Almost halfway through the Premier League season and there is already seven points separating Manchester rivals City and United from the chasing pack.
"At this point in time everyone thinks it is going to be a one-two for the city (of Manchester)," United manager Alex Ferguson said Friday. "But things change. You only need to go back over the years to see how dramatic our league can be. Lose a game in this league and all the rest get a pickup and start chasing harder."
Full StoryEvergreen Ryan Giggs will shortly discuss his Old Trafford future with Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, buoyed by still delivering high standard performances at the age of 38.
Ferguson described the Welshman's contribution to United's 5-0 win at Fulham in midweek as "incredible", and it also featured the midfielder's first Premier League goal of the season.
Full StoryMaria Sharapova has withdrawn from the Brisbane International because of her continuing recovery from a left ankle injury first suffered at the Pan Pacific Championships in Tokyo in September.
Sharapova told Brisbane tournament officials in a statement released Saturday that "unfortunately my ankle is not 100 percent and I won't be able to make it this year." It would have been her first appearance at the Brisbane event which begins Jan. 1.
Full StoryManchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson received a welcome boost on Friday after it was confirmed Phil Jones had not suffered a fractured cheekbone against Fulham.
England international Jones was forced to leave the field after 20 minutes of Wednesday's 5-0 rout of the Cottagers following a heavy aerial collision.
Full StoryItalian coach Carlo Ancelotti is reportedly on the verge of taking over at big-spending French club Paris Saint-Germain.
PSG is widely expected to part ways with Antoine Kombouare despite leading the French league going into the winter break, with French and Italian newspapers reporting Friday that Ancelotti is close to being hired as his replacement.
Full StoryBarcelona says midfielder Andres Iniesta will be sidelined for at least two weeks after injuring his right thigh in a Copa del Rey match on Thursday.
Iniesta tangled with Hospitalet goalkeeper Carlos Craviotto in the 28th minute, and was substituted two minutes later as coach Pep Guardiola held his head fearing the worst.
Full StoryIvory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure has been named African Player of the Year at an awards ceremony in the Ghanaian capital Accra.
The Manchester City player won ahead of Mali and Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita, with Ghana forward Andre Ayew — who plays for French club Marseille — third.
Full StoryBig-spending Malaga was drawn against defending champion Real Madrid for the Copa del Rey's round of 16, while Osasuna gets the unenviable task of facing 25-time champion Barcelona.
Barcelona routed third-tier side Hospitalet 10-0 over two legs to advance, while Madrid easily overcame another minnow in Ponferradina.
Full StoryComing off a miserable season in which it won only one race, Ferrari plans to introduce its completely revised 2012 car during the "the first few days of February."
Ferrari President Luca Cordero di Montezemolo announced the team's plans late Wednesday at the automaker's Christmas party.
Full StoryReigning league MVP Derrick Rose has signed a five-year, multi-million dollar contract extension with the Chicago Bulls.
The 23-year-old Rose averaged 25.0 points and 7.7 assists last season, his third in the NBA since the Bulls drafted him with the number-one overall pick three years ago. Details of the contract were not released.
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