Soccer Sports News & Betting

Sir Alex Ferguson is optimistic a repeat performance of Tuesday nights Carling Cup effort in the second leg at Old Trafford next week will be enough to send Manchester United to Wembley.

Ferguson found it hard to be too critical of his side following the 2-1 reverse at Manchester City given they dominated for half an hour and continue to create clear openings after Carlos Tevez had ambushed his old club.

And, while they must win to stand any chance of successfully defending their trophy, the United boss remains confident.

The most important thing will be to play like we did this time, he said.

We dominated the match and were reasonably in control. Then we had a mad five minutes before half-time and it brought them back into the game.

But with the crowd at Old Trafford, the occasion and what is at stake, we will be okay.

The mad five minutes Ferguson referred to revolved around the penalty teenage defender Rafael needlessly gave away five minutes before half-time for a tug on Craig Bellamys shirt.

Rafael made his first grab outside the box but was still clinging on as the Welshman entered the area and referee Mike Dean immediately pointed to the spot.

Given his recent altercations with officialdom, Ferguson probably wisely diluted his words, instead inviting others to judge its merits.

Everyone can see the penalty for themselves, he said.

It is the kind of decision that has gone against us tonight but could go for us on another day.

Ferguson was not happy with Citys second though.

A debatable corner turned into a disaster when Wes Brown and Jonny Evans both went to try and close Vincent Kompany down, meaning Tevez was on his own as the Belgian turned the ball back into the six-yard box.

It was a disappointing mistake given it involved two orthodox defenders, the kind Ferguson was desperate to return during that awful period when he had nine men missing.

I dont know if it was a corner or not. But we certainly didnt defend it well, he grumbled.

The approach of the 2010 World Cup has temporarily reversed the exodus of star Korean and Japanese players to Europe, as they seek match time to boost their chances of appearing at the tournament.

The two East Asian nations have many players plying their trade in Europe, but many believe that regular appearances in their domestic league will do more for the World Cup selection hopes than sitting on the bench in England, France, Germany or Spain.

In the first two weeks of 2010, Junichi Inamoto and Shinji Ono returned to the J-League while Seol Ki-hyeon and Cho Won-hee said goodbye to England and are now preparing for the new K-League season.

Seol, a veteran of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, made just one start for English Premier League club Fulham this season, leading the 31 year-old sign for reigning Asian continental champions Pohang Steelers.

The former Reading and Anderlecht winger has never played in his domestic league.

Players need to be playing so Seols move is good news for us, Huh said. If you dont play for a while, you start to lose your match sharpness. I will have to take a look at him when the season starts.

Cho joined Wigan in March 2009 but injury and a coaching change limited his opportunities and after starting just two games this season, he has returned to former club Suwon Bluewings on loan.

I returned to Suwon because I want to play many games, said Cho as he arrived at Incheon International Airport. It is important to reach my peak fitness quickly and I want to display some good performances.

South Korea takes on Greece, Argentina and Nigeria in Group B in South Africa while Japan faces the Netherlands, Cameroon and Denmark.

Japans Junichi Inamoto left the J-League in 2001 to sign for Arsenal of the English Premier League. The midfielder, who has since played in Germany and Turkey, has struggled for playing time this season with French club Rennes and has signed for Kawasaki Frontale.

I just turned 30, and I wanted to come back to the J. League while I was still in my best condition, Inamoto said.

The World Cup is not the only reason I have come back. Of course I want to be involved and it helps to be playing in Japan in full view of the manager. I wanted to come back to Japan first and foremost, and if I can go to the World Cup then thats a bonus.

Fellow 2002 World Cup midfielder Shinji Ono has left German club Bochum to sign for Shimizu S-Pulse.

Shinji is a remarkable player and a good man, but during his time at Bochum he was badly hit by injuries and was unable to play as much as we would have wanted, said Bochum general manager Thomas Ernst.

Even Japans most accomplished football export Shunsuke Nakamura is not immune. The playmaker, with 94 appearances for Japan under his belt, has struggled since moving to Spain and Espanyol last summer, and there is talk of a loan back to the J-League.

