Spain: Eduardo Alvarez's Quiniela

Last weekend, La Liga and its Quiniela taught us a few things: first, the fact that everything seems to be working out in your life does not mean you'll be able to get a perfect ten. Second, if you're a Portuguese coach, chances are that you won't succeed in Spain, unless you have a very Special nickname. Third, any La Liga team can score three goals in one match, even the current reincarnation of Deportivo La Coruna. And fourth, Royston Drenthe indeed deserves his own reality show.

Let's start. As usual, it's '1' for a home win, 'X' for a draw and '2' for an away win.

The Joy of Six: Football Documentaries

From that Graham Taylor film to Jimmy McGovern's Hillsborough here are half-a-dozen great documentaries and docu-dramas.

Lazio hit the heights while Roma wait in the wings

It's taken a long time but, at 65, the Lazio coach Edoardo Reja - almost universally known as Edy - has finally reached the summit of Italian football.

During his varied coaching career of almost 30 years, which has seen him take charge at 21 different clubs, he's tasted modest success in the lower divisions but few would seriously have expected him to have guided a team to the top of Serie A, especially the perennial under-achievers of Italian football.

England: Premier League Weekend Previews & Predictions

A full programme of top-flight fixtures this weekend starts with Tottenham Hotspur's trip to Bolton Wanderers before Liverpool host Chelsea in a potentially explosive meeting on Sunday.

Manchester United welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to Old Trafford in one of six 3pm kick-offs on Saturday. Everton will strive to maintain their excellent upturn in form when they make the trip to Bloomfield Road to face newly-promoted Blackpool.

Sunderland simply must respond from their heavy 5-1 loss at bitter rivals Newcastle when Steve Bruce's men host Stoke City at the Stadium of Light. Aston Villa have slid down the table of late, with Gerard Houllier's side now occupying 14th. The Frenchman will be desperate for his charges to respond when they make the journey to Craven Cottage to lock horns with Fulham.

Lastly on Saturday, Blackburn Rovers do battle with North West counterparts Wigan Athletic.

On Sunday lunchtime, Arsenal welcome Newcastle United to Emirates Stadium. At 3pm on Sunday, West Bromwich Albion face Manchester City.

Preview I
Preview II

Team News

John Carter Previews Bolton vs. Tottenham
Paul Merson Previews Bolton vs. Tottenham

John Ley Previews Liverpool vs. Chelsea

Lawro's Predictions

Germany: Bundesliga Weekend Preview

Friday
Schalke – St Pauli

Saturday
Borussia Moenchengladbach – Bayern Munich
Eintracht Frankfurt – Wolfsburg
Hamburg – Hoffenheim
Nuernberg – Koeln
Freiburg – Mainz

Sunday
Hannover – Borussia Dortmund
Bayer Leverkusen – Kaiserslautern
Stuttgart – Werder Bremen

Preview

Italy: Serie A Weekend Previews

Roma head into Sunday's derby with Lazio in the unfamiliar position of watching their local rivals flying high at the top of Serie A. Inter Milan host strugglers Brescia on Saturday on the back of a midweek 3-1 loss at Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League.

AC Milan lie one point behind Inter and visit bottom-side Bari eager to return to winning ways after a 2-1 defeat to Juventus was followed by a 2-2 Champions League draw against Real Madrid, who equalised in injury time.

Juventus are decimated by injuries going into Sunday's match against Cesena. Fiorentina have to cope with the absence of goalkeeper Sebastien Frey when they host Chievo on Sunday.

Preview

Lazio vs. Roma: Preview

Spain: La Liga Weekend Preview

Real Madrid will focus their full attention on this weekend`s mouthwatering derby with Atletico Madrid. Barcelona, like Madrid, also drew their Champions League match this week, but their 1-1 tie at FC Copenhagen was not quite enough to put them through to the last 16.

In La Liga, Pep Guardiola`s side are a point behind Madrid at the summit and two ahead of third-placed Villarreal, who will look to make it five wins out of five at El Madrigal this season when they host Athletic Bilbao.

Preview

Major League Soccer Playoffs: New York Red Bulls 1-3 (2-3 on agg.) San Jose Earthquakes

Bobby Convey opened the scoring in the sixth minute and added his second during a frantic five minutes in the second half that saw the Earthquakes take the series lead, the Red Bulls equalize through Juan Pablo Angel, and the Earthquakes take the lead again through Chris Wondolowski.

