Jurgen Klopp tells a story about playing a hypothetical game of tennis against a three-year-old girl. It would be no fun, he said, if he smashed the ball at her and won easily while she stood and watched. He’d rather play table-tennis against someone his own age and lose.

Cristiano Ronaldo hit a second-half hat-trick as Real Madrid opened their Champions League campaign with a 4-0 victory over 10-man Shakhtar Donetsk in last night’s Group A showdown at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Karim Bellarabi is the only uncapped player in Germany’s squad for their upcoming Euro qualifiers against Ireland and Poland.

Barcelona should be able to bring in new players this summer after confirming they will appeal against a year-long transfer ban by FIFA for breaching rules on the trafficking of minors.

Jon Walters has been forced to withdraw from Ireland’s squad to face Germany and Kazakhstan after a negative assessment on a groin problem following his substitution in Stoke City’s 1-0 loss to Fulham on Saturday.

Friday night’s last ever Basque derby to be held at Athletic Bilbao’s Estadio San Mames should have been a celebration of La Catedral’s 100-year history, but instead turned into yet another low point in one of the club’s worst seasons.

Anthony Stokes has been key to Celtic’s perfect start to the season but he believes fans should lace their confidence with some caution ahead of Thursday night’s Europa League play-off first-leg clash against Sion at Parkhead.

Liverpool youth team prodigy Raheem Sterling could become the club’s youngest first-team player against Sparta Prague in the Europa League tomorrow.

Aston Villa have finally completed the loan signing of United States midfielder Michael Bradley for the remainder of the season.

Aston Villa remain confident they will sign Borussia Moenchengladbach midfielder Michael Bradley on loan for the remainder of the season.

ALGERIA will be forced to field a depleted side against Republic of Ireland in tonight’s friendly in Dublin after striker Karim Matmour joined Madjid Bougherra and Hassan Yebda on the injured list this week.

Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez will hand new goalkeeper Kasey Keller a debut in the Premier League clash at Aston Villa today.

Veteran goalkeeper Kasey Keller has joined Fulham.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has confirmed the Reds are close to sealing a deal to sign Ukrainian striker Andriy Voronin on a free transfer at the end of the season.

RONALDINHO scored a sensational overhead kick as Barcelona thrashed Villarreal 4-0 at the Nou Camp to stay at the top of La Liga.

Manchester City midfielder Claudio Reyna went off injured in the 16th minute as the USA were beaten 1-0 by Morocco in a World Cup warm-up game in Nashville.

Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder faces defensive problems ahead of his side’s FA Cup quarter-final against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

RACISM again reared its ugly head in Spanish football as Barcelona’s Samuel Eto’o suffered sustained abuse at Real Zaragoza.

ENGLAND coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has played down suggestions Manchester United’s Alan Smith does not have a future with the national team.

FRANCE’S hopes of making the 2006 World Cup finals received a further boost yesterday when defender Lilian Thuram confirmed he would make his international comeback.

THERE have been many memorable moments in Liverpool’s rich European history.

Real Madrid 4 Barcelona 2

Chelsea striker Mikael Forssell plans to return from his knee injury to play a part in his side’s quadruple bid this season.

Tottenham today signed goalkeeper Radek Cerny from Slavia Prague on an 18-month contract.

Rangers have handed Lebanon captain Faisal Antar the chance to win a dream move to Britain.

JOHN Hartson’s agent has revealed he has held initial talks with Celtic about extending the striker’s contract.

John Hartson’s agent has revealed he has held initial talks with Celtic about extending the striker’s contract.

SWITZERLAND coach Koebi Kuhn has left injured captain Joerg Stiel out of his 19-man squad to face Russia in next week’s critical Group 10 qualifier.

BRAZILIAN, Elber struck four times as Bayern Munich put their German league title chase on track by hammering Arminia Bielefeld 6-2 on Saturday.