Despite being former midfield heroes for the clubs they now manage, Barcelona coach Luis Enrique and his Real Madrid counterpart Zinedine Zidane are afforded little credit for their achievements in management.

Barcelona were held 1-1 by lowly Hercules in their King's Cup last 32 first-leg match on Wednesday while Mariano scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid romped to a 6-1 second-leg victory over third-tier Cultural Leonesa and a 13-2 aggregate triumph.

Saturday's blockbuster La Liga clash between Barcelona and Real Madrid will be preceded by a minute's silence for the 71 people killed in a plane crash that decimated the Brazilian football team Chapecoense.

Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale underwent an operation on Tuesday in London on his injured ankle that will likely see him ruled out of action for two months.

A plane that crashed in the mountains of Colombia, killing 71 people, including members of a Brazilian football team, may have run out of fuel, a Colombian military source told AFP.

"This is a very, very sad day for football. At this difficult time our thoughts are with the victims, their families and friends.

Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice as Real Madrid were thankful to a late missed penalty from Duje Cop to open up a seven-point lead over Barcelona at the top of La Liga with a 2-1 win over Sporting Gijon.

Real Madrid suffered a huge injury scare just 11 days before facing Barcelona in La Liga as Gareth Bale hobbled off with a right ankle injury in the European champions 2-1 win at Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday.

A goal scored with a scorpion kick in the Swedish league was included on the shortlist for FIFA's goal of the year award on Monday along with efforts from Lionel Messi and Neymar.

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane insisted he has no doubt Cristiano Ronaldo will be the deserving winner of a fourth Ballon d'Or come January, but his hat-trick in a 3-0 defeat of Atletico Madrid on Saturday may convince others.

Substitute Isco struck deep in stoppage time to earn Spain a 2-2 draw and deprive Gareth Southgate of victory in his final game as England interim manager on Tuesday.

Isco scores in the sixth minute of stoppage time as Spain launch an improbable fightback to snatch a 2-2 friendly draw against England with both their goals coming after the 89th minute at Wembley.

Cristiano Ronaldo converts one penalty, misses another and also scores from open play as Portugal beat Latvia 4-1 in their World Cup qualifier.

Aritz Aduriz becomes the oldest man to score for Spain in an international, netting the final goal in their 4-0 victory over Macedonia in the World Cup qualifying Group G match.

Wales were desperately unhappy to concede a late goal in Cardiff on Saturday, said talisman Gareth Bale after the home team were held 1-1 by Serbia in World Cup qualifying.

A day after signing a bumper fresh contract with Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo boosts his mind-boggling earnings with a new deal with Nike.

Cristiano Ronaldo signalled his intention to keep playing for 10 more years after rounding off a "dream year" by signing a bumper new five-year contract with Real Madrid on Monday.

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has called on Cristiano Ronaldo to follow in his footsteps by retiring at the Santiago Bernabeu with the Portuguese the latest Real star set to sign a new contract.

Three-time World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo will sign a new five-year contract with Spanish giants Real Madrid on Monday, the club confirmed on Sunday.

Titleholders Real Madrid and English Premier League winners Leicester must both wait to take their place in the last 16 of the Champions League after they could only manage draws Wednesday on a night which saw just Dortmund advance.