Conrad Smith has seen most things Test rugby has to offer during a 92-cap career but for the New Zealand center the thrill of facing South Africa never fades.

The two countries, for much of the last hundred years the game's leading countries, will meet again in a World Cup semi-final at Twickenham on Saturday.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho resumed his hostility towards referees and his Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger after his team's 0-0 draw at Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Mourinho was fined £50,000 ($77,000, 68,000 euros) by England's Football Association and given a suspended one-game stadium ban for saying a referee had been "afraid" to give his side a penalty during their recent 3-1 loss at home to Southampton.

Basketball star Lamar Odom has taken a few steps and is making "miraculous" progress after being found unconscious and fighting for his life in a Nevada brothel last week, his family said Tuesday.

Odom, 35, was on Monday moved from the Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas to a medical facility closer to his home in Los Angeles after his condition improved steadily over the weekend.

A Stefan Mitrovic own goal 18 minutes from time handed Valencia a vital 2-1 win over Gent on Tuesday to edge the Spaniards closer to the last 16 of the Champions League.

A strong start from Valencia was rewarded when a combination of Sofiane Feghouli and Gent defender Lasse Nielsen opened the scoring for the hosts from close range, but Gent went in level at the break thanks to a stunning strike from Thomas Foket.

European champions Barcelona edged closer to sealing their place in the last 16 of the Champions League as Ivan Rakitic's double handed them a comfortable 2-0 win away at BATE Borisov.

Rakitic had started on the bench, but was pressed into action by a first-half injury to Sergi Roberto and finally opened the scoring after a frustrating opening period for the visitors soon after half-time.

Bayer Leverkusen snatched a dramatic late point in a 4-4 draw against Roma in a thrilling Champions League group stage encounter on Tuesday.

Javier Hernandez's brace had put Leverkusen ahead after just 20 minutes, but Roma drew level before half time as Daniele De Rossi struck twice, before the Italians scored twice more through Miralem Pjanic and Iago Falque to seemingly secure victory in the second half.

Spanish giants Barcelona top the FIFA shortlist for the Ballon d'Or world player of the year award with six players named in a second 23-strong selection.

They include the favorite for the prestigious award, Argentinian Lionel Messi, as well as Javier Mascherano (Argentina), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Neymar (Brazil), Ivan Rakitic (Croatia) and Luis Suarez (Uruguay).

Former NBA player Lamar Odom was released from a Las Vegas hospital on Monday after showing signs of improvement following his drug-fueled binge in a Nevada brothel, a report said.

E! Online entertainment news website said Odom, who was left fighting for his life after collapsing at the Love Ranch brothel last week, was being moved to a medical facility nearer his Los Angeles home.

PSV Eindhoven will go in search of a first victory in Germany in almost 40 years as they travel to Wolfsburg on Wednesday in the Champions League.

All four Group B teams are locked on three points and level goal difference after a balanced start to the campaign, in which CSKA Moscow host Manchester United also on Wednesday.

After a hat-trick against Bournemouth, Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling has set his sights on bigger targets, starting with Wednesday's Champions League encounter at home to Europa League holders Sevilla.

Sterling inspired City to a 5-1 demolition of Bournemouth on Saturday in his best performance since joining from Liverpool in a deal that could be worth up to £49 million ($75.7 million, 66.7 million euros).