Sporting briefs...

Barca market growth: Barcelona president Joan Laporta, seeking to boost the club's revenue and overhaul rivals Real Madrid as soccer's top earners, is targeting the United States. Asked how Barcelona could expand, Laporta replied: "Above all in new markets where there is not yet any competition but a lot of cash. For example in the US." Laporta has set lofty targets for Barca. "As a universal brand we have to look to the whole world," he said. "If an alien came to earth the first things I would want them to know would be Coca-Cola, Disney and Barca but there is work to be done."

Littbarski: German coach Pierre Littbarski called for improvement even though Avispa Fukuoka won 5-0 in his opening game in charge of the Japanese club yesterday. "The players showed true spirit," Littbarski told reporters after the Kyushu-based side thrashed Sagan Tosu in their J-League second division opener. "We scored five goals but it's still only three points. There's room for improvement."

Socceroos: Australia hope to add friendlies against the United States and Mexico to their busy playing schedule for 2007. The Socceroos plan to play Mexico on Sept. 9, then the United States three days later as part of a short North American tour.

CSKA waste chance: CSKA Sofia dropped two precious points in the race for the Bulgarian premier league title when they were held to a goalless home draw by resilient Cherno More Varna yesterday. Champions Levski, who achieved their biggest-ever win in the top division on Saturday with a 10-0 rout of bottom club Chernomorets Burgas, lead with 42 points from 16 games, followed by bitter city rivals CSKA on 38.

Del Horno: Spain full-back Asier del Horno made his debut in Valencia's 1-0 home win over Celta Vigo on Saturday, eight months after moving from Chelsea. He played the full 90 minutes in the Mestalla. The 26-year-old moved from Chelsea for about 7.5 million euros last July but has struggled with an Achilles tendon problem that kept him out of the World Cup.

French Cup: SFs draw - Oly. Marseille vs Nantes; Montceau vs Sochaux. Ties to be played on April 17 and 18.

Ligue 1: Sochaux vs Nantes 1-2; Marseille vs Lens 0-1.

German Cup: SFs draw - Wolfsburg vs Stuttgart; Nuremberg vs Eintracht Frankfurt. Ties to be played on April 17 and 18.

Bundesliga: A. Aachen vs Mainz 2-1; B. Dortmund vs E. Cottbus 2-3.