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Madrid  - Coach Vicente del Bosque said Tuesday he planned to retire from football once his current mission as Spain manager ends.

"I have entered the fifth stage in my sporting life and I think it is going to be the last in football. I hope it ends well and I hope I can fulfil my role as well as possible," he said in Madrid

The former Real Madrid coach took over the Spanish national team in September, succeeding Luis Aragones who stepped down after he led the team to the title at Euro 2008.

Madrid - Spanish cycling star Alejandro Valverde has asked for a further postponement of a hearing by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) in a doping investigation, Spanish media reported Tuesday.

Valverde had originally been ordered to appear before a CONI panel on Monday, but the hearing had been postponed to Wednesday at the Caisse d'Epargne rider's request.

According to the reports, Valverde has sought another 48-hour postponement to allow his lawyers more time on the case.

Madrid  - Real Madrid hero Raul will play one more game for Spain, according to radio station Cadena SER on Monday evening.

SER claims that Raul, 31, will be invited to play in the November friendly, probably against Argentina, that the Spanish federation is organizing to celebrate its centenary.

According to SER, the idea comes from Fernando Hierro, the federation's sporting director, and former team-mate of Raul for Spain and Real. National manager Vicente del Bosque is believed to be receptive to the idea.

Madrid  - Spanish leaders Barcelona had to dig deep on Saturday to force a 2-2 away to lowly Betis, for whom goalkeeper Ricardo was the hero.

Barca needed two goals from league top scorer Samuel Eto'o to stretch their unbeaten run to 22 games.

Betis took an early 2-0 lead, with goals from Melli and Mark Gonzalez, but in the end were desperate to hear the final whistle.

"They came close to beating us at the end," said Melli. "They never stopped attacking, and Ricardo had to keep us in the game."