Barcelona: Barcelona will be without Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o for their final Champions League Group C match at Udinese today. Coach Frank Rijkaard has decided to rest Ronaldinho, the team's top scorer in Europe with eight goals. Eto'o, who has been on target three times, misses out because of a bruised ankle. Midfielder Thiago Motta is also sidelined after he strained his hamstring in Sunday's 2-0 victory over Villarreal. He will be out for two matches. The Italian team, in their debut Champions League campaign, can book their place in the last 16 with a draw.
Romario: Former Brazil striker Romario, who will be 40 next month, is considering extending his career for another year after finishing the Brazilian championship as top scorer. "A lot of critics said I should have stopped playing several years ago but I'm going to carry on playing and, hopefully, well," he told Brazilian television. "I hope to play for another year."
Solskjaer: Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made his comeback from a long-term knee injury in a reserve-team game on Monday night. The Norway international, out of action since the 2004 FA Cup final, played the first half of the 2-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool's reserves. Solskjaer is likely to continue his return to full fitness when the reserves play their next game against Bolton Wanderers on Dec. 15.
Sacchi: Real Madrid have announced that Arrigo Sacchi will quit his role as Real Madrid's director of football at the end of the year for personal reasons just a day after the club sacked coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo. Real said the 59-year-old former Italy and Milan coach told them of his decision two weeks before the team's 3-0 defeat by arch rivals Barcelona on November 19. Sacchi was appointed to his post on December 21 last year in a move that was designed to revive the ailing fortunes of the club and, in the words of Real president Florentino Perez, "make the club more professional".
Wenger: Arsene Wenger says his Arsenal side cannot be out-muscled and overpowered like they were in their weekend defeat by Bolton Wanderers, if they want to be successful. Arsenal lacked physical power in key areas in Saturday's 2-0 Premier League loss, Wenger said, as his side, already through to the knockout stages of the Champions League, prepared for today's final group game at home to Ajax. "Bolton dominated us is areas where you have to be strong if you want to win the championship," Wenger said. "We cannot give teams the belief they can beat us like that."
Bulgaria Derby: Germany's Franz-Xaver Wack will become the first foreign referee to officiate in the Bulgarian premier league this season. The Bulgarian Football Union said yesterday the 40-year-old Wack will referee potentially volatile derby between Litex Lovech and Levski Sofia, which will be played in Sevlievo, situated some 50-kms from Lovech. Levski are second in the championship with 33 points from 13 games. Litex are fourth with 26 points. CSKA Sofia lead the 15-club league with 40 points from 14 matches.
Lyon vs FIFA: French champions Olympique Lyon are to announce today that they will sue the world governing body FIFA over an injury sustained by defender Eric Abidal last month. Abidal fractured his left foot during France's 3-2 victory over Costa Rica in a friendly international played in Martinique in November. Sources said Lyon had blamed FIFA for forcing clubs to release their players without compensation when they were picked for international duty.