SPORTDigest D Tuesday, December 8, 2009 METROSPORT 31 SOCCER (7.45 unless stated) Uefa Champions League Group A Juventus v Bayern Munich........... Maccabi Haifa v Bordeaux ........... Group B Besiktas v CSKA Moscow............ Wolfsburg v Man Utd.................... Group C FC Zurich v AC Milan ................... Marseille v Real Madrid................ Group D Atletico Madrid v FC Porto........... Chelsea v Apoel Nicosia............... The FA Cup Second Round Stockport v Torquay ..................... Second Round Replays Aldershot v Tranmere ................... Barnet v Accrington Stanley......... Barrow v Oxford Utd .................... Leeds v Kettering .................. 8.00 Luton v Rotherham....................... Coca-Cola Championship Doncaster v Sheff Wed................. Ipswich v Peterborough ............... Leicester v Bristol City.................. Middlesbrough v Blackpool... 8.00 Preston v Derby............................ Reading v Crystal Palace ...... 8.00 Sheff Utd v Nottm Forest ............. Swansea v Plymouth.................... West Brom v Cardiff ..................... HORSE RACING Fontwell, Sedgefield, Southwell CoCa-Cola Championship Watford........3 QPR..............1 Doyley 43 Agyemang 33 Cowie 56 Cleverley 90 P W D L F A Pts Newcastle 19 13 3 3 31 10 42 West Brom 19 11 5 3 41 17 38 Nottm Forest 19 8 8 3 28 18 32 Leicester 19 8 7 4 22 20 31 Cardiff 19 9 3 7 35 22 30 Watford 20 8 6 6 30 32 30 Middlesbrough 19 8 5 6 30 21 29 Swansea 19 7 8 4 17 17 29 Blackpool 19 7 7 5 29 22 28 QPR 20 7 7 6 33 29 28 Sheff Utd 19 7 6 6 30 30 27 Bristol City 19 6 9 4 22 22 27 Crystal Palace 19 6 8 5 20 21 26 Preston 19 6 7 6 24 25 25 Barnsley 18 7 3 8 23 29 24 Doncaster 19 4 9 6 25 26 21 Derby 19 6 3 10 23 31 21 Scunthorpe 19 6 3 10 22 36 21 Reading 19 5 5 9 20 28 20 Coventry 19 4 7 8 21 29 19 Sheff Wed 19 4 6 9 23 31 18 Ipswich 19 2 11 6 19 29 17 Plymouth 18 4 3 11 16 29 15 Peterborough 19 2 7 10 23 33 13 CHELSEA boss Carlo Ancelotti plans to rest some big names for tonights Champions League clash with Apoel Nicosia. The Blues have already won Group D and Ancelotti revealed there are doubts over John Terry (knee), Ashley Cole (ankle) and Michael Ballack (knee). Defender Alex, plus strikers Salomon Kalou and Daniel Sturridge are definitely out so youngsters Daniel Philliskirk, Nikki Ahamed and Gael Kakuta will be added to the squad. Goalkeeper Petr Cech did not train yesterday, with sources suggesting Hilario will play instead. Ancelotti said: I want to put the best team out. But the most important thing is to monitor the players. Essien faces up to long national service break Carlo to give stars a night off Michael essien admits he could face a club-versus-country dilemma in January. The chelsea midfielder, preparing for tonights champions league clash with apoel nicosia at stamford Bridge, will leave the Blues to take part in the african cup of nations with Ghana, which takes place in angola, from January 10 to 31. essien will miss four Premier league games during that period but his national side have the right to call him up to their squad two weeks before the start of the tour- nament and that might cause further prob- lems. nigeria and ivory coast could do the same with John Obi Mikel plus salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba respectively, but essien says he will leave the discussions to chelsea and the Ghana Football association should the situation arise. at the moment, i havent heard anything from Ghana, said essien. im focusing just on club issues. if i have to leave, theres nothing i can do. its always difficult when it comes to this situation. The club have a good relationship with the [Ghana] Fa and ill leave that to the club and just focus on what im doing. Well be going away in January, but we still have a very big and good squad to come in and do the job. its going to be a very difficult tournament. We have a lot of african players playing in europe. Well just work very hard and see what we can do. im always happy to represent my country. Grin bonus: John Terry (left) and Frank Lampard at training yesterday Call of duty: Michael Essien GROUP D P W D L F A Pts Chelsea 5 4 1 0 9 2 13 Porto 5 3 0 2 5 3 9 Atletico Madrid 5 0 3 2 3 9 3 Apoel Nicosia 5 0 2 3 2 5 2 Picture: Reuters/ Kieran Doherty New deal for Silverstone saves British Grand Prix FORMULA ONE: Silverstones owners secured the future of the British Grand Prix yesterday after agreeing a 17-year deal with the sports commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone. Damon Hill, the 1996 world champion and president of the British Racing Drivers Club that owns the circuit, said the deal which includes a ten- year break clause was good for fans and business alike. Everyone was very well aware that the British Grand Prix is not simply a sporting event but also the dynamo in the whole motorsports industry in this country, said Hill. It highlights the industry, highlights this country and has an enormous commercial benefit ... It [failure] would have been incredibly damaging and there may well have been no going back. Weve seen what has happened in France, they still dont have a grand prix there. Champions invite for Seve GOLF: Three-times Open champion Seve Ballesteros (pictured), who is still recovering from a brain tumour, is among a stellar list of players invited to compete in the Champions Challenge on the eve of next Julys Open at St Andrews. In a repeat of the event held in 2000, the Challenge will be staged over the first, second, 17th and 18th holes to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first Open. Invitations have been extended to all 32 living Open champions. Tour schedule is unveiled GOLF: Next seasons European Tour which begins in South Africa on Thursday will feature a minimum of 47 tournaments, including six new events, and once again culminate in the Dubai World Championship. The season-ending event, won by Lee Westwood three weeks ago, has had its prize fund and money list bonus pool cut by 25 per cent, but the Tour have announced there will again be 10million up for grabs next November. A notable absentee next year is the European Open, which has been played every season since 1977. results fixtures By MARk CURTIS sOCCer CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Ronnie rockets through SNOOkER: Ronnie OSullivan fought back from 2-0 down to thump Matthew Stevens 9-3 and secure a second-round match with Peter Ebdon at the Uk Championship last night. Stevens started well, with breaks of 58 and 51, but four- times champion OSullivan hit back with three successive frames to take control. Stevens made it interesting with a century break for 3-3 but OSullivan then ran off the next four to lead 7-3. The 11th frame turned into a safety battle which also went OSullivans way before the former world champion added the wrapped up a comprehensive victory in the next. stoke start inquiry into boss bust-up allegations sTOKe are to conduct an internal investigation amid claims manager Tony Pulis and striker James Beattie were involved in a dressing-room row on saturday. an argument is reported to have broken out between the pair over the players annual party. it is believed Pulis called the players in for training yesterday having previously agreed to give them the day off so they could have their christmas party in london. Reportedly, a disagreement between Pulis and Beattie followed and the pair had to be separated. stoke chairman Peter coates said: as far as the club is concerned this is an internal matter and will be dealt with internally. The club refused to comment on the incident but confirmed training had taken place as normal yesterday and that Beattie had made a brief appearance at the training ground. The 31-year-old, who came on as a second- half substitute at the emirates stadium, has not started a Premier league match since november 22.Tony Pulis James Beattie premier league index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html28.html29.html30.html31.html