The Formula One establishment is nervously watching to see how Max Verstappen -- too young to drive a car on his home Dutch roads -- handles a 300 kilometers (185 miles) an hour beast on the legendary Suzuka track on Friday.

Some worry that, at 17, the son of Formula One veteran Jos Verstappen, is taking a risk at a tender age. Others are concerned though about how big a star the precocious talent is going to become.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers refused to be downbeat about his side's Champions League prospects despite a poor performance in Basel on Wednesday and with Real Madrid to come next.

The Reds were deservedly beaten 1-0 by the Swiss champions at the St Jakob-Park as captain Marco Streller netted the only goal of the game seven minutes into the second half.

Arsene Wenger insists Danny Welbeck's hat-trick against Galatasaray will give the Arsenal striker the confidence he needs to thrive at the Emirates Stadium.

Welbeck had made a tentative start to life with the Gunners following his £16 million ($25 million) move from Manchester United on transfer deadline day last month.

Daniel Sturridge will not join up with England for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers after England manager Roy Hodgson and Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers reached an agreement over the striker's fitness.

It had been thought Hodgson might force the issue and select Sturridge but Rodgers said after Wednesday's disappointing 1-0 Champions League defeat to Basel, in Switzerland, he had spoken with the England coach and resolved the problem.

La Liga champions Atletico Madrid will be without influential midfielder and captain Gabi for their crucial Champions League match at home to Juventus on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old picked up an ankle injury during the 4-0 win over Sevilla at the weekend and hasn't been included in Diego Simeone's 18-man squad for the match.

Former Manchester United star Paul Scholes slammed Manchester City's fans for failing to create a "special" European atmosphere during Tuesday's Champions League tie at home to Roma.

Fewer than 38,000 fans turned up at the Etihad Stadium -- a ground with a capacity of 60,000 -- for Tuesday's 1-1 draw with the Italian giants in this Group E clash.

Hanover 96 coach Tayfun Korkut has banned his players from visiting Munich's Oktoberfest beer festival after Saturday's Bundesliga match at leaders Bayern Munich -- whether his team wins, loses or draws.

Hanover are sixth in the table, but only four points adrift of leaders Bayern ahead of Saturday's showdown at Munich's Allianz Arena.

The gold, silver and bronze medal winners in the Asian Games men's 800 metres race were disqualified Wednesday in a new storm to hit the athletics contest.

Saudi Arabia's Abdulaziz Mohammed, Musaab Bala of Qatar and Abraham Kipchirchir Rotich of Bahrain, who finished first, second and third, all had their results canceled.

Italian striker Ciro Immobile has admitted he finds the Bundesliga tougher than Italy's Serie A as he adapts to life in Germany's top flight.

"It's definitely a different type of football," Borussia Dortmund's Azzurri star told German magazine Sport Bild.

Celebrated Indian women's boxer Mary Kom won her first Asian Games gold Wednesday but a team-mate sensationally refused to accept her bronze medal in a row over judging standards.

Five-time world champion Kom, 31, won a split decision against Kazakhstan's Zhaina Shekerbekova to be crowned flyweight champion.