MADRID (Reuters) – Atletico Madrid extended their record run of home wins to 19 when they squeezed past Sevilla 2-1 on Thursday in a King’s Cup semi-final first leg which featured three red cards and three successful penalties.

All the second half spot-kicks were awarded for handball at the Vicente Calderon stadium, the first two resulting in dismissals for Sevilla defender Emir Spahic and Atletico’s Diego Godin.

MADRID, Jan 31 (Reuters) – Atletico Madrid extended their record run of home wins to 19 when they squeezed past Sevilla 2-1 on Thursday in a King’s Cup semi-final first leg which featured three red cards and three successful penalties.

All the second half spot-kicks were awarded for handball at the Vicente Calderon stadium, the first two resulting in dismissals for Sevilla defender Emir Spahic and Atletico’s Diego Godin.

MADRID (Reuters) – With city rivals Real breathing down their necks, second-placed Atletico Madrid are desperate to get top scorer Radamel Falcao back from injury for Sunday’s La Liga game at home to Real Betis (2000 GMT).

Colombia striker Falcao, who has netted just under half (18) of Atletico’s 42 goals this season, has been sidelined since damaging a thigh muscle in the 2-0 win at home to Levante on January 20 and was absent when his side crashed to a 3-0 defeat at Athletic Bilbao last weekend.

MADRID, Jan 31 (Reuters) – With city rivals Real breathing down their necks, second-placed Atletico Madrid are desperate to get top scorer Radamel Falcao back from injury for Sunday’s La Liga game at home to Real Betis (2000 GMT).

Colombia striker Falcao, who has netted just under half (18) of Atletico’s 42 goals this season, has been sidelined since damaging a thigh muscle in the 2-0 win at home to Levante on Jan. 20 and was absent when his side crashed to a 3-0 defeat at Athletic Bilbao last weekend.

MADRID (Reuters) – Cesc Fabregas struck what may prove a priceless away goal as holders Barcelona drew 1-1 at depleted arch-rivals Real Madrid in an entertaining and closely fought King’s Cup semi-final first leg on Wednesday.

Lionel Messi sent Fabregas clear five minutes after halftime at an electric Bernabeu stadium enjoying the second “Clasico” of the season and the Spain midfielder finished with ease past Real goalkeeper Diego Lopez.

MADRID, Jan 30 (Reuters) – Cesc Fabregas struck what may prove a priceless away goal as holders Barcelona drew 1-1 at depleted arch-rivals Real Madrid in an entertaining and closely fought King’s Cup semi-final first leg on Wednesday.

Lionel Messi sent Fabregas clear five minutes after halftime at an electric Bernabeu stadium enjoying the second “Clasico” of the season and the Spain midfielder finished with ease past Real goalkeeper Diego Lopez.

MADRID (Reuters) – Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, on trial for allegedly masterminding a doping ring in cycling, will not be obliged to identify any of the clients whose frozen blood was found in bags seized by police, the judge in the case ruled on Wednesday.

On his second day on the stand, Fuentes, who denies involvement in doping, said he could identify to whom the blood in the numbered bags belonged, prompting a request by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), represented at the trial in Madrid, that he do so in court.

MADRID, Jan 30 (Reuters) – Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, on trial for allegedly masterminding a doping ring in cycling, will not be obliged to identify any of the clients whose frozen blood was found in bags seized by police, the judge in the case ruled on Wednesday.

On his second day on the stand, Fuentes, who denies involvement in doping, said he could identify to whom the blood in the numbered bags belonged, prompting a request by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), represented at the trial in Madrid, that he do so in court.

MADRID (Reuters) – Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, accused of masterminding a doping ring in cycling, told a Madrid court on Wednesday he had nothing to do with traces of the hormone erythropoietin (EPO) found in seized blood bags.

In a second day of testimony, Fuentes, who denies involvement in doping, acknowledged that abnormally high levels of EPO had been detected in eight of the 92 plasma bags found during police raids in 2006.

MADRID, Jan 30 (Reuters) – Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, accused of masterminding a doping ring in cycling, told a Madrid court on Wednesday he had nothing to do with traces of the hormone erythropoietin (EPO) found in seized blood bags.

In a second day of testimony, Fuentes, who denies involvement in doping, acknowledged that abnormally high levels of EPO had been detected in eight of the 92 plasma bags found during police raids in 2006.