Riquelme: Villarreal playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme was named in a 20-strong squad for the first leg of a Champions League knockout tie at Rangers tomorrow. The Argentine international returned to Spain at the weekend after receiving specialist treatment on a thigh injury in his home country and trained with the team yesterday. Riquelme is Villarreal's leading scorer this season with nine goals in the Primera Liga.
Borussia Dortmund: Borussia Dortmund sharply cut losses in the first half of its fiscal year, reaping the benefits of the Bundesliga club's revamp. Borussia said its net loss fell to 1.4 million euros from 54.8 million euros in the same period the previous year. The club has launched a radical restructuring and slashed wages for players after warning that it could go bust in the face of record losses and debt. Under a rescue deal Borussia has sold or mortgaged almost all assets.
Rangers: Rangers have increased profit and turnover after reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League. The Scottish champions said turnover rose £9.4 million in the six months to December 31 to 40.33 million. Profit rose 1.32 million to 6.83 million. "Our revenue benefited from Champions League football, but we have, at the same time, controlled costs so that much of our increased revenue has come through as profit in this six-month period," chairman David Murray said.
Coupet: More than two thirds of French soccer fans believe Olympique Lyon's Gregory Coupet, 33, should be France's first-choice goalkeeper for the 2006 World Cup. No fewer than 69 per cent expressed their support for Coupet while only 28 per cent said Olympique Marseille's Fabien Barthez remains the best choice, according to an opinion poll published by France Football magazine. Barthez, 34, has been France's number one since the country's triumphant 1998 World Cup campaign.
Head-butting BAN: Duisburg defender Marino Biliskov has been banned for four games for head-butting a player in Saturday's Bundesliga clash with Bayer Leverkusen. The Croatian player was given a red card for his attack on opponent Tranquillo Barnetta in the 77th minute of the match, which Leverkusen won 3-2.
Tottenham: Tottenham Hotspur have become the first club in England to launch a campaign to stamp out homophobic chanting at their home matches. The move comes two weeks after Spurs fans sang an offensive song about their former captain Sol Campbell who made headlines by disappearing for four days after a poor performance for Arsenal against West Ham. Sports Minister Richard Caborn praised Spurs' initiative. "I compliment Spurs on taking such a positive step. It sends a significant message to fans that abusive chants on race, colour, creed or sexuality will not be tolerated," Caborn said in a statement.
Trezeguet: Werder Bremen midfielder Johan Micoud has warned his team-mates they will be up against possibly the world's best striker when they face Juventus in the Champions League tomorrow. "Juventus have high class forwards, and with David Trezeguet you have in my opinion one of the best, maybe the best striker in the world," Micoud said of his fellow Frenchman. Werder turned in two shocking defensive performances in losing 10-2 on aggregate to Olympique Lyon in the first knockout round of the competition last year.
In Italy: Serie C1(A) - Salernitana vs Lumezzane 3-2.