World Soccer News

Both playmaker Silva and winger Navas were absent from the City squad for Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium and Pellegrini expressed his hope after the game that the former's ankle problem would not prevent him from featuring on Monday.

Saint-Etienne's bid for a Champions League spot stalled as it drew 0-0 with Rennes in the French league on Friday.

Rooney injured a toe on his left foot during United's first-leg draw against Bayern Munich and he struggled in the return leg the following week.

Luis Suarez is one of three Liverpool players nominated for the Professional Footballers' Association's player of the year award.

GARY Waddock has called on Oxford United to back up last weekend's fine performance with another against York City as he targets a 'very Good Friday' today .

The Reds became clear title favourites after beating Manchester City last weekend, and that position only intensified when City were held to a draw by Sunderland in midweek.

John Terry will hopefully complete terms on a new Chelsea contract "amicably" in the near future, according to assistant coach Steve Holland.

The match could be the final A-League appearance for former Juventus star Alessandro Del Piero, who has not signed a new contract for Sydney FC for next season after two years in the league.

Tim Sherwood says that if Spurs still had Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale they would be chasing the Premier League title Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood says Spurs would be fighting for the Premier League title if they still had Gareth Bale.

Manager Arsene Wenger hopes Mesut Ozil can make a big impact on his return to fitness and help secure a successful end to Arsenal's campaign.

Hannover boosted its chances of avoiding Bundesliga relegation by holding on for a 3-2 win at Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday.

Bolton Wanderers chairman Phil Gartside is due to give evidence in the seventh day of a court case in which football agent Tony McGill is suing the club and agency SEM for A 390,000.

In the meantime, Juventus should have little trouble Saturday against relegation-threatened Bologna.

The relegation battle and race for the last Champions League qualification spot take centre stage in the Bundesliga with just four games of the season remaining.

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone has called the remaining league games of the season five "finals," and his team plays its first against Elche on Friday before receiving Chelsea in the Champions League.

Cardiff striker Kenwyne Jones has had an appeal against a fine imposed on him by his former club Stoke rejected by the Potters, Press Association Sport understands.

Gareth Bale scored the most important goal of his career to win the Copa del Rey for Real Madrid, netting the decisive goal against fierce rivals Barcelona in the final at the Mestalla.

Everton's top-four hopes suffered a blow as they crashed to a surprise 3-2 defeat at Goodison Park against Crystal Palace, whose Barclays Premier League survival now appears assured.

Manchester City's hopes of winning the Premier League took a big hit with a 2-2 draw at home to last-place Sunderland on Wednesday, with the title chasers needing an 88th-minute goal from Samir Nasri to earn a point.

Aston Villa chairman Randy Lerner has given his backing to the club's manager Paul Lambert after the suspension of Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa this week.