Bangladesh Football Federation will get the possession of the Bangabandhu National Stadium from today, according to the official letter issued by the National Sports Council on December 12 last year. From now on the big bowl will host only football and athletics after the synthetic turf is placed.
   Though a section of cricket organisers are still opposed to the decision there is no way out for them as the government has decided to earmark the Mirpur Stadium only for cricket and the BNS for football and athletics. With the decision football gets its own home as well as cricket and the decade-long tug-of-war over the seasonal possession of the BNS comes to an end.
   The federation is planning to make the optimum use of the possession and will organise a special tournament to celebrate the independence of the country. The BFF will hold the Independence Day Gold Cup football from March 10 with the top six teams of last year’s premier league – Brothers Union, Sheikh Russell KC, Abahani Limited, Muktijoddha Sangsad KC, Mohammedan SC and Arambagh – and the top two first division teams, Young men’s Fakirerpool and Farashganj SC, participating in the tournament. The eight teams will be split into two groups of four and will play the group matches on round robin league basis.
   Meanwhile, the Players Status Committee of the BFF reached a conclusion over the tug of war between Muktijoddha and Abahani regarding Ajmal Ahmed, Bidyut and Zillur Rahman Lajuk. Both the teams withdrew their complaints after it was settled that Bidyut will stay at Muktijoddha and Lajuk will play for Abahani.
   Abahani claimed that they have paid an advance to Bidyut to join them and Lajuk was also given money. But Muktijoddha refused to release the players as they also claimed that both the players took advance money from them. Both the players failed to participate in the team transfer as they were reported. Lajuk will pay back Muktijoddha Tk 50,000 and Bidyut will return the cheque to Abahani.
   Anwarul Huq Helal, the general secretary of the BFF, focused on the players’ advantage statute of FIFA when resolving the problem of this kind. ‘FIFA law stipulates that the first priority will be to let the players play. As both the teams withdrew their complaints and agreed to take the players back in their teams and we acted accordingly,’ he said.
   But he admitted that with the solution the status of the committee has been dishonoured.
   ‘We are going to introduce a system of paying a fee before lodging the protest. The fee will depend on the amount paid to the players. It can be Tk 1,000 to be paid by the complainants for the dispute of an amount of Tk 50,000 to Tk 1 lakh while a fee of Tk 2,000 will be realised in case of a dispute involving more than Tk 1 lakh,’ said Helal.

South Africa (329/6) beat Zimbabwe (198/7) by 131 runs
   Graeme Smith scored 117 to guide South Africa to an emphatic series win in the second one-day international against Zimbabwe on Sunday.
   South Africa, easy winners of the first game on Friday, made 329 for six after losing the toss and then restricted Zimbabwe for 198 for seven to win by 131 runs.
   Smith top scored, hitting five fours and a six, but South Africa also owed much to the power of Justin Kemp.
   He struck a blistering 53 not out off 21 balls, hitting two fours and five sixes to push the home side’s total out of reach.
   Kemp notched his half-century off 19 balls to tie a South African record set by Mark Boucher against Kenya in 2001.
   Kemp knew nothing about the record. ‘I had no idea,’ he said. ‘I was just thinking about smashing every ball for six.’
   After some early setbacks, Smith and Herschelle Gibbs righted the innings with a stand of 134 for the fourth wicket.
   The partnership was ended in the 37th over when Gibbs smashed a delivery from off-spinner Barney Rogers straight back at the bowler and was caught after making 75.
   Rogers struck again in the 45th over when Smith heaved one of his tame deliveries to Hamilton Masakadza at long-on.
   Christopher Mpofu was best of the Zimbabwe bowlers, finishing with three for 59 from nine overs.
   Stuart Matsikenyeri and Rogers shared a slow but gritty opening stand of 71 for Zimbabwe.
   Medium pacer Albie Morkel separated the openers in the 18th over when Matsikenyeri top edged a pull shot to Kemp at deep square leg to be dismissed for 16.
   Rogers, who was caught at mid-on by Nicky Boje off Morkel in the 22nd over, hit seven fours in his 47, Zimbabwe’s top score.
   The Zimbabweans have been struggling since last year’s walkout by 15 rebel players but two of them, Andy Blignaut and ex-captain Heath Streak, returned to the fold last week.

