Spain's world number one Rafael Nadal is through to the semi-finals of the $1.3 million ATP Rio Open after crushing Joao Sousa of Portugal 6-1, 6-0 in the last eight on Friday.

"I think I played my best match of the week today," said top seed Nadal after a crushing win in 75 minutes kept his run going in what is his first event since losing last month's Australian Open final.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has apologized for questioning the integrity of referee Jonas Eriksson after the 2-0 loss to Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Pellegrini may face sanctions from UEFA after saying Eriksson was "not impartial" and suggesting he was influenced by previous matches he officiated involving Barcelona.

President Josep Bartomeu defended Barcelona's dealings in signing Neymar, saying the Spanish champion would do it all over again despite being charged with tax fraud.

A Spanish judge charged Barcelona with the crime on Thursday, alleging it swindled the state of 9.1 million euros ($12.5 million) through payments to varying companies and false contracts.

Juventus looked good while Ajax looked woeful in the Europa League on Thursday on a night when other former champions Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk and Sevilla also stumbled.

Juventus enjoyed a 2-0 home win against Trabzonspor, but four-time European champion Ajax fell to a stunning 3-0 home loss to SV Salzburg in the first leg of the round-of-32.

For hockey fans, it should be a fantastic Friday.

The United States and Canada will renew their rivalry in the Olympic semifinals, a rematch of the 2010 and 2002 gold-medal games, both of which Canada won.

Russia's cupboard was so bare of world-class female figure skaters that the sport's most dominant nation had to turn to the kids a few years ago.

Among those youngsters was Adelina Sotnikova, who won a national championship in 2009, when she was just 12.

Manchester City's FA Cup quarterfinal against Wigan has been pushed back to March 9 by broadcasters -- just three days before they face the daunting task of trying to overcome a Champions League deficit away to Barcelona.

Thursday's announcement by BT Sport will be a source of fresh frustration for City manager Manuel Pellegrini.

A Spanish judge indicted Barcelona on Thursday over alleged tax crimes linked to their signing of Brazilian star striker Neymar, a court source said.

Prosecutors accuse Barcelona, who have a narrow lead at the top of the Spanish league, of irregularities in the 86-million-euro ($118 million) deal -- which the club denies.

The International Skating Union is looking at ways of making speedskating more exciting to fans and is considering adding mass start and mixed team pursuit races.

Sometimes faced with empty stands during the season, hesitant sponsors and long races during Olympic prime time, ISU President Ottavio Cinquanta says he wants to break out of the mold of having races only in separate lanes, which many occasional viewers find boring.

San Antonio's Patty Mills again proved himself to be the Spurs' secret weapon as he led the visitors to a 111-109 win at Portland in Wednesday's clash of NBA Western Conference contenders.

A day after he guided San Antonio to a win over another contender in the Los Angeles Clippers, Australian Mills was the standout again for the Spurs, coming off the bench to score 24 points in the second half.