Zinedine Zidane insists every member of his Real Madrid squad will have a part to play in any success this season.

Arsenal are now highly unlikely to complete the signing of Monaco forward Thomas Lemar before the closure of the summer transfer window, it is understood.

Arsenal enter today’s final day of the transfer window in disarray, with the future of several first-team players up in the air, and the pressure ever increasing on manager Arsene Wenger.

Sunderland have started an internal disciplinary process against Darron Gibson after footage emerged of the midfielder criticising team-mates in a bar.

Deportivo La Coruna failed to make certain of their LaLiga status after being held to a 2-2 draw at relegated Osasuna.

Barcelona completed what was the greatest-ever comeback in the history of the Champions League knockout stages when they overturned a four-goal first-leg deficit against Paris St Germain but now they have to perform another escape act against Juventus.

A four-goal comeback in the Champions League sounds like fantasy football, and maybe it is — but Carlo Ancelotti has been on the receiving end.

Luis Suarez scored a hat-trick as Barcelona retained their Primera Division title with a 3-0 victory at Granada as Real Madrid's late-season charge came to nothing.

Barcelona maintained their position at the Primera Division summit after second-half goals from Ivan Rakitic and Luis Suarez lifted them to a 2-0 win at 10-man Real Betis.

Zlatan! Ronaldo! Messi!

Nick Hornby said it best in Fever Pitch when he suggested that the natural state of the football fan is one of bitter disappointment, no matter what the score. Sitting in the Estadio Riazor last Sunday evening as more than 33,000 Deportivo La Coruña supporters shuffled out glumly onto the sun-speckled streets on the back of a 2-0 win over Levante spoke painfully for that.

Ambiguous reactions in Spain to Real Betis fan chants, which caused dismay outside the country, have again shown how the idea of collective responsibility is missing at most La Liga clubs.

The death of a Deportivo La Coruna ‘ultra’ in fighting before last Sunday’s La Liga match at Atletico Madrid has led to attempts at expelling all such radical ‘supporters’ from the Spanish game.

Spanish football is proposing a stadium ban on all radical supporter groups, known as ultras, after violent clashes on Sunday led to the death of a Deportivo La Coruna fan.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick while Gareth Bale and Javier Hernandez both scored twice as Real Madrid ran riot against Deportivo La Coruna at Riazor.

Atletico Madrid shocked maybe even themselves by breaking the big two’s grip on the La Liga title for the first time since 2004, but still the 2014/15 La Liga season will likely be another shoot-out between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

“We won’t play like Fort Apache, that’s not our style.”

Lionel Messi has gone home to Argentina to fry in the Christmas sunshine with his partner Antonella, infant son Thiago and all the other Messis.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has been hailed as the greatest player of all-time by team-mate and fellow Argentinian Javier Mascherano.

Neil Lennon expects Lassad Nouioui to arrive in Glasgow tonight to complete his move to Celtic.

THEY talk about the glory of the cup but, for Shelbourne, today is as much about redemption as it is about romance.

Barcelona’s lead over Real Madrid at the top of the Primera Division is down to five points after they were held 1-1 by Sevilla in a thrilling contest at the Estadio Sanchez Pizjuan this evening.

Security has been stepped up around Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho after a member of the coach's security team was stabbed.

SEVILLA coach Manolo Jimenez has described tonight’s Champions League last-16 second leg against CSKA Moscow as “a very important game for the club, the team, the city, Andalusia and Spain” as the Primera Division outfit look to break new ground.

ALEX FERGUSON does not intend to demand Wayne Rooney matches Cristiano Ronaldo’s 42-goal haul from two seasons ago – 40 would be enough for the hard-to-please Manchester United boss.

MANCHESTER UNITED still require a point to finish top of their Champions League qualifying group after Alex Ferguson fielded a Carling Cup side against Besiktas at Old Trafford and was punished with a 1-0 defeat.

HARRY REDKNAPP feels Honduras midfielder Wilson Palacios will bring a new dynamic to his Tottenham squad.

Deportivo La Coruna could table an offer for Nacho Novo in the January transfer window after confirming their interest in the Rangers striker.

Valencia, Braga, Wolfsburg, Aston Villa, Hamburg and Ajax booked their places in the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup after a pulsating evening of European football that delivered 26 goals across eight games.

REAL MADRID striker Gonzalo Higuain hailed his side’s fighting spirit after Bernd Schuster’s side claimed an incredible Primera Liga victory over Malaga on Saturday.

Newcastle have completed the signing of Spain Under-21 striker Xisco on a five-year deal from La Liga side Deportivo La Coruna for an undisclosed fee, the club have announced.

NEIL CALLAN, a native of Kildare, rode his first winner at the track when guiding English challenger, Kevin Ryan’s Senor Mirasol, to a smooth victory in the Listed Danehill Dancer Stakes at Tipperary last evening.

FOR drama and surprise there is nothing quite like La Liga, although the Premier League shows signs of running it close this season.

EL CLASICO once again lived up to its billing as Real Madrid traded blow for blow with Barcelona in Camp Nou on Sunday night and won to establish a commanding seven-point lead at the top of La Liga.

Ronaldinho will not be leaving the Nou Camp during the January transfer window, Barcelona supremo Joan Laporta has insisted.

LIVERPOOL defender Steve Finnan has welcomed extra competition for places at Anfield after committing himself to the club for the rest of his career.

Liverpool defender and Irish international Steve Finnan has welcomed extra competition for places at Anfield after committing himself to the club for the rest of his career.

Real Madrid moved to within two points of Primera Liga leaders Barcelona after they came from behind to defeat title rivals Sevilla 3-1 at the Bernabeu.

Deportivo La Coruna claim defender Alvaro Arbeloa is on the verge of joining Liverpool.