Fernando Torres scored twice to fire Atletico Madrid to a 3-1 victory at the Nou Camp and deny Barcelona the chance to equal one of Spanish football’s longest-standing records.

THE FAI have firmly denied reports from Israel’s media that their team bus was stoned by Irish fans and pro-Palestinian protestors after Saturday night’s draw.

REPUBLIC of Ireland manager Brian Kerr has used the timely return of Roy Keane to boost the troops ahead of Wednesday’s now-crucial World Cup Group 4 qualifier against the Faroe Islands.

BRIAN KERR will wait until later today at the earliest before making a final decision on the availability of Steve Finnan for tomorrow’s World Cup game against Israel at Lansdowne Road.

THE last time Tel Aviv got this excited about a football match in its own back yard the Berlin Wall was still thumbing its grubby nose at the west.