Gerard Pique takes on Real Madrid: Will it ever end?

Even when he's halfway around the world, Gerard Pique just cannot let it lie. The Barcelona defender's running verbal battle with most of the Real Madrid squad continued in Japan on Wednesday as he refused to back down after igniting yet another row, this time with Alvaro Arbeloa and Sergio Ramos. We all know there's little love lost between Barca and Madrid, but no figure on the pitch seems to embody the rivalry more closely than Pique. Right now he's almost 6,500 miles away in Yokohama - where Barca enter the Club World Cup at the semi-final stage on Thursday - but Real are seemingly very much on his mind. He has been booed by Spain supporters angry at his anti-Madrid stance, he's been told to grow up, and to show more respect. But will Pique change his ways? Here's the story so far.

Gerard Pique takes on Real Madrid: Will it ever end?

Even when he's halfway around the world, Gerard Pique just cannot let it lie. The Barcelona defender's running verbal battle with most of the Real Madrid squad continued in Japan on Wednesday as he refused to back down after igniting yet another row, this time with Alvaro Arbeloa and Sergio Ramos. We all know there's little love lost between Barca and Madrid, but no figure on the pitch seems to embody the rivalry more closely than Pique. Right now he's almost 6,500 miles away in Yokohama - where Barca enter the Club World Cup at the semi-final stage on Thursday - but Real are seemingly very much on his mind. He has been booed by Spain supporters angry at his anti-Madrid stance, he's been told to grow up, and to show more respect. But will Pique change his ways? Here's the story so far.

La Liga: 'Yellow Submarine' sinks wasteful Real

Real Madrid failed to take advantage of Barcelona's slip up and left huge question marks over its La Liga title bid as it lost 1-0 to Villarreal in Sunday's late game in Spain. Real was hoping to take advantage of Barca's disappointing 2-2 home draw with Deportivo La Coruna Saturday, but an early goal by Roberto Soldado in El Madrigal proved its undoing. To rub salt into the wound, city rival Atletico had earlier come from a goal down to beat Athletic Bilbao, drawing level with Barcelona on points at the top.

Champions League draw: Arsenal face Barcelona

Arsenal will face holders Barcelona in the Champions League last 16. Chelsea have been drawn against Paris St-Germain for the third consecutive season, while Manchester City face Dynamo Kiev. Roma versus Real Madrid and Juventus, last year's beaten finalists, against Bayern Munich are two of the standout matches in the draw. First legs are scheduled to take place on 16-17 and 23-24 February. Return legs are on 8-9 and 15-16 March. The winners of each group, including Chelsea and Manchester City, are at home in the second legs, while Arsenal will host their first leg. Barcelona v Arsenal is a repeat of the 2006 final, which the Spanish champions won 2-1 thanks to two late goals in Paris.

'Real Madrid star suspended by France over blackmail case'

One of France's biggest soccer stars looks set to miss the 2016 European Championships after he was suspended from national duty for his alleged involvement in a blackmail plot. Karim Benzema, who plays for Spanish giants Real Madrid, has been implicated in a scheme to blackmail fellow player Mathieu Valbuena.

Villarreal 1- 0 Real Madrid

 
 Real Madrid are five points behind leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid after losing to Villarreal in a wasteful performance.  Villarreal scored early when Luka Modric lost possession and Cedric Bakambu found Roberto Soldado to place the ball through Keylor Navas' legs. Real, who are now only three points above fifth-placed Villarreal, had 20 shots but only forced one save. Cristiano Ronaldo hit the outside of the post in the second half. Villarreal dominated the early stages and could have led by more but Real were the side on the attack for the majority of the second half, albeit with minimal effect. Real had won all five games since their 4-0 thrashing by Barcelona in El Clasico last month, although one of those was in the Copa del Rey against Cadiz - a result likely to be struck out after their elimination for fielding an ineligible player.