Sporting briefs

Barcelona: Barcelona will play a friendly against a combined team from Happy Valley and Kitchee during their tour of Asia, the Hong Kong clubs announced. The Catalan giants will also face Beijing Guoan in early August as part of celebrations for the one-year countdown to the 2008 Olympics. Barcelona beat African champions Al Ahli 4-0 in Cairo on Tuesday in a friendly to help mark the Egyptian side's centenary.

Vignal: French defender Gregory Vignal, who joined German second division Kaiserslautern on loan from Ligue 1 side Racing Lens in January, told L'Equipe he would return to Lens at the end of the season. "It's difficult for me here," said the former Liverpool and Portsmouth player. "I'm still living at a hotel and my family have gone back to France." Kaiserslautern had an option to buy him.

Simeone: Former Argentina captain Diego Simeone, currently coach of champions Estudiantes, said his ambition was to coach Spain's Atletico Madrid. "One day, I will work at Atletico but today I'm very happy here," he was quoted as saying. Simeone led Estudiantes to the Argentina Apertura championship title in December, six months after taking over.

Ribery: Galatasaray's bid to challenge the controversial 2005 transfer of Franck Ribery to Marseille was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) yesterday. CAS said in a ruling the termination of the French winger's contract with the Turkish side was "on just grounds and that neither the club nor the player were entitled to any compensation following such termination". Ribery joined Galatasaray from French team Metz in January 2005 but left five months later over a pay dispute.

United favourites: Bookmaker William Hill installed Manchester United as the 15/8 favourites to win the Champions League final following their 3-2 win over Milan in the first leg of their semi-final on Tuesday. William Hill quote United as 1/2 favourites to reach the final and rate Milan as 6/4 outsiders.

Portsmouth stadium: Portsmouth announced plans to move out of their antiquated Fratton Park stadium into a stunning new 36,000-seat waterside arena yesterday. The south coast club have played at Fratton Park since 1899 but their 20,000 capacity is insufficient for a club currently chasing a UEFA Cup place.

Basketball: Gatorade League - Luxol vs Siggiewi 74-78; Floriana vs Qormi 71-66.

Snooker: World Championship first round - Hendry bt Gilbert 10-7; Selby bt Lee 10-7.