Espanyol had big expectations of the player who starred in his spells at Reggina and Celtic but Nakamura has played just six games this season.

He hasnt adapted as we would have wished but we will do all we can for him to be at 100 per cent, said Espanyol sporting director German de la Cruz.

We are not planning to loan him out or sell him and we hope that he will return to his best form.

In Australia, the timing of the season means the situation is reversed, prompting players to seek an exit. The A-Leagues regular season will end on February 14, meaning those not involved in the playoffs or the Asian Champions League face four months without a competitive game ahead of the World Cup.

Australia coach Pim Verbeek, whose side faces a tough group of Germany, Ghana and Serbia at the World Cup, has made it clear that he will pick those playing regular competitive football. As a result, many fringe national team players are looking at short-term loans to Korea, Japan and China.

Not all involved in the domestic game are happy at this expected exodus.

We understand completely why Pim wants the players to be active, but at the same time this has the potential to undermine careers, and the competition, Professional Footballers Australia boss Brendan Schwab said.

The players are being forced to make a choice they dont necessarily want to make. They dont want to go, but theyre prepared to go. The worry for us is that theres always a great risk in a hasty move, a poorly planned move.

The outspoken owner of A-League club Gold Coast United, Clive Palmer, was scathing in his criticism of Verbeek encouraging players to move overseas.

Thats our national team, not his, Palmer said. The main criterion for any national coach should be to foster the game here in Australia. Football is not just about the World Cup, its also about making the A-League the best it can possibly be.

Hes setting the wrong example, and if he was working for me, Id sack him, believe me.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits he cannot afford to lose Cesc Fabregas to injury if his side are to maintain their title challenge.

The Gunners captain was inspirational as he scored one and had a hand in the second for substitute Fran Merida in the 2-0 victory over Bolton at the Reebok Stadium on Sunday.

Having missed the last three matches with a hamstring injury, the Spain international showed just how valuable he is to Arsenal, who moved to within three points of Premier League leaders Chelsea - with Bolton again to come at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

It is important for us not to lose any more players, especially him. He is just coming back now, said Wenger.

We survived okay when he was not there but, in the period coming up, when we have so many big games, it is important to have him.

If you watched the game, it is difficult to say how much we have missed him but you dont need to explain to anyone that it is important.

Asked if Fabregas was the best midfielder currently playing in the Premier League, Wenger added: I do not see all the games but what is very interesting for us is Cesc gets stronger and stronger and has more personality on the pitch, like the whole team.

He grows. He will be 23 this year - he is just starting.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle, in his first match in charge since leaving Burnley, could only marvel at the talent of the Gunners captain.

The quality of Fabregas, with the first goal when he bounced a one-two off Eduardo, he could play for anyone in world football, said Coyle. He is such a top player.

Coyle was, however, pleased with his sides display as they created enough chances to have earned something from the game.

I thought the level of performance was terrific, he said.

What we offered for the duration of the match would, on another day, result in points - whether it be one or three.

We were always in the game, particularly second half, and they werent half-chances, they were real gilt-edged chances.

We created chances from the first minute of the match and, if you analyse that game, I think we were deserving of a better result.

We never got that break you need against these elite clubs - the first goal hit Matt Taylor on the back of the head and a couple of boys have fallen over when the ball has come into the box.

Thierry Henry cannot be punished for his handball before the goal that helped send France to the World Cup instead of Ireland, FIFA said on Monday.

FIFAs disciplinary panel decided it had no legal right to consider the case under the governing bodys own rules. It says a handball offense is not classed as a serious infringement necessary to prosecute Henry under FIFAs Disciplinary Code.

There is no other legal text that would allow the committee to impose sanctions for any incidents missed by match officials, FIFA said in a statement.

FIFAs executive committee, led by president Sepp Blatter, referred the case to the disciplinary panel last month.

Henry touched the ball with his left hand and arm before passing for William Gallas to score the decisive goal in a playoff in Paris last November. France drew the match 1-1 after extra time to beat Ireland 2-1 on aggregate.

Following a worldwide outcry after the match, the Football Association of Ireland asked FIFA and the French federation for the match to be replayed.

