Real Madrid 1 Manchester United 1

Given the feverish intensity of the media build-up to last night in the Santiago Bernabeu, it would have taken something of the order of Brazil beating Italy in the 1970 World Cup final for this match to have fully lived up to its extravagant billing.

A Europol report last week claimed that 380 soccer games in Europe and 680 worldwide were ‘suspicious’. Match-fixing has tainted the world’s most popular sport, drawn in major crime gangs, and ruined players’ lives, writes Sheila Norman-Culp

Alex Ferguson has admitted his new Manchester United side face their “acid test” in the Bernabeu Stadium tonight.

FOR a man often so assured, Alex Ferguson was oddly cautious.

Jose Mourinho confirmed yesterday he will renew his love affair with English football.

Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has branded Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo a “bully” who preys on the weaknesses of defenders.

There are big games, very big games and then there are mega games.

It is the game the world is waiting to see, according to José Mourinho, and he may well be right.

Roberto Mancini is ready to axe those Manchester City players he believes do not have the stomach for a fight.

Sideline scrum now the bane of rugby

Southampton 3 Manchester City 1

Manchester United 2 Everton

PREMIER LEAGUE: Man Utd v Everton

A dream trip to Old Trafford to see Manchester United play Everton this weekend crumbled to dust for Naomi Tuohy when her internet-booked tickets failed to materialise.

John Aldridge has dismissed comparisons between Luis Suarez’s handball in Liverpool’s 2-1 FA Cup win against Mansfield and Thierry Henry’s sleight of hand in France’s World Cup play-off victory over the Republic of Ireland in November 2009.

Shane Long says he won’t celebrate if he scores against his old club Reading when West Brom visit the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.

Paul Scholes feels Liverpool still rank among Manchester United’s biggest rivals, even given the Merseyside outfit’s recent struggles.

Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso has backed Luka Modric to make it at the Bernabeu once he finds his feet in Spain.

Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez would not be drawn on the future of Frank Lampard yesterday, only revealing the midfielder remains focused on the task at hand.