Puyol: Carles Puyol has joined a long list of Barcelona absentees after feeling pain in his knee yesterday, the champions said ahead of today’s game at home to Athletic Bilbao. Centre-back Puyol, 36, has barely played this season due to a string of injuries and coach Gerardo Martino is also without regulars Neymar, goalkeeper Victor Valdes, centre-back Gerard Pique and left back Jordi Alba.

Toulouse: Toulouse said experienced midfielder Etienne Didot and defender Jean-Daniel Akpa-Akpro have signed contract extensions. The duo will now both stay at the Ligue 1 club until at least June 2017.

Tombides: West Ham have announced that striker Dylan Tombides has died at the age of 20 following a battle with cancer. The Australia youth international, who represented his country at the U-17 World Cup in 2010, was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2011. Tombides, who joined West Ham at the age of 15, had turned out for West Ham’s U-18 and U-21 sides and made his senior debut in the League Cup tie against Wigan in 2012.

Di Carlo: Relegation-threatened Livorno have sacked Domenico Di Carlo after just 88 days in charge and re-appointed Davide Nicola, who was axed from the post in January. Di Carlo became the third manager to be sacked by Livorno this season. Livorno made the decision just hours after a 3-0 defeat at Milan yesterday, which leaves them three points from safety.

Unruly fan: The father of Siena goalkeeper Eugenio Lamanna will not be allowed to enter sports stadiums in Italy after punching another man during last Thursday’s Serie B match which Siena lost 0-1 to Spezia. Lamanna’s parents were cheering on their son but a Spezia supporter started to criticise the 24-year-old keeper’s performance. That infuriated the father who after a brief argument punched the other man in the face.

Primera Liga
Osasuna vs Valencia - 1-1
Levante vs Getafe - 0-0
R. Sociedad vs Espanyol - 2-1

French League Cup final
Lyon vs Paris SG - 1-2