FIFA said the result must stand because decisions made on the field of play could not be reviewed.

During matches, decisions are taken by the referee and these decisions are final, FIFA said last November.

However, FIFAs ruling executive committee met in special session on Dec. 2 at Cape Town, South Africa, and ordered a case to be opened against Henry.

Had the disciplinary panel accepted the case at its meeting Monday at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, the veteran striker could have faced being banned from matches at the World Cup in June.

Results from the 16th round of the Portuguese first-division football league (home teams listed first).

Saturdays Games

Olhanense 1, Naval 0

Guimaraes 2, Setubal 2

FC Porto 1, Pacos Ferreira 1

Sporting 3, Nacional 2

Sundays Games

Belenenses vs. Leixoes

Rio Ave vs. Leiria

Academica vs. Braga

Maritimo vs. Benfica

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Spanish Football Results

MADRID -Results from the 18th round of Spains first-division football league (home teams listed first).

Saturdays Games

Osasuna 2, Espanyol 0

Athletic Bilbao 1, Real Madrid 0

Barcelona 4, Sevilla 0

Sundays Games

Malaga vs. Getafe

Racing Santander vs. Valladolid

Almeria vs. Tenerife

Zaragoza vs. Xerez

Mallorca vs. Deportivo La Coruna

Atletico Madrid vs. Sporting Gijon

Valencia vs. Villarreal

Saturday, Jan. 23

Sevilla vs. Almeria

Valladolid vs. Barcelona

Deportivo La Coruna vs. Athletic Bilbao

Sunday, Jan. 24

Sporting Gijon vs. Racing Santander

Tenerife vs. Valencia

Villarreal vs. Zaragoza

Xerez vs. Osasuna

Espanyol vs. Mallorca

Getafe vs. Atletico Madrid

Real Madrid vs. Malaga

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French Football Results

PARIS -Results from the French first-division football league (home teams listed first).

Saturdays Games

Lille 3, Paris Saint-Germain 1

Montpellier 1, Nice 0

Auxerre 0, Boulogne 0

Nancy 0, Lyon 2

Monaco 2, Sochaux 0

Le Mans 0, Lorient 3

Rennes 1, Lens 1

Valenciennes 1, Toulouse 3

Grenoble 1, Saint-Etienne 2

Sundays Game

Bordeaux vs. Marseille

Tuesday, Jan. 19

Saint-Etienne vs. Rennes

Wednesday, Jan. 20

Grenoble vs. Bordeaux

Lens vs. Montpellier

Lorient vs. Lyon

Marseille vs. Le Mans

Nice vs. Auxerre

Paris Saint-Germain vs. Monaco

Sochaux vs. Lille

Toulouse vs. Nancy

Boulogne vs. Valenciennes

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Italian Football Results

MILAN -Results in the Serie A, the Italian first-division football league (home teams listed first).

Saturdays Games

Cagliari 3, Livorno 0

Bari 2, Inter Milan 2

Sundays Games

Atalanta vs. Lazio

Chievo Verona vs. Juventus

Fiorentina vs. Bologna

AC Milan vs. Siena

Parma vs. Udinese

AS Roma vs. Genoa

Sampdoria vs. Catania

Napoli vs. Palermo

Saturday, January 23

Catania vs. Parma

Juventus vs. AS Roma

Sunday, January 24

Bologna vs. Bari

Genoa vs. Atalanta

Lazio vs. Chievo Verona

Livorna vs. Napoli

Palermo vs. Fiorentina

Siena vs. Cagliari

Udinese vs. Sampdoria

Inter Milan vs. AC Milan

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English Football Results

LONDON -Results Saturday in English football (home teams listed first).

Premier League

Stoke 1, Liverpool 1

Chelsea 7, Sunderland 2

Manchester United 3, Burnley 0

Tottenham 0, Hull 0

Wolverhampton 0, Wigan 2

Everton 2, Manchester City 0

Portsmouth vs. Birmingham, postponed

League Championship

Barnsley 1, Sheffield Wednesday 2

Blackpool 2, Queens Park Rangers 2

Bristol City 4, Preston 2

Doncaster 2, Watford 1

Ipswich 2, Coventry 2

Nottingham Forest 2, Reading 1.

