While Real Madrid and Barcelona are already eyeing their upcoming matchup, the Spanish giants first have to get past a pair of awkward opponents this weekend.

League leader Madrid is waiting on the fitness of Cristiano Ronaldo as it prepares to put its 13-game winning run on the line at Sporting Gijon on Saturday, when Barcelona welcomes early season revelation Levante to the Camp Nou.

Manchester City's owner has praised manager Roberto Mancini for following the "right path" toward achieving the club's main objective, winning the Premier League title.

In rare public comments, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan told Dubai-based Sport360 daily newspaper that the club's main goal for the season is still within reach, despite City's slim chances of remaining in the Champions League.

A rally on global markets stalled Thursday as euphoria over major central banks' coordinated cut to borrowing costs wore off and investors sought confirmation that European leaders will next week deliver a long-term solution to the debt crisis.

Markets had jumped on Wednesday when the central banks of Europe, the U.S., Britain, Canada, Japan and Switzerland made it cheaper for banks to borrow dollars, helping them to operate smoothly at a time of tight credit. China's central bank also acted to release money for lending and shore up growth by lowering bank reserve levels for the first time in three years.

In an unexpected twist, TVs are topping many Christmas shopping lists this year.

As scientists struggle to find a vaccine to prevent infection with the AIDS virus, a study in mice suggests hope for a new approach — one that scientists now want to test in people.

The treated mice in the study appeared to have 100 percent protection against HIV. That doesn't mean the strategy will work in people. But several experts were impressed.

Doctors treating George Michael say the ex-front man for the pop group "Wham!" is making progress as he recovers from pneumonia.

Doctors Gottfried Locker and Christoph Zielinski say the 48-year-old Michael remains hospitalized nonetheless. They say in a statement that he "needed intensive care because of the seriousness and spread of the infection."

France has paid tribute to Grammy winner Lenny Kravitz with its highest award, the Legion of Honor.

Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand hailed the 47-year-old singer-songwriter at a Paris ceremony on Wednesday, telling him "you freed yourself of the barriers between black and white sound."

South Korean police said Thursday that they have arrested six crematory workers on suspicion of stealing and selling melted gold teeth from cremated bodies.

Police said in a statement that workers at five crematoriums were suspected of collecting melted gold teeth from the bottom of cremation braziers to sell.

A bird hunter was shot in the buttocks after his dog stepped on a shotgun laid across the bow of a boat.

Sheriff's Deputy Kevin Potter says the 46-year-old Utah man was duck hunting with a friend when he climbed out of the boat to move decoys.

Michael Jackson's personal doctor received the maximum punishment in the pop singer's death but not before a scolding from the judge for violating his Hippocratic oath and engaging in "money-for-medicine madness."

Despite Judge Michael Pastor's sharp rebuke of Dr. Conrad Murray, medical ethics and legal experts say the outcome is unlikely to dramatically change the culture of celebrity medicine.