BARCELONA BEAT ATLETICO MADRID IN THEIR COPA DEL REY QUARTER FINAL FIRST LEG

 

Lionel Messi missed a late penalty but converted the rebound as Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid in their Copa del Rey quarter-final first leg.

The Argentine's 83rd-minute spot-kick was saved by Jan Oblak, but the forward was quickest to react as Barca finally broke the deadlock.
The penalty was awarded after Sergio Busquets appeared to go down easily under a challenge from Gabi.
Earlier, Luis Suarez blazed wildly over from close range.
Barcelona dominated possession but failed to create clear openings, with Suarez wasting the first stand-out opportunity of the game.
With the goal at his mercy, the former Liverpool striker's rushed attempt was a world away from the clinical finishing that defined his time at Anfield.
Fernando Torres, who scored twice against Real Madrid in the previous round, was withdrawn at the break, having seen an attempt on goal blocked by the legs of Gerard Pique.
Atletico threatened when Antoine Griezmann headed over when well-placed in the penalty area after a Guilherme Siqueira cross, but again the final finishing touch was lacking.
A dull second half sprang to life when Busquets went down in the penalty area, with replays appearing to suggest any contact with Atletico captain Gabi was minimal.
From the resultant spot-kick, Messi's shot to Oblak's left was well saved, but the 27-year-old was quickly on hand to convert the rebound for his 29th goal of the season.
The two teams meet again at Atletico's Vicente Calderon Stadium on Wednesday, 28 January.

Lionel Messi and Manuel Neuer Beaten by 2014 Ballon d'or Christiano Ronaldo

 

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d'Or world footballer of the year award for the second year in a row.

The Portugal captain beat Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to the award.

Wolfsburg and Germany midfielder Nadine Kessler was named women's player of the year, while Colombia's James Rodriguez won goal of the year.

Germany's World Cup winner Joachim Low won men's coach of the year.

Wolfsburg boss Ralf Kellermann was named women's football coach of the year after a successful defence of the Champions League.

The three candidates for the Ballon d'Or were all picked in the team of the year, along with defenders Philipp Lahm, David Luiz, Thiago Silva and Sergio Ramos, midfielders Andres Iniesta, Toni Kroos and Angel Di Maria and forward Arjen Robben.

Ballon d'Or

Cristiano Ronaldo successfully defended his world player of the year status convincingly with 37.66% of all votes, winning for a third time. Barcelona and Argentina counterpart Lionel Messi - who won four years in a row until Ronaldo beat him last year, was second on 15.76%. He was narrowly ahead of Bayern Munich and Germany keeper Manuel Neuer, who had 15.72%.

Ronaldo, who scored 52 goals in 43 games during 2014, looked emotional when collecting the award from former France, Barcelona and Arsenal striker Thierry Henry.

The 29-year-old said: "I would like to thank all of those who voted for me, my president, my coach and Real Madrid. It has been an unforgettable year. To win this trophy at the end of it is something incredibly unique."

Women's World Player of the Year

Wolfsburg and Germany midfielder Nadine Kessler was named women's player of the year. The 26-year-old beat Brazil's Marta and United States international Abby Wambach.

Kessler said: "My heart is beating madly at the moment. I don't think I ever thought in my life I would achieve this moment.

"Without my team-mates and my coach, this would never have been possible. I have a great degree of gratitude that I must give to my family. They have seen me through all the difficult times."

Puskas Award (goal of the year)

Colombia's James Rodriguez , 23, won the Fifa goal of the year award for his World Cup strike against Uruguay, beating Irishwoman Stephanie Roche.

Roche, who scored a stunner for Peamount against Wexford in the Irish top flight, had hoped to be the first female winner of the Puskas Award.

She landed 33% of the public vote to Rodriguez's 42%. Manchester United striker Robin van Persie - the third nominee - earned just 11% for his diving header against Spain in the World Cup.