Bangladesh ‘A’ whitewashed Zimbabwe ‘A’ team in the Test series wining the third and last Test (four-dayer) by five wickets at the Kwekwe Sports Club on Monday. The visitors reached the 236-run winning target within 47 overs thanks to Shahriar Nafis and Tushar Imran, who scored 86 and 81 runs respectively to lead the charge.
   Zimbabwe scored 217 runs in their second innings riding on a patient fifty by Vusimuzi Sibanda. The middle-order stayed 241 minutes at the crease and made 59 runs hitting eight boundaries off 205 balls. On the final day, resuming on 202 for eight Zimbabwe managed to add another 15 runs to their overnight total. Chibhabha contributed 37 runs featuring 2 fours and a six.
   The hosts had scored 269 runs in the first innings when in reply Bangladesh ‘A’ collected 251 runs in their first innings.
   Bangladesh also won the first two Tests easily. Now the two teams will compete in the five-match one-day series to be played on March 3, 5, 7, 9 and 12. However, in-form batsman Shahriar Nafis will miss the series for his examination.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court today will hear the petition seeking stay on Saturday’s High Court verdict reinstating the directors elected to the Bangladesh Cricket Board after two years and a half.
   After a brief hearing on Monday, the chamber judge of the Appellate Division, Justice Amirul Kabir Chowdhury, refused to grant stay and sent the matter to the full bench for disposal.
   A board councillor, Rafiqul Islam Babu, who lost the case in the High Court, filed the petition seeking stay on the High Court verdict that rejected his writ that had sought to constitute the cricked board in accordance with the revised model, prescribed by the government.
   Amirul Islam with Barrister Tania Amir and Shamsul Hasan moved the case for the directors and M Zahir and Mahbubuddin Khokan appeared for the petitioner.

Former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak will land in South Africa later on Monday and is available for the final one-dayer of the series on Wednesday.
   Streak, who has ended his disagreement with Zimbabwe Cricket, said: “I’m looking forward to getting back.
   “Obviously there’s an element of concern at not having played at this level for a while, but it’s not like I haven’t been playing cricket.
   “I had a good season at Warwickshire and have been playing club cricket.”
   On Sunday, captain Tatenda Taibu said Streak and Andy Blignaut would be considered for the Test series in South Africa starting on 4 March.
   But now it looks as though - in the case of Streak - a comeback could be even more immediate.
   Former captain Streak, 30, was sacked in April 2004 after criticising Zimbabwe Cricket’s selection policies.

Top seed Roger Federer of Switzerland bagged his third consecutive title at the one-million-dollar Dubai Open on Sunday when he beat Croatia’s Ivan Ljubicic 6-1, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3.
   The world number one now has a 20-1 record for 2005 after claiming his third title of the year, all at the expense of the eighth-seeded Ljubicic, whom he also beat in Doha and Rotterdam.
   But Federer, who had looked to be on course for an easy win when he took the first set 6-1, was pushed hard by the 25-year-old Croat who dug deep to secure the second set after a tense tiebreak.
   For a while 23-year-old Federer had profited from a very out-of-sorts performance from his Croatian opponent.
   After failing to convert three break chances in the third game, the normally big-serving Ljubicic played two unusually indifferent service games.
   As he went to change ends Ljubicic slung his racket towards his chair in disgust.
   His problems compounded themselves when Federer closed out the first set comfortably, in less than half an hour, and then launched into the Ljubicic delivery again, capturing an immediate break at the start of the second set.
   When Ljubicic dumped a disappointing counter-driven forehand into the net during that game, he hung his head uncharacteristically and the signs were that the match was becoming a rout. But at 4-2 Federer faltered.
   He became pinned on the baseline as Ljubicic, with nothing to lose, pounded solidly away and finished with a winner to reach break point. When Federer countered by serve-volleying on the next rally, Ljubicic passed him to break back for 4-4.
   By now Ljubicic had the noisy support of the majority of a 5,000 crowd, who wanted the match to continue, and Ljubicic became more confident, rallying with more consistency, producing one or two brilliant winners, and benefiting from a patchy phase from Federer.
   Ljubicic also pulled back a 2-4 mini-break with a backhand return which caught the champion right at his feet, saved a match point at 5-6 with a thunderous first serve, and snatched the set at 8-6 by punishing an indifferent second delivery from the champion.
   The third set saw Federer struggling a little with his rhythm, making a break of serve for 2-0 and then losing it with a limp double-fault on break point. When Ljubicic produced three tremendous first serves – a thermometer of his rising confidence – an upset seemed very possible.
   But Federer played a game full of patient rallies to break Ljubicic’s serve for a fourth time to reach 5-3 and closed out the match without fuss.
   ‘To win three times here is fantastic,’ said Federer. ‘It’s the first time to have achieved that anywhere.’

Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama will not inaugurate the opening match of Pakistan’s cricket tour of India because the Pakistanis were unhappy with his attendance, it was announced on Monday.
   The Dalai Lama was due to inaugurate on Thursday the three-day match between the tourists and an Indian board president’s team in the northern hill resort of Dharamshala where the Tibetan leader’s government-in-exile is based.
   Media reports on Monday said the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan had told Indian officials that Pakistan should not be put in an embarrassing position since it enjoys very good relations with China.
   A statement from the Tibetan leader’s office said the Dalai Lama had decided not to accept the invitation by the organisers, the Himachal Pradesh cricket association, to inaugurate the match.
   ‘In view of the reservations expressed from some quarters regarding his presence at the match, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has now decided not to inaugurate the cricket match,’ the statement said.
   ‘The general thinking of His Holiness the Dalai Lama is not to cause any inconvenience to any party.’
   Dharamshala has hosted the Dalai Lama since he fled Tibet in 1959 amid a failed uprising against Chinese rule.
   PCB director Abbas Zaidi was quoted in Pakistani news reports as saying that the team will ‘not take part in any social activity – even those involving the Dalai Lama.’

Legendary Imran Khan has urged the India-bound Pakistan cricket team to play positive and aggressive while Board chairman Shaharyar Khan advised the players to win the Indian hearts with their conduct and behaviour.
   ‘My team won in 1986 because we played positive and aggressive cricket. We were not scared of losing. I am sure if you play with same zeal, dedication and commitment, success will be in your feet,’ Imran told the squad during a pep talk in Lahore last evening.
   The Pakistan team leaves for New Delhi this afternoon on a 50-day tour. It will be their first Test tour of India in six years and seventh since 1952-53.
   ‘You have to be mentally stronger than the Indian team. You have to believe in yourself and keep faith in your abilities and talent. If you gel together, back each other and play as a unit, I am sure you will put up a performance you will be proud of,’ he said.
   Skipper Inzamam, talking to PTI from Lahore, said, ‘It was a highly motivational speech from Imran Khan. I am sure the players must be inspired after hearing
   ‘Now it’s all up to us how we play. We have to let our performance do all the talking. The next 50 days are going to be very crucial cricketing days in the careers of many. So it’s better to concentrate (on the Indian series) rather than think of the West Indies tour (in June) or financial benefits,’ Inzamam said.
   Shaharyar Khan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, who was the manager of the 1999 cricket team that toured India, advised the players to enhance the image of the country by their conduct, performance and humble attitude.
   ‘For the next 50 days, you will be the ambassadors of the country. The Indian public will see Pakistan in you. Now it’s up to you what picture you want to show them. But we are all hoping that with your conduct, you will prove that Pakistan is a moderate, peace-loving and tolerate society,’ Shaharyar said in his address to the team.
   Shaharyar recalled that in 1999 the team won the hearts of millions of Indian fans because of the attitude, conduct and performance.
   ‘Don’t forget that besides cricket, you will be on a goodwill tour and the excellent relations between the two countries have to be maintained at all cost.’
   Board insiders said Shaharyar, considered as a fatherly figure in PCB, minced no words in communicating that no act of indiscipline would be tolerated.
   ‘One act of indiscipline and the manager will book you on your next flight home,’ sources quoted Shaharyar as telling the players.
   The PCB later in the evening arranged a lavish dinner for the India-bound team that was attended by celebrated former Test cricketers besides the board officials.

