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Three goals in a frantic final five minutes helped Arsenal move into the box seat in the battle for Champions League qualification with a dramatic 3-1 win at home to Norwich City on Saturday.

Germany's Champions League semi-finalists went on scoring sprees in the Bundesliga on Saturday with Borussia Dortmund blasting five first-half goals in a 6-1 win at Greuther Furth and champions Bayern Munich beating Nuremberg 4-0.

Next month's Italian Cup final will be played at the Olympic Stadium in Rome even if it ends up as a local derby match, according to Serie A President Maurizio Beretta.

South American champions Corinthians were beaten 3-1 away by Sao Paulo in their final match on Sunday before heading to Japan to take part in the Club World Cup.

Lionel Messi wants to be remembered as a good friend and colleague to his team-mates rather than as the best player in the world, the unassuming Argentine said in an interview on Monday.

The shade of the shirt may have changed but Robin van Persie remains a red-hot Dutch master after marking his first Manchester United start with a superb goal in a 3-2 Premier League win over Fulham on Saturday.

Cristiano Ronaldo's powerful header 11 minutes from time sent Portugal into the Euro 2012 semi-finals with a deserved 1-0 victory over the Czech Republic on Thursday.

Cristiano Ronaldo at his thrilling best scored twice for Portugal as they reached the last eight with a 2-1 win over the Netherlands, eliminating the Dutch who ended a miserable Euro 2012 campaign without a point.

Boca Juniors clung to their lead in the Argentine league with a 1-1 draw at bottom team Banfield despite enjoying a one-man advantage for 86 minutes on Saturday.

Coach Rene Girard was relishing Montpellier's first Ligue 1 title after celebrations were delayed by crowd trouble during their match at AJ Auxerre on Sunday.

Montpellier players kept their cool to clinch a maiden Ligue 1 title with a 2-1 win at AJ Auxerre although the match descended into chaos as police were called in after local fans pelted the pitch with flares, tomatoes and toilet paper to interrupt the game three times on Sunday.

Two Danish league matches will be used this month to test GoalRef, one of two goal-line technology systems being evaluated by FIFA, football's governing body said on Wednesday.

The English Premier League on Thursday kicked off the auction for a new domestic television deal which will be a test of whether pay TV operator BSkyB can maintain its dominance of live coverage of football.

Troubled Scottish club Rangers have been handed a 12-month transfer embargo and owner Craig Whyte has been given a lifetime ban from Scottish football, the Scottish Football Association said.

Schalke 04 forward Raul is to leave at the end of the season when his contract expires, the Bundesliga club said on Thursday.

Lady Luck was not smiling on profligate Barcelona in Wednesday's 1-0 Champions League defeat at Chelsea but the holders expressed confidence they could turn the semi-final around in the second leg at their daunting Nou Camp arena on Tuesday.

After 12 consecutive years in the Champions League, Olympique Lyon face the prospect of not playing in Europe's premium club competition next season baring a spectacular turnaround starting against Lorient on Sunday.

As well as a potential title decider, Saturday's 'Clasico' between bitter rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona serves up the latest installment in the goal-scoring drama featuring record-setting marksmen Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Coach Ignacio Ambriz resigned on Wednesday as Johan Cruyff's influence at ailing Mexican giants Guadalajara increases.

Like a vulture circling its fallen prey, Manchester United have the scent of another Premier League title in their nostrils with a fifth crown in the last six seasons just two wins away.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola and Chelsea counterpart Roberto Di Matteo agreed that their Champions League semi-final was evenly poised after holders Barca lost 1-0 in the first leg at Stamford bridge on Wednesday.

Former Brazil player and coach Mario Zagallo is poised to enter the treacherous world of Brazilian football politics, the 80-year-old confirmed on Wednesday.

Didier Drogba scored late in the first half and Chelsea mixed luck with resolute defence to keep free-scoring Lionel Messi in check and defeat holders Barcelona 1-0 in their Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday.

Valencia coach Unai Emery has told his players to banish thoughts of revenge when they play at La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid in Thursday's Europa League semi-final first leg.

Ajax Amsterdam have signed Denmark midfielder Lasse Schone on a three-year deal, the Dutch league leaders said on Wednesday.