Sports

Portugal and Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo will miss Tuesday's friendly football match against Brazil.

Ramon Calderon, who supervised the previous record transfer for football in 2009, has also sounded a word of caution about Bale justifying his humungous price tag.

Lionel Messi needed 41 minutes to score his 23rd career hat trick for Barcelona in a thrilling 3-2 victory at Valencia.

The Bundesliga club says on its website that the 26-year-old Boateng is undergoing a medical.

Guardiola and Mourinho renew their rivalry when Bayern and Chelsea meet in the Super Cup, giving them an opportunity to win silverware with their new clubs.

Franck Ribery won the UEFA Best Player in Europe award for 2012/13 ahead of the usual contenders Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Barcelona will again face seven-time winner AC Milan in the Champions League, and Bayern Munich is in a group which includes Manchester City.

The country's top football tournament, will kick off with 14 teams in the fray, with a three-month gap provided for the IPL-style football league.

Bale's move to the Spanish capital has been widely flagged in Spanish and British media and is said to be worth 99 million euros.

Luca Toni scored twice as Hellas Verona beat AC Milan 2-1 on Saturday to celebrate their return to Serie A after an 11-year absence.

Athletic Bilbao beat Osasuna 2-0 Friday to stay perfect through two rounds of the Spanish league.

Kompany will miss at least four weeks of action and a Premier League match against rival Manchester United after picking up a groin injury.

Manchester United want Juan Mata plus cash in any deal they do with Chelsea for their star striker Wayne Rooney.

However, Argentina will be without the suspended Javier Mascherano and Gonzalo Higuain for next month's World Cup qualifier against Paraguay.

Mavrias has made 70 appearances for the Greek club after coming through its youth academy, scoring six times.

Goalkeeper Julio Cesar was also named in coach Scolari's squad for the games against Australia and Portugal.