An agreement has been reached, valid until the 2007 World Cup, between players and the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the contentious endorsements sponsorship, says ICC president Ehsan Mani.
   ‘I believe we have come to an arrangement that is acceptable to all players right through to 2007. Hopefully, it works for all of us,’ Mani said in an interview.
   The issue reared its head before the 2002 Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka following a historic $550 million sponsorship deal between Rupert Murdoch’s Global Cricket Corp (GCC) and ICC that gave GCC the rights to all major tournaments.
   The restrictions on players barred them from endorsing products of the rival companies of ICC sponsors for one month before and after tournaments like the World Cup and the Champions Trophy.
   Additionally, the ICC also put a number of restrictions on players.
   The move affected Indian players the most as top stars Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag had several personal deals that were affected by the ICC restrictions.
   Players from around the world, led by Indians, protested against the unreasonable restrictions, and at one stage the 2002 Champions Trophy was almost in jeopardy.
   Prolonged talks between ICC, GCC and players led to a resolution of the issue.
   Now, the players are only required not to endorse any product of an ICC sponsor’s rival company for just five days before and after a major tournament.
   The ICC chief, however, said the world governing body needed to do a fine balancing act on such issues.
   Mani said the national cricket boards and their players eventually benefited from the $550 million deal as a part of the money was given to them after each major tournament.
   Mani accepted that the initial ICC restrictions on players were harsh and unjustified.

Wayne Arthurs, who turned pro in 1990, claimed his first career ATP singles title Sunday with a straight-set win over third-seeded Croatian Mario Ancic.
   Arthurs, 33, beat Ancic 7-5, 6-3 to claim his first title in 128 tournaments.
   ‘It feels really good, really satisfying, especially now that I’m older,’ Arthurs said. ‘It’s probably more satisfying to win a tournament this late in my career. I’m going to savour every minute of it.’
   He became the oldest player to claim his first title on the men’s circuit since Tom Gullikson won in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1985.

The second tsunami appeal cricket match, scheduled to be held in Kolkata in April, has been cancelled due to the expected hot weather in the eastern Indian metropolis, Asian cricket officials said Monday.
   Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Jagmohan Dalmiya said he will leave it to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to decide the fate of the match.
   ‘We cannot hold the game in April because it will be very hot in Kolkata,’ said Dalmiya.

Strikers Didier Drogba and Mateja Kezman scored in extra time to give Chelsea a 3-2 comeback victory over Liverpool in a rollercoaster League Cup final on Sunday.
   Liverpool were heading for an upset win after Norwegian midfielder John Arne Riise volleyed home the fastest goal in League Cup final history after 43 seconds, only for his captain Steven Gerrard to score a heartbreaking 79th-minute own goal.
   The Premier League leaders, who had dominated possession almost all afternoon but failed to find a way through Liverpool's defence, seized the lifeline with both hands.
   Drogba, the club's record signing at 24 million pounds ($45.84 million) last year, slipped the ball past keeper Jerzy Dudek in the 107th minute after Liverpool failed to intercept a Glen Johnson throw-in and Kezman stabbed in another close-range effort five minutes later.
   There was still time for a heart-thumping finale when Spanish substitute Antonio Nunez headed Liverpool's second goal just seven minutes from time, but it proved to be too late.
   Chelsea's Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho spent the entire extra time period on his own in the depths of the Millennium Stadium after being sent from the dug-out for appearing to gesture at Liverpool fans after his team's equaliser.
   The final, played beneath a closed roof, brought Chelsea's billionaire owner Roman Abramovich his first silverware since buying the then debt-ridden west London club in July 2003.
   The Russian has spent more than 200 million pounds on the squad and their six-point lead at the top of the league, with a game in hand over Manchester United, is a further testament to their success.
   Sunday's victory will also provide a valuable morale boost for Mourinho's men after their Champions League hopes were compromised in midweek by a 2-1 defeat at Barcelona in their knockout round first leg tie.
   They also had their FA Cup hopes ended last Sunday with a 1-0 defeat by Newcastle United.
   'We have the first title and almost for sure the second will be the big one,' said Mourinho, referring to the Premier League.
   Regarding his gestures towards the Liverpool fans, Mourinho added, 'I don't regret it, the only thing I have to understand is that I'm in England and have to adapt.
   The sign with my finger over the mouth was not for (the Liverpool fans) it was for the English press.'
   Liverpool, who had been buoyed by their 3-1 Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen, will consider themselves unlucky after withstanding relentless pressure for so long.
   None will have more regrets, though, than Gerrard, who has done more than any other player for the Liverpool cause in recent years and whose penalty area header flew past Dudek off the inside of the post.
   'Losing any game of football is painful but to lose a final and score an own goal, it is a bad day for myself,' said Gerrard, who is linked with a move to Chelsea next season.
   'It is very hard but credit to Chelsea, they deserved to win. We scored early on, maybe a bit too early for our liking.'
   Liverpool got off to a dream start when Chelsea failed to close down Morientes, the man
   whose goals helped Monaco knock Chelsea out of last season's Champions League semi-finals.
   The Spaniard wriggled away from the Chelsea defenders on the right side, floated a high ball over to the left and the completely unmarked Riise thumped a volley past Petr Cech.
   Chelsea shrugged off the setback, but their first real shot in anger only came after 22 minutes when Frank Lampard was teed up for a shot from a free-kick which flew straight into the waiting arms of Dudek.
   The Polish keeper then did enough to block a Drogba effort minutes later and Luis Garcia, who had been impressively leading the Liverpool attack from midfield, made a controlled clearance off the line as Chelsea continued to turn the screw.
   Mourinho, relishing his first season in English football, tried to remedy that at halftime, swapping disappointing Czech midfielder Jiri Jarosik for Icelandic striker Eidur Gudjohnsen.
   The switch soon paid dividends when Dudek, a villain for allowing Leverkusen to score a stoppage-time goal on Tuesday, pulled off a superb double-save to stop a Gudjohnsen header and a William Gallas shot.
   Dietmar Hamann and Gerrard both had chances to add a second on the counter-attack and they paid the price when the skipper's attempt to clear Paulo Ferreira's free-kick hit the post and beat a helpless Dudek.
   Drogba came agonisingly close to winning it in the opening minutes of extra time when his header from a Duff cross beat Dudek but hit the post and bounced away.
   However, the Ivory Coast striker made no mistake minutes later and the goal by Kezman, who has failed to establish a first-team place since joining last year, put the final beyond a tiring Liverpool's reach.

