Build-up to Everton-Dynamo Kiev in Europa League
Cole Harden wins World Hurdle at Cheltenham
Tony McCoy has first win of final Festival on Uxizandre
Reaction to Chelsea's Champions League exit
McCall confirmed as Rangers caretaker manager
GET INVOLVED: Why are British teams struggling in Europe?
Perez has also backed Welsh winger Gareth Bale and goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who have been struggling for form.
"Gareth Bale is one of the best players in the world," said Perez.
Image source, Getty Images"The biggest clubs fought and continue to fight to secure his services.
"The only thing I can say is that we shouldn't forget what he was able to achieve in his first year at Real Madrid."
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez called a surprise news conference on Thursday to express his support for Carlo Ancelotti and his players and deny a report the Italian coach was facing the sack.
"To use the fact that we are not on our best form at the moment to report information that is not true is unacceptable," Perez told reporters.
Image source, Getty Images"I want to state categorically that the club has full confidence in our coach and in our players. And I want to say, contrary to a report published today, that whatever happens in the coming days and weeks Carlo Ancelotti will remain the coach of Real Madrid.
"As president of Real Madrid, I appeal to our fans to support our coach and our players and ask that they feel proud of them for all they have given us and for all they will continue to give us."
The 6-4 favourite Vautour wins the opening race on day three of the Cheltenham Festival, the JLT Novices Chase for jockey Ruby Walsh and trainer Willie Mullins.
Vautour jumped brilliantly and won by a massive 15 lengths to give Walsh his fourth win of the week and Mullins his sixth.
It might have been a terrible Champions League night for Chelsea, but for Bayern Munich it could not have been better.
Pep Guardiola's side put seven past a hapless Shakhtar Donetsk, though the visitors didn't really stand a chance given they had Olexandr Kucher sent-off after just three minutes - the quickest red card in the history of the competition.
Image source, Getty ImagesBayern enjoyed 74% of the possession as they equalled their biggest Champions League win as they reached their eighth quarter-final in 11 seasons.
"Obviously the red card changed things but my players perfectly executed our game plan. Sometimes it is not that easy against 10," said Guardiola.
It was all a far cry from the first leg, which, remarkably, had finished goalless.
Seems like Ashley Young was always destined for a career in football.
The Manchester United forward has put this photo of himself as a youngster on Instagram, external, with the message: "Never far from a football".
Image source, InstagramAfghanistan's English coach Andy Moles says the Cricket World Cup is a "shop window" for his side to show improvement as a team and demonstrate a different image of the country.
Moles' side have broken new ground at this tournament, beating Scotland to claim their first ever World Cup win, and now have the chance to shock England on Friday's dead rubber, with both sides already eliminated.
In case you need a reminder, here is the list of Thursday's races at the Cheltenham Festival.
13:30 GMT: JLT Novices Chase (2m 4f)
14:05: Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle (3m)
14:40: Ryanair Chase (2m 5f)
15:20: Ladbrokes World Hurdle (3m)
16:00: Brown & Merriebelle Stable Plate (2m 5f)
16:40: The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Chase (3m 5f)
17:15: The St Patrick's Derby (1m 5f charity race)
Wales's Becky Morgan finished with a flourish as a trio of birdies over her last three holes gave her a share of the first-round lead at the World Ladies Championship in China.
The 40-year-old carded a four-under 69 and was joined as clubhouse leader at Mission Hills in Hainan by world number two Inbee Park.
England's Trish Johnson is three shots off the lead after an opening 72.
Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham
"Jockeys have been arriving for day three of the Festival, where the feature race is the World Hurdle at 15:20 GMT.
"Pals Sam Twiston-Davies, Aidan Coleman and Richie McLernon came in together but are rivals on the track.
"They will have a big day on Friday with rides in the showpiece Cheltenham Gold Cup - Sam Winner (Twiston-Davies), Houblon Des Obeaux (Coleman) and Holywell (McLernon)."
You can listen to live commentary from Cheltenham now on BBC Radio 5 live or via the BBC Sport website
Image source, ReutersJohn Terry has defended Chelsea's conduct during their Champions League elimination at the hands of Paris St Germain on Wednesday which was criticised by television pundits Graeme Souness and Jamie Carragher.
