Soccer / Football : Spain : Primera Liga 2007/2008

sports betting news

Barcelona 14.5 : Gabriel Milito could miss up to nine months after having an operation Tuesday to repair a torn ligament in his right knee, the same joint that he injured seven years ago. The initial prognosis had been that the Argentina defender would be sidelined for six months, for an injury he picked up in the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg defeat against Manchester United last month. Midifielder Yaya Toure had also surgery for a slipped disk and is expected to miss six to eight weeks.

Meanwhile, Monday's training session reflected the collapse of all normality at Barcelona with no less than 16 players and coach Frank Rijkaard being absent. Deco was given until Wednesday off, Xavi was away with a fever, Samuel Eto'o, Gianluca Zambrotta, Rafa Marquez, Sylvinho and Albert Jorquera were all absent with injuries. Lilian Thuram, Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry and Edmilson were all reported to be training in the gym, while Andres Iniesta and Eidur Gudjohnsen did laps of the pitch in Camp Nou.

Sporting 13.5 : Sporting have re-signed Brazilian midfielder Fabio Rochemback on a three-year free transfer deal after he was released by Middlesbrough. The 26-year-old previously joined Sporting on loan from Barcelona in 2003, and stayed for just over two seasons before leaving for the Premier League side where he scored five goals in 68 games. Gaizka Mendieta and Lee Dong-gook are also set to leave Middlesbrough after the club decided not to offer them new contracts. Fabio Rochemback returns to Sporting

Levante 13.5 : Players from relegated Primera Division side Levante announced on Monday they will start an indefinite strike over unpaid wages starting with Sunday's final league match of the season against champions Real Madrid. The strike was announced because of the Valencia-based club's failure to pay the players money owed from as far back as last season. Last Wednesday, the Levante team staged a brief protest by standing motionless on the field when their league game against Deportivo La Coruna kicked off.

11.5 : Real Madrid, who clinched the Primera Division title last weekend, drew with Zaragoza 2-2, ending their six-game winning streak. Second-place Villarreal continued the best season in their history with a 2-0 win over Espanyol. Atletico Madrid sealed the final UEFA Champions League qualifying spot in Spain for the first time in 12 years after a 1-0 win against Deportivo La Coruna.

The victory kept Atletico three points clear of Sevilla, with a superior head-to-head record over the fifth-placed club. Atletico are now also just a point behind Barcelona after the Catalan side threw away a two-goal lead at home to lose 3-2 against Mallorca. Valencia ensured they would be playing Primera Division football next year with a 5-1 win at Levante, David Villa scoring a hat-trick.

Barcelona 9.5 : Frank Rijkaard will leave Barcelona at the end of the season and former captain Pep Guardiola will take over as coach of the team. Rijkaard's position in the Camp Nou hot seat has been the subject of intense speculation so Thursday's announcement by club president Joan Laporta comes as little surprise. Guardiola, 37, steered Barcelona's B team to the top of their section of Spain's fourth division this term.

Former Netherlands international Rijkaard, 45, took over as Barcelona's coach in 2003, and with him the Catalan club became European champions in 2006 and also won two Primera Division titles. However, his side have failed to win any major trophy for the past two seasons and suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat by arch-rivals Real Madrid on Wednesday. Rijkaard's contract was due to run to 2009.

Barcelona 8.5 : Sylvinho will miss the rest of the season after picking up a right knee injury. The Brazilian left-back came on as a half-time substitute against Real Madrid, only to limp off just fourteen minutes later after acquiring a knock when tackling Marcelo. Sylvinho sprained an internal ligament in his right knee and could be out for up to a month.

Barcelona 7.5 : Gabriel Milito will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery next week and is expected out of action for around six months. Tests confirmed a twisted ligament in the Argentina defender's right knee after Barcelona's 1-0 UEFA Champions League defeat to Manchester United last week.

Ronaldinho and Andres Iniesta are also out injured, while striker Samuel Eto'o and midfielder Deco will miss Wednesday's clash with arch-rivals Real Madrid through suspension. It is a blow for coach Frank Rijkaard with three games left to play as he tries to secure second place and automatic qualification to the UEFA Champions League next year.

5.5 : Ten-man Real Madrid scored twice in the final two minutes to snatch a dramatic 2-1 victory at Osasuna and win their 31st Spanish league title on Sunday. With Villarreal beating Getafe 2-0 in an earlier match, Real had to win the game to retain the championship but suffered a major setback when defender Fabio Cannavaro was dismissed at the start of the second half.

With three matches left to play, Real have an unassailable 10-point lead over Villarreal at the top of the table. Thierry Henry and Bojan Krkic scored two goals each as third-placed Barcelona snapped a five-game winless streak with a 6-0 rout of Valencia. Murcia squandered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at Racing Santander and will join Levante in the second division next season.

last results

home win - draw - away win (1-x-2)

Spanish Primera Liga : 48% - 23% - 29%