World champion Lewis Hamilton has been hit with a five-place grid penalty for Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix because of a gearbox change, Mercedes said Thursday.

Already trailing team-mate Nico Rosberg by 17 points after the German won the season's first two races in Australia and Bahrain, Hamilton will now face a battle to prevent that gap from widening in China.

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique admitted his side are suffering a slump in form after a third defeat in four games saw them dumped out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid.

Antoine Griezmann struck twice for Atletico in a 2-0 win Wednesday to seal their passage to the last four at Barcelona's expense for the second time in three years, 3-2 on aggregate.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal hailed Marcus Rashford's startling self-awareness after the 18-year-old striker's memorable goal inspired his side to FA Cup victory at West Ham United.

Rashford broke the deadlock in the 54th minute of Wednesday's quarter-final replay, shimmying inside James Tomkins and arcing an unstoppable shot into the top-right corner.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended his controversial plan to expand the World Cup to 40 teams on Wednesday, rejecting criticism the move would dilute the quality of football's showpiece event.

In an interview with Fox Sports 1, the chief of world football's governing body pointed to the expansion of teams at Euro 2016 as evidence that the 32-team World Cup could successfully accommodate more sides.

Olympics chiefs said Wednesday that preparations for the Rio Games in August are running on time despite the crisis that threatens to topple the Brazilian government.

"The IOC is a non-political organization and we have been moving forward with our ongoing work despite the complex environment politically and economically," said Nawal El Moutawakel, who heads the International Olympic Committee's coordination commission.

Atletico Madrid dumped holders Barcelona out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage for the second time in three seasons as Antoine Griezmann's double sealed a 2-0 win on Wednesday to progress 3-2 on aggregate.

Griezmann put the hosts ahead on away goals with a fine first-half header before converting from the penalty spot two minutes from time after Andres Iniesta had handled inside the area.

Bayern Munich came out on top in an entertaining Champions League last-eight clash with Benfica, reaching the semi-finals with a 3-2 aggregate victory, after a second-leg 2-2 draw in Lisbon on Wednesday.

Pep Guardiola took his German champions to the Estadio Da Luz with a 1-0 first-leg lead thanks to Aruto Vidal's early strike at the Allianz Arena last week.

A British university study claims to have uncovered the answer to a question that preoccupies the minds of petrol heads - who is the greatest Formula One driver of all time?

After pouring over the stats the University of Sheffield's Methods Institute has produced a drivers' Top 100 chart with Juan Manuel Fangio on top of the all-time podium.

Leicester City's extraordinary rise to the top of the Premier League has been recognized with the inclusion of three Foxes stars -- Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and N'Golo Kante -- on the shortlist for the Professional Footballers' Association Players' Player of the Year award.

The Leicester trio make up 50 percent of a six-strong panel that also includes Tottenham Hotspur's 22-goal striker Harry Kane, West Ham's France star Dimitri Payet and Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil.

Aston Villa have decided to scrap their player of the season awards for the 2015/16 campaign, with the club on the cusp of relegation from the Premier League.

The Birmingham club, bottom of the table and 15 points adrift of safety, will be relegated on Saturday if Norwich avoid defeat against Sunderland or if they themselves lose at Manchester United.