London  - Newcastle pair Michael Owen and Joey Barton are set for lengthy spells on the sidelines after both suffered ankle injuries in action on Wednesday.

Owen cracked a bone in his ankle playing against Manchester City and will be out for about six weeks. Barton suffered a similar injury and will miss 10 weeks.

"It's one thing after another at the moment," Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear said.

"Michael's on crutches already for protection and he's going to have a scan tomorrow.

London  - Liverpool's title hopes suffered another blow on Wednesday when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Wigan Athletic, while Chelsea leapfrogged them into second place in the English Premier League.

A late penalty by debutant Mido gave Wigan a share of the points at the JJB Stadium after Yossi Benayoun had fired Liverpool ahead on 41 minutes.

Two second-half goals from Salomon Kalou sealed Chelsea's 2-0 win over Middlesbrough, lifting them above Liverpool on goal difference, two points behind leaders Manchester United.

London  - Chelsea beat Middlesbrough 2-0 to move up to second place in the English Premier League on Wednesday after Liverpool's title hopes took another blow with a 1-1 draw at Wigan Athletic.

Two second-half goals from Salomon Kalou sealed the points for Chelsea, putting them above Liverpool on goal difference, two points behind leaders Manchester United.

Arsenal lost more ground after they were held 1-1 at Everton, while Manchester City and West Ham United both earned victories.

Chelsea were frustrated for the best part of an hour at Stamford Bridge as Middlesbrough matched them but Kalou broke the deadlock on 58 minutes.

Madrid  - Athletic Bilbao and Mallorca forced their way into the semi-finals of the Spanish King's Cup on Wednesday, edging out Sporting Gijon and Betis in the quarters.

Bilbao battled out a 2-1 comeback win in Gijon, who had played out a 0-0 draw in Bilbao last week.

Carmelo gave Gijon the lead after just 30 seconds with a fierce drive, after good work by Diego Castro.

Dortmund, Germany  - A football fan died Wednesday before a German Cup game in the round of the last 16 in Dortmund after falling from the terraces.

Werder Bremen came from behind to oust last year's losing finalist 2-1 to advance to the quarter-finals, while Bayer Leverkusen beat Energie Cottbus 3-0 to go through.

Police said that the man fell from the south terrace in the Signal-Iduna-Park and although he was immediately airlifted to hospital doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.