Bombs fell on the Croatian town of Zadar as Luka Modric refined his football skills in the corridors of a refugee hotel and in cratered car parks.

Modric, 30, is now Real Madrid's midfield general, plotting attacks for Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema. He avoids tackles like an incoming shell. Maybe his upbringing in Croatia's independence war was an inspiration.

Barcelona's defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets has extended his contract by five years until 2021, the Catalan giants announced Friday.

The agreement includes an incentive option for a two-year extension, based on the number of appearances he makes.

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone is ready to shoulder "113 years of history" ahead of a Champions League final with Real Madrid that striker Fernando Torres has labeled the "game of my life".

Record ten-time champions Real are the hosts at the San Siro stadium in Milan on Saturday when Atletico will seek to avenge their stunning defeat to their bitter city rivals in a pulsating 2014 final in Lisbon.

Formula One’s ruling body has followed local precedent by encouraging the drivers in this weekend’s 74th running of the Monaco Grand Prix not to dump litter all over the famous old street circuit.

Not just any litter, of course, but the oil and muck-smeared tear-off strips from the visors fitted to their helmets, which routinely they rip off and throw away.

Frenchwoman Alize Cornet was at the center of a Roland Garros cheating storm Friday after she was accused of faking injury by an opponent.

Cornet called for a medical timeout and required treatment during changeovers in the final set of her second round clash against Germany's Tatjana Maria.

Taking on what he called the "mystique" and "romance" of Manchester United adds to one of the most most stellar CVs in football.

But the 53-year-old Portuguese -- who has won eight league titles in four countries with Porto, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea as well as two Champions League titles with Porto and Inter Milan -- knows he is taking on a new risk.

Manchester United on Friday anointed Jose Mourinho as their new manager to launch a third bid in less than three years to transform the Red Devils into a title-winning force again.

After three days of talks, Mourinho agreed a three-year contract on a bumper salary reportedly worth more than $20 million (19.5 million euros) a year.

Stephen Curry scored 31 points as the defending champion Golden State Warriors kept their record-setting season alive with a 120-111 win over Oklahoma City in game five of their Western Conference playoff.

Curry, who has been plagued by injuries throughout the postseason, saved his best game of the series for Thursday night as he also had seven rebounds and six assists.

Andy Murray will be hoping he can see off giant Ivo Karlovic in straight sets as the French Open third round gets underway at Roland Garros on Friday having battled hard to get through his first two rounds.

The second-seed, seeking a first tournament win in Paris to go with his 2012 U.S. Open and 2013 Wimbledon wins, has spent on court a total of 7 hours 15 minutes spread over two five-setters against Czech veteran Radek Stepanek and French wildcard Mathias Bourgue.

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid clash in the Champions League final for the second time in three years in Milan on Saturday.

AFP Sports selects five of the best Madrid derbies of all time between the first two sides ever to compete a Champions League final from the same city: