Barca Held At Osasuna

Osasuna frustrated Barcelona to earn a well-deserved draw with the Spanish champions at the Estadio El Sadar. The home side did very well to close down Barca and not give Neymar and co and space to work with preventing the Catalan giants from creating many scoring opportunities. Pedro had a volley blocked following a Xavi free-kick in the 30th minute, after Adriano had been tripped by Loties. Damiá then missed with a header when he got on the end of a Roberto Torres corner with just five minutes to play in the first-half. Marc Bartra then headed over in the 44th minute after rising highest in the box after being picked put by a Xavi corner. Roberto Torres then tested Barca keeper Victor Valdes with a right-footed shot from outside the box but the shot-stopper was up to the challenge and pulled off a smart save. Cesc Fabregas then had two glorious chances to grab the lead for the visitors first when he shot straight at Osasuna keeper Andrés Fernández, and then shooting over after latching onto a clever through ball by Xavi. The former Arsenal midfielder then came close again in the 67th minute, but his shot flew just wide of the left hand post. Lionel Messi was then brought on to try and grab the Catalans a winner in the 68th minute for the influential Xavi. With 15 minutes remaining it was Fabregas once more but the midfielder's shot was well blocked. Talisman Messi had to wait until the 82nd minute before he forced a save out of Fernández following so good inter-play with Sergio Busquets. Osasuna held on for the final 10 minutes to frustrate the champions and end their eight game winning run and prevent Barca from scoring for the first time in 65 La Liga matches.

Blues Battle Back Against Cardiff

Chelsea battled back from a goal down to beat Cardiff City 4-1 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon. It took a moment of controversy to get the Blues into gear but then they proved to be too strong for the promoted side as they cruised to victory. Samuel Eto'o sent a cross straight into Juan Mata in the eighth minute but the Spaniard completely fluffed the chance when he seemed set to at least work the goalkeeper. David Luiz would then make a crucial error at the other end moments later when he failed to deal with a straight-forward goal kick and Jordon Mutch stole in to lift a finish over Petr Cech. John Terry poked an effort wide in the 17th minute off of a Mata delivery while Cech had to make a great save to keep out a flick from Peter Odemwingie. Controversy then struck in the 33rd minute when Eto'o poked the ball away from the goalkeeper as he was bouncing it. The ball fell to Eden Hazard who quickly found the Cameroonian again and although his shot was blocked, it fell for Hazard who fired home. It is claimed that in terms of the FA regulations, a goalkeeper is not allowed to be challenged when he has gained possession of the ball in his hands, but the goal stood. The Blues started pressing for a second after the interval and saw a good cross from Hazard taken away from Willian at the vital moment but Eto'o would sink his first Chelsea goal in the 66th minute with a cracking strike. The second goal gave the Blues the upper hand but Cech was still forced into a good save to deny Kim Bo-Kyung. Oscar would continue his good scoring form though as he fired over the head of David Marshall to make it 3-1 with 13 minute to go. Hazard then wrapped up the result with nine minutes to go as his shot found its way under the goalkeeper to make it 4-1.

Pique hails dedicated Ronaldo

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has praised Cristiano Ronaldo's work ethic and his desire to keep improving.

While a fierce rivalry may exist between Barcelona and Real Madrid and with El Clasico on the horizon, one would expect a certain amount of mind games ahead of the derby clash, but Pique has taken a respectful approach to matters.

The Spaniard has hailed Ronaldo's talent and his determination to always better himself despite reaching the pinnacle of the game.

"[Cristiano Ronaldo] has not changed; he is a player that I have always admired because he is a hard worker that always wants more and more," Pique is quoted as saying by Marca.

"He is a real machine and very ambitious. He never ever stops trying to improve.

"Some say he is the best but he still wants to get better, and for that reason I admire him."

However, Pique is not as complementary of Madrid's recruitment process, asserting that it is Barcelona's youth system that has seen them rise above los Blancos in recent years.

"Barcelona have always been behind Real Madrid, but in the last 10 or 15 years we have turned the situation around," he said.

"We have brought through a great crop of youngsters at the club and this has helped us to compete.

"Real Madrid go one year without winning a title and they spend ?160 million on three players: [Asier] Illarramendi, Isco and [Gareth] Bale. Barcelona can sign Neymar for ?60 or ?70 million but not three players.

"The day we do not have La Masia, things won't be the same."

Ferguson doesn't envy Hodgson

Sir Alex Ferguson admits that the job of England manager is a "horrible" one and not a position he would like to be in.

Whether of their own making or not, England managers never seem far from the spotlight for the wrong reasons, with every slight misstep plunged under the microscope.

Current Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson has endured a tough week in what should be a period of celebration following England's qualification for the World Cup, with the focus instead falling on a joke that Hodgson made during the half-time break in Tuesday's match against Poland.

Hodgson has been criticised in some quarters for referring to a joke about a monkey and an astronaut when talking about Andros Townsend, with cries of racism coming to the fore.

However, with Townsend and other members of the squad coming out in support of Hodgson, it appears to be another case of sensationalism in the press taking the gloss off an England success.

Having seen such scenarios play out many times in the past as England managers struggle to meet the expectations of the public, Ferguson concedes that the job is a thankless one.

"I don't think the manager's job with England is a good one. I think it's a horrible job," he told the Daily Telegraph.

"For instance, (Football Association chairman) Greg Dyke comes out and says they're going to win the World Cup in 2022. He may know something about football - and I'm sure he's trying to learn what's going on - but from grassroots levels right up to the national team, that is a massive job.

"Managers have tried different ways of managing the press. Some have tried to curry favour with some and not others. But because England haven't won the World Cup since 1966 they're all going up the same alley. Unless you win, it's a hard job."

RVP doubtful to for Saints test

Manchester United manager David Moyes has revealed star striker Robin van Persie is a doubt for Saturday's Premier League clash against Southampton.