record on Thursday at the Masters Cup.

The 23-year-old Tsonga is out of consideration for a semi-final spot, but earned a moral victory over the man who beat him in the Australian Open final in January. Djokovic ended with a 2-1 mark.

Tsonga has now proved his point over the world number three in the Bangkok final and third round at Paris Bercy in addition to the year-end spectacular.

Rajkot (Gujarat), Nov 13: India and England cricket teams expressed confidence on Thursday, of performing well, a day before the first match of the seven-match one-day series between them.

India will look to adapt quickly after completing a 2-0 test series victory over Australia four days ago.

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said in Rajkot, where the fist match would be played that players should learn to switch over from the test series mode to one-day series mode.

Hamburg - After moving almost unnoticed to the top of the Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen have a chance of putting one of their chief rivals behind them in the German league's top game on Saturday.

Leverkusen take on visiting Schalke 04 who will be seeking to bounce back from a 2-1 home defeat to Bayern Munich last weekend which has left them five points adrift of the leaders.

Leverkusen, who are equal on 25 points with promoted Hoffenheim, have emerged as a title contender under new coach Bruno Labbadia who has a young side playing an attractive attacking game.

Milan - Struggling giants Roma play an unusual minnow role in Sunday's derby against buoyant city rivals Lazio, who sit far above them in the Serie A standings.

Lazio, lying fourth on 22 points from 11 games, are just two points behind leading champions Inter Milan and go into the game at the Stadio Olimpico boasting an impressive record of 21 goals notched mostly by strikers Mauro Zarate and Goran Pandev.