AC Milan beat Inter 1-0 in the Milan derby on Sunday to stay level with Juventus at the top of Serie A and inflict their city rivals’ first defeat of the season.
   A late strike from Brazilian Kaka ended Inter’s 38-match unbeaten run in all competitions to leave Roberto Mancini’s side 14 points adrift of the leaders in fourth place, behind Sampdoria who won 1-0 at Brescia on Saturday.
   Juventus were inspired by Alessandro Del Piero who scored twice in their 3-0 win over Siena at the Delle Alpi stadium to ensure they remained neck and neck with the champions.
   AS Roma, without the suspended Francesco Totti, slipped to a 2-0 loss at Palermo, and Lazio enjoyed a 2-0 home victory over Parma.
   A 78,000 crowd at the San Siro saw little in the way of chances before Kaka struck in the 74th minute, and Inter will feel they deserved a point.
   Milan, without injured European Footballer of the Year Andriy Shevchenko, started the brighter as Portuguese playmaker Rui Costa forced keeper Francesco Toldo into action with a near- post save from a low shot in the fifth minute.
   Inter came close to a breakthrough on the stroke of half-time when Juan Sebastian Veron unleashed a fierce drive which Milan’s Brazilian keeper Dida did well to keep out.
   The game looked set for a goalless draw with Milan content to keep possession in midfield and Inter incapable of providing Christian Vieri or his strike partner Obafemi Martins with quality service.
   But the decisive moment came when Inter could only clear a corner as far as Gennaro Gattuso and the Milan midfielder’s well-struck low drive was turned in by Kaka.
   Although Mancini threw on Adriano and Dutch winger Andy van der Meyde in a bid to force what would have been their 17th draw of the season, Milan never looked in danger and threatened a second when Hernan Crespo headed over Serginho’s cross.
   Juve were without Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved, who was still suffering from the head injury he picked up in Tuesday’s Champions League defeat by Real Madrid, but coach Fabio Capello’s decision to play with three strikers paid off.
   Capello asked Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Uruguayan Marcelo Zalayeta to lead the line and gave the much-criticised Del Piero a free role.
   Del Piero responded by putting Juve ahead in the 35th minute with a delightful back-heel after a low cross from Zalayeta.
   Brazilian midfielder Emerson headed in Juve’s second, from a Mauro Camoranesi corner five minutes after the break, before Del Piero wrapped up the win from the penalty spot.
   ‘At last we played a faster game than we have managed recently,’ said Capello. ‘I am really pleased with this performance’.
   Roma’s disappointing campaign continued on a heavy pitch in Sicily with Luigi Del Neri’s side falling behind to a Franco Brienza goal nine minutes after the break.
   Palermo were reduced to 10 men in the 73rd minute after midfielder Simone Barone was sent off for a second yellow
   card and the Sicilians were
   lucky to maintain their lead when a Daniele Corvia effort five minutes from the end was ruled out.
   Francesco Guidolin’s side made sure of the three points in injury time when Luca Toni slotted home after a swift break down the flank from Mario Santana.

