News, September 2007

Sport roundup, 20th September

Denis Menchov wins La Vuelta cycle race; poor show in Japan for bikers; Champions return; Spain wins European volleyball championship; Spain loses EuroBasket final; Alonso 3rd in Belgian GP; Bautista and Faubel win in Estoril bikes GP; Michael Schumacher gets Prince of Asturias sports prize; after 3rd League day Madrid leads; 3 athletics medals in Osaka; Soccer League starts with sad death of Sevilla's Antonio Puerta; Sevilla won Supercopa; Nadal continues off court due to knee injury. For more, read on!

Details.

Football (soccer): Champions' League Barcelona beat Olympique Lyon, Arsenal saw off Sevilla, thanks to Cesc Fabregas. League begins with sad death of Sevilla's Antonio Puerta from multiple heart attack on pitch - Champions League game in Athens postponed. After 4th round Madrid leads League. Sevilla won the Supercopa. UEFA: Espanyol beat Vojvodina to secure place.
Motor: F1: Alonso 3rd in Belgium, further closing gap on Hamilton in championship, but McLaren row overshadows track results. Bikes Lorenzo leads in 250, Faubel 2nd in 125, Pedrosa 3rd in GP championships; in Japan Pedrosa spun off, Lorenzo had worst day of season -Bautista coming 3rd- and Faubel came in 3rd; Pedrosa gave great race challenge to Rossi in Estoril, as Bautista (250) and Faubel turned in victories, extra Spanish excitement with 16 year-old Pol Espargaró getting 125 podium.
Tennis Rafa Nadal failed to reach quarter-final in US open - knee injury still hinders play - he is off for the rest of the month. Moyà got to last 8. David Ferrer in semi-finals.
Cycling,World Cup Valverde cleared of doping charges to compete. La Vuelta Denis Menchov won after gaining lead half way through, in Pyrenees. Carlos Sastre was 2nd - best placed Spaniard. See the route and other details at the official site. Oscar Perreiro finally awarded Tour de France title one year and a bit on, after Landis doping case fully confirmed.
Basketball Spain loses to Russia in finals.
Other: World Athletics Spain got one silver (Paquillo Fernández in 20km walk), two bronze (Mayte Martínez in 800 and María Vasco in 20km walk). Hockey Spain to European finals. Volleyball: Spain wins European championship for first time.