UEFA Champions League: Tuesday's Previews

Bayer Leverkusen vs. Barcelona
Preview


Lyon vs. APOEL Nicosia
Preview


Barcelona look to bounce back, surprise package APOEL continue their run

African Nations Cup 2012: BBC's team of reporters recall the highlights

Zambia brought proceedings at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations to a close on Sunday, with a dramatic penalty shoot-out climax to an exciting and eventful tournament in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. The BBC's team of reporters followed all the action in the four host cities of Malabo, Bata, Libreville and Franceville throughout the competition. Here, they reflect on the highlights and memorable moments - on and off the field - from this year's Nations Cup.

Paolo Bandini in Italy

The remarkable off-field story of Emiliano Mondonico now has an on-field addition, after Novara did the double over Inter.

Novara fans left wishing they could play Internazionale every week.

Raphael Honigstein in Germany

Borussia Mönchengladbach's journey from faded institution to credible force again is the Bundesliga's story of the season.

Lucien Favre's love affair with Borussia Mönchengladbach picks up steam.

Ryan Giggs Interview

Just over 12 months ago, Ryan Giggs was considering the end of his career, with injuries and frustration leading him to arrange a meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson in which he disclosed that he was contemplating the end of the road at Manchester United.

Then

Now

Manchester United's Ryan Giggs aims to stay at top table and is hungry for more silverware as milestone looms.

Steve Davis: Ten MLS Preseason Storylines

Major League Soccer teams once scattered across the continents to optimize preseason training. But new facilities and tournaments in Florida and Arizona are providing the goods now. For instance, five teams were training in Arizona last week. Here are 10 things to know about the early goings-on from five sides prepping in the Arizona sunshine.

Americans Abroad

On Dec. 19, 2010, Charlie Davies made his triumphant return to Sochaux's first team, a mere 14 months after the well-documented car accident that nearly took his life and claimed the life of another passenger. On the surface, it appeared to be a dream development, but in reality, the personnel decision was a symbolic gesture made by Sochaux's technical staff to award his progress. Davies knew he wasn't going to get on the field against Bordeaux that day, and so did his coaches. He didn't sniff the club's first team roster again. Until this past Saturday. Wearing Sochaux's No. 12 shirt, Davies made his entry against Stade Rennes on Saturday as a 78th-minute substitute to complete his European comeback and make his first appearance with the French club since Oct. 3, 2009. Returning to the mix at Sochaux was a bit of a surprise development, but one that indicates that he is even further along in his progression than some may have anticipated.

The Rest

Jonathan Wilson: Best and worst moments from the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations

From the disappointment of Senegal, to Kily Alvarez's goal and Ali Bongo's wild celebration.

From Barça to Zenit: How this week's Champions League teams shape up

Leverkusen's Dutt gets to face Barcelona after their loss to Osasuna at the weekend...

Can Apoel cause another shock against Lyon and will Barça recover from a rare domestic defeat to beat Leverkusen?

Tevez says Mancini treated him like a dog

Manchester City officials are ready to forgive Carlos Tevez for his misdemeanours and begin the process of integrating him back into Roberto Mancini's squad when he returns from Argentina on Tuesday . Tevez, for his part, said: "I know what it takes to revert the situation," while admitting issues remain with his manager. Indeed Tevez went as far as to say Mancini treated him "like a dog" over the incident at Bayern Munich in September.

The Trawler: Pompey fans get shirty

Welcome to The Trawler, your weekly submersion through the teeming waters of life in the Championship, League One and League Two. You might be surprised what you find down there.

Phil Ball in Spain

y...hasta luego, Marcelino...

During a podcast I did for the US a few months ago, I was asked who my three favourite managers were in La Liga, aside from the famous few. I replied with Marcelino, Manolo Preciado and Gregorio Manzano. The perceptive ones among you will realise that they have all been subsequently sacked - a fact that was pointed out to me by the interviewer, a few days ago in an e-mail entitled 'The kiss of death'.

