Motta: Barcelona midfielder Thiago Motta is likely to miss this week's Champions League return match against Benfica after sustaining a groin strain against Real Madrid in the Primera Liga on Saturday. The versatile midfielder was forced to leave the pitch shortly before half-time and is a serious doubt for Wednesday's quarter-final, second leg.
Zoro: Messina defender Marc Zoro was the target of whistles and jeers again when the two teams met on Saturday night. Zoro's treatment by Inter fans in the game at Messina on November 27 prompted a nationwide debate on racism across the country. On Saturday Inter's 'ultras' chanted against the Ivory Coast-born defender when he entered the field to warm up and taunted him whenever he touched the ball.
Ancelotti: Carlo Ancellotti said his Milan side are now focused on the Champions League and finishing second in Serie A after Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Lecce left them nine points behind leaders Juventus. "I never thought that we could catch Juventus and now we need to keep an eye on those who are behind us and close to us and try to keep a distance between them and second place," said the Milan coach.
New arena: Sweden plans to build a new national arena outside Stockholm, opening in 2011. With a capacity of 50,000, the stadium will be built on unused ground in the Stockholm suburb of Solna where the current national arena Rasunda is also located. Rasunda will be sold to help finance the project which is expected to cost around $326 million.
Good showing: FIFA president Sepp Blatter believes this year's World Cup finals can give Asian teams another chance to show how far they have progressed. "The 2006 World Cup will show us just what has happened here in Asia," Blatter told a news conference in Bangladesh, at the start of a visit to countries affected by the 2004 tsunami disaster. "I'm sure there will be no teams flying easily through to the final."
Edu: Brazilian Edu made his league debut for Valencia seven months after sustaining a serious knee injury when he came on during the second half of their Primera Liga match against Cadiz yesterday. The 27-year-old international joined Valencia as a free agent last May after completing his contract with Arsenal but tore the cruciate ligament in his left knee during a training match a week before the start of the league season.
Ligue 1: Le Mans vs Nancy 0-0; Toulouse vs Stade Rennes 0-1; Paris SG vs Bordeaux 3-1.