Summary

  • Chelsea to appeal against Nemanja Matic's red card against Burnley on Saturday

  • FA confirms Ashley Barnes faces no punishment for foul on Matic

  • No favourite in Man City tie - Barca boss Enrique

  • Fernando Alonso making 'solid recovery' - McLaren

  • Get involved: #sportingOscars

  1. Goodbyepublished at 19:02 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2015

    That was steady for a Monday.

    Chelsea and Burnley's charged encounter on Saturday gave us plenty to nibble on, Manuel Pellegrini was relaxed ahead of Manchester City's meeting with Barcelona and his opposite number Luis Enrique was pretty chilled too.

    Good news on Fernando Alonso. England are brilliant at cricket again (until their next game). Coventry City have no manager.

    See you at 08:00 GMT on Tuesday where among other things, the USA will reveal their Ryder Cup captain.

    Enjoy a peaceful Monday night.

  2. Vote resultpublished at 18:56 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2015

    Barcelona's never-ending news conference has delayed us in telling you the result of our vote on who deserves a sporting Razzie for the last year.

    For those of you wondering, a Razzie is the unwanted award handed out to rubbish films and performers on the same day sought-after Oscars are dished out.

    We can reveal your Razzie goes to the England football team (33.1%) for their 2014 World Cup display where they amassed a total of one point from three games. Brazil - thumped 7-1 in the semi-final on home soil, came in second (29.6%).

    Thanks for all your votes.

  3. Barcelona news conferencepublished at 18:52 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2015

    And that is that from camp Barcelona. Talking over, not time for business in the first leg of their last-16 meeting with Manchester City at Etihad Stadium.

    What can we take from those words? There is a respect for Sergio Aguero. Questions on late-night casino visits by Barca players did not go down well. Rumours of Luis Enrique's job being under threat are uncalled for according to Pique. And there are no favourites tomorrow if you listen to Enrique.

  4. Barcelona news conferencepublished at 18:46 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2015

    This is turning into a mammoth of a news conference and next on the agenda is Neymar. A question on his form and diving accusations.

    "Neymar has improved on his first year," says Enrique. "It's always difficult to adapt but he's a top quality player. His stats are better this year. As for diving, every player has their own profile, some players are lighter and fall over more easily - the spectacular dribbling players can stumble easily, but he's very attractive to watch - a very good player."

  5. Barcelona news conferencepublished at 18:43 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2015

    Luis EnriqueImage source, Barcelona

    Luis Enrique, like Gerard Pique gets a bullet of a question about the defender being pictured out at a casino with Lionel Messi and Cesc Fabregas in the early hours of this morning.

    "What did the player say? responds Enrique to a Guardian journalist. "It is part of his private life yeah? Then the question is answered. I talk about football, gossip is no interest to me."

    That's that then.

  6. Barcelona news conferencepublished at 18:38 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2015

    Luis Enrique is asked by BBC Sport about the contribution Luis Suarez has made at Barcelona since his move from Liverpool.

    "Very positive considering this is his first season at the club. He is one of the leading players in attack. There are a lot of characteristics with his play which benefit us. A natural goalscorer, he is very good at finding space behind the defence and I am sure he is going to do a lot of good things for us."

  7. Barcelona news conferencepublished at 18:35 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2015

    Barcelona manager Luis Enrique feels there is no favourite in his sides' last-16 Champions League meeting with Manchester City.

    "This is a week where I've hardly had tie to train with the team," says Enrique. "After losing, it's good to have a game three days later and in a stadium like this against one of the other favourites to win the Champions League it's more than enough motivation."

  8. Barcelona news conferencepublished at 18:32 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2015

    Gerard Pique is asked why Manchester City have struggled to replicate their domestic form in the Champions League in recent seasons and believes luck has played a large part.

    "I think they had really bad luck in the draw," he says. "Last year they had to play us and two years ago they had a difficult group stage. They have a lot of quality players, showing they are one the best teams in the world. Maybe not this year but in years to come they will be fighting for this title."

    Pique exits the stage, here comes Luis Enrique.

  9. Barcelona news conferencepublished at 18:22 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2015

    Luis EnriqueImage source, Getty Images

    Gerard Pique is asked another loaded question about the future of Luis Enrique.

    The acoustics in the room are not great, but it is something along the lines of what impact will this result have on the future of the team and manager?

    The former Manchester United player is having none of it and states he does not think anything extra is at stake when they face Manchester City on Tuesday.

    Barcelona sit second in La Liga, four points behind Real Madrid.

  10. Barcelona news conferencepublished at 18:19 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2015

    Gerard Pique fields a question on his private life and is then followed up with a question on confidence in manager Luis Enrique.

    Some reports in Spain have stated Barca's players have lost faith in their boss.

    "No there's no lack of confidence in the manager we have a great connection with him," says Pique. "When we won 11 games in a row, nobody spoke about him. Don't dig too deep. There are two teams playing in a game of football and one of them wins. The only way is to keep playing and show the team is united."

  11. Barcelona news conferencepublished at 18:16 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2015

    Gerard PiqueImage source, Manchester City

    Barcelona will relish the chance to put Saturday's shock 1-0 loss at home to Malaga behind them when they meet Manchester City on Tuesday, according to defender Gerard Pique.

    "When you play for a big club and play games every week you don't have time to think about things and just focus on your next game," says Pique. "So it's an advantage to play a game quickly afterwards and put things behind you.

    "You never forget losing at the Nou Camp but it will be good to get a good result here, a boos for our confidence.

    "When you play for a big club whenever you lose a game there will be doubts. We have just won 11 straight games. We just have to concentrate on our work. Our level is very good at the moment."

  12. Barcelona news conferencepublished at 18:13 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2015

    Barcelona Gerard Pique is asked if he thinks Tuesday's meeting will be similar to Barcelona's win over City in last year's competition: "I think it will be a similar game. Two teams who like to play the ball. The sending off of Demichelis was important last year because that game could have ended 0-0. But we attacked well, Leo lost his marker and got the goal at the end.

    "We will be trying to play a similar game tomorrow. We know they are a very strong forward line and they play the game well so we have to make the most of any spaces they play at the back."

  13. Barcelona news conferencepublished at 18:09 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2015

    The microphone screeches at Barcelona's news conference and Pique shudders with fright. It's not like Shakira's singing...

  14. Barcelona news conferencepublished at 18:08 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2015

    Gerard Pique is in place for Barcelona's pre-match news conference ahead of their meeting with Manchester City...

  15. 200 up for Edwardspublished at 18:06 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2015

    Charlotte Edwards will captain England for the 200th time when they take on New Zealand in a Twenty20 fixture later tonight.

    The 35-year-old took the captaincy in 2005 and has led her country in all forms of the game and she expects to still be in place for the 2017 World Cup.

    "To captain England was the ultimate honour. To be on the verge of doing it for the 200th time is unbelievable," says Edwards. "I'm not saying I'm going to retire in 2017, but playing in that World Cup is a huge goal for me."

  16. Juventus v Borussia Dortmund (Tuesday, 19:45 GMT)published at 17:57 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2015

    Jurgen KloppImage source, Getty Images

    The Champions League anticipation is ramping up but any hope the Italian media had of some Borussia Dortmund tactical news ahead of their meeting at Juventus on Tuesday has been squashed.

    Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp tells his news conference: "We care a lot about tactics too and our tactic is that we won't give away our tactics the day before the matchday."

  17. £20m for 19-year-old talentpublished at 17:52 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2015

    The Boston Red Sox have reportedly signed prized Cuban prospect Yoan Moncada, a switch-hitting infielder coveted by a host of Major League Baseball teams, to a record £20m signing bonus.

    The league's officials website, MLB.com, announced the deal for the 19-year-old Moncada,, external citing an industry source.

    Moncada's deal eclipses the £5,3m bonus record for an international amateur under the current guidelines, which was given in January to pitcher Yoan Lopez by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

  18. Barca coming uppublished at 17:42 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2015

    A reminder that in around 20 minutes we expect to hear from Barcelona manager Luis Enrique before the small matter of their Champions League meeting with Manchester City on Tuesday.

  19. Lionesses gear up for Cypruspublished at 17:39 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2015

    England Women head coach Mark Sampson names his 23-player squad for the Cyprus Cup.

    Chelsea's Claire Rafferty returns in the only change to the squad that faced USA on 13 February.

    Squad in full:

    Goalkeepers: Karen Bardsley (Manchester City), Siobhan Chamberlain (Arsenal), Carly Telford (Notts County)

    Defenders: Laura Bassett (Notts County), Gemma Bonner (Liverpool), Alex Greenwood (Notts County), Steph Houghton (Manchester City), Claire Rafferty (Chelsea), Alex Scott (Arsenal), Demi Stokes (Manchester City), Casey Stoney (Arsenal)

    Midfielders: Karen Carney (Birmingham City), Katie Chapman (Chelsea), Jade Moore (Birmingham City), Jordan Nobbs (Arsenal), Jo Potter (Birmingham City), Jill Scott (Manchester City), Fara Williams (Liverpool)

    Forwards: Eni Aluko (Chelsea), Jess Clarke (Notts County), Fran Kirby (Reading), Lianne Sanderson (Arsenal), Jodie Taylor (Portland Thorns).

  20. GET INVOLVEDpublished at 17:29 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2015

    In the aftermath of the Oscars, where the cream of the crop are rewarded with glittering trophies, we have run our own awards in Sportsday today.

    Our final offering is the Razzie - an award given to the worst in a category. So who was the worst performance of the last 12 months. Tweet #sportingOscars.

    Tim SherwoodImage source, Getty Images

    Michael Hincks:, external Aston Villa. Pick whatever game you like.

    Calamity:, external The US Ryder Cup teams melt down and finger pointing after their defeat to Europe.