Osasuna 4/5 to beat Granada in Friday’s La Liga showdown

Newcastle United s Joey Barton apologised on Thursday for punching Blackburn Rovers Morten Gamst Pedersen after being banned for three games by the Football Association for violent conduct.

The 28-year-old was charged by the FA after referee Mike Jones viewed video evidence of the incident, which he did not see when it took place in the 50th minute of Rovers 2-1 Premier League win at St James Park on Wednesday.

Hours after the FA charged Barton on Thursday, he accepted the standard three-game ban for violent conduct without the need for a hearing and apologised for the incident.

Barton, who will now miss Saturday s match at home to Fulham, next weekend s trip to Bolton and the visit of champions Chelsea to St James on November 28, said in a statement: I fully ac…

Roberto Mancini is set to trim the bulging Manchester City squad, with Roque Santa Cruz likely to return to Blackburn Rovers.

City are keen to reduce their considerable wage bill, and out of favour Santa Cruz tops a list that includes Shaun Wright-Phillips, Wayne Bridge and Emmanuel Adebayor, all of who are headed for the exit.

Santa Cruz joined from Blackburn in 2009 for a reported free of 17.5 million pounds.

But he has started just eight games in his time at Eastlands and the Paraguay international appears to be on his way back to Ewood Park, on-loan or for a significantly reduced fee.

He like all the players he wants to play, Mancini said.

For me it is difficult and I understand the situation. If he has an opportunity to go and play, it …

Luiz Gustavo has stressed Wolfsburg must keep spending if they want to challenge for top honours again.

Wolfsburg enjoyed a successful 2014-15 campaign in which they finished runners-up to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and won the DFB-Pokal.

Dieter Hecking s men also made it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League this season, where Real Madrid eventually proved to be too strong.

However, it has been a struggle domestically this season with Wolfsburg eighth in the table with just four matches remaining.

And Brazil midfielder Luiz Gustavo believes Wolfsburg must bring in more big names to remain competitive.

When I joined Wolfsburg, they told me they wanted to build a great team, the Brazil international told SportBild.

But if we …

Paris Saint-Germain duo Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Angel Di Maria have both been nominated for the award for Ligue 1 s player of the season.

Marseille midfielder Lassana Diarra and Hatem Ben Arfa, who has enjoyed a superb season with Champions League hopefuls Nice, are also up for the prize, which was won by Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette last year.

Ibrahimovic is seeking an unprecedented third award, after winning in 2013 and 2014, and remains a firm favourite after hitting 32 goals in just 27 games to help PSG to the title.

PSG boss Laurent Blanc, winner of the coach of the year prize last season, has been nominated along with Claude Puel of Nice, Stephane Moulin of Angers and Gazelec Ajaccio coach Thierry Laurey.

Ils nous ont ébloui tout au long de l a…

According to a recent report from Mundo Deportivo, Liverpool star Georginio Wijnaldum has told Ronald Koeman that he wants to stay at Anfield this summer.

This news comes in the wake of heavy interest from the Spanish giants, with Koeman being particularly interested in bringing the Dutchman over to the Nou Camp.

Barcelona fans will be particularly ‘in the know’ when it comes to understanding what Wijnaldum is capable of after he played a key role in knocking them out of the UEFA Champions League when the two sides met at the semi-final stage in 2019.

Jurgen Klopp is also well aware of the value that someone with Wijnaldum s talent and experience can add to any given squad. He may not be looking like a guaranteed starter for the Reds this season, but he woul…

Real Madrid have filed a further complaint with the Spanish authorities over alleged racist abuse directed at striker Vinicius Junior during their 4-2 LaLiga win at Osasuna on Saturday.

Real had already filed a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office last week after footage on social media that appeared to show Atletico Madrid fans chanting racial abuse prior to their Champions League clash with Inter Milan.

In a statement, Real said they have updated their initial complaint, as well as filing a separate protest to the Spanish Football Federation’s disciplinary committee over the conduct of referee Juan Martinez Munuera.

Official Announcement.

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden)

Real allege Munuera filed a “negligent” referee’s re…

Divock Origi is a player that many feel hasn t lived up to expectations at Liverpool, despite scoring some incredibly important goals in his six-year stint at Anfield.

At this point, nobody expects him to win a place in the regular starting XI given the vast quality of the attackers at Jurgen Klopp s disposal, but named to start against Championship side Preston North End in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, the Belgian showed that he can do the job when called upon.

There s only one way to start your day

Every angle of Divock s stunning, instinctive finish at Deepdale

— Liverpool FC (@LFC)

…

Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic insists his side are not afraid to face Barcelona.

The Red Devils have been successful domestically in recent years, winning four of the last five English Premier League titles, but lost Champions League finals to Barca last season and in 2009.

After the second defeat, manager Sir Alex Ferguson himself admitted that Pep Guardiola s men are the best team his side have ever faced.

But Vidic insists fear is not an emotion that he would feel if he is confronted with the prospect of playing Barcelona again.

I don t know why you are always asking Manchester United players how we are going to bridge that gap, Vidic told reporters. Like I say again, this team is successful. We are doing some good things.

We don…

Austria coach Didi Constantini has paid the penalty for the hammering by neighbours Germany last Friday.

Contstanini will leave when his contract ends in December following the team s failure to qualify for Euro 2012, the latest in a long line of disappointments for the national side.

The Austrian federation (OEFB) said that the search for a new coach would begin immediately and Constantini s successor could make his debut in a friendly in November.

The contract which expires on December 31 this year will not be renewed, said the OEFB in a statement on its website following a meeting between Constantini, 56, and federation president Leo Windtner.

According to the timetable, the new coach should be established by the start of November with his debut in …

Carlos Tevez makes his long-awaited return for Argentina in their friendly against Croatia on Wednesday.

The Juventus star is set to make his first international appearance since 2011 after being selected by coach Gerardo Martino.

Martino, who took over in August, said it had become impossible to ignore the in-form Tevez.

The 30-year-old has scored eight Serie A goals this season, equal most in the league, and netted twice against Parma on Sunday.

Tevez adds some much-needed spark up front for Argentina, who relied heavily on Lionel Messi on their way to the World Cup final.

Martino s side face Croatia in London before a clash against Portugal in Manchester six days later, and he has named a strong squad for the clashes.

Argentina have met…