La Liga leaders Real Madrid face one of their toughest tests since embarking on a 22-game winning streak back in September when they start 2015 with a trip to Valencia on Sunday.

Sunderland were handed an opportunity to relive arguably the greatest day in their 136-year history when they were paired with Leeds United in the FA Cup.

The Wearside club will be forever synonymous with a Wembley final victory as thrilling as it was unexpected over Don Revie's all-conquering Leeds side in 1973.

U.S. teen Mikaela Shiffrin and Slovenia's overall leader Tina Maze will be the focus in Sunday's World Cup women's slalom race in the Croatian capital.

The event is being staged at Sljeme, the mountain peak overlooking Zagreb, where Croatia's skiing stars -- the Kostelic siblings -- made their debuts.

Andy Murray set up a Mubadala World Tennis Championship semi-final clash with Rafael Nadal when he battled to a hard-earned 7-6 (7/1), 5-7, 6-4 win over Spain's Feliciano Lopez on Thursday.

Murray, 27, needed five match points before he secured victory and will next look to clinch a double over Nadal in the Abu Dhabi exhibition tournament having defeated the Spanish great in the final in 2009.

Harry Kane starred as Tottenham Hotspur crushed Chelsea 5-3 in a New Year's Day blockbuster to leave Jose Mourinho's side dead-level with Manchester City at the Premier League summit.

Kane, a 21-year-old Spurs youth-team graduate, scored twice and had a hand in two other goals as Mourinho conceded five goals for only the second time in his managerial career.

Steven Gerrard, who announced his departure from boyhood club Liverpool on Friday, is a player destined to be remembered as much for his extraordinary achievements as for his agonizing near-misses.

The 34-year-old midfielder has captained Liverpool for 12 years, notably lifting the Champions League trophy after an unforgettable comeback against AC Milan in 2005, but coveted successes elsewhere have eluded him.

Despite a run of poor results, Australian captain Mile Jedinak said Friday that the Socceroos have what it takes to lift the 2015 Asian World Cup held on home soil next month.

"I think 100 percent we've got the right blend (to win the Cup)," the Crystal Palace skipper said.

Chris Hughton was on Wednesday appointed manager of English second-tier club Brighton and Hove Albion on a three-and-a-half-year contract after the sacking of Sami Hyypia.

"#BHAFC have appointed Chris Hughton as first-team manager on a three-and-a-half-year contract," Brighton announced on their official Twitter page.

Everton's bid to arrest an alarming run of form has been hit by an injury to goalkeeper Tim Howard ahead of Thursday's trip to Hull City in the Premier League.

Howard will be out for up to six weeks after damaging his calf in the 1-0 Boxing Day defeat by Stoke City, leaving Everton with only 24-year-old Joel Robles -- who has made only 11 top-flight starts -- as back-up.

Eden Hazard is on course to becoming one of the world’s top players, according to Chelsea team-mate Filipe Luis as the Blues travel to White Hart Lane on Thursday.

Jose Mourinho’s side will attempt to respond to Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Southampton by claiming victory at Tottenham Hotspur to guarantee they retain their place at the head of the Premier League table.