QPR set to lift trophy

Queens Park Rangers will receive their Championship trophy on Saturday at the clash with Leeds United, the FA confirmed.

The Londoners are being investigated for allegedly breaching third-party ownership rules over Argentine Alejandro Faurlin s transfer in 2009.

And should they been found guilty, they could be forced to hand over the title and drop back into the playoffs for promotion.

Rangers, however, will still be afforded the opportunity to lift the trophy they earned on Saturday, in spite of the scandal that has threatened to derail their season.

The Football League can confirm that it intends to present the npower Championship Trophy to Queens Park Rangers at the conclusion of tomorrow s fixture with Leeds United, in line with custom and practice,…

Rayo Vallecano v Barcelona: Manucho confident as champions look for a place in history

Manucho is confident Rayo Vallecano can take something from their meeting with La Liga leaders Barcelona on Thursday, as the dominant champions looking to set a Spanish record of 35 matches without defeat.

Rayo entertain Barca on the back of a seven-game unbeaten run in the league, but five 2-2 draws in that sequence leaves them 16th and just two points clear of the relegation zone.

All-conquering Barca, meanwhile, have not lost in their last 34 outings in all competitions matching the 1988-89 benchmark set by Real Madrid.

Their stunning form began with a 5-2 home win over Rayo in October, with Club World Cup glory and a place in the Copa del Rey final and the Champions League last 16 secured since.

History is on their side as they head to Vallec…

Gervinho sets sights on last 16

Ivory Coast star Gervinho believes progressing from Group C at the FIFA World Cup is achievable for his team.

Sabri Lamouchi s men face Colombia, Japan and Greece at Brazil 2014 with every chance of qualifying for the round of 16 for the first time in their history.

Ivory Coast missed out on the knockout stages in 2006 and 2010 after being drawn with the likes of Argentina, the Netherlands, Portugal and Brazil.

Gervinho, 27, said his team needed to be determined, and while he refused at first to make a prediction, felt Ivory Coast could reach the second round.

This, as I know, is that each of us is ready physically and in full awareness of what is expected from us, the Roma attacker told Ivory Coast Football Federation s website.

That is to say, to pass the…