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Barcelona need hard work, humility, serenity and positive thinking to rediscover their form, according to the club's Argentina centre back Javier Mascherano.

For all the millions splashed out by Manchester City's Abu Dhabi owners on attacking talents, it is the English champions' grit in defence that is keeping them in the Premier League title hunt.

Juventus playmaker Andrea Pirlo could be forgiven for having the 2005 Champions League final on his mind when the Italian side take a 3-0 advantage into their last 16 second leg clash against Celtic on Wednesday.

Leonardo's assertion that Paris Saint-Germain are made for the Champions League but not for low-key Ligue 1 matches could backfire on Wednesday if they do not show a dramatic improvement against Valencia in a last 16 second leg.

Jose Mourinho hopes he is still managing in his seventies like Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson, the Real Madrid boss said as he prepared to face him in a Champions League clash "the world will stop to watch".

Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova may have finished his cancer treatment in New York and be back with the squad by the end of March, president Sandro Rosell said on Monday.

The jury was still out on Monday as to whether striker Antonio Cassano is an asset or a liability for his club Inter Milan after he was dropped for Sunday's match at Catania following a dressing room row.

Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner has been banned from representing his country for six months after being arrested for drunk driving on Saturday night.

Manchester United's Phil Jones will miss the Champions League last 16 second leg at home to Real Madrid after failing to recover from an ankle injury, manager Sir Alex Ferguson said on the eve of Tuesday's match.

Liverpool's debts have increased by 21.8 million pounds, according to their accounts published on Monday, as prolonged absence from the money-spinning Champions League takes its toll.

Juan Roman Riquelme's return for Boca Juniors amid joyous celebrations at La Bombonera turned to disappointment after a shock 3-1 defeat by relegation candidates Union on Sunday.

Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich effortlessly cruised to a 1-0 victory at Hoffenheim on Sunday courtesy of a Mario Gomez goal that kept them on course for the title with a 17-point advantage at the top.

Stan Kroenke has no plans to sell his majority stake in Arsenal, a spokesman for the Premier League football club said on Sunday, responding to a report that a Middle East consortium planned a 1.5-billion-pound bid.

Leaders Paris Saint-Germain slumped to a second defeat in three Ligue 1 games with an embarrassing 1-0 reverse at 10-man Stade Reims on Saturday as they struggled ahead of next week's Champions League clash with Valencia.

Shinji Kagawa will get even better next season, according to Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson after the Japanese midfielder became the first Asian player to score a Premier League hat-trick on Saturday.

Shinji Kagawa became the first Asian player to score a Premier League hat-trick with the Japan midfielder's stunning display inspiring runaway leaders Manchester United to a 4-0 win over Norwich City on Saturday.

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar must be held in winter in order to protect players and fans from searing desert heat, European football boss Michel Platini said on Saturday.

Fans in stadiums and watching on TV should see all decisions based on goal-line technology, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Friday before this weekend's meeting of football's lawmaking body.

Barcelona midfielder Xavi will miss their trip to play Real Madrid in La Liga this weekend and will be out of action for 10 to 15 days with a hamstring injury, the leaders said on Friday.

Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp is not expecting any birthday wishes from Southampton fans when his Premier League strugglers travel to St Mary's on Saturday.

Tottenham Hotspur forward Jermain Defoe is back in contention for the North London derby against Arsenal on Sunday after recovering from an ankle injury.

Cagliari President Massimo Cellino has been released from prison and put under house arrest as part of the investigation into the Is Arenas where the Serie A club have been staging their games.

Manchester United's top scorer Robin van Persie has shaken off a hip injury and will be fit for Saturday's Premier League game at home to Norwich City, manager Sir Alex Ferguson said on Friday.

Sir Alex Ferguson's philosophy is behind the longevity of Manchester United's homegrown players, says Paris Saint-Germain midfielder David Beckham.

Chelsea's beleaguered interim manager Rafael Benitez still enjoys a "very good" relationship with the club's owner Roman Abramovich, he told the BBC in an interview on Thursday.