Spain: La Liga Weekend Reviews

Saturday




Sunday

Italy: Serie A Weekend Reviews

Saturday


Sunday

Mick McCarthy sacked as Wolves manager after West Brom defeat

Wolves have sacked boss Mick McCarthy following Sunday's 5-1 home thrashing by Black Country rivals West Brom. McCarthy has been in charge at Molineux since July 2006 but his side have won only one of their last 13 matches.

Manchester United vs. Liverpool: Fallout

Luis Suárez's future at Liverpool has been placed in doubt after the contrition the club has been accused of lacking throughout his dispute with Patrice Evra emerged in an unprecedented series of statements from Anfield on Sunday. Suárez, branded "a disgrace" by Sir Alex Ferguson for refusing to shake Evra's hand at Old Trafford on Saturday, first issued a public apology for his actions on the club's website. Ian Ayre, the Liverpool managing director, then released a statement that accused the 25-year-old of misleading the club before Kenny Dalglish, himself widely condemned for an interview that followed the 2-1 defeat to Manchester United, apologised for conduct not "befitting of a Liverpool manager" during his appearance on Sky.

It took Liverpool 24 hours after their defeat to Manchester United to apologise for Luis Suárez's refusal to shake hands with Patrice Evra. But was a story in the New York Times calling for the owners to take action the key reason behind the club's attempt to draw a line under the conflict? Here is the story in full.

Richard Williams: Poison lingers after apologies
Jonathan Liew: Suárez has unique ability to unite world in loathing
Andy Hunter: Suárez must show Liverpool he is worth the trouble


No action by FA

England: Weekend Premier League Review, Reports, Teams of the Week, etc.

Manchester City, Manchester United, Spurs, and Arsenal win, Blues and Magpies stumble


Review




Manchester United 2 -1 Liverpool
Mark Ogdon at Old Trafford
Paul Wilson at Old Trafford
Andy Hunter at Old Trafford
David Pleat: United Old Guard too slick


Everton 2 - 0 Chelsea
Joe Lovejoy at Goodison Park


Sunderland 1 - 2 Arsenal
Louise Taylor at the Stadium of Light
Luke Edwards at the Stadium of Light


Tottenham 5 - 0 Newcastle
Gerry Cox at White Hart Lane
Kevin Palmer at White Hart Lane


Best of the Weekend


Team of the Week


Garth Crooks's Team of the Week

Five Things We Learned

The Fifth Official

Few of us like a Monday morning, but The Fifth Official does, for it brings with it a chance for him to point the finger and laugh. Here he pulls out the pretty, the puzzling and the downright pig-ugly from a week brimming with potential victims.

African Nations Cup: Zambia Win

Zambia clinched their first African Nations Cup crown with a poignant penalty shoot-out win over Ivory Coast. Nineteen years after a plane crash which killed 18 members of their squad in Libreville, the Chipolopolo returned to the Gabon capital to record the most famous victory in the country's history. A dramatic shoot-out at the end of 120 minutes of largely underwhelming football went the way of Zambia when Gervinho shot wide and Stophira Sunzu stepped up to slot home. The final proved a tale of penalty woe for Ivory Coast, chasing their first continental crown for 20 years, with Didier Drogba also failing from the spot during the 90 minutes.

Report

Drogba ghosts return as Zambia wins shootout

Jonathan Wilson: Zambia stun Ivory Coast to gain redemption

Dominic Raynor: Off the Ball

Off the Ball never rests in its mission to scratch around the underbelly of professional football to find the most bizarre, humorous and inexplicable stories. This week, Corinthians put striker Adriano under 'house arrest' to make him lose weight, a 12-year-old girl wakes from a coma after listening to Alessandro Del Piero, St Etienne's goalkeeper Jeremie Janot reveals he likes to pee inside a wet suit to keep warm and Neymar gets 'caked'.