Ferguson ready for this week

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson heads into unchartered territory on Saturday, when he faces a Manchester City side with something to play for in the derby.

The backdrop to this season's pivotal clash could hardly seem gloomier for United. Out of the Champions League and four points adrift of league leaders Chelsea with just four matches remaining, Ferguson might ordinarily have had a job raising spirits around Old Trafford.

But it is not just the sight of Wayne Rooney testing out the ankle injury that looks to have eased sufficiently for him to return, nor the presence of Owen Hargreaves in Ferguson's squad for the first time since September 2008, nor even Paul Scholes signing a one-year contract extension, that has brought a sense of focus back to United minds.

It is the knowledge that City, the team they have laughed at for so long, are just five wins away from joining them in the Champions League next season.

Real Madrid Runs After Barcelona

Almeria 1-2 Real Madrid


Real Madrid cut Barcelona's lead at the summit back to three points after recovering from an early deficit to defeat mid-table Almeria tonight.

Madrid, seeking an immediate response to their demoralising 2-0 home defeat to Barca in 'El Clasico' last weekend, created chance after chance but were made to sweat before recording their seventh successive away win.

Almeria shocked their big-spending visitors by taking a 14th-minute lead through Albert Crusat, but a fine Cristiano Ronaldo goal drew Madrid level nine minutes later and Rafael van der Vaart secured the victory in the 69th minute.