A large crowd of 22,839 cheered on the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena despite rainy 48 degree weather. The sloppy weather was reflected in the play as both teams were opened up on the wet surface, creating a multitude of chances.

Wayne Rooney sent to Nike Town, USA, by Manchester United

Rather than use the state-of-the-art facilities at their Carrington training base, United have opted to use Nike's centre in Oregon, as much in a bid to get Rooney away from the constant headlines, which have dogged him since first news of his unhappiness at Old Trafford was raised nearly three weeks ago

Roberto Mancini in denial as Manchester City lose third on spin

Roberto Mancini cut a defiant figure in the wake of Manchester City's third successive defeat tonight though critics of the Italian might say he was in denial.

The 3-1 loss to Lech Poznan in Poland in tonight's Europa League's tie raises serious questions about Mancini's suitability as the long‑term manager of the world's richest club.

UEFA Europa League: Thursday Review

Steven Gerrard grabbed a hat-trick in the final 15 minutes as Liverpool ran out 3-1 winners over Napoli. Two late goals from Lech Poznan condemned Manchester City to a 3-1 loss. Third-placed Juventus remain winless in Group A after being held to a goalless draw by basement team Salzburg.

Review

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, Wayne Rooney is to be burned on a bonfire, a US General 're-educates' some over-zealous Aston Villa stewards, the Rome derby is deemed too scary for an eagle and Rafa Benitez speaks more wibble at Inter Milan.

Sanford's Soccer Net Exclusive: Pat Buckley's Basel vs. Roma Champions League Video Wrap-Up

Rome derby deemed too crazy for Lazio's eagle

Since Lazio bought a real, live American eagle named Olimpia over the summer, the club have gone on an incredible run, topping Serie A and going undefeated at home.

But with the rage and chaos the Rome derby usually features, authorities are worried that it would all be too much for Olimpia to do her usual three laps around the pitch before the match.

USA Defender Clarence Goodson Joins Danish Side Brondby IF

The former FC Dallas defender, who stands at a towering 6'4, spent the past three seasons in Norway with IK Start and recently represented the United States at the 2010 World Cup. The 28-year-old will join Brondby when the transfer window opens in January.

First XI: Bad Decisions

In light of Harry Redknapp's claim that Mark Clattenburg's decision to allow Nani's goal on Saturday was one of the worst he'd ever seen, ESPNsoccernet selects a First XI of terrible decisions.

As a number of the most infamous decisions have been covered in the First XI World Cup blunders, errors from that tournament have not been included in the feature.

UEFA Champions League: Wednesday's Round-Up, Reports & Analyses

Chelsea cruised through to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League with an easy win over Spartak Moscow, but Arsenal were undone by old boy Eduardo away to Shakhtar Donetsk.

Real Madrid snatched a last-gasp point away to AC Milan to go through from Group G as Auxerre kept their qualification hopes alive with victory over Ajax.

Bayern Munich are safely into the knock-out phase and Roma are favourites to join last season's runners-up, while Marseille enjoyed a record-breaking win and Braga overcame Partizan Belgrade.

Round-Up

Chelsea 4 - 1 Spartak Moscow
Kevin McCarra at Stamford Bridge
Dominic Fifield at Stamford Bridge

AC Milan 2 - 2 Real Madrid
Sid Lowe's Report

Shakhtar Donetsk 2 - 1 Arsenal
Jamie Jackson at the Donbass Arena
Player Ratings

Basel 2 - 3 Roma
Report

Tom Adams: Rewind to 1901

This weekend brings with it the first round of the FA Cup as those clubs outside of the elite begin to dream of giant-killing feats and a lucrative cup run. But only one club has won the FA Cup as a non-league side - Tottenham in 1901. Inspired by one of football's forgotten reformers, and spearheaded by a deadly striker, this is the story of how Spurs upset the odds over a century ago.

Sanford's Soccer Net Exclusive: Pat Buckley's Basel vs. Roma Champions League Video Preview

Rooney Must Burn

Wayne is being put to the stake as bonfire society reveal giant
granny-loving shrek lookalike as their annual Guy Fawkes figure.

Wayne Rooney effigy to be burned on bonfire in Kent