Lamela in line for Argentina debut

Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella has named an initial 18-man foreign-based squad for the February 29 friendly against Switzerland in Bern.
Sabella will later add domestic-based players to the squad, which includes a first call-up for Roma's Erik Lamela and 31-year-old Hugo Campagnaro of Napoli.
There is also a return for 31-year-old Liverpool midfielder Maxi Rodriguez, who has 41 caps to his name.
Paris Saint-Germain attacker Javier Pastore is excluded as he is still recovering from injury, while Lyon striker Lisandro Lopez has been overlooked.
Martin Demichelis, Ever Banega, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Nicolas Burdisso have all missed out too.
Argentina will use the Switzerland friendly as preparation for their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign, which restarts against Ecuador in June. Sabella had said in December he would use the match to try fringe options.
Argentina squad: Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Sampdoria).
Defenders: Hugo Campagnaro (Napoli), Daniel Diaz (Getafe), Federico Fernandez (Napoli), Ezequiel Garay (Benfica), Luciano Monzon (Nice), Marcos Rojo (Spartak Moscow), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Angel di Maria (Real Madrid), Fernando Gago (Roma), Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Erik Lamela (Roma), Jose Ernesto Sosa (Metalist Kharkiv), Maxi Rodriguez (Liverpool).

Strikers: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Rodrigo Palacio (Genoa).

Copa Libertadores wrap: Defensor open with win, Boca start slowly

Defensor Sporting have claimed their first win of the 2012 Copa Libertadores with a 2-0 triumph over Deportivo Quito on Tuesday.
Defensor went ahead in the 23rd minute thanks to a penalty from Brahian Aleman before Maximiliano Callorda wrapped up the result with a goal in the 79th minute.
The Uruguayan club lost to Velez Sarsfield in their Copa Libertadores opener on February 8, but are now equal with Sarsfield on three points in Group Seven, although Sarsfield has a game in hand.
In Group Eight, Atletico Nacional have beaten Universidad de Chile 2-0.
The club from Medellin in Columbia took the lead after 28 minutes when defender Juan Valencia scored, but they had to wait until nine minutes from full time when Dorlan Pabon hit the back of the net.
While in Group Four, Boca Juniors have started slowly in their first appearance in the South American continental competition in three years.

The Argentine giants could only manage a 0-0 draw away to Copa Libertadores-debutants Zamora.

Guardiola thrilled with away win

A satisfied Pep Guardiola hailed his Barcelona team after their 3-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday.
An Alexis Sanchez brace and a goal from Lionel Messi helped the European champions to the round-of-16 first-leg win at BayArena.
Guardiola, whose team have slipped 10 points adrift of Real Madrid in La Liga, said he was happy with his side's performance in Germany.
"In the art of competing, my team showed they are doing well. This is the Champions League and we came to Germany to face a team that practically eliminated Valencia, and we all know about (the quality of) Valencia," Guardiola said.
"We are very satisfied with what we have done here tonight. We are a little bit closer to getting into the draw for the quarter-finals."
Michal Kadlec briefly levelled proceedings in the second half, but Sanchez restored his team's advantage before Messi struck late on.
Guardiola praised Sanchez and Messi, and said the latter was dealing well with the goalscoring expectations he carries.
"As a player I hardly ever scored so I can't speak from experience, but I imagine goalscorers need to score," he said.
"Messi has no problems dealing with these things though. He scored a really wonderful goal and was involved in many moves. He's continuing to show his strength which for us is vital."
"Alexis is putting in a lot of work and is scoring a lot. He opens up the pitch for us and his movement is great. I'm very happy for him. He's a very humble guy."
Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen coach Robin Dutt refused to concede the tie was over despite heading to the Camp Nou with a 3-1 deficit.
The hosts were on the back foot for the majority of the first half, before working their way into the contest after the interval.
"During the break I asked my players to take the initiative and participate in the match. In the second half, we caused Barcelona problems," Dutt said.
"For 15 minutes, we were the better team and played some really good football. For the match at the Camp Nou, normally we wouldn't have a chance but you never know."

"A few years ago I watched Barcelona beat Basel (5-0) in Switzerland, but they drew 1-1 in the second game in Spain, so anything is possible."

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Ba relishing success in England

Newcastle United striker Demba Ba has spoken of his pleasure at playing in the English Premier League following early set-backs in France.
Ba appears to be enjoying life in the northeast of England and is the Premier League's third leading goal-scorer with 16 strikes so far this season.
Things were not always so simple for the striker, who said he struggled to break into professional football as a teenager in France.
"At 16 years, I tried to get into a training centre in France to learn from great coaches. Unfortunately, it did not happen for me," Ba told RMC Sport.
"They did not really believe in me in France. I started in CFA (Championnat de France amateur) in Rouen before leaving for Belgium."
Ba's career took him to Excelsior Mouscron in Belgium, before a switch to Hoffenheim in Germany.
He joined West Ham United in January 2011, impressing despite the team being demoted from the top flight.
A relegation-release clause in his West Ham contract allowed Ba to join Newcastle United in June.
The club have prospered with the help of the Senegal international and occupy sixth position in the Premier League, one point away from the Champions League qualification zone.
Ba was linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window, but reaffirmed his loyalty to Newcastle.
"My future? I am already in the best league in the world with all the big teams there is," he said.

"I'm very focussed on this end of season, we want to achieve something and I would like to see it happen."

Robinho, Kaka head Brazil exclusions

Brazil coach Mano Menezes has omitted several European-based stars from his squad for this month's friendly with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Serie A quartet Maicon, Lucio, Robinho and Alexandre Pato have all been overlooked for selection, as have Real Madrid's Kaka and Manchester United duo Rafael and Fabio.
Benfica centre back Luisao and Chelsea's David Luiz have retained their places on the 23-man list.
They will be joined in defence by Vasco da Gama's exciting 23-year-old centre back Dede.
Given the list of absentees, the selection of both Elias of Sporting Lisbon and Flamengo's Ronaldinho is somewhat surprising.
Ronaldinho has struggled for fitness and form during his time at Flamengo, but Menezes clearly feels the former Barcelona star still has something to offer.
Valencia's Jonas has held onto his place in the squad having impressed in Brazil's last two friendly fixtures against Gabon and Egypt.
Brazil face Bosnia in St Gallen on Frebruary 28.
Brazil squad:
Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Diego Alves (Valencia), Rafael (Santos)
Defenders: Marcelo (Real Madrid), Daniel Alves, Adriano (both Barcelona), Alex Sandro (Porto), Thiago Silva (AC Milan), David Luiz (Chelsea), Luisao (Benfica), Dede (Vasco da Gama)
Midfielders: Danilo (Porto), Elias (Sporting), Fernandinho (Shakhtar Donetsk), Hernanes (Lazio), Sandro (Tottenham Hotspur), Paulo Henrique Ganso (Santos), Lucas (Sao Paulo), Ronaldinho (Flamengo)

Forwards: Neymar (Santos), Leandro Damiao (Internacional), Jonas (Valencia), Hulk (Porto)

Maradona refuses to give in on demands

Al Wasl coach Diego Maradona has continued to vent his frustration at the apparent lack of transfer funds available at the Dubai outfit.
In response to last week's outbursts, where he threatened to leave unless he was allowed more money to spend, Maradona refused to apologise and was adamant he needed increased funds to bring success to his team.
"I want to be able to compete, I want to be able to fight for the top spots, and this is basically my right and I still stick by my opinion," he told reporters.
"We talked about some of the challenges facing Al Wasl team, we're trying to find solutions to benefit the team."
It was reported Maradona held a meeting with Al Wasl chairman Marwan Bin Bayat on Sunday, and the Argentine legend was confident of leading the club to the summit of the UAE Pro League in the future.
"I support Mr Marwan and I know that the Board of Directors have certain ambitions and we want to help him achieve these objectives," he said.
"I have 34, 35 years of experience in football and there isn't a problem that I haven't faced and I have a lot to bring to Al Wasl as far as experience is concerned and that's what was discussed and there was a mutual agreement of the objectives set for next season."

Al Wasl are currently fifth in the UAE Pro League, nine points behind leaders Al Ain.

Giggs calls for end to race row

Ryan Giggs says Manchester United and Liverpool must move forward from the Patrice Evra and Luis Suarez affair.
On Saturday, Reds striker Suarez refused to shake hands with Evra when the two came face-to-face for the first time since the Uruguayan was handed an eight-match ban for racially abusing the defender.
United went onto win the English Premier League match 2-1, with Suarez getting one back for Liverpool late on, but fury sparked once more after an altercation inside the tunnel at full-time in which the sides clashed.
Following the match, Liverpool and Suarez issued an apology for the handshake snub, with the striker admitting his behaviour was wrong and Giggs hopes that the reaction to the game can help move the matter on.
"I think everyone involved wanted to move forward and we had hoped that would happen on Saturday," he said.
"It obviously didn't, but then 24 hours later, with the statements issued by Liverpool on Sunday, it looks like it might be the end of it."
"That's what both clubs need and what football in general needs. The clubs need to move on. The rivalry will always be there, but let's have it as healthy rivalry and nothing else."
"The fans were chanting about me winning more titles than Steven Gerrard on Saturday, but that's what you get between fans and it's what you want - you want good, healthy banter between fans."
The idea of a pre-match handshake is now in the balance but 38-year-old Giggs believes even if the tradition is scrapped, players will still proceed with the action at some point.
"It's only this season where it (handshake) has been a problem," he said.
"If you ask most players, they'd take it or leave it. It's just part of the build-up. It's what you do and you are used to doing it."
"But if they take it away, so what? Players would still shake hands after the game."
Giggs had been happy to shake Suarez's hand even after the issue with Evra but the legendary midfielder concedes he was not sure what had happened.
"I knew something had gone on because there was a bit of a kerfuffle, but I didn't know what," he said.

"It wasn't until afterwards, when you saw it on the television, that you realised what had happened."