Dutch Formula One driver Giedo van Der Garde is seeking an urgent hearing in an Australian court to force the Sauber team to reinstate him as a driver ahead of next weekend's season-opening race.

His lawyers lodged papers with the Victorian Supreme Court on Friday seeking a hearing on Monday in Melbourne, which will host the Australian Grand Prix on March 15.

When two English Premier League opponents spat at each other, the television evidence seemed clear.

Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse apologized on Thursday for spitting at Jonny Evans, but the Manchester United defender denied any wrongdoing in the incident.

Raising his tally to six goals in seven matches since arriving on loan from Chelsea, Mohamed Salah scored twice and Fiorentina won 2-1 at Juventus in the opening leg of the Italian Cup semifinals on Thursday.

Juventus suffered its first loss at home since falling to Bayern Munich nearly two years ago.

Chile officials will back a request by former world No. 1 Marcelo Rios to have the International Tennis Federation investigate whether Petr Korda committed a doping violation in the 1998 Australian Open.

Korda beat Rios 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 in the final.

Mercedes pair Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg are joint favourites for the Formula One world title as well as the season-opening Grand Prix in Melbourne, according to Ferrari star Sebastian Vettel.

And the 27-year-old German -- who admitted he began talking with Ferrari as early as 2008 about a future move to the Italian super team -- said fans may have to wait until 2016 before ending Ferrari's eight-year wait for the world driver's title.

World champions Germany are in advanced negotiations to extend national coach Joachim Loew's contract until the 2018 World Cup in Russia, German daily Bild reported on Thursday.

The 55-year-old Loew currently has a deal to take him through to Euro 2016, and the new deal includes a get out clause should either party wish to part company after the tournament to be held in France. 

Germany are chasing their first Davis Cup win over France for 77 years when the sides meet in this weekend's World Group I clash in Frankfurt.

Adolf Hitler was in power the last time Germany tasted victory on court over their neighbors when Germany beat the French 3-2 in Berlin back in 1938.

Even news of an unfortunate injury to midfielder Nemanja Matic could not overshadow a victory over West Ham United that kept Chelsea five points clear in the Premier League.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho revealed that the Serbian midfielder hurt his ankle in the on-field celebrations that followed his side's League Cup final victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Bayern Munich's Germany defender Jerome Boateng turned down an offer to join Barcelona before the start of the current season, he has revealed.

"I don't know the details of how much Barcelona offered for me, but it is true that I received an offer," the 26-year-old center-back told Bild.

Bayer Leverkusen needed extra-time goals from Hakan Calhanoglu and Stefan Kiessling to beat second-division Kaiserslautern 2-0 on Tuesday for a place in the quarterfinals of the German Cup.

Ciro Immobile scored twice for Borussia Dortmund to advance 2-0 over third-division Dynamo Dresden.