* A goal nine minutes from time by defender Yuri Berchiche took Athletic Bilbao into an all-Basque Copa del Rey final against Real Sociedad on Thursday when they edged Granada on away goals. Real Sociedad ended the hopes of second division Mirandes on Wednesday with a 1-0 win which moved them into the final for the first time in 32 years.
* FIFA is considering postponing the Asian World Cup qualifiers due to be played this month because of the coronavirus outbreak, the global soccer body said on Thursday. China’s matches against Maldives at home and Guam away have already been moved Buriram, Thailand, and will be played behind closed doors.
* Italian club Atalanta have confirmed that their Champions League match away to Valencia next Tuesday (Mar 10) will be played behind closed doors because of the coronavirus and an order from the Spanish Health Ministry.
* St Etienne have set up the French Cup final against Paris St Germain with a dramatic 2-1 win over Stade Rennais on Thursday thanks to a stoppage-time strike from midfielder Ryad Boudebouz.
* Retired triple MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo will return to racing as a wildcard at his home Catalan Grand Prix in June, Yamaha and the rider said on Thursday. The 32-year-old Spaniard retired last year after struggling alongside six-times world champion Marc Marquez in an injury-plagued season at Honda.
* Kei Nishikori's long-awaited return from an elbow injury has been put on hold after he pulled out of Japan's Davis Cup qualifier against Ecuador in Miki on Thursday, which will be played without any fans because of the coronavirus.
* Former Brazilian football star Ronaldinho and his brother have been detained in Paraguay after allegedly using fake passports to enter the South American country, authorities said on Wednesday (Mar 4).
* AS Monaco midfielder Gelson Martins has been banned for six months for pushing a referee during a Ligue 1 match against Nimes last month. The Professional Football League (LFP) said on Thursday that the Portugal international had been banned for violent misconduct against referee Mikael Lesage during his side's 3-1 defeat at Nimes on Feb. 1.
