Atletico madrid extend la liga lead
Madrid: Atletico Madrid moved one step closer to its first Spanish league title in 18 years with a 2-0 win over Elche on Friday, and now turns its attention to receiving Chelsea in the Champions league semifinals. Atletico's eighth straight win in the league kept it in control of its destiny and needing three wins in the final four rounds to claim its first league title since 1996. Defender Miranda scored the opening goal at Vicente Calderon Stadium in the 72nd minute when he floated his header just inside the upright before Diego Costa added a penalty he had earned in stoppage time for his 27th league goal of the season. Atletico needed goalkeeper Courtois Thibaut to make successive saves around the half-hour mark, and didn't lose its composure after David Villa had a penalty saved in the 51st. Atletico provisionally extended its lead over Real Madrid to six points, with Barcelona another point behind. Madrid won't play Valladolid until May 7 as it rests after winning the Copa del Rey title and prepares to host Bayern Munich on Wednesday in the other Champions league semifinal. Barcelona hosts Athletic Bilbao on Sunday needing to rebound from losing in the Copa del Rey final and keep alive its dwindling hopes of defending its league title.
Balotelli leads AC Milan to victory
Rome: Mario Balotelli set a personal record with his 14th goal of the Serie A season and set up another score as AC Milan beat visiting livorno 3-0 on Saturday for its fifth straight win. Still, Milan remained five points behind city rival Inter Milan in the race for fifth place and the final Europa league berth, after Inter beat 10-man Parma 2-0. In the 43rd minute at the San Siro, Balotelli scored with a textbook header from the center of the area following a cross from Kevin Constant. Midfielder Adel Taarabt doubled Milan's lead in the 51st after dribbling past a defender, and substitute Giampaolo Pazzini finished off in the 84th after taking a pass from Balotelli that left him with only the goalkeeper to beat. Balotelli's previous best output was 13 goals, with Manchester City in 2011-12, and City and Milan combined last season. It was also Balotelli's 18th goal in all competitions this season, another personal record, which should give the striker confidence entering the WC as Italy's leader in attack.
Eriksen puts Fulham in trouble
london: Tottenham Hotspur strengthened their push for a European place and kept Fulham trapped in the Premier league relegation zone with a 3-1 home victory on Saturday. Fulham midfielder Steve Sidwell cancelled out Paulinho's 35th-minute opener for Tottenham, but second-half goals from Harry Kane and Younes Kaboul gave Tim Sherwood's side all three points. Sidwell had an opportunity to get his team back into the game with 13 minutes remaining, but after Christian Eriksen had been penalised for handball, he saw his penalty parried by Hugo lloris. Champions league qualification remains unlikely for Spurs, who are four points below fourth-place Arsenal, having played a game more, but they are now six points above Manchester United in the battle for a Europa league berth.
Sandeep in last 16, Manjeet bows out New Delhi: Sandeep Kumar (60kg) notched up a comprehensive win to enter the pre-quarterfinals but Asian bronze-medallist Manjeet (69kg) bowed out after a fierce battle as Indian boxers produced mixed results in the second round of World Youth Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. Sandeep entered the last-16 after beating lukas Dekys of the Czech Republic in his second-round bout. The Indian led throughout the bout and was unanimously declared the winner in all three rounds. He will now square off against Japan's Goh Hasaka, who defeated Iraq's Jamal Hayder in his second-round bout. Manjeet, on the other hand, fought hard against Rakhat Marzhikpayev of Kazakhstan but could not come through. The Indian gave his more fancied rival a tough time but eventually had to bow out, losing 1-2.
Dravid to trump Tendulkar: survey
New Delhi: Rahul Dravid seems to have the trust of more IPl fans as an icon/ mentor than Sachin Tendulkar, as more than double the people have voted for him over the master-blaster for guiding their teams to more success, in a survey conducted by Nimbuzz Premier league 2014 Special Report. Both the greats have decided to involve in the IPl as mentors of different teams. Dravid is the mentor of the Rajasthan Royals while Tendulkar is in charge of city-based team Mumbai Indians. The survey has also reported that people feel Virat Kohli will walk away with the Orange Cap given to highest run-scorers.
Armaan to compete in Blancpain GT
Chennai: Indian driver Armaan Ebrahim will compete in the Blancpain GT World Series this season that gets underway at the French track of Nogaro on Sunday. The quality of drivers in the series this year is unequalled, with as many as six Formula One drivers and several former GT champions fighting for top honours over seven rounds featuring 14 races. Twenty cars are confirmed for the full season with a couple of extra cars expected at each round on a race-by-race basis.
Moores gets 2nd stint as Eng coach
london: Peter Moores has been given a second chance as England head coach, after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced his appointment on Saturday. Moores, the first man to twice be appointed England coach, replaced Andy Flower after the former Zimbabwe batsman stood down following the team's 5-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia. Agencies