REAL MADRID took a step closer to the last 16 of the Champions League after easing past FC Zurich 1-0 in a match that saw the return to action of Cristiano Ronaldo following injury.

Modern-day pilgrims finishing one of the oldest trails in existence have been warned against sealing their triumph the traditional way for fear of catching swine flu.

MANCHESTER UNITED will be able to bask in the glory of a “very good day indeed” if Cristiano Ronaldo’s €94m transfer to Real Madrid goes through, according to a leading football finance expert.

Spain’s government defended a plan to fight soaring unemployment by shutting the door on foreign workers, fending off criticism that the idea is mean-spirited and futile.

Cristiano Ronaldo looks increasingly likely to stay at Manchester United for at least one more season after Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon admitted there was no more that could be done to lure the winger to the Bernabeu.

SEVILLA, still grieving from the sudden death of midfielder Antonio Puerta, found themselves on the losing end of an incisive performance by European champions Milan in the UEFA Super Cup in Monaco last night.

AC Milan 3 Sevilla 1

RAFAEL BENITEZ insists he “does not enjoy” his war of words with Jose Mourinho but the Liverpool boss could not resist responding to his Chelsea counterpart’s jibes ahead of the first major showdown of the season.

A subway train that derailed and killed 41 people in the eastern Spanish city of Valencia had been travelling at twice the normal speed, a government official said today.

Diego Forlan revealed Alex Ferguson gave him a personal good luck message as the former Manchester United striker looks to shatter Arsenal’s Champions League dreams when Villarreal head to Highbury on Wednesday evening.

Arsene Wenger must find an emergency solution to a defensive crisis ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Wigan as Arsenal look to avoid yet another post-international hangover.

NEWCASTLE manager Graeme Souness has shrugged off speculation over his future and is concentrating solely on recruiting the strikers he needs to kickstart the season.

TWO years’ ago the limitations of a Real Madrid side packed with attacking talent but lacking defensive solidity were exposed in a Champions League semi-final defeat by Juventus.

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson was not surprised to see Michael Owen finally get on the scoresheet for Real Madrid.

Michael Owen spoke with bravado about his future in Spain after breaking his Real Madrid duck with the sort of poacher’s goal for which he has become renowned.

Shelbourne captain Owen Heary has urged the Irish club to play next week’s mouth-watering clash with Deportivo La Coruna at Tolka Park.

Spanish prime minister-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, whose Socialist party won Spain’s general elections, said today he will recall 1,300 peacekeeping troops in Iraq by June 30.

Middlesbrough are ready to bring matters to a head in their bid to secure Brazilian Juninho’s return to the Riverside Stadium.

THE fans needed smelling salts and stiff drinks and fresh air and hugs for support. They shut their eyes tight, dropped their jaws wide, held their heads in agony and threw up their hands in delight.

Bayern Munich 1 Valencia 1 (after extra time, Bayern win 5-4 on pens)