News, April 2008

Sport roundup, 30th April

Man United beat Barcelona in Champions' semi-final. Synchronised girls win Beijing pre-gold. Valencia wins Copa del Rey final against Getafe. Lorenzo wins Estoril MotoGP from Pedrosa. Joventut wins ULEB cup. Nadal wins in Monte Carlo. Alonso burnt out in accident filled Barcelona GP. Gasol helps Lakers' good results. 8 medals for swimmers in European Swimming championships. Joventut wins basketball Copa del Rey. Madrid heads Primera and ACB league. For more, read on!

Details.

Football (soccer): Champions: Barcelona lost to Manchester United semi-finals. Valencia beat Getafe to win Copa del Rey. Spain beat Italy in friendly. Madrid virtually wins League, ahead of Villareal. Catalan Cesc Fabregas (of Arsenal)is UK young player of the year - BBC report, while Madrid born Fernando Torres (Liverpool)was just behind Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo for the senior award.
Motor: Bikes: Lorenzo operated on forearms; Lorenzo wins from Pedrosa in Estoril - both share top points, Bautista wins 250; Pedrosa wins and Lorenzo 3rd in Spanish MotoGP at Jerez. F1: Alonso's hopes dashed in burn-out at Barcelona Spanish GP - BBC report.
Basketball Joventut wins Copa del Rey (King's Cup) and now ULEB cup in Turin (final against Girona); Madrid leads ACB; Pau Gasol leaves Grizzlies for Lakers and contribues to winning results.
Tennis: Monte Carlo - Nadal wins for 4th time in succession.
Other sports Swimming Synchronised girls win 2 golds in Beijing pre-olympic championship. Mireia Belmonte breaks Spanish 200m breaststroke record twice at Manchester World shortcourse championship, also got silver (200m) and bronze (400m) in medleys. 5 new Olympic minimums in Palma National championships, with 8 new Spanish records. Spaniards did excellently in the European championships at Eindhoven: 8 swimming medals (one gold), plus 4 synchronised golds. Mireia Belmonts took the gold in the 200m medley and bronze in the 200m fly -at 17 years old; the synchronised team again swept the floor - but Gemma Mengual is starting to speak of retirement; the team has high hopes for Beijing. Athletics: Spain did poorly in Valencia indoor world championships. Sailing: Spanish double in 49er in European championship in Palma. Handball: Ciudad Real win cup.