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Real Madrid not only lost the Champions League match against Juventus Turin on Tuesday night, but they also had to concede their leading position in group H.

Right from the start Juventus Turin took the lead. Alessandro del Piero scored in minute five, leaving Madrid's defence helpless. Yet Real battled on and managed to get a few goal-scoring chances, all of which came to nothing, though. Eight minutes before the end of the first half Juventus' midfielder Claudio Marchisio suffered a sprained ankle and had to be substituted by Hasan Salihamidzic.

The second half started much like the first, with the home side scoring an early goal. Pavel Nevded played a long ball to Amauri who headed the ball in. Then Madrid seemed to have finally woken up and started to attack. They managed to get three good goal-scoring chances within five minutes, yet without actually scoring.

Ruud von Nistelrooy finally scored the one and only goal for Real Madrid of the night in minute 68, assisted by Gabriel Heinze. Madrid looked determined to turn the match around, running one attack after the other, but it wasn't meant to be. They lost against an Italian side somewhat more up to par.

The second leg is scheduled for 5 November, maybe Real Madrid returns to previous strength when playing at home.

The match started with a banger – only seconds had passed when Ruud van Nistelrooy scored for Real Madrid. The away team continued aggressively and got some good goal-scoring chances in the first half. Then the match got hectic and referee Carlos Clos Gómez sent off two players within nine minutes. First, Atlético's Luis Perea fouled Real's Wesley Sneijder badly (minute 30), nine minutes later Ruud van Nistelrooy tackled Maniche.

Both teams were then short one man, but that didn't stop either from pressing forward. Goal-scoring chances for both sides increased, but it wasn't until extra time when the 57,500 spectators at the Estadio Vicente Calderón got to see further goals. Simao scored the equaliser with a free kick at the beginning of extra time. But Real Madrid took the lead at the end of extra time when Gonzalo Higuaín converted a penalty kick awarded after Johnny Heitinga had tackled Royston Drenthe in the box.

With 13 points gained in seven matches, Real Madrid are now at number five of the league table. Their next match in La Liga is a home match against Athletic Club Bilbao on Sunday, 26 October. But before that, they face Juventus Turin at Turin's Stadio Olímpico for a Champions League match on Tuesday, 21 October.

Borussia Dortmund managed to take home one point from their away match against Werder Bremen. The match started uneventfully with few chances far and in-between but gained momentum towards the end.

The first half passed by goallessly. All six goals of the day were scored in the second half, half of them during the last five minutes, including extra time, of the match. Alexander Frei scored the first goal for Borussia Dortmund with a penalty shot, awarded after Werder Bremen's team captain Frank Baumann had fouled Borussia Dortmund's team captain Sebastian Kehl in the box (minute 59). Not even ten minutes later Frank Baumann got an assist from Sebastian Boenisch and scored the equaliser with a header. Borussia Dortmund reacted quickly and started a counter that brought Kuba close to the goal. He was cornered, didn't fall but crossed to Mats Hummels who scored effortlessly (minute 72).

Werder Bremen played more aggressively as the match went on, but Borussia Dortmund's goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller was on guard. However, Werder Bremen's Claudio Pizarro managed a double score (minutes 88 and 90+1) that left the home team in the lead. But the match wasn't over yet. Borussia Dortmund scored in extra time, too, when Mohamed Zidan took advantage of goalkeeper Tim Wiese's weak clearance and hammered the ball that Wiese had fisted in front of him into the goal (90+3).

The 3-3 draw marked the final result, leaving Werder Bremen at fifth and Borussia Dortmund at seventh place in the league table. Borussia Dortmund face Hertha BSC Berlin at home next Sunday.

The German national team beat Wales one nil in tonight's World Cup qualifier. Joachim Löw, the coach of the German national football team, drafted in the same players that had formed the starting line-up against Russia last Saturday. Michael Ballack recovered just in time from his calf injury, received during the match against Russia, to lead the German team to another win.

The first half went by without notable chances for any team. The German team lacked pace and precision to overcome the Welsh close defence. The few goal-scoring chances on both sides didn't come to anything.

In the second half, Joachim Löw send in Patrick Helmes for Miroslav Klose who had suffered a bruise in his foot. The game improved slightly and there were again some goal-scoring chances on both sides, but either the goal itself or the strong defence, including the goalkeeper, prevented goals from happening.

It wasn't unil minute 78, when Piotr Trochowski beat Welsh goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey with his very first goal for the German national team. Germany extended their lead in group four, having ten points now, followed by Russia and Wales with six points each.

The German national team beat Russia 2-1 in Dortmund on Saturday night. With goalkeeper Robert Enke out due to a broken hand, German's coach Joachim Löw called up René Adler who made his debut in the national team. Michael Ballack, Arne Friedrich and Per Mertesacker returned to the team, having recovered from their injuries.

René Adler was tested only four minutes into the match when Pavel Pogrebnyak missed the goal from a short distance. Four minutes later Russia's goalkeeper Igor Akinfejew was tested by team captain Ballack. Only a minute later Lukas Podolski scored the first goal for Germany, assisted by his partner up front, Miroslav Klose.