Newly appointed Valencia coach Antonio Lopez got off to a winning start when his side fought their way back from a goal down to claim their first success in seven outings with a classy 2-1 victory over Real Betis on Sunday.
   Lopez took charge when a beleaguered Claudio Ranieri was dismissed on Friday following his side's shock exit from the UEFA Cup at the hands of Steaua Bucharest.
   Last season's top scorer Mista notched the winner 18 minutes from time when he put the final touch to a beautifully fashioned move by coolly slotting the ball past Betis keeper Toni Doblas.
   The win lifted Valencia into fourth in the table, level with Betis and Espanyol, and one point behind Sevilla who were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Racing Santander earlier on Sunday.
   Sevilla are eight points behind second-placed Real Madrid who slipped to their second defeat in a row when they lost 2-0 to a dominant Deportivo Coruna on Saturday.
   Real's defeat allowed arch-rivals Barcelona to extend their lead at the top of the table to eight points despite the fact that they were held to a 1-1 draw by basement side Numancia in an almost unplayable pitch in Soria.
   Sunday's match of the day was at El Sadar where Malaga continued their impressive revival with a 6-1 crushing of nine-man Osasuna, who have now gone eight games without a win.
   The outstanding Miguel Angel opened the flood gates with a well taken strike in the fourth minute and new signing Fernando Baiano scored his first goals for the club when he weighed in with a goal either side of halftime.
   Rafael Benitez's former assistant Lopez got off to an unpromising start as Valencia boss as he watched his side go a goal down and miss a penalty in the first 18 minutes.
   Brazilian free-kick expert Marcos Assuncao curled the ball over the wall and past Valencia keeper Santiago Canizares after he had been fouled on the edge of the area to put Betis ahead in the 12th minute.
   Valencia were then awarded a controversial penalty when the referee penalised Betis for what appeared to be an accidental handball, but Fabio Aurelio's spot-kick was saved brilliantly by the outstretched Doblas.
   The home side's luck finally changed just before the half hour when midfielder Ruben Baraja rose above the Betis defence to head into the corner after Fabio Aurelio had outwitted a defender and dinked a neat cross into the area.
   Assuncao almost restored the Betis lead with another free kick on the stroke of halftime, but this time his shot rebounded off the bar with Canizares beaten.
   Valencia showed none of the nervousness that has marked their recent performances and laid siege to the Betis goal for most of the second period and twice hit the post before they eventually got their reward.
   Pablo Aimar, Francisco Rufete and Fabio Aurelio exchanged a dizzying series of passes to slice their way through the Betis defence to set Mista free to guide home past Doblas.
   Betis were reduced to 10 men immediately after when Assuncao was sent off for protesting that the goal was offside.

