Resurgent champions Juventus travel to crisis-hit Lazio on Friday looking for a fifth consecutive victory that would reduce the gap on leaders Napoli and possibly cost Stefano Pioli his job.

The champions' trip to the Italian capital has been brought forward a day due to Juve's Champions League trip to Sevilla next week and, going on recent form, the smart money is on the Bianconeri.

Real Madrid face being thrown out of this season's Copa del Rey after reportedly fielding an ineligible player in the first leg of their fourth round tie against Cadiz on Wednesday.

Russian international Denis Cheryshev opened the scoring in Andalusia, but shouldn't have been on the field as he was due to serve a one-game ban in the competition after picking up three yellow cards whilst on loan at Villarreal last season.

England coach and Manchester United legend Gary Neville has been named Valencia boss for the rest of the season, the Spanish side announced on Wednesday.

"Valencia have reached an agreement with English coach Gary Neville for him to be coach of the first team until June 30, 2016," the club said in a statement.

Karim Benzema says his go-between role in the Mathieu Valbuena sextape blackmail case has been misunderstood as the Real Madrid striker prepares to explain himself on French TV on Wednesday.

The pre-recorded interview comes in the wake of comments from French Prime Minister Manuel Valls on Tuesday saying only players with exemplary records should represent France at Euro 2016.

At Portugal's Nazare beach, where thrill seekers come to catch some of the world's biggest waves, Brazilian surfer Maya Gabeira has made a comeback, little more than two years after her near-death wipeout there.

"I needed to come back, even if I wasn't sure about doing this," the 28-year-old told AFP after "working out" in mere five-meter (16-foot) waves at Praia do Norte, or North Beach, late last month.

The Philadelphia 76ers' historic and agonizing losing streak finally ended Tuesday as Kobe Bryant suffered more defeat with the Los Angeles Lakers in his first road match since announcing his plans to retire.

One more defeat for the Sixers on Tuesday -- 0-18 heading into the game -- would have given them sole possession of the record for the worst start to a season in NBA history.

In-form Kevin De Bruyne struck twice as Premier League leaders Manchester City overpowered Hull City 4-1 on Tuesday to lead three top-flight teams into the League Cup semi-finals.

De Bruyne had scored one goal and made two in Saturday's 3-1 win over Southampton and he continued in the same vein as the 2014 winners saw off second-tier Hull, with Wilfried Bony and Kelechi Iheanacho also scoring.

A youthful Atletico Madrid side came back from a goal down to beat third-tier Reus 2-1 on Tuesday to edge towards the last 16 of the Copa del Rey.

Lucas Hernandez's defensive error allowed Fran to fire the Catalans into a shock lead on the half hour mark.

Paris Saint-Germain's nine-match winning run in Ligue 1 was brought to a halt on Tuesday as they were held to a 0-0 draw away to promoted Angers.

In other matches Lyon battled Nantes to a goalless stalemate in Brittany while there were no goals between Lorient and Nice on a barren night for celebrations in France.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls took a swipe at Real Madrid and France striker Karim Benzema on Tuesday, saying that great sportsmen should set a moral example.

"A great sportsman should set an example. So many kids, so many young people... see themselves in well-known sports people," Valls told Europe 1 radio.