Borussia Dortmund got back to winning ways on Friday with a 2-0 victory at Mainz 05, as coach Thomas Tuchel returned to his former club.

It was the first time Tuchel had been back to the Coface Arena since quitting as Mainz boss at the end of the 2013-14 season.

Former Manchester United defender Rafael salvaged a 1-1 draw with an 85th minute equalizer for Lyon at ten-man Monaco in Ligue 1 action on Friday.

The 25-year-old right-back, who spent seven years at Old Trafford and won three Premier League titles, came to the rescue as Monaco failed to hang on to their 39th-minute lead.

Kuwait's Football Association (KFA) was suspended by FIFA on Friday for government interference, a decision which could impact the team's hopes of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.

"The suspension follows the decision of the FIFA Executive Committee during its meeting on 24 and 25 September to give until 15 October 2015 for changes to be made to the sports law of Kuwait," said a FIFA statement.

Wales are "not ready to go home" and South Africa are in no mood to quit, so something will have to give when they meet in what is set to be a bruising World Cup quarter-final on Saturday.

Four years ago, Wales suffered an agonizing 9-8 semi-final loss to France, a match in which captain Sam Warburton was sent off for a spear tackle.

The title credentials of champions Juventus come under fresh scrutiny in the 'Derby d'Italia' when a win for Inter Milan could see Roberto Mancini's men underline their scudetto hopes by seizing the Serie A lead.

Massimiliano Allegri's Juventus are well on their way to qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League, but it has been a bumpier ride on the domestic front.

Spanish star Raul is retiring from football in November after his NASL season with the New York Cosmos.

The 38-year-old striker announced his decision Thursday, saying he wants focus on winning a championship in the second-tier league.

Real Madrid will have to overcome an injury to leading scorer Karim Benzema as the spluttering capital club return to domestic duty on Saturday when they host struggling Levante.

Rafael Benitez's side have slipped to second, one point behind surprise leaders Villarreal, following successive draws against Malaga and city rivals Atletico.

Manchester City striker Wilfried Bony has vowed to fill the void left by injured star Sergio Aguero as the leaders look to extend their advantage at the top of the Premier League when they host Bournemouth on Saturday.

Aguero scored five goals on his last league appearance as City thrashed Newcastle to regain first place, but he is expected to be out for more than a month with a hamstring tear sustained on international duty with Argentina.

Jurgen Klopp has challenged Liverpool's under-performing stars to rediscover their swagger when the new Reds boss gets his first taste of the Premier League against Tottenham on Saturday.

All eyes will be on Klopp's eagerly anticipated debut at White Hart Lane following the highly-regarded German's recent appointment as successor to the sacked Brendan Rodgers.

Bayern Munich's Javi Martinez has revealed why he helped some of the refugees who flooded into Munich last month and says he is proud of how the Bavarian capital reacted.

"It was something which came from me, I could at least coax a smile from these people in what was for them a difficult moment," the Spain international told Wednesday's edition of Munich newspaper AZ.