Manuel Pellegrini has challenged his Manchester City players to ignore the absence of their star strikers as the champions aim to increase the pressure on Premier League leaders Chelsea.

With Jose Mourinho's Chelsea not in action until Monday when they travel to Stoke, second placed City can draw level on points with their title rivals by beating Crystal Palace at Eastlands on Saturday.

Celtic take on Dundee United at Tannadice on Sunday and captain Scott Brown expects a tougher test than the last time the two teams met back in August.

Brown was a spectator for the match at Parkhead due to injury but marvelled at the way his team-mates tore United to shreds in a 6-1 thrashing.

World Cup winners Germany have suffered something of a hangover since their triumph in Brazil, but coach Joachim Loew is hoping a new-look side can go on to claim more glory at Euro 2016.

After claiming their fourth World Cup in July, retirements and injuries took their toll as Germany struggled for form at the start of their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign in the second half of the year.

Jean-Eric Vergne, who was replaced as a Toro Rosso driver by 17-year-old Max Verstappen, will join Ferrari as a test driver for the 2015 season, the Italian team have announced on Friday.

Vergne will work alongside the team's other newly-appointed test driver Esteban Gutierrez, who was dumped by Sauber at the end of last season.

Moroccan King Mohammed VI has suspended the country's sports minister and ordered an investigation into the state of the field at Moulay Abdellah Stadium after heavy rain disrupted a Club World Cup match.

On Saturday, the field was almost unplayable because of pools of water during a quarterfinal match between a Mexican club Cruz Azul and Australian team Western Sydney Wanderers.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho insists Eden Hazard must help the club win more titles if he is to join the ranks of their greatest players.

Hazard's value to Mourinho's side will be confirmed when he puts pen to paper on a lucrative new five-year contract.

FIFA will release an "appropriate" version of a report into alleged corruption surrounding the 2018 and 2022 World Cups but president Sepp Blatter on Friday ruled out moving the tournaments from Russia and Qatar.

The wealthy Gulf state of Qatar has faced a storm of controversy over its successful bid for the 2022 tournament. But Blatter said: "It would really need an earthquake, extremely important new elements to go back on this World Cup in Qatar."

Former France international defender Eric Abidal announced his retirement on Friday for "strictly personal reasons".

But the 35-year-old former Barcelona star, who returned to playing football after undergoing a liver transplant, told an emotional press conference: "I am open to proposals."

Louis van Gaal has told his predecessor Alex Ferguson he is still far from happy with Manchester United’s performances despite an impressive run that has catapulted them into the Premier League top three.

At least the United manager looks set to have record signing Angel di Maria available for the busy holiday schedule of games after his recovery from a hamstring tear.

Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli is banned from Sunday's match against Arsenal as punishment for posting racially offensive comments online.

The FA on Thursday imposed the one-match ban and a fine of 25,000 pounds ($39,000), while also ordering Balotelli to attend an education program for the "aggravated breach" of its discrimination rules.