Barcelona have been the scourge of Manchester United in Europe over recent campaigns but now the Spanish giants will not have the chance to scupper the Red Devils' chances of bring home silverware from the continent.
United fans will be disappointed their side failed to make the knockout stages of the Champions League but based on their performances in the group stage, the Premier League title holders did not really deserve to get through.

Manchester City's Mario Balotelli could quit English football over the perceived unfair treatment he has been receiving, his agent has claimed.
The striker has been charged with violent conduct by the FA, which will carry a four match ban if he and City don't contest the charge.
The charge relates to an incident in Sunday's match against Spurs, in which he appeared to stamp on Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker.

Blackpool goalkeeper Matt Gilks tasted Premier League football last season with the Tangerines and now the shotstopper is looking for his side to make a swift return to the top flight.
The Seasiders sit just one point off the play-off places in the Championship table in seventh spot, in what has once again been a very competitive league this term with any side capable of getting a result in any game.

So far the 2011-12 season's FA Cup campaign has been a high quality tournament. Just 32 teams remain in the competition and are all fighting the claim their spot in the Fifth Round of the cup. In this article I shall be talking about the up-and-coming matchup between Premiership side Queens Park Rangers and their league compatriots Chelsea.

Queens Park Rangers are reportedly keen for defender Anton Ferdinand to shake hands with Chelsea's John Terry in a bid to ease tensions between the pair before Saturday's FA Cup fourth round tie.
All eyes will be on the duo in the clash at Loftus Road this weekend, as they come face-to-face for the first time since England skipper Terry was charged with racially abusing Ferdinand in the Premier League meeting between the two sides in October.

Clint Dempsey hit a second-half hat-trick to lead his Fulham side to an unlikely 5-2 victory over Newcastle United at Craven Cottage in one of the most eye-catching football scores of the day.
It was a typical case of a game of two halves as Fulham wrestled the initiative from Newcastle after a one-sided first half.

David Beckham will finish his playing career in America after signing a new two-year deal with LA Galaxy.
The soccer betting in the US had linked the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and AC Milan star with a move to Paris St Germain after his Galaxy contract expired at the end of December.

Kenny Dalglish says news that Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has committed the rest of his career to the club is "fantastic" and believes the inspirational midfielder will be key to his side's chances of silverware and a top-four Premier League finish this season.
The Reds finally have Gerrard back in their side following an injury-plagued 12 months and he looked close to his best when scoring the vital goal from the penalty spot in the 1-0 Carling Cup semi-final, first leg win at Manchester City on Wednesday.

Mark Hughes' first game as Queens Park Rangers manager ended in defeat as Newcastle United strengthened their European hopes at the Sports Direct Arena on Sunday.
Leon Best's well-taken first-half strike was enough to see off the challenge of QPR and lift his side up to sixth in the Premier League table, level on points with Arsenal.

Two points separate the top four sides in the Championship going into this weekend's action, with leaders Southampton in danger of falling out of the automatic promotion spots for the first time this season.
Nigel Adkins' men wasted no time in acclimatising to life back in the second tier, surprising those who bet on the Championship to quickly build up a healthy lead over the rest.

West Bromwich Albion have been struggling near to the wrong end of the table and know the next few weeks could define whether they are safe in mid-table or battling Premier League relegation in the closing stages of the season.
Roy Hodgson's men are three places above the dreaded bottom three but do have the safety of a six-point cushion between them in 15th and Bolton in 18th.

Mark Hughes made his return to management this week, albeit not with the sort of club many expected would tempt the former Wales manager – a struggling QPR. The 48-year old had been unemployed since leaving Fulham last year, claiming at the time that he needed to be at a club that was challenging for trophies – something that has made this decision a bit strange.

Finishing in a top four position at the end of a Premier League season is what most English teams dream of. The competition endured throughout a Premier League season remains to be at a very high level with few teams containing the ability to be able to finish in a top four position. Finishing in the top four gives each of the teams a chance of playing in one of the most prestigious footballing events, the UEFA Champions League.

Newcastle Untied's Demba Ba looks to be in the form of his life and with the African Cup of Nations looming it seems like his clubs loss could be Senegal's gain.
The 2012 African Cup of Nations is the 28th renewal of the event and it gets underway on January 21st and given it lasts until February 12th a number of Premier League side could be without their star players for some time.

Tottenham failed to close the gap on the top two after a thrilling 1-1 draw with Chelsea at White Hart Lane.
Both sides were chasing victory to keep pace with the runaway leaders, but cancelled each other out in a free-flowing encounter.
Controversial Chelsea skipper John Terry played 24 hours after discovering he was being charged with racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand.