News, December 2008

Sport roundup, 22nd December

Barcelona sets new record for League points up to Christmas, with 42. Mireia Belmonte sets world record in women's medley at Euro short-course swimming championships. Aschwin Wildeboer, also of CN Sabadell, sets another swimming World record. Real Madrid buys Diarra from Portsmouth - BBC report. Juan de Ramos replaces Schuster at Real Madrid. Spain beat Argentina in Davis Cup final. Spain beat Chile 3-0 (football friendly). Real Madrid knocked out of Copa del Rey by 2nd B division Real Unión. Rafa Nadal knee injury prevents presence in Shanghai and Davis Cup final (Argentina). Alonso 2nd in Brazil GP to end brilliantly finished season. Dani Pedrosa 2nd in Valencia and MotoGP championship. Barcelona head Primera. Sergio Garcia world nº2 after winning Shanghai. For more, read on!

Details.

Football

Barcelona sets new record for League points up to Christmas, with 42. After a 'disastrous' start (9 points behind Barça at that point, ...) to the season Real Madrid sacked Bernd Schuster and appointed Juande Ramos, recently from Spurs. Spain beat Chile 3-0 in friendly. Real Madrid knocked out of Copa del Rey by 2nd B division Real Unión, despite Raúl hat-trick. Barcelona head Primera league, after 15th round - having lost just once. Champions: Villareal draw with Man United. - BBC report, Madrid beat Borisov. Barcelona and Atlético top groups C and D, Villareal and Madrid 2nd in groups E and H. UEFA: Sevilla heads group C, Valencia, Racing (Santander) and Deportivo (A Coruña) struggling.
Motor: F1: Alonso 2nd in Brazil to celebrate excellent end to season BBC race report. Bikes: Championship: Pedrosa finishes 3rd overall, followed by Lorenzo; in 250 Bautista, Debon and Barberà in 2nd, 4th and 6th positions; in 125 Olivé 7th.
Basketball ACB league led by Unicaja after 8th round. 5 Spaniards in NBA this season - new player Rudy Fernandez leads Trail Blazers to victory against Magic.
Tennis: Spain beat Argentina 3-1 in Davis Cup final, despite Rafa Nadal being out of Davis Cup final and Shanghai due to knee injury -BBC report. Nadal awarded Spain's top Principe de Asturias prize for sport - he is World number one and Olympic gold medallist.
Cycling:Alberto Contador wins Vélo magazine's 'golden bike' award for 2nd year running. Sastre ready to face Armstrong in 2009 Giro - BBC report. La Vuelta: Alberto Contador won. Carlos Sastre won Tour, 3rd Spaniard in succession - BBC report.
Other: Swimming Mireia Belmonte sets new World record for indivdual medley at European short-course championships in Rijeka. Aschwin Wildeboer, also of CN Sabadell, sets another swimming World record in 100m backstroke, at Madrid national championships. Golf Severiano Ballesteros in hospital with brain tumour -BBC report - now recovering well.