Spanish star Rafael Nadal on Tuesday played down the pressure the hosts will be under ahead of their Davis Cup final clash against Argentina here this weekend.

"We're under the same pressure as they are, we have to win the Davis Cup," insisted the world number two, who has lost just one singles rubber in the competition since making his debut in 2004.

Western Europe is "finished" as a top Formula One racing destination and will soon host only five Grand Prix races, the sport's supremo Bernie Ecclestone said Tuesday.

"I think in the next few years Europe will be left with only five races," Ecclestone was quoted as saying in an interview with top Spanish sports daily Marca.

England manager Fabio Capello has tipped former clubs AC Milan and Juventus to fight for the Serie A title this season.

Speaking to journalists on a trip to Milan for a convention, the 65-year-old put his faith in his former employers, who are separated by a point at the top of Serie A.

Williams cofounder Patrick Head says he is ending his involvement in Formula One.

The 65-year-old Head set up the team with Frank Williams in 1977.

Fans of the eight clubs left in this season's English Carling Cup will find out just how much the tournament means to their respective sides in this week's quarterfinals.

In recent seasons the knockout competition for England's top four flights has lagged low in the pecking order for leading clubs, who place a far greater emphasis on winning the Champions League, Premier League and even FA Cup competitions.

Barcelona defender Dani Alves played down the significance of Real Madrid’s six-point lead at the top of La Liga, but admitted that there is pressure on the team not to drop more points.

Real continue to set the pace after a 4-1 derby win over Atletico Madrid at the weekend while Barcelona once again struggled away from home, losing 1-0 at Getafe.

Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen is returning to Formula One with Lotus Renault GP next year.

Raikkonen, who left F1 at the end of 2009 to try rallying, signed a two-year agreement, the team said on its website Tuesday.

Lewis Hamilton and his old friend and recent foe Felipe Massa buried the hatchet here late Sunday when they met, hugged and sorted out their differences in the aftermath of the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix.

The 26-year-old Briton and 30-year-old Brazilian, who had collided six times in their respective McLaren and Ferrari cars this year, had endured a long period of tense and often acrimonious rivalry.

Rubens Barrichello continued to reject all talk of retirement on Monday after finishing 14th in Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix - and insisted he will be back with Williams again next year.

The 39-year-old Brazilian, who had been urged by friends and colleagues to treat the race as a farewell event, instead continued to talk only of the future.

If the NBA and its players ratify a new contract in time play on Christmas Day, a shortened season would run through April 26 and require each team to play at least one stretch of games on three consecutive nights.

The NBA posted an outline of a possible schedule "assuming the season tips off on Christmas" on its website on Sunday.