Rafael Nadal overcame a stiff test from compatriot David Ferrer to reach the Madrid Masters semi-finals on Friday while Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova stayed on course for a mouth-watering title showdown.

Real Madrid once again ensured Barcelona will have to wait a few more days before sealing the La Liga title as they beat nine-man Malaga 6-2 in a wildly open game at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Edinson Cavani stretched his tally to a league-leading 27 goals as Napoli secured Serie A’s runner-up spot and Champions League football next season with a 3-0 win over Bologna on Wednesday.

World no. 1 Serena Williams cruised into the Madrid Open quarter-finals as she dismantled 13th seed Maria Kirilenko 6-3, 6-1 in just an hour and four minutes on Thursday.

Formula One returns home this weekend for the first European race of the 2013 season with a familiar scenario unfolding amid hopes of an upset to match last year’s unexpected dramas at the Spanish Gra

Substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson scored an 80th-minute equaliser to snatch a 2-2 draw for Tottenham Hotspur at Chelsea on Wednesday that prevented their opponents from effectively securing a place in the C

Manchester United reacted to rumours about Wayne Rooney's future at the club by insisting on Thursday that the England striker is "not for sale".

Aston Villa captain Stilyian Petrov, who is battling acute leukaemia, announced on Thursday he was retiring from football.

Everton manager David Moyes is expected to be named the new manager of Manchester United, after Alex Ferguson sent shock waves through world football by announcing his retirement from the role.

A recurring ankle injury could rule star South Africa batsman Graeme Smith out of June’s Champions Trophy, a national squad official admitted.