The match continued to be pacy. Twelve minutes into the match Russia's Konstantin Syrjanow was close to equalising when he got stopped by left back Philipp Lahm. Four minutes later Germany's Piotr Trochowski missed the goal. A successful combination from Trochowski to Bastian Schweinsteiger and then Ballack resulted in the second goal for Germany (minute 28). The German team created further goal-scoring chances but the teams went into the dressing rooms with a 2 to nil lead for Germany.

Shortly after half-time Andrei Arschavin scored the goal for Russia, leaving Adler no chance to parry the ball (minute 51). The Russian team continued strongly but the German defence and especially debutant Adler were on the alert. During this period Germany's Trochowski almost scored the third goal for Germany but his shot bounced off the bar in minute 61. Fortunately for Germany, Russia's chances during the final ten minutes of this World Cup 2010 qualifier came to nothing.

Thus, it was a well-earned win for the German team that was barracked for by the majority of the 65,000 spectators on this mild night in Dortmund. Germany now lead the table in Group 4 with seven points, followed by Wales (six points), Finland (four points), Russia (three points), Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein (one point each). The German national team's next World Cup 2010 qualifying match, against Wales, takes place in Mönchengladbach on 15 October 2008.

Match day six in La Liga saw campéon Real Madrid not winning, but achieving a meagre draw against RCD Espanyol de Barcelona at the Bernabéu. Real Madrid, who had not lost a home game since March 2008, had to be satisfied with a 2-2 against an opponent that proved too clever to be beaten.

Espanyol took the lead in minute 21 when Raúl Tamudo's penalty shot, awarded after he himself had been fouled by Real Madrid's Gabriel Heinze, hit home. A mere four minutes later Real Madrid's Raúl draw even with a header.

However, Real Madrid lacked the spirit to take advantage of the equaliser and watched helplessly as Espanyol took the lead again when Luis Garcia scored in minute 31. Shortly before half time Real Madrid shook off the stupor with Raúl drawing even. He was right on spot meeting a free kick, scoring his fourth goal of the season.

The 65,000 spectators at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu saw Real Madrid picking up pace in the second half, yet without creating notable goalscoring chances. Espanyol proved to be a worthy opponent, keen on averting defeat and making life hard for the home team. Dutch international Wesley Sneijder returned to the pitch, having recovered from a knee injury he got in pre-season, but he didn't inspire Real Madrid's play enough to score another goal.

Thus, the game ended in a 2-2 draw. Real Madrid remain at number five in the league table. They face local rival Atlético Madrid at the Estadio Vicente Calderón on 19 October.

Only three days after losing against Udinese Calcio in UEFA Trophy match Borussia Dortmund faced Hannover 96 from Lower Saxony in a first division match.

Hannover 96 showed up with the same squad that had beaten first division champion Bayern Munich last week. Borussia Dortmund started with striker Nelson Valdez while Swiss international Alexander Frei stayed on the bench.

Despite having played for 120 minutes on Thursday night the home side did not show signs of fatigue. They needed only minutes to get into the game and it was Nelson Valdez' 15 metre-shot that marked the one nil for Borussia Dortmund in minute 10. Seven minutes later Tamas Hajnal's corner kick was met by Robert Kovac who headed the ball towards Robert Enke of Hannover 96. Both Enke and the ball fell backwards into the net, but referee Wolfgang Stark decided it wasn't a goal, a mistake as he admitted after the match.

Although Hannover 96 did not find the means to stop Borussia Dortmund's play they managed to take advantage of a misunderstading in midfield that resulted in Mikael Forssell scoring the equaliser in minute 25. The play slowed down after this goal so Hannover 96 managed to hold Borussia Dortmund's pace.

The second half started with a substitution on Borussia Dortmund's side. Striker Alexander Frei went onto the pitch, replacing midfielder Florian Kringe, a line of approach showing that Borussia Dortmund was keen on racking up a victory. Two minutes into the second half Tamas Hajnal tested international goalkeeper Robert Enke with a 14-metre shot, but Enke was on guard.

Hannover 96 managed to gain two goal-scoring chances in minutes 50 and 54, but both came to nothing. Borussia Dortmund made the running and all Hannover 96 could do was follow. However, Borussia Dortmund's efforts were not capped with success. Their greatest chances (Hajnal in minute 82, Kuba in minute 85 and Frei with a free kick in minute 90) did not change the result.

Borussia Dortmund achieved a somewhat unlucky draw on match day seven, with an obvious goal not granted, and are at number six in the league table now. They face Werder Bremen on the latter's turf on 18 October.

Tonight the eight matches in the round of the last sixteen of the DFB (German Football Association) Cup were drawn.

There will be three matches among Bundesliga clubs. Cup winner Bayern Munich travels to Swabia to play against VfB Stuttgart. Runner up Borussia Dortmund faces Werder Bremen. Bayer Leverkusen play against Energie Cottbus. Three Bundesliga clubs face Second Bundesliga clubs. Current top of the league Hamburger SV plays against 1860 Munich. VfL Wolfsburg meets Hansa Rostock while Karlsruher SC meets Wehen Wiesbaden. The only third league club still in the tournament, Carl Zeiss Jena, meets FC Sch**** 04. A match between Second Bundesliga clubs is SC Freiburg vs. Mainz 05.

