Spain

Tough test for Barcelona away to resurgent Betis

Madrid - Runaway Spanish leaders Barcelona face a tough test on Saturday, away to resurgent Betis.

Barca will be looking for their 11th straight win in Seville, and will be hoping to get closer to Real Madrid's record of 107 goals in 1989/90 season.

Samuel Eto'o, Lionel Messi and company have so far scored 68 goals in 22 Liga games, and so have 16 games left in which to overtake Real's record.

"It will not be an easy game since Betis have improved their play and results recently," Barca coach Josep Guardiola said.

Indeed they have, especially since the return of Ricardo Oliveira.

Ex-F-I champ Schumacher injured in super bike crash

Ex-F-I champ Schumacher injured in super bike crashCartegena (Spain), Feb. 12 : Seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher was admitted to hospital overnight after crashing during super bike testing at a race track in the Spanish city of Cartagena.

The Daily Telegraph quoted local officials as saying that the 40-year-old had broken two ribs, complained of pains in his neck and wrist and was unconscious for several minutes after the accident.

The newspaper said Schumacher underwent a brain scan "which ruled out serious injuries despite the strong impact his head had against the ground.''''

Euro champions Spain superior to uninspired England

Euro champions Spain superior to uninspired EnglandSeville  - Spain turned on their Euro 2008 style on Wednesday to beat dull England 2-0, in a high-profile friendly played in Seville.

Strikers David Villa and Fernando Llorente netted for Spain, who could have won by a greater margin.

This is the third time that Spain - who are now unbeaten for 29 games - have beaten England within the space of five years.

Fortunately, there was no repetition of the racist abuse of England's black players that marred England's last visit to Spain, in 2004.

Webber driving again after leg fracture

Webber driving again after leg fractureJerez de la Frontera, Spain  - Mark Webber returned into the Red Bull Formula One car for tests on Wednesday having recovered from a broken leg sustained less than three months ago.

"I am very relieved," said Webber after a morning session of 48 laps in Jerez de la Frontera.

The Australian Webber broke his right leg on November 22, 2008, when he collided with a car while riding a bike at his own charity event in Tasmania.

Webber said he was ahead of schedule in the healing process but still required light painkillers.

Political tension mounts in Spain over corruption scandal

Spain FlagMadrid - Tension was mounting in Spain on Wednesday between the socialist government and the main opposition conservative People's Party (PP) after a judge named 37 people suspects in a corruption investigation involving the PP.

PP leader Mariano Rajoy announced his party was breaking off all contacts with Justice Minister Mariano Fernandez Bermejo, and demanded that judge Baltasar Garzon drop his probe.

Rajoy made the comments after the daily El Mundo said Fernandez and Garzon had gone on a hunting expedition together while the judicial investigation was being launched.

Survey: Barcelona is most popular club; England dethrone Spain

Barcelona1Cologne, Germany - Barcelona remains the most popular European football club but English clubs have overtaken Spain for overall fan support, a survey published on Wednesday revealed.

The Spanish leage leaders Barca retained first place with 44.2 million fans from domestic rivals Real Madrid (41.0) and European champions Manchester United (37.6).

The figures were given by the Sport+Markt agency which questioned 10,000 football fans in 16 countries.

Pages