THE Europa League final at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on May 18 will be contested by two Portuguese teams after Braga edged past Benfica on away goals and Porto, despite losing on the night to Villarreal, comfortably advanced to the decider.

Scotland 2 Spain 3

Howard Webb set a new World Cup final record after handing out 14 yellow cards and one red to Spain and Holland in a tempestuous climax to this tournament.

Holland 0 Spain 1

SO we will have new world champions for the first time on Sunday, when Spain meet the Netherlands in Soccer City, but will we have a world-class game?

Paraguay 0 Spain 1

SPAIN’S crusade to add the World Cup trophy to their Euro 2008 title continued last night with a closely-fought last-16 win over Iberian neighbours Portugal.

Spain 1 Portugal 0

Spain 3 Saudi Arabia 2

Convalescing duo Fernando Torres and Cesc Fabregas have both been included in Spain’s final 23-man squad for the World Cup, along with uncapped trio Victor Valdes, Pedro Rodriguez and Javi Martinez.

SPAIN midfielder Xabi Alonso insists he can build a potent midfield partnership with fellow playmaker Xavi as he prepares for tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier at home to Belgium.

THE United States will contest the Confederations Cup final after causing a huge upset in Bloemfontein last night by inflicting a first defeat on Spain since 2006.

Villarreal 1 Arsenal 1

Alex Ferguson has insisted Cristiano Ronaldo is not allowing the rough treatment he receives from opposition defenders to affect his game.

THE legal battle over the Carlos Tevez affair will stretch into the new year after West Ham lodged an appeal against a High Court ruling in Sheffield United’s favour.

Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini denied his team set out to target Cristiano Ronaldo in their Champions League stalemate at home to Manchester United.

Villarreal 0 Manchester United 0

VILLARREAL came from behind to defeat a determined Aalborg 6-3 in a thrilling Group E Champions League match that saw a hat-trick from second-half substitute Joseba Llorente.

Spain 4 Russia 1

NIGEL Worthington’s reign as full-time Northern Ireland manager got off to a losing start as Bulgaria — the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup qualifying group rivals — edged a tight friendly at Windsor Park.

ANDRES INIESTA has warned Northern Ireland to expect no favours from Spain when the two nations clash decisively in Las Palmas on Wednesday.

Spain international full-back Angel Lopez is hoping to make his first appearance for Villarreal since his summer move from Celta Vigo when they take on BATE Borisov on Thursday .

REAL MADRID failed to take advantage of slip-ups from La Liga’s frontrunners with a woeful display at the Riazor as they went down to Deportivo last night.

Spain will be without central defender Carlos Marchena for Sunday’s match against Portugal.

AC MILAN showed their determination to keep hold of the Champions League trophy with an emphatic 4-1 win over Deportivo La Coruna in a gripping quarter-final first leg tie at the San Siro last night.

AT MANCHESTER UNITED David Beckham became a 21st century icon.

Filippo Inzaghi took his goals tally to seven in three Champions League outings by scoring both for AC Milan in their 2-1 win at Bayern Munich tonight.