Rebrov on target: Russian premier league leaders Rubin Kazan beat Spartak Moscow 1-0 yesterday to close in on their first national title. A 15th-minute strike by Serhiy Rebrov proved decisive. The former Ukraine striker also scored the only goal in Kazan's 1-0 victory over Dynamo Moscow a week ago. Rubin, on 48 points from 22 matches, lead second-placed Dynamo by nine points with eight games remaining.
Mineiro: Chelsea are bringing in Brazilian Mineiro to shore up their midfield following a long-term injury to Michael Essien, manager Luiz Felipe Scolari said yesterday. Scolari said the 33-year-old Mineiro, who is out of contract at Hertha Berlin, would need a few weeks to get fit and would play with the reserves before making his first-team debut. "We need him, Essien is out for six months," Scolari said.
City takeover: Manchester City's takeover by an Abu-Dhabi based company moved closer to completion after the Premier League club announced yesterday that the process of due diligence had been successfully concluded.
In Spain: A. Bilbao vs Valladolid 2-0; Deportivo vs Mallorca 0-0; Numancia vs Villarreal 1-2; Real Betis vs Sevilla 0-0; Almeria vs Malaga 1-0; Valencia vs Osasuna 1-0; Santander vs Real Madrid 0-2; S. Gijon vs Barcelona 1-6.
Leading standings: Valencia, Almeria, Villarreal, Espanyol 7; A. Madrid, R. Madrid 6; Sevilla 5.
In France: Nancy vs Stade Rennes 0-0; St Etienne vs PSG 1-0; Marseille vs Monaco 0-0.
In Germany: Hoffenheim vs Bor. Dortmund 4-1; Stuttgart vs Karlsruhe 3-1; Wolfsburg vs Hamburg 3-0.
Doping
The IOC said yesterday it would decide by mid-October on the doping cases of two Belarus hammer throw Olympic medallists who tested positive during the Beijing Games. The IOC also said a Polish athlete who was fourth in the men's kayak double 1,000 metres event in Beijing was being investigated for possible anti-doping rule violations. The IOC said its disciplinary committee, which met yesterday, had decided to give the athletes from Belarus more time to present their case.
Cycling
Spaniard Alberto Contador won the Tour of Spain yesterday. Second overall behind the 25-year-old Astana rider was Levi Leipheimer of the United States, with Carlos Sastre of Spain third. The final stage, from San Sebastian de los Reyes to Madrid, was won by Dane Matti Breschel. Contador, who won the Tour de France in 2007 and the Giro d'Italia this year, is the first Spaniard and fifth rider to win all three of the major races.