Matches will be held on 27 and 28 January 2009. The final in Berlin has been scheduled for 30 May 2009.

Joachim Löw, coach of the German national football team, called up 22 players to meet in Düsseldorf on 7 October to prepare for the two 2010 World Cup qualifiers against Russia in Dortmund (11 October) and Wales in Mönchengladbach (15 October) .

Five players who missed out the last matches against Belgium, Liechtenstein and Finland return to the team, having recovered from injury. Back with the team are captain Michael Ballack, midfielders Torsten Frings and Jermaine Jones, defender Arne Friedrich and goalkeeper René Adler.

Joachim Löw nominated three goalkeepers for this long stretch of being together. He is said to put a lot of faith in striker Patrick Helmes, who currently heads the Bundesliga scoring charts, expecting him to score for the national team as he does for his home side Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

With Per Mertesacker being on the team for the first time after the EURO 2008, he missed out due to a knee injury suffered at Werder Bremen's summer training camp end of July, and new regulars Serdar Tasci and Heiko Westermann, Christoph Metzelder seems to be obsolete, at least for the time being. Joachim Löw and Christoph Metzelder agreed on a time-out so the latter would be able to fight his way back into the squad at Real Madrid, where he has been having a difficult time.

Goalkeepers: Robert Enke, René Adler, Tim Wiese
Defenders: Clemens Fritz, Arne Friedrich, Marcell Jansen, Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker, Serdar Tasci, Heiko Westermann
Midfielders: Michael Ballack, Torsten Frings, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Jermaine Jones, Simon Rolfes, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Piotr Trochowski
Strikers: Mario Gomez, Patrick Helmes, Miroslav Klose, Kevin Kuranyi, Lukas Podolski

Borussia Dortmund lost the second leg in UEFA Cup against Udinese Calcio three to four on penalties, but won spectators over with a spirited performance. Having lost the home match nil to two against Italian side Udinese Calcio two weeks ago, Borussia Dortmund travelled to Friaul with revenge in mind. They needed two goals of their own to get extra time and stand a chance of reaching the group phase

The match started well for Borussia Dortmund who created a few goalscoring chances. Florian Kringe missed two minutes into the match and Alexander Frei only two minutes later. Borussia Dortmund pressed on and although Udinese Calcio got into the match further into the first half, they managed only one minor scoring chance (corner kick in minute 38). Swiss international Alexander Frei scored in minute 22, but the goal didn't count because Frei was in an offside position when taking on the ball. However, Borussia Dortmund's efforts were rewarded shortly before half-time when Tamas Hajnal scored the first goal in minute 45.

The second half started much like the first one had finished, with Borussia Dortmund pressing forward. To his obvious dismay, Alexander Frei's goals in minutes 47 and 49 were cancelled due to offside position. Further into the second half Udinese Calcio found back into the match, but their chances, few and far between, came to nothing. Two minutes into stoppage time Tamas Hajnal scored his second goal that night. Thus, the total score was even and extra time necessary to find a winner.

During extra time Borussia Dortmund's efforts took their tool. The players seemed worn out. Much of the action now took place in Borussia Dortmund's half with a considerable number of corner kicks for Udinese Calcio. With a final score of two to nil after extra time the teams had to endure a penalty shoot-out. Udinese Calcio was more lucky and won four to three, thus reaching the group stage. Borussia Dortmund who was accompanied by more than 2,000 supporters, returns home, kicked out but not put out.

Spanish champion Real Madrid faced UEFA Cup winner Zenit St. Petersburg for a Champions League group match on Tuesday evening. The final result was scored in the first half with an own goal by Tomas Hubocan four minutes into the match, the equaliser for Zenit by Danny in minute 25 and Ruud van Nistelrooy finishing it off for Real in minute 31.

Zenit clearly showed nerves when Tomas Hubocan tried to save a shot by Rafael van der Vaart that, much to Zenit's dismay, hit instead of missed the goal. After that Zenit, most notably Andrei Arshavin, tested Spanish international Iker Casillas a few times, albeit without success. Playmaker Andrei Arshavin was involved in the equaliser with a cross for the Portugal international Danny. The Brazilian forwarder scored the goal for Zenit St. Petersburg in minute 25. Dutch international Ruud van Nistelrooy took advantage of a break in the home side's defence, bringing home Real Madrid's victory in minute 31.

In the second half Zenit tried everything they could to draw even, but time and again Iker Casillas saved when Real's defence had broken down. It just wasn't the night for Zenit with Andrei Arshavin later admitting that they had only themselves to blaim for not taking advantage of their chances and luck being on Real's side. Indeed Real Madrid was lucky to win this match, the second consecutive win in group H, having beaten Belarussian champion BATE Borisov at the Bernabéu two weeks ago and being now number one in group H. They meet Juventus Turin at the Stadio Olimpico on 21 October. Zenit who lost both their Champions League away at Juventus Turin and their home debut, are in now the taillight in group H. They face BATE Borisov next.