News Headlines

Europa League round-up: Atlético Madrid's win at Rubin Kazan too little

• Holders win 1-0 in Moscow but go out 2-1 on aggregate • Inter, Stuttgart, Basel join Spurs and Newcastle in last 16 The holders, Atlético Madrid , crashed out of the Europa League despite managing a 1-0 away win in the second leg of their last-32 tie against Rubin Kazan at the...

Metalist 0-1 Newcastle (agg 0-1)

Alan Pardew is confident Newcastle United can mount a genuine challenge for Europa League glory after passing the sternest of tests in Kharkiv. The Magpies arrived in Ukraine having been held to a 0-0 draw by Metalist Kharkiv on Tyneside last week and knowing the balance of the tie had shifted...

Liverpool 3-1 Zenit (agg 3-3)

Last week Brendan Rodgers left St Petersburg urging Liverpool to buy "some men". On Thursday night he could only salute their strength of character. Such is the wildly contrasting nature of his Liverpool team. Their one constant over two legs against Zenit St Petersburg was defensive lapses that...

Rafael Benítez defends Fernando Torres after Hazard rescues Chelsea

• Crucial late goal against Sparta Prague follows Torres misses • 'Let's turn it into a positive: he had those four chances' Rafael Benítez launched a defence of Fernando Torres's spluttering form after Chelsea squeezed beyond Sparta Prague and into the last 16 of the Europa League...

Liverpool 3 Zenit St Petersburg 1, agg; 3-3: match report

Liverpool crash out of Europe despite 3-1 win after Jamie Carragher mistake gifts Zenit St Petersburg crucial away goal.

Raphael Honigstein's paper review

With AC Jimbo on his mid-season break, Raphael Honigstein is substituted in to fill the breach Raphael Honigstein Ben Green Andy Gallagher Richard Sprenger

Roberto Mancini may take Manchester City on tour before being sacked

Roberto Mancini, the Manchester City manager, may find himself leading the club on an end-of-season tour with his tenure all but over, as City's relentless drive to boost revenues takes them overseas as soon as their attempt to defend their Premier League title is concluded.

Chelsea 1-1 Sparta Prague (agg 2-1)

The livid chants for José Mourinho to return to these parts went up just after the hour in a contest that had long since degenerated into a slog. Chelsea remain afloat in the Europa League, though everything about their progress beyond Sparta Prague into a meeting with Steaua Bucharest in the...

James McFadden returns to his roots to prove himself for Motherwell and Scotland

Motherwell welcome back prodigal son after injury nearly ended his career.