Barca lose: Barcelona’s nightmare week hit a new low when they followed up their Champions League exit with a 1-0 La Liga defeat at Granada yesterday that left their bid for a fifth title in six years in serious jeopardy. Barca again looked lethargic and short of ideas against a club with a fraction of their resources and were undone when Alex Song surrendered possession in midfield in the 16th minute and Yacine Brahimi raced clear and fired past Jose Manuel Pinto.
Costa: Atletico Madrid top scorer Diego Costa has been included in the squad for today’s La Liga game at Getafe after shaking off a thigh strain. Costa missed Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final, second leg win against Barcelona after picking up the injury in the first leg the previous week.
Adriano: Troubled Brazilian forward Adriano had his contract with Atletico Paranaense terminated after only two months. The much-travelled Adriano, who had stints in the Serie A with Inter and Roma among others, was seeking to revive his career at Paranaense but this week he was pictured at a nightclub after missing a couple of training sessions.
Lazio: Speculation was rife yesterday that Lazio president Claudio Lotito was mulling over an offer put to him by a Russian group. Lotito has been under fire from the fans and the feud continued to get more tense this season with Lazio ultras deciding to leave the Curva Nord empty. The offer is said to be in the region of €170m.
Haigh goes: Leeds managing director David Haigh said he had resigned amid more chaos at Elland Road. Haigh – who was due to become the club’s new chief executive following the completion of the takeover by Massimo Cellino – confirmed his exit on an afternoon when West Yorkshire Police said it was investigating allegations of theft at the club. It is understood the allegations centre on the installation of surveillance equipment.
Honda: Keisuke Honda will be unavailable for Milan this evening for the Serie A match against bottom team Catania because of an injury. The Japan international sprained his ankle during training and the club said it is not clear yet how long he will be out. The 27-year-old was hitting top form for Milan lately after his transfer from CSKA Moscow in January.