Peterborough 0, Derby 3

Plymouth 0, Crystal Palace 1

Scunthorpe 1, Cardiff 1

Sheffield United 1, Middlesbrough 0

Swansea 1, Leicester 0

League One

Brentford 3, Carlisle 0

Colchester 0, Norwich 5

Exeter 2, Leeds United 0

Hartlepool 0, MK Dons 5

Huddersfield 2, Southend 1

Millwall 1, Southampton 1

Swindon 3, Gillingham 1

Walsall 1, Brighton 2

Wycombe 1, Charlton 2

Stockport vs. Oldham, postponed

Leyton Orient vs. Bristol Rovers, postponed

Tranmere vs. Yeovil, postponed

League Two

Barnet 1, Lincoln City 2

Bournemouth 1, Bury 2

Burton Albion 1, Shrewsbury 1

Chesterfield 1, Torquay 0

Dagenham Redbridge 2, Crewe 0

Grimsby 0, Cheltenham 0

Hereford vs. Morecambe, postponed

Rochdale vs. Port Vale, postponed

Accrington Stanley vs. Rotherham, postponed

Bradford vs. Notts County, postponed

Darlington vs. Aldershot, postponed

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German Football Results

FRANKFURT -Results from the 18th round of the Bundesliga, the German first-division football league (home team listed first).

Fridays Game

Bayern Munich 2, Hoffenheim 0

Saturdays Games

Eintracht Frankfurt 1, Werder Bremen 0

Borussia Moenchengladbach 1, Bochum 2

Hannover 0, Hertha Berlin 3

Bayer Leverkusen 4, Mainz 2

Hamburger SV 2, Freiburg 0

Stuttgart 3, Wolfsburg 1

Sundays Games

Schalke vs. Nuremberg

Cologne vs. Borussia Dortmund

Friday, Jan. 22

Freiburg vs. Stuttgart

Saturday, Jan. 23

Werder Bremen vs. Bayern Munich

Bochum vs. Schalke

Mainz vs. Hannover

Nuremberg vs. Eintracht Frankfurt

Hertha Berlin vs. Borussia Moenchengladbach

Borussia Dortmund vs. Hamburger SV

Sunday, Jan 24

Wolfsburg vs. Cologne

Hoffenheim vs. Bayer Leverkusen

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Greek Football Results

ATHENS, Greece -Results from the Greek football league after Saturdays games (home teams listed first).

Satutdays Games

PAOK 1, Asteras 0

Iraklis 1, AEK Athens 1

Xanthi 1, Ergotelis 0

Sundays Games

Atromitos vs. Larissa

Panionios vs. Levadiakos

Panathinaikos vs. Panthrakikos

Giannena vs. Aris

Kavala vs. Olympiakos

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Scottish Football Results

GLASGOW, Scotland -Results Saturday in Scottish football (home teams listed first).

Premier League

Hamilton 0, Rangers 1

Celtic 1, Falkirk 1

Dundee United 1, Hibernian 0

Hearts 1, St Mirren 0

Kilmarnock 0, Motherwell 3

Second Division

Stenhousemuir 1, Arbroath 1

Third Division

Montrose 4, Stranraer 5

Queens Park 2, Berwick 0

Bayer Leverkusen ended Bayern Munichs stay at the top of the Bundesliga after less than 24 hours by beating Mainz 4-2 on Saturday.

Bayern beat Hoffenheim Friday night to kick off the second half of the season and claim first place for the first time in more than a year, but Leverkusen rallied against the promoted team to remain unbeaten in 18 games.

Leverkusen fell behind when Tim Hoogland scored for Mainz after eight minutes, but coach Jupp Heynckes team then scored three goals and cruised home.

We reacted well after falling behind, we had problems at the start, Heynckes said. We played well after that and we should have scored more goals in the second half.

In other matches, Hamburger SV beat Freiburg 2-0, Eintracht Frankfurt edged Werder Bremen 1-0, Bochum beat Borussia Moenchengladbach 2-1 on the road and Hertha Berlin won 3-0 in Hannover for only its second win of the season.

Leverkusen now has 38 points, two more than Bayern. Hamburg has 34 and is ahead of Schalke on goal difference. Schalke plays Sunday against Nuremberg.

In the late match, Stuttgart beat defending champion Wolfsburg 3-1 to escape from the relegation zone.

Roberto Hilbert notched his first goal of the season in the 28th with a volley to put Stuttgart ahead after being left unmarked at the far post.

Pavel Pogrebnyak doubled the lead in the 58th. Zdravko Kuzmanovic crossed a free kick to the far post, Serdar Tasci headed down to Pogrebnyak, who easily netted from close range.

Edin Dzeko pulled one back for Stuttgart in the 65th after being put through with a good pass from Grafite.

But substitute Timo Gebhart sealed Stuttgarts victory after a counterattack in the 87th.

After falling behind, Leverkusen stepped up the pace and recovered on goals from Michal Kadlec, Tranqillo Barnetta and Toni Kroos inside the first 30 minutes. Niko Bungert revived some hopes for Freiburg by scoring in the 67th but Eren Derdiyok completed the victory in the 88th.

Mainz is winless in six games.

On a pitch that quickly deteriorated, Hamburg went ahead through Marcell Jansens left-footed volley in the seventh minute and Mladen Petric added the second in the 56th.

Although it dominated the match, Hamburg could not score more goals against a team it has not lost to in 15 years.

Eintracht beat Werder for the second time this season on a goal by Marco Russ in the 57th minute, after Werders defense failed to clear a cross from Chris.

Werder slumped to its third straight defeat.

Hertha Berlin, which took only six points in the first half of the season, surprised Hannover with first-half goals from Lukasz Piszczek and Raffael.

Fanis Gekas, who came to Berlin from Leverkusen during the break, completed the rout in the 80th.

Goalkeeper Florian Fromlowitz saved Hannover from an even bigger defeat by stopping Ciceros late penalty. Hannover is winless in seven games. While Hertha remained at the bottom, Hannover is only one point above the relegation zone.

Bochum stunned Borussia Moenchengladbach 2-1 to lift itself from the bottom ranks on goals from Stanislav Sestak and Zlatko Dedic in the first half.

Borussia, which has not beaten Bochum in 12 years, had a late goal from Fabian Baecker.

Liverpool conceded a 90th-minute equalizer at Stoke in the Premier League on Saturday, missing out on a morale-boosting victory after being dumped out of the FA Cup by lowly Reading in midweek.

Robert Huth grabbed the late equalizer for Stoke after Sotirios Kyrgiakos had scrambled in his first goal for Liverpool in the 57th minute.

It feels like a defeat, Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt said. We arent playing the best football at the moment but I thought we fought really hard for this result, and to concede in the last minute and even miss a great chance in the last minute is unbelievable.

Kuyt could have won the match in the final seconds of injury time, but headed against the post.

Liverpool, which remains seventh in the league, also conceded a late goal to Reading on Wednesday, forcing the FA Cup third-round replay into extra time when the second-tier club produced a winner.

Confidence isnt very high at the moment, Kuyt said. But we have to keep going and work really, really hard and come out of this as quickly as possible.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez made six changes to the side humiliated by Reading - four enforced by injuries to Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Yossi Benayoun and Daniel Agger.

Kyrgiakos, who joined in August, scored after Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen failed to catch Fabio Aurelios free kick in a crowded penalty area, allowing the ball to be poked home.

But Stoke leveled as stoppage time approached. Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher gave Huth the space to stab the ball home at the far post when Matthew Etheringtons corner was headed back across goal.

Among Saturdays later matches, leader Chelsea was hosting Sunderland and second-place Manchester United was playing Burnley.

A week after the program was virtually wiped out by freezing conditions in England, only Portsmouths home match against Birmingham fell victim to the weather.

The match at Fratton Park was called off hours before kickoff due to a waterlogged pitch - a result of the thaw.

GLASGOW, Scotland -Results Saturday in Scottish football (home teams listed first).

Premier League

Hamilton 0, Rangers 1

Celtic vs. Falkirk

Dundee United vs. Hibernian

Hearts vs. St Mirren

Kilmarnock vs. Motherwell

First Division

Raith vs. Partick Thistle

Second Division

East Fife vs. Cowdenbeath

Stenhousemuir vs. Arbroath

Third Division

Montrose vs. Stranraer

Queens Park vs. Berwick

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English Football Results

LONDON -Results Saturday in English football (home teams listed first).

Premier League

Stoke 1, Liverpool 1

Blackburn vs. Fulham

Chelsea vs. Sunderland

Everton vs. Manchester City

Manchester United vs. Burnley

Portsmouth vs. Birmingham, postponed

Tottenham vs. Hull

Wolves vs. Wigan

League Championship

Barnsley vs. Sheffield Wednesday

Blackpool vs. Queens Park Rangers

Bristol City vs. Preston

Doncaster vs. Watford

Ipswich vs. Coventry

Nottingham Forest vs. Reading

Peterborough vs. Derby

Plymouth vs. Crystal Palace

Scunthorpe vs. Cardiff

Sheffield United vs. Middlesbrough

Swansea vs. Leicester

League One

Brentford vs. Carlisle

Colchester vs. Norwich

Exeter vs. Leeds United

Hartlepool vs. MK Dons

Huddersfield vs. Southend

Leyton Orient vs. Bristol Rovers, postponed

Millwall vs. Southampton

Stockport vs. Oldham, postponed

Swindon vs. Gillingham

Tranmere vs. Yeovil, postponed

Walsall vs. Brighton

Wycombe vs. Charlton

League Two

Accrington Stanley vs. Rotherham, postponed

Barnet vs. Lincoln City

Bournemouth vs. Bury

Bradford vs. Notts County, postponed

Burton Albion vs. Shrewsbury

Chesterfield vs. Torquay

Dag Red vs. Crewe

Darlington vs. Aldershot, postponed

Grimsby vs. Cheltenham

Hereford vs. Morecambe, postponed

Rochdale vs. Port Vale, postponed

Barcelona exited its first competition under coach Pep Guardiola when the defending champions dropped out of the Copa del Rey despite beating Sevilla 1-0 on Wednesday.

Sevilla advanced to the quarterfinals of the domestic cup on away goals after the two-leg series ended 2-2.

Barcelonas unrelenting second-half pressure paid off in the 64th minute as Xavi Hernandez chested down Ndri Romarics weak clearance outside the area to curl a shot through a crowd and past the outstretched Andres Palop.

Lionel Messi hit the post and Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed an open goal after that as the titleholders pressed for the necessary goal to advance, but Palop was too good as he denied Messi in the closing moments.

We eliminated, without a doubt, the best team in the world, Sevilla winger Diego Capel said.

Barcelona had won every competition it had competed in since Guardiolas arrival before the start of the 2008-09 season, lifting an unprecedented six major trophies along the way.

Its not a problem, said Guardiola, who fielded a full-strength lineup.

There are few things I can say to the team. We tried to come back, we played a great second half. We just have to recover going forward.

Sevilla will play Deportivo La Coruna after the Galician club scored twice in the second half to draw 2-2 against Valencia and advance 4-3 on aggregate.

Sevilla created the better first-half chances with goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto stretching to keep Ndri Romarics sharp header out after just three minutes.

Sevilla was upset in the 20th when Alvaro Negredo was called for an inadvertent touch on Pinto, who had lost the ball well out of his goal with Jesus Navas ready to score into the empty goal.

The European champions, in need of at least two goals, nearly got the first eight minutes later as Ibrahimovic flashed a controlled volley across goal after Sevillas defense failed to clear Messis cross.

Barcelona started the second half with conviction and several chances before Xavi finally netted.

Andres Iniestas individual effort was thwarted at the last moment just after Palop stretched to tip Ibrahimovics header out as it looked certain for the top corner in the 52nd.

Palop then came out to block Messis short-angled shot on the hour mark then denied Henrys low roller before the visitors finally scored.

Henry put Messi through but the world player of the years soft chip over Palop landed just wide as the Spanish champions maintained the momentum, with Messi curling his shot off the far post in the 69th before Ibrahimovic volleyed wide.

The frantic pace continued as Jesus Navas led a 3-on-2 Sevilla breakout in the 77th, but Carles Puyol tipped out the wingers pass toward Negredo with the open goal beckoning.

Guardiola replaced Ibrahimovic and Daniel Alves with Bojan Krkic and Pedro Rodriguez in the 80th, just before Palop somehow got down to keep Messis low shot out.

The truth is that to go out the way we did, with so many chances … Messi said. We didnt expect to go out, we had enough confidence that we would get through.

For Deportivo, Luis Filipe stole a poor back pass and slid around Carlos Marchena before nudging under Valencia goalkeeper Miguel Moya to start the rally in the 50th minute. The Brazilian left back stole again in the 71st and cut along the goal line before Juan Rodriguez redirected his short cross in at the near post for the equalizer that saw Deportivo continue its impressive season, which sees it fourth in the league standings.

Nicola Zigic scored both for Valencia, the 2008 champion.

The Serbia striker headed Miguels cross past keeper Manuel Fernandez in the 11th and dove to meet the defenders cross again in the 29th, heading through Fernandezs legs.

Jeremy Mathieu had a clear chance for Valencia four minutes into injury time but skied his shot from inside the area.

Third-tier Alcorcon, which knocked Real Madrid out in the last round, couldnt maintain its good run as it drew 0-0 at Racing Santander to lose 3-2 on aggregate.

Racing will play Osasuna after Masoud Soleimanis impressive 49th-minute strike gave Osasuna a 1-0 win over second-division leader Hercules, which dropped out on away goals after the teams finished tied 2-2 overall.

Also, Roberto Soldado scored twice as Getafe routed Malaga 5-1 to easily advance 6-3.

On Thursday, Atletico Madrid must overcome a 3-0 deficit to Recreativo Huelva, and Rayo Vallecano leads Mallorca 2-1.

Second-division Celta Vigo advanced 2-1 on aggregate after beating Villarreal 1-0 on Tuesday.

MADRID -Results from the return leg of fifth-round matches in the Copa del Rey (home teams listed first).

Tuesdays Game

Villarreal 0, Celta Vigo 1 (Celta Vigo advances 2-1 on aggregate)

Wednesdays Games

Deportivo La Coruna 2, Valencia 2 (Deportivo La Coruna advances 4-3 on aggregate)

Racing Santander 0, Alcorcon 0 (Racing Santander advances 3-2 on aggregate)

Osasuna 1, Hercules 0 (2-2 on aggregate; Osasuna advances 2-0 on away goals)

Sevilla 0, Barcelona 1 (2-2 on aggregate; Sevilla advances 2-1 on away goals)

Getafe 5, Malaga 1 (Getafe advances 6-3 on aggregate)

Thursdays Games

Mallorca vs. Rayo Vallecano (Rayo Vallecano leads 2-1)

Atletico Madrid vs. Recreativo Huelva (Recreativo Huelva leads 3-0)

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English Football Results

LONDON -Results Wednesday in English football (home teams listed first).

FA Cup

Third Round

Third Round Replays

Liverpool 1, Reading 2, ET

Newcastle 3, Plymouth 0

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Italian Cup Results

ROME -Results from the Italian Cup Round of 16 (home teams listed first).

Dec. 16

Inter Milan 1, Livorno 0

Tuesdays Game

AS Roma 3, Triestina 1

Wednesdays Games

AC Milan 2, Novara 1

Genoa 1, Catania 2

Juventus 3, Napoli 0

Thursdays Games

Fiorentina vs. Chievo Verona

Udinese vs. Lumezzane

Lazio vs. Palermo

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French Football Results

PARIS -Results from the French first-division football league (home teams listed first).

Wednesdays Games

Monaco 4, Montpellier 0

Boulogne 0, Sochaux 0

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African Cup of Nations Results

Group D

At Lubango, Angola

Gabon 1, Cameroon 0

Zambia 1, Tunisia 1