Madrid - Spain's triumphant Davis Cup-winning tennis team flew into Madrid airport on Tuesday morning after writing the final chapter in a glorious year for Spanish sport.

Headed by captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario, the tennis heroes left Buenos Aires on Monday evening and flew into Madrid's Barajas airport early on Tuesday, to be greeted by around 200 delighted fans.

Arriving at a more hospitable hour would surely have provoked a more tumultous reception.

Madrid  - Angel Maria Villar was, as expected, re-elected as president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF) on Monday for another four-year term.

Villar, 58, has reigned for two decades since 1988, one of the longest in world football.

He obtained 144 votes on Monday, with three votes being declared null and 18 left blank.

In his acceptance speech, he said he was "very grateful for the continued confidence in me," and promised "four more years of dedication and hard work."

Madrid - Former Tour de France champion Alberto Contador underwent surgery to relieve a blockage in his nasal passage and to remove a polyp on his vocal cord on Monday.

Contador said the operation would force him to miss a December training camp of his Astana team in Tenerife even though he will travel to the island for light training in the gym.

"The moment to take the bike again will depend of how I evolve, but I have thought to use the stage in Tenerife to make a specific work in the gym," he said on his website.

Madrid - Injury-plagued Real Madrid face a daunting trip to Belarus for a Champions League match which could shape the season for the nine-time European champions.

Bernd Schuster's troubled team is away to BATE Borisov in a Group H match as the Spanish champions scramble to reach the last 16 amid growing pressure on the German coach.

Real will ensure themselves of a place in the knock-out stage with a victory at BATE, providing Juventus avoid defeat away to Zenit St Petersburg.

But two defeats in the group to Juventus have dented Real's confidence, and a further defeat would leave them facing a tough last game in the group at home to Zenit to avoid a humiliating exit.

Madrid  - Real Madrid stumbled out of their crisis with a streaky 1-0 home win Saturday over spirited but naive Recreativo Huelva.

Real won with a 39th-minute goal from Wesley Sneijder, whose powerful left-footed drive took a wicked deflection off Huelva defender Beto and spun over hapless keeper Asier Riesgo.

The whites did not play well but could have widened their lead in the second half. Huelva showed some neat approach play but lacked power and decision in attack.

Madrid  - Real Madrid stumbled out of their crisis with a streaky 1-0 home win Saturday over spirited but naive Recreativo Huelva.

Real won with a 39th-minute goal from Wesley Sneijder, whose powerful left-foot drive took a wicked deflection off Huelva defender Beto and spun over hapless keeper Asier Riesgo.

The whites did not play well but could have scored more goals in the second half. Huelva showed some neat approach play but lacked power and decision in attack.

The latest defeat leaves Huelva, Spain's oldest club, second from bottom with just seven points. They left the Bernabeu complaining about a Pepe handball that was not given as a penalty.