An Alexis Sanchez brace helped Barcelona to a 4-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday which reduced Real Madrid’s lead to three points and showed they will not give up their title without a fight.

Barca were given a quick chance to respond to their 1-0 away defeat to Getafe at the weekend as this fixture was brought forward due to the Catalan side’s involvement in the Club World Cup next month in Japan, and they ran out resounding victors.

Tokyo will use Japan's most celebrated flower — the cherry blossom — in its bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Tokyo's 2020 bid committee unveiled its bid logo on Wednesday, becoming the first if the six applicant cities to do so.

Distraught by the death of a former international teammate, Craig Bellamy was too upset to play for Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday.

Two days later, however, the Wales striker was back in action and inspiring the team to a 2-0 victory over Chelsea in the League Cup quarterfinals — the first part of a northwest double over London sides in England's second-ranked club competition on Tuesday.

Spanish star Rafael Nadal on Tuesday played down the pressure the hosts will be under ahead of their Davis Cup final clash against Argentina here this weekend.

"We're under the same pressure as they are, we have to win the Davis Cup," insisted the world number two, who has lost just one singles rubber in the competition since making his debut in 2004.

Western Europe is "finished" as a top Formula One racing destination and will soon host only five Grand Prix races, the sport's supremo Bernie Ecclestone said Tuesday.

"I think in the next few years Europe will be left with only five races," Ecclestone was quoted as saying in an interview with top Spanish sports daily Marca.

England manager Fabio Capello has tipped former clubs AC Milan and Juventus to fight for the Serie A title this season.

Speaking to journalists on a trip to Milan for a convention, the 65-year-old put his faith in his former employers, who are separated by a point at the top of Serie A.

Williams cofounder Patrick Head says he is ending his involvement in Formula One.

The 65-year-old Head set up the team with Frank Williams in 1977.

Fans of the eight clubs left in this season's English Carling Cup will find out just how much the tournament means to their respective sides in this week's quarterfinals.

In recent seasons the knockout competition for England's top four flights has lagged low in the pecking order for leading clubs, who place a far greater emphasis on winning the Champions League, Premier League and even FA Cup competitions.

Barcelona defender Dani Alves played down the significance of Real Madrid’s six-point lead at the top of La Liga, but admitted that there is pressure on the team not to drop more points.

Real continue to set the pace after a 4-1 derby win over Atletico Madrid at the weekend while Barcelona once again struggled away from home, losing 1-0 at Getafe.

Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen is returning to Formula One with Lotus Renault GP next year.

Raikkonen, who left F1 at the end of 2009 to try rallying, signed a two-year agreement, the team said on its website Tuesday.