Marseille: Olympique Marseille needed a penalty deep into added time to win 2-1 at struggling Boulogne and stay five points clear at the top of Ligue 1 yesterday. Nigeria defender Taye Taiwo converted the spot-kick, awarded after Yoann Lachor unwittingly handled the ball in the area, to put Marseille on 68 points from 33 games.
Albiol: Real Madrid central defender Raul Albiol accused referees of being too harsh on him after he was booked for a foul in the Almeria match and will be suspended for the match against his former club Valencia. "I do one kick a match and they show me a yellow card," he said. "I am going to miss a match that I was looking forward to a lot."
In Italy: Serie A bottom side Livorno are on the brink of relegation after losing 2-0 at Chievo yesterday. Sergio Pellissier drilled a diagonal strike inside the near post to put the hosts ahead in the 28th minute. Elvis Abbruscato touched the ball home from close range to wrap up the victory two minutes from time.
Barcelona: Barcelona were held 0-0 away to derby rivals Espanyol in La Liga yesterday, giving chasing Real Madrid the chance to close on the leaders. Barca were given very little space to play their usual game and lost defender Daniel Alves to a red card after 62 minutes.
Golf: Asia's first major winner Yang Yong-eun put his trust in his driver and cut through gusting winds at the China Open yesterday to move to the top of the third round leaderboard with a bogey-free 68. The South Korean, one of only three players not to card a bogey in difficult conditions, holds a one-shot lead over Jamie Donaldson of Wales and Finn Mikko Ilonen going into the final round.
Motor Racing: Japan's Sakon Yamamato will be test and reserve driver for Formula One new boys Hispania (HRT) for the remainder of the season. The 27-year-old raced in 14 grands prix for Super Aguri and Spyker with a best result of 12th in Japan in 2007 but has more recently been racing in the GP2 support series. Yamamoto joins Indian Karun Chandhok and Brazilian Bruno Senna in the Spanish-based team.
Basketball: Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy had arthroscopic knee surgery on Friday and is expected to be back in action within two weeks. The six-foot six, three-times All-Star has already been ruled out of the first round of the playoffs against the Phoenix Suns but he could return should Portland advance.
MotoGP: MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi suffered minor injuries when he fell off a motocross bike while training near Pesaro. Rossi had a medical check-up on Friday after feeling some pain in his back following the accident on Thursday. It said an X-ray showed the 31-year-old Italian sustained some bruising but nothing serious enough to stop him competing in the Japanese GP at Motegi on April 25.
Tennis: Rafael Nadal left no doubt that he would be the overwhelming favourite at next month's French Open after crushing Spanish compatriot David Ferrer 6-2 6-3 in the Monte Carlo Masters semi-finals yesterday. World number 12 and fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco will be the last man standing in Nadal's way to a record sixth consecutive title in the glitzy principality after he demolished top seed Novak Djokovic 6-2 6-2.
Cricket: At least 10 people were wounded when two bombs exploded yesterday outside a packed cricket stadium in the southern Indian city of Bangalore, stirring fears about more militant attacks, police said. Police said a third bomb was found and defused outside the stadium.