Sporting briefs...

United injury crisis: Manchester United have a major injury crisis before Tuesday's Champions League semi-final against Milan. While leaders United dropped points in a 1-1 draw at home to Middlesbrough (see page 105), their injury list grew with Rio Ferdinand and Kieran Richardson the latest additions. Ferdinand's groin injury will keep him out of action for two weeks, ruling him out of both legs of the Champions League semi-final. Already on the casualty list are defender Nemanja Vidic, Gary Neville, Park Ji-sung and forward Louis Saha. "I'm actually only playing with 12 players now, the rest are injured," Alex Ferguson said last night.

Lyon record: Olympique Lyon have become the first team from one of the big five European leagues to win six national championships in a row. Lyon, who visit AJ Auxerre today, took an unassailable lead of 17 points last night after second-placed Toulouse lost 3-2 at Stade Rennes. Gerard Houllier's Lyon team have 70 points with six games to play.

Fluminense... no coach: Struggling Fluminense fired their second coach this year and their seventh since the start of last year when they dismissed Joel Santana yesterday. General manager Branco confirmed that Santana had been sacked and said the players were also at fault for the team's dismal start to the season. Santana, in charge for less than two months, was sacked two days after being insulted by the fans as his side drew 1-1 at home to third division Bahia in a Copa Brasil tie.

Eusebio in hospital: Portugal former soccer great Eusebio was taken to hospital yesterday with a "slight indisposition". Dr Andrade Gomes told reporters the 65-year-old had had several scans and his discharge would depend on when the results were all available. Eusebio retired from football in 1975.

Gekas moves: Theofanis Gekas, the Bundesliga's top scorer with 18 goals, is to leave Bochum for Bayer Leverkusen. Greece striker Gekas will move at the end of the season, Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voeller said. Voeller also said Brazil defender Juan would be leaving Leverkusen at the end of the season. German media reported that Juan was set to join Roma for a fee of nine million euros.

Ligue 1: Monaco vs Lille 3-1; Nancy vs Valenciennes 1-0; Sedan vs Nice 1-1; Sochaux vs Lorient 1-1; Marseille vs Troyes 2-1; PSG vs Nantes 4-0; Lens vs Le Mans 2-0; Stade Rennes vs Toulouse 3-2.

Today - Auxerre vs Lyon (18.00); St Etienne vs Bordeaux (21.00).

Primera Liga: R. Sociedad vs Atletico Madrid 2-0; Real Madrid vs Valencia 2-1.