Robin van Persie’s return to the Manchester United line-up gives new manager Louis van Gaal some welcome good news ahead of the Premier League match away to Sunderland on Sunday.

Van Gaal, hoping to bounce back from the 2-1 opening weekend defeat by Swansea, has been beset by injuries in midfield and Ander Herrera is the latest to be absent, with an ankle problem, alongside Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini and Jesse Lingard.

Atletico Madrid gained some measure of revenge for their Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid by beating their city rivals 1-0 at the Vicente Calderon on Friday to win the Spanish Super Cup 2-1 on aggregate.

The hosts made the best possible start as Mario Mandzukic volleyed home the winner from Antoine Griezmann's pass after just 90 seconds.

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg resume their title bids at the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend, with 11 points separating the Mercedes teammates and Hamilton leading 5-4 in race wins. Among the sport's talking points is the news that Max Verstappen will become the youngest ever F1 driver when he makes his debut at the age of 17 in next year's championship. Meanwhile, drivers Alexander Rossi and Andre Lotterer are set for F1 debuts of their own in Spa, where Frenchman Romain Grosjean needs to find some form.

Here are five things to know ahead of Friday's first practice session:

Bastia striker Brandao has been temporarily suspended by the French league after he headbutted Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Thiago Motta at the end of last weekend's match.

The French league's disciplinary committee decided on Thursday to "provisionally suspend Brandao starting from Friday, August 22" ahead of a hearing on Sept. 18.

Former Brazil striker Fred warned on Thursday that he and his Fluminense teammates might not play this weekend following threatening behavior by fans after the team's recent run of defeats.

A few dozen Fluminense fans shouted abuse at players, threw objects and hit out at their cars earlier Thursday as the team left a Rio de Janeiro airport where it had touched down following a 1-0 loss to Chapecoense, its third in a row.

Star goalkeeper Tim Howard is taking a one-year break from the U.S. national team because of a "commitment" to his family.

The three-time World Cup veteran asked U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann to not consider him for the roster until September 2015. The 35-year-old Howard will continue to play for Everton in the English Premier League.

Serial African club title winners Al-Ahly of Egypt are among six sides chasing three CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals places this weekend.

The other hopefuls include Zambians Nkana, Ivorians Sewe San Pedro, Tunisians Etoile Sahel, Congolese AC Leopards and Malians Real Bamako.

French champions Paris Saint Germain's Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic should be back in action soon despite tearing a side muscle, claimed their coach Laurent Blanc on Thursday.

The 32-year-old striker went off during the win over Bastia last Saturday but Blanc said that both he and Dutch international defender Gregory van der Wiel, who has a sore back, should both be back soon.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that midfielder Angel di Maria has asked to leave the European champions before the end of the transfer window.

The 26-year-old Argentine -- who missed the World Cup final defeat by Germany because of injury -- was a star performer as Real claimed their 10th European crown last season, but has fallen down the pecking order at the Bernabeu due to the arrivals of James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos.

Mario Balotelli is on the brink of a shock move to Liverpool, media in England and Italy reported Thursday, two weeks after Reds boss Brendan Rodgers ruled out a bid for the controversial striker.

According to sports channel Sky Italia, AC Milan have agreed to let the 24-year-old move to Anfield and a transfer worth 20 million euros (16 million pounds, $27 million) is being wrapped up.