Ferreira awestruck by Porto punch

FC Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira was left in awe after the Portuguese champions ended a winless sequence of Matchday 1 results against Group G rivals Fenerbahçe SK in Portugal, hailing his players as "amazing".

Eto'o glad to raise Camp Nou pulse

Samuel Eto'o was pleased to feel FC Barcelona's confidence returning as they kicked off Group C with a 3-1 win against Sporting Clube de Portugal, noting "the Camp Nou crowd gather their rhythm as we improve ours".

Bullish Barça make winning start

FC Barcelona 3-1 Sporting Clube de PortugalXavi Hernández's late third sealed a deserved victory for Josep Guardiola's side after a goal from Tonel had prompted a nervous finale at Camp Nou.

Slick Barça make winning start

FC Barcelona 3-1 Sporting Clube de PortugalXavi Hernández's late third sealed a deserved victory for Josep Guardiola's side after a goal from Tonel had ensured a nervous finale at Camp Nou.

Guardiola savours welcome win

FC Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola admitted "a win always helps" after goals from Rafael Márquez, Samuel Eto'o and Xavi Hernández earned the side a welcome 3-1 victory against Sporting Clube de Portugal in Group C.

Ibero-American congress planned

Film News: Antonio Banderas to attend Mexico City event -- Film stars such as Antonio Banderas, orgs, name directors and top producers from Spain, Latin America and Portugal will huddle at a pioneering mega-meet, the first Ibero-American Culture Congress, which runs Oct. 1-5 in Mexico City.

Only way is up for vibrant St Pat's

Their 47-year wait for an away victory in Europe over, Dublin side St Patrick's Athletic FC travel to face Hertha BSC Berlin in the UEFA Cup as underdogs but with the ambition to pull off a "phenomenal" upset.

Guardiola confident Barça will find range

Josep Guardiola knows there is "no comfort zone given our recent results" as FC Barcelona look to arrest a run of three games without a victory when Sporting Clube de Portugal arrive for a Group C opener at Camp Nou.

Messi focused on trophy hunt

After two trophy-less years, Lionel Messi says FC Barcelona "know they have to win something", as the Catalan club attempt to get their campaign going with a home victory against Sporting Clube de Portugal.

New generation have Germany goal

The 2008/09 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifying round starts today in Portugal and over the next six weeks 52 sides will aim to move a step closer to the finals in Germany from 6-18 May.

Barça lose Hleb for Sporting opener

FC Barcelona have suffered a setback ahead of the visit of Sporting Clube de Portugal on Tuesday after learning that midfielder Aleksandr Hleb will be out for up to three weeks with a badly sprained left ankle.

Another UK tour operator goes bust

A second British tour operator has gone bust days after the collapse of XL Leisure sent the travel industry into turmoil, the aviation regulator confirmed today.

Everton get bad news on Jacobsen

Danish international right-back Lars Jacobsen may have to wait four months to make his Everton FC debut after dislocating his shoulder during his country's midweek FIFA World Cup victory in Portugal.

Bento relishing Barcelona test

The UEFA Champions League draw has dealt Sporting Clube de Portugal a tough hand, beginning with a Group C game at FC Barcelona on Tuesday, but coach Paulo Bento refuses to lower his targets.

XL collapse sees rivals prosper on FTSE

The collapse of a rival operator buoyed holiday giants TUI Travel and Thomas Cook today as the FTSE 100 Index surged nearly 2% in the final session of the week.

Fellaini set for Toffees debut

Everton’s £15m new boy Marouane Fellaini is set to start at Stoke City on Sunday but Lars Jacobsen is looking at three months out after dislocating his shoulder during Denmark’s 3-2 World Cup qualifier win against Portugal.

XL travel rivals see shares rise on FTSE

UK holiday giants TUI Travel and Thomas Cook were experiencing strong gains today as investors digested the collapse of rival operator XL.

More tour operators expected to go under

The collapse of tour operator XL is the latest blow to the UK air travel industry, which has endured a torrid summer with a number of companies closing down.

ER tussles with U. S. distributor

Business News: U.K. company claims unpaid fees -- Struggling U.K. tyke specialist Entertainment Rights, whose properties include “Postman Pat” and “The Lone Ranger, ” is taking legal action against its primary U.S. DVD distributor, Genius Products, over alleged unpaid fees.

Berlusconi immunity threatened

Business News: Opposition wants to strip away protection -- Silvio Berlusconi’s year has had a somewhat inauspicious start. Momentum is gathering behind an opposition move to lift the immunity from prosecution that shields the Italo media mogul and premier from his legal woes.

Banijay returns El Terrat to sender

Business News: Buenafuente buys back company -- In a surprise about-face, Gaul's Banijay Entertainment has sold Spanish production company El Terrat back to its original owner, prexy Andreu Buenafuente, just three months after announcing its purchase.

Obama urges for digital switch delay

Business News: Officials concerned that people are unprepared -- Don't flip the switch just yet -- that's what the incoming Obama administration urged Congress on Thursday regarding the long-planned Feb. 17 transition to all-digital broadcasting.

Blu-Ray warms tech expo

Business News: Sony pushes online products in Vegas -- Blu-ray sales could triple or even quintuple in 2009.

Jermaine Dupri out at Island Records

Business News: Rapper-producer-mogul exits music unit -- Jermaine Dupri is out as president of Island Records Urban Music division, a unit he ran for almost two years.

First Look ups Marie O'Reilly-Thein

Business News: Exec will manage retail and rental accounts -- First Look Studios has upped Marie O'Reilly-Thein to senior veep of sales for home entertainment.

Sides more vocal in SAG strike talks

Business News: Meeting next week to decide referendum's fate -- The sides in SAG's strike authorization vote battle are becoming more vocal in advance of the guild's emergency national board meeting next week to determine the fate of the proposed referendum.

Blu-Ray warms tech expo

Film News: Sony pushes online products in Vegas -- Blu-ray sales could triple or even quintuple in 2009.

Fashion kicks off with Golden Globes

Film News: For TV divas, the red carpet is their big moment -- It's fashion kickoff time. First up: the Golden Globes, next the Academy Awards. While the Oscars is as intense as the Super Bowl, the more relaxed Globes pits the smallscreen against the bigscreen: On one team we have the TV clotheshorses; on the other, their big sisters, the movie stars.