LONDON -- Roman Abramovich hasn't always had a lot of luck with big-money strikers at Chelsea. Signed for the first time 11 years ago, Didier Drogba was clearly a palpable hit, while Fernando Torres offered mostly misses for 50 million pounds. Andrei Shevchenko was another crushing disappointment who never seemed more than a fraction of the player he had once been. Mateja Kezman, Adrian Mutu, Hernan Crespo, for one reason or another, none of them enjoyed the success his price tag implied.

But...

SEVILLE, Spain -- Three things from the Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan following Sevilla's 0-0 draw with Atletico Madrid in Sunday evening's La Liga clash.

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1. Advantage Valencia in top four race

Fifth-placed Sevilla hosting third-placed Atletico Madrid was billed as a huge clash in the race for Champions League qualification next season -- but with the game finishing scoreless, the biggest winners on the night were fourth-placed Valencia.

Los Che's 2-0 win earlier over Real Sociedad had pushed...

LONDON -- Three quick thoughts on Chelsea's 2-0 win over Tottenham in the Capital One Cup final on Sunday at Wembley.

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1. Chelsea celebrate first silverware in Mourinho's second spell

The second coming of Jose Mourinho at Chelsea has its first silverware. Ten years after winning this same competition in Cardiff, his first trophy with the club, and with Manchester City's loss at Liverpool hardening their grip on the Premier League title, this was a blue-ribbon day.

Centre-back John Terry, a remnant...

LONDON -- Goals from Olivier Giroud and Tomas Rosicky gave Arsenal an easy 2-0 win vs. Everton. Here are three quick thoughts from their Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

1. Giroud scores, still not enough for Arsenal

It is quite difficult to know what to make of Olivier Giroud. Watching him against Monaco midweek and even at points in Sunday's game against Everton, when he contrived to miss a virtually free header from about six yards out not once but twice, it's difficult...

LIVERPOOL, England -- Three thoughts from Anfield after Liverpool claimed a 2-1 victory over Manchester City to climb to fifth in the Premier League table.

1. Coutinho the scourge of City again

History repeated itself. For the second successive season, Manchