Junior Atletico Madrid player dies after touchline accident

June 29th, 2009 MADRID - Thirty-one people, including a former professional football player, have been arrested as authorities busted one of the biggest drug trafficking and money laundering networks in Spain, officials said Monday. In a special operation launched across the country, Spain's Civil Guard officials also seized more than half a tonne of cocaine, more than two million euros in cash, several high-end vehicles, as well as machines to count money and numerous documents.

May 22nd, 2009 MADRID - Spanish giants Atletico Madrid have sealed the signing of young Valladolid goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo for 5.5 million euros ($7.59 million), sports daily AS reported here Friday. Asenjo, who turns 20 next month, has impressed several clubs this season, including Liga champions Barcelona.

May 13th, 2009 MADRID - Spanish football club Atletico Madrid announced Wednesday that they had cancelled the contract of Greek defender Giorgios Seitaridis, which was due to expire in June 2010. Seitardidis is the second player to be released by Atletico this month, following in the footsteps of Portugal veteran Maniche.

March 11th, 2009 MADRID - Spanish sides Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Villarreal are all travelling more in hope than expectation for this week's second-leg matches of the Champions League last 16. All three teams are in trouble after obtaining poor results in their home legs.

March 9th, 2009 MADRID - A 2-1 home win over Almeria kept Sevilla in third place in the Spanish Liga. On Sunday Evergreen veteran Frederic Kanoute shot Sevilla ahead after just five minutes, then set up Renato to make it 2-0 on the hour.

March 8th, 2009 MADRID - Barcelona are now six points ahead in the Spanish Liga after Real Madrid were held 1-1 by lively crosstown rivals Atletico Madrid. Barca Saturday defeated Athletic Bilbao and now are six points ahead of Real.

March 6th, 2009 MADRID - Spanish giants Real Madrid will be looking for an 11th Primera Liga win Saturday, at home to unpredictable crosstown rivals Atletico. Second-placed Real have put together their best league run since 1963, though more by defensive solidity than by attacking prowess.

February 27th, 2009 MADRID - Real Madrid are determined to recover from Wednesday's 1-0 Champions Cup home defeat against Liverpool by scoring their 10th straight win. On Saturday they are away to lowly but unpredictable Espanyol, who pulled off the surprise of the season last Saturday by winning 2-1 away to leaders Barcelona.

February 21st, 2009 MADRID - Argentine national coach Diego Maradona became a grandfather after his daughter Giannina gave birth to a baby boy in a hospital here Thursday. The boy's father Atletico Madrid star Sergio Aguero was present at the private hospital in the outskirts of the city.

February 19th, 2009 MADRID - Argentine national coach Diego Maradona became a grandfather after his daughter Giannina gave birth to a baby boy in a hospital here Thursday. The boy's father Atletico Madrid star Sergio Aguero was present at the private hospital in the outskirts of the city.

February 2nd, 2009 MADRID - Troubled Spanish giants Atletico Madrid sacked coach Javier Aguirre, according to Spanish media reports. The digital versions of AS and Marca reported Monday night that the sacking of Aguirre will be officially announced Tuesday, and that he will be replaced by former Atletico goalkeeper Abel Resino, currently at third division Castellon.

January 14th, 2009 MADRID - Spanish giants Barcelona, Valencia and Sevilla cruised into the quarter-finals of the Spanish King's Cup football, knocking out Atletico Madrid, Racing Santander and Deportivo Coruna respectively. A reserve-packed Barca side Wednesday came from behind to beat Atletico 2-1, with goals from Bojan Krkic and Eidur Gudjohnsen.

January 6th, 2009 MADRID - Lionel Messi gave one of the best performances of his promising career in Madrid, scoring a handsome hat-trick as Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid 3-1 in a one-sided fifth round, first leg clash in the Spanish Cup. The Argentine youngster confirmed his status as one of football's brightest stars, at the same time that Barca confirmed their status as the top team in Spain.

January 4th, 2009 MADRID - Real Madrid and Sevilla now share third place in the Spanish Liga. Real beat Villarreal 1-0 at home, and Sevilla were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw by bottom team Osasuna Sunday.

December 22nd, 2008 LONDON - Midfielder Lassana Diarra passed a medical with Real Madrid and completed his transfer from Portsmouth to the Spanish football champions. The former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder moves for a fee of around 20-million pounds ($30 million), and has signed a 4.5 year contract Monday.