MADRID (Reuters) – Barcelona have stumbled just as the season enters a critical phase but get a chance to return to winning ways and strengthen their grip on top spot when erratic Sevilla visit the Nou Camp in La Liga on Saturday (2100 GMT).

Wednesday’s shock 2-0 reverse at AC Milan, when the determined and well-organised Italians snuffed out Barca’s normally lethal attacking threat, left Tito Vilanova’s side in real danger of an early Champions League exit.

MADRID, Feb 21 (Reuters) – Barcelona have stumbled just as the season enters a critical phase but get a chance to return to winning ways and strengthen their grip on top spot when erratic Sevilla visit the Nou Camp in La Liga on Saturday (2100 GMT).

Wednesday’s shock 2-0 reverse at AC Milan, when the determined and well-organised Italians snuffed out Barca’s normally lethal attacking threat, left Tito Vilanova’s side in real danger of an early Champions League exit.

MADRID (Reuters) – American cyclist Tyler Hamilton described in detail on Tuesday how the doctor at the centre of the Operation Puerto trial oversaw his programme of blood doping and supplied him with banned substances including EPO.

Speaking through an interpreter by video link from the Spanish embassy in Washington, Hamilton spoke for almost three hours about his time as a patient of Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes between 2002-04 when the rider paid him as much as 110,000 euros for his services.

MADRID (Reuters) – American cyclist Tyler Hamilton described in detail on Tuesday how the doctor at the center of the Operation Puerto trial oversaw his program of blood doping and supplied him with banned substances including EPO.

Speaking through an interpreter by video link from the Spanish embassy in Washington, Hamilton spoke for almost three hours about his time as a patient of Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes between 2002-04 when the rider paid him as much as 110,000 euros ($146,900) for his services.

MADRID (Reuters) – Rayo Vallecano have made a mockery of their financial woes and played some of the best football in La Liga this season to climb to sixth and can test their progress when they take on wealthy city rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Sunday.

A thoroughly deserved 2-1 win at home to second-placed Atletico Madrid last weekend prompted talk of a realistic chance of a place in Europe next term and enhanced Rayo’s reputation as one of Spain’s “giant killers”.

MADRID, Feb 14 (Reuters) – Rayo Vallecano have made a mockery of their financial woes and played some of the best football in La Liga this season to climb to sixth and can test their progress when they take on wealthy city rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Sunday.

A thoroughly deserved 2-1 win at home to second-placed Atletico Madrid last weekend prompted talk of a realistic chance of a place in Europe next term and enhanced Rayo’s reputation as one of Spain’s “giant killers”.

MADRID (Reuters) – Real Madrid may have lacked motivation against lesser teams this season but coach Jose Mourinho believes they will rise to the occasion in Wednesday’s Champions League showdown with Manchester United.

The last-16 first leg match represents the first time the clubs have met in almost a decade and Mourinho said on Tuesday it was the kind of challenge he and his players relished.

MADRID (Reuters) – Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid displays have come as something of a surprise to former boss Alex Ferguson who described his form as “phenomenal” on the eve of Manchester United’s Champions League tie at Real Madrid.

Portugal forward Ronaldo, sold by United for a world record fee of 94 million euros ($126.57 million) in 2009, faces his old club for the first time in Wednesday’s last-16 first leg tie.

MADRID, Feb 12 (Reuters) – Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid displays have come as something of a surprise to former boss Alex Ferguson who described his form as “phenomenal” on the eve of Manchester United’s Champions League tie at Real Madrid.

Portugal forward Ronaldo, sold by United for a world record fee of 94 million euros ($126.57 million) in 2009, faces his old club for the first time in Wednesday’s last-16 first leg tie.

MADRID, Feb 12 (Reuters) – Real Madrid may have lacked motivation against lesser teams this season but coach Jose Mourinho believes they will rise to the occasion in Wednesday’s Champions League showdown with Manchester United.

The last-16 first leg match represents the first time the clubs have met in almost a decade and Mourinho said on Tuesday it was the kind of challenge he and his players relished.