MADRID (Reuters) – Atletico Madrid slipped three points behind second-placed Real Madrid after having two players sent off in a 0-0 draw at Getafe in La Liga on Sunday.

In a poor game marred by play-acting and littered with fouls and cards, Colombia striker Radamel Falcao had the best chance for the visitors just after the hour when his low shot was well saved by goalkeeper Jordi Codina.

MADRID, April 7 (Reuters) – Atletico Madrid slipped three points behind second-placed Real Madrid after having two players sent off in a 0-0 draw at Getafe in La Liga on Sunday.

In a poor game marred by play-acting and littered with fouls and cards, Colombia striker Radamel Falcao had the best chance for the visitors just after the hour when his low shot was well saved by goalkeeper Jordi Codina.

MADRID (Reuters) – If Saturday’s La Liga match at home to Real Mallorca was a test to see if Barcelona could cope without Lionel Messi, they passed it with flying colours.

The World Player of the Year was ruled out with a damaged hamstring, the first league game he has missed through injury since the 2010-11 season, but Barca made light of his absence with a crushing 5-0 victory that maintained their 13-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid with eight games left.

MADRID, April 7 (Reuters) – If Saturday’s La Liga match at home to Real Mallorca was a test to see if Barcelona could cope without Lionel Messi, they passed it with flying colours.

The World Player of the Year was ruled out with a damaged hamstring, the first league game he has missed through injury since the 2010-11 season, but Barca made light of his absence with a crushing 5-0 victory that maintained their 13-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid with eight games left.

MADRID (Reuters) – Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez were on scintillating form as leaders Barcelona made light of the absence of injured World Player of the Year Lionel Messi with a 5-0 win at home to Real Mallorca in La Liga on Saturday.

The victory, with Fabregas netting a hat-trick and Alexis scoring twice, restored Barca’s 13-point advantage over Real Madrid at the top after their arch rivals had thumped Levante 5-1 in the earlier kickoff.

MADRID, April 6 (Reuters) – Real Madrid trimmed the gap to La Liga leaders Barcelona to 10 points when Gonzalo Higuain, Kaka and substitutes Cristiano Ronaldo and Mesut Ozil struck in a 5-1 comeback win at home to Levante on Saturday.

Coach Jose Mourinho left a number of key players out of his starting lineup as Real prepare to defend a 3-0 lead at Galatasaray in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final, second leg.

MADRID (Reuters) – Brazil is hoping next year’s World Cup will help the country move away from its standard practice of using riot police to keep order inside stadiums, the head of the local organising committee said on Friday.

As host, Brazil is obliged by FIFA rules to use stewards to keep fans under control, with police on standby in case of serious trouble, and committee CEO Ricardo Trade said the South American nation was pushing to make this a permanent change.

MADRID, April 5 (Reuters) – Brazil is hoping next year’s World Cup will help the country move away from its standard practice of using riot police to keep order inside stadiums, the head of the local organising committee said on Friday.

As host, Brazil is obliged by FIFA rules to use stewards to keep fans under control, with police on standby in case of serious trouble, and committee CEO Ricardo Trade said the South American nation was pushing to make this a permanent change.

MADRID (Reuters) – Lionel Messi’s Barcelona team mates will take on the rare challenge of coping without their talismanic World Player of the Year when the La Liga leaders host relegation-threatened Real Mallorca on Saturday.

The Argentina forward damaged a hamstring in Tuesday’s 2-2 Champions League draw at Paris St Germain and has been ruled out of the clash at the Nou Camp (2000 GMT) when Barca will seek to protect their 13-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid.

MADRID, April 4 (Reuters) – Lionel Messi’s Barcelona team mates will take on the rare challenge of coping without their talismanic World Player of the Year when the La Liga leaders host relegation-threatened Real Mallorca on Saturday.

The Argentina forward damaged a hamstring in Tuesday’s 2-2 Champions League draw at Paris St Germain and has been ruled out of the clash at the Nou Camp (2000 GMT) when Barca will seek to protect their 13-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid.