Pro Eleven Headline News
Guardiola considers Copa del Rey must-win
Barcelona's bid for a treble faces its first must-win match Thursday with a game against crosstown rival Espanyol.
Barcelona holds a 12-point lead in the league over Real Madrid and is the favourite to win the Champions League. The record 24-time Copa del Rey champion, which drew 0-0 in the first leg of the quarter-finals, will have to lift its first domestic cup since 1998 to complete the treble, however.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola dismissed any thought that the Catalan club could ditch the knockout competition to ensure his players are at optimum health for the stretch run in the other two competitions.
"If we don't have a good game, we're out in one of the three competitions," Guardiola said Wednesday. "It's a vital encounter for us. It's all or nothing."
Barcelona has lost only once since an opening day league defeat, collecting 24 victories in 31 games. It's riding a nine-game unbeaten streak since the meaningless Champions League loss to Shakhtar Donetsk. Canadian Press
Inter stretches Serie A lead; Beckham scores again
Inter Milan moved six points up at the top of the Italian Serie A table with a 2-0 win over Catania on Wednesday afternoon.
Inter played a man down from the 32nd minute because of a red card to Sulley Muntari, but goals by Dejan Stankovic and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were enough for the win.
That result, coupled with AC Milan's 1-1 draw with Genoa and Juventus 2-1 loss vs. Udinese made it possible for the champions to stretch their lead.
Milan got it's second goal in as many games from David Beckham when he slotted a free kick home in the 33rd minute, but Diego Milito scored a late equalizer.
Serie A action , it was:
Catania 0, Inter Milan 2;
Udinese 2, Juventus 1;
AC Milan 1; Genoa 1;
Cagliari 1, Siena 0;
Torino 0, Reggina 0;
Roma 2, Palermo 1;
Fiorentina 2, Napoli 1;
Bologna 1, Atalanta 0;
Chievo 1, Lecce 1;
Sampdoria 3, Lazio 1. Sportsnetwork
Old Trafford eye John Fleck 
John Fleck has only played a handful of first-team games for Rangers, but already he has his eyes on a second winner's medal and that will surely intensify predatory glances from elsewhere for the talented teenager.
Walter Smith, the manager, could be facing a tough fight to keep Fleck at Ibrox, if reports revealing the interest of Manchester United in the 17-year-old are correct. Sir Alex Ferguson, Smith's friend and former colleague at Old Trafford, is reputed to have put Fleck on the United's radar.
Ferguson's chief scout, his brother, Martin, watched Fleck play for 70 minutes last week at Pittodrie in the goalless draw with Aberdeen, reports claimed yesterday. The youngster was restricted to just 13 minutes as a substitute in the 3-0 victory over Falkirk in the Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final victory on Tuesday night, but he still earned praise from his manager.
It was Smith who fast-tracked Fleck last season and brought him on as a substitute in the 3-2 victory over Queen of the South in the Scottish Cup final. Now the teenager is keen add to his collection of medals when the Co-op Cup final is played on March 15. The worry among Rangers supporters, though, is that Fleck could disappear from their midst before they have even had time to enjoy him.
“It goes without saying we'd like to win the trophy,” the teenager said yesterday. “We won it last season and it would be nice to win the first piece of silverware on offer this season. We played well and it was an impressive victory. Nacho Novo scored two good goals and we eventually got the third late in the game through Kris Boyd.
“I just want to be involved as much as possible and I'm enjoying the experience. I feel that I've done well and want that to continue.”
Fleck has drawn comparisons with Wayne Rooney due to both his ability and physical appearance. However, Manchester United may have a fight on their hand to land him, as Chelsea are also thought to be interested in the teenager. Times Online
Robinho denies sex attack at nightclub
Manchester City forward Robinho, the most expensive footballer in the history of the British game, yesterday denied allegations of serious sexual assault as he became the latest high profile player to find himself in the headlines for the wrong reasons.
Robinho was arrested by detectives by prior arrangement on Monday, a day after he arrived back to the UK from Brazil with his partner and baby son. The alleged attack took place in the VIP section of a Leeds nightclub called Space in the early hours of 14 January, when the club was packed with revellers.
Last night the Brazil international played the full 90 minutes of City's match against Newcastle United, setting up his side's first goal. Afterward, manager Mark Hughes said: "He was fully focused and looking ahead to the game. Mentally he was in the right place, he was concentrating on the job in hand, and it was never any real doubt for me that he should play."
The 25-year-old Brazilian international, who earns £165,000 a week, gave a routine DNA sample and spoke to officers at length after his arrest, denying wrongdoing.
West Yorkshire police said on Tuesday: "We can confirm a man was arrested yesterday on an allegation of serious sexual assault and was bailed pending further inquiries. The incident took place in Space." But the force refused to name the alleged attacker. In a statement on the player's official website later that day, his spokesman said he "strenuously denies any allegation of wrongdoing and is happy to co-operate with police".
Police were told that the alleged rape took place after midnight. It is understood that the alleged victim, believed to be a first-year undergraduate, made no complaint when she left the club in the early hours, but police were told of the allegations that afternoon. She underwent medical and forensic tests and was interviewed on video at a suite for rape victims.
Detectives later visited the two-room venue, which holds up to 800 people, and carried out forensic checks. They are also believed to have seized CCTV footage.
Robinho, full name Robson de Souza, has combined rave reviews for his football talent with newspaper reports of his fondness for nightlife. He shot to prominence in 2002 with Pele's former club Santos. A much-hyped transfer to Real Madrid in 2005 saw him take time to hit his stride, but last year he played an integral part in their championship-winning side.
Manchester City said: "The club have been liaising with, and assisting, both the player in question and the authorities in relation to the police investigation. No charges of any nature have been brought against the player and no further statement will be made whilst the investigation is continuing." Guardian