Barcelona will be out to defend their eight point lead at the top of the Spanish first division by beating local rivals Espanyol today. Historically, Espanyol have been the poor relations of the Spanish giants.
   The derby will bring together two close friends face-to-face on opposing teams – Maxi Lopez, the goal scoring hero of Barcelona’s defeat of Chelsea in the Champions League last week, and Espanyol’s top scorer Maxi Rodriguez.
   ‘We both know each other from Buenos Aires and regularly used to eat together. We lost touch a little when I came to Spain three years ago but know we are back together,’ explained Maxi Rodriguez about his Argentine compatriot.
   Maxi Lopez signed for Barcelona during the winter transfer from River Plate in his native Argentina.
   ‘I hope Maxi bangs in lots of goals for Barcelona but hopefully not in this particular game,’ joked Rodriguez on Monday. Rodriguez himself has found the net 10 times this season including with a thundering header on Saturday.
   Espanyol have not won in the Nou Camp for 23 seasons, and have only gained a solitary draw in that time. Real Madrid lie in second but have lost their last two league games and the 29-time Spanish champions will be out to avoid it becoming a hat-trick by beating fifth-placed Real Betis on Wednesday.
   The pressure is now on Real to claw back the deficit at the top of the table and avoid a second successive season without winning a trophy.
   ‘This isn’t make-or-break time yet. The league isn’t over although we have a tough month ahead. We all want to avoid a repeat of last year when we didn’t play well at the end of the season,’ commented David Beckham on Sunday. Raul Bravo, standing in for the injured Spanish international Michel Salgado, suffered a left thigh strain during Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Deportivo La Coruna and Luxemburgo will have dig into the Real reserves for a right-back.
   Zinedine Zidane was also injured on Saturday and Jose Maria ‘Guti’ Gutierrez faces a late fitness test although club captain Raul Gonzalez has got over his bout of flu which ruled him out of the game at Deportivo.

Arsenal are ready to break the bank to bring Real Madrid striker Michael Owen back to England.
   The People says the Gunners board have decided it is time to dispel the widely-accepted notion that they cannot compete with the big-hitters in the transfer market. And as unrest grows behind the Highbury scenes, Wenger will be urged to flex his muscles at the end of the season.
   Wenger and his directors are fully aware that Owen is likely to head back to the Premiership.
   And they also know that while he said he was ‘flattered’ by interest from Newcastle, Owen would love a move to Arsenal.

Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira says Real Madrid star Ronaldo has ‘lost his focus’.
   Parreira isn’t surprised Ronaldo is being criticised in Spain for his below-par season and said, ‘I believe that in football you must put everything to one side and focus on training.
   ‘But if you are distracted, like Ronaldo and his wedding, which was postponed three times, then you will lose the centre of your focus.’ Parreira added, ‘He (Ronaldo) makes the difference. But he needs to be motivated and in form.’

Middlesbrough grabbed a late 2-2 draw with Charlton Athletic in the Premier League but missed the chance to move above Liverpool into fifth place.
   Youngster Danny Graham headed Middlesbrough level four minutes from time after South African striker Shaun Bartlett had appeared to snatch victory for the visitors on 80 minutes.
   Matt Holland had given Charlton a 14th minute lead before centre back Chris Riggott made it 1-1 with 16 minutes left.
   Middlesbrough stay in sixth spot, one point below Liverpool who were playing leaders Chelsea in the League Cup final on Sunday. Charlton remain ninth.
   Earlier, Bolton Wanderers’ seven-match unbeaten league run came to an end at
   Newcastle United when they lost 2-1.
   Lee Bowyer headed United in front after 35 minutes from Stephen Carr’s inviting cross, only for Bolton to reply almost immediately with a sweetly-struck Stelios Giannakopoulos volley.
   Newcastle were the better side after the break and Kieron Dyer earned them the points after 69 minutes, seizing on a loose ball after Alan Shearer’s shot was blocked.
   Newcastle, who had won only twice in the league since November, move up two places to 11th.

Pele has penned an open letter to Santos ace Robinho, urging him to ignore offers from Europe – including Real Madrid.
   Robinho, 21, is expected to sign for Real at the end of this season, but Pele, a Santos legend, wrote in a local newspaper column, ‘I agree that Robinho must think about his future and that of his family.
   ‘We are at a different time. But, as a Brazilian, it would please me that Robinho acquired his financial independence by playing for Santos, where I played all my career.’
   Pele added, ‘Robinho, with his charisma and his talent can bring a new generation of fans to Santos and the Brazilian national team.’

Sport Lisboa, one of Portugal's oldest sides, are founded when a group of 24 football fans from the city's affluent Belem suburb decide to form a club. The football team played its first competitive games in 1905. A year later the Sport Lisboa athletics and cycling teams began competing, with many of the footballers practicing these disciplines as well. When the club joined forces with Sport Clube Benfica in 1908, the team was renamed Sport Lisboa e Benfica. The side retained their trademark red shirts and white shorts, as well as their eagle emblem and motto 'E pluribus unum' (Out of many, one). Known around the world simply as Benfica, the club has won, among other things, 30 League titles, 23 Portuguese Cups and two European Cups.