Barcelona boss Luis Enrique compared Espanyol's roughhouse tactics to the NFL after the visitors had two men sent-off in the second bad-tempered Catalan derby in four days as Barca came from behind to win 4-1 in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.

Hernan Perez and Papakouli Diop were shown red cards in a four-minute spell in the second-half with Barca already leading 3-1 thanks to a Lionel Messi double.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez described Gareth Barry as one of England's finest ever players after he helped guide his team closer to the final of the League Cup.

Barry, 34, produced another impressive midfield performance as he orchestrated a 2-1 win over former club Manchester City in the first leg of their semi-final at Goodison Park.

Didier Drogba denied reports of his retirement on Wednesday, saying he had not yet taken a decision over his future amid speculation about a possible coaching role with former club Chelsea.

The Montreal Impact striker said he was still in discussions with the Major League Soccer outfit, who he joined last year.

Ryan Zimmerman of the Washington Nationals and Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies filed defamation lawsuits Tuesday against Al-Jazeera America for linking them in a report to performance-enhancing drugs.

The two Major League Baseball players each filed their suits in U.S. District Court against the cable and satellite media giant, alleging that the report on sports doping was "outrageously false" and included "unsubstantiated allegations."

Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard Wednesday said "world-class" Pep Guardiola would be a great addition to the Premier League after the much sought-after Bayern Munich boss said he wanted to coach in England.

Guardiola, who will turn 45 this month, said Tuesday that the reason he was leaving the German giants at the end of the season was because he wanted to coach in England.

England Football Association chairman Greg Dyke declared "We'll all shoot ourselves" if Roy Hodgson's team fall at the group stage of Euro 2016.

England face Wales, Russia and Slovakia in the tournament in France from June 10, haunted by the memory of the 2014 World Cup where they were eliminated at the group phase for the first time since 1958.

Zinedine Zidane will be a "top-class manager", former France coach Gerard Houllier predicted Wednesday, saying the football legend had taken all the right steps before becoming Real Madrid boss.

The 43-year-old former “Galactico” with Real Madrid was appointed head coach at the La Liga club on Monday following the sacking of Rafael Benitez after just seven months in charge.

Jurgen Klopp has indicated that he may have to enter the transfer market to buy a defender as Liverpool's injury crisis grows.

Klopp faces the prospect of having no fit center-backs for Friday's FA Cup third-round trip to Exeter.

Roberto Soriano struck twice as visitors Sampdoria edged Genoa 3-2 in a thrilling city derby on Tuesday that was delayed on two occasions due to fans throwing smoke flares.

Genoa had won only one of the previous six editions of the 'Derby della Lanterna' and Gian Piero Gasperini's men were again left second best at the clubs' shared Luigi Ferraris ground as Sampdoria held on amid an exciting finale.

Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini were "totally irresponsible" to agree a payment that has brought ignominy to world football, according to Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, who hopes to take over FIFA next month.

The Jordanian crown prince said the global governing body would be heading for a new "catastrophe" if it doesn't elect the right candidate to succeed Blatter in the vote on February 26.