"Once they're charging the ref, the only thing we can do is respond," Terry said. "You can't as a group of players let them surround the ref, trying to get our players booked.
"For me if I have to run 20, 30 yards, it doesn't look great but when you're standing back and seeing five or six of their players surrounding the ref, for me I think I support my team-mates.
"And once I go, four or five go with me, it doesn't look good at all but that's part of the game. We'll match it if people want to mix it, that's part of our game as well. You have to stick up for your team-mates. Every other side is as bad as each other. It's part of the game."
Image source, Getty ImagesThere was bad news earlier for Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter (see 11:40 entry) after he was given a one-match ban and a fine for improper conduct
But the day has got better for the 25-year-old after he was included in a 35-man Republic of Ireland squad for the Euro 2016 qualifier against Poland on 29 March.
The squad will be reduced before the players meet up on 22 March.
There was a place too for defender Paul McShane following his return to action at Hull, although not for Crystal Palace counterpart Damien Delaney.
F1 driver Nico Hulkenburg on Twitter...
Image source, TwitterAfter the news earlier than Enner Valencia is a doubt for West Ham's trip to Arsenal after he cut his toe standing on a teacup, let's have a quick gander at some other unusual footie injuries.
Richard Wright: Warming up pre-match for Everton at Chelsea, he Ignored a notice warning him not to practice in the goalmouth and promptly fell over the sign, suffering a twisted ankle. Wright - a man for whom comical injuries come naturally - also damaged his shoulder falling through a loft as he was trying to pack away a suitcase.
Image source, Getty ImagesRio Ferdinand: While at Leeds had his foot up on a coffee table while watching TV for several hours and damaged a tendon behind his knee.
Sean Flynn: The then Kidderminster captain suffered a broken nose, busted lip and bruised toes after tripping over his son's toy cars.
Dave Beasant: The veteran goalkeeper managed to rule himself out for eight weeks in 1993 when he dropped a bottle of salad cream on his foot, severing the tendon in his big toe.
Confirmation of the Scotland team to face England at Twickenham in Saturday's Six Nations showdown.
Image source, BBC SportWhy are British teams struggling so badly in European competitions?
Teboho: British teams don't invest in young talent, They prefer importing players, German philosophy is best, bring young lads through.
Tambuwal: Premier League might not be the best in terms of quality any more but in terms of marketing, entertainment and goals it is the best.
Geoff Naylor: Our teams often have 11 foreigners playing for a foreign coach. The public though demands a high-tempo English style of play.
Odoma Michael: There is so much pressure on British teams to perform in Europe. Needless to say, many times they buckle under this pressure.
More please to #bbcsportsday
Confirmation that Reading have signed ex-Aston Villa and Bolton defender Zat Knight on a free transfer until the end of the season.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe 34-year-old former England international left Bolton at the end of last term and had a brief spell with Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Mirror:, external Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is hoping to turn his side into Premier League title contenders by signing Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, 25, Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, 32, and Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic, 26.
Scotland have made five changes for Saturday's Six Nations meeting with England at Twickenham.
Jim Hamilton (pictured), David Denton, Finn Russell, Matt Scott and Dougie Fife all come into the side selected by head coach Vern Cotter.
Image source, Getty ImagesDenton is the only player among the quintet not to have featured in the Championship so far.
The Scots suffered an embarrassing home defeat to Italy last time out, though Saturday's opponents England will also have something to prove after they were beaten by Ireland.
Image source, Getty ImagesNed Buntline will provide Tony McCoy with his final Cheltenham Festival mount on Friday.
The 19-times champion has plumped for the Noel Meade-trained runner in the race named in his honour, the AP McCoy Grand Annual Handicap Chase, preferring him to the Jonjo O'Neill-trained pair of Eastlake and Festive Affair or Philip Hobbs' Bold Henry, who was pulled up earlier in the week.
McCoy has five rides on his final day of Festival action, including Carlingford Lough in the Gold Cup.
He also rides Princely Conn in the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle and Fletchers Flyer in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, but he rates the Nicky Henderson-trained Hargam as his leading chance of a victory in the Triumph Hurdle.
Image source, The iMore on - yes you've guessed it - Chelsea in the papers. This is the back page of The i, Thiago Silva pictured heading in the extra time goal which secured PSG's place in the Champions League quarter-finals.