They crossed the line in front of Buckingham Palace with black ribbons on their chests and the Boston Marathon victims on their minds.

Six days after bombs exploded near the Boston finish line, the London Marathon sent out a powerful message of solidarity with the U.S. city and its victims Sunday and put the spotlight back on the sport and away from terrorist fears.

World number one Novak Djokovic ended Rafael Nadal's eight year reign at the Monte Carlo Masters on Sunday winning 6-2, 7-6 (7/1).

Djokovic, who had twice lost in the final to Nadal, won on his first match point to bring to a halt Nadal's 46 game winning streak in the tournament.

Defending triple world champion Sebastian Vettel opened up a clear lead at the top of this year's title race on Sunday when he cruised to victory for Red Bull in the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The race finished without any disruption amid tight security and despite earlier clashes between police and Shiite protesters in villages in the Gulf kingdom.

The London Marathon got under way on Sunday after marking a 30-second period of silence to remember the victims of the Boston Marathon attacks.

Elite and fun-runners alike, wearing black ribbons, stood in silence at the start line before setting off at 10:00 am (0900 GMT).

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists he is not intimidated by Rafael Benitez as the Chelsea manager prepares for an emotional return to Anfield on Sunday.

The walls at Anfield and also at Liverpool's Melwood training ground are covered with iconic images of the club's domestic and European triumphs during Benitez's reign.

A goal in the third minute of injury time from Clement Grenier gave Lyon a 2-1 win at champions Montpellier on Friday to keep their slim French title hopes alive.

The win moved Lyon into second place on 59 points, one ahead of Marseille, who have a game in hand, but eight behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

Hull's bid to win automatic promotion to the Premier League suffered a setback on Friday as the Tigers were held to 0-0 draw by already relegated Bristol City at the KC Stadium.

With leaders Cardiff sealing their promotion from the Championship on Tuesday, it is down to second placed Hull and third placed Watford to fight it out for the final guaranteed spot among the elite.

Former FA Cup winners Portsmouth finally came out of administration on Friday after being officially taken over by a supporters group.

The Pompey Supporters Trust's purchase of the League One club was confirmed in a statement from administrators BDO that formally ends the Fratton Park side's 14-month spell in administration.

John Terry has admitted he snubbed Football Association chairman David Bernstein's attempt to shake hands during the official Champions League trophy handover on Friday.

Terry ignored Bernstein in a show of contempt for the man who stripped the Chelsea defender of the England captaincy after he was accused of racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand during a match last season.

Gareth Bale, Luis Suarez and Robin van Persie have been nominated for the Premier League's Player of the Year award.

The Professional Footballers' Association has shortlisted six players for the prize, with Michael Carrick, Eden Hazard and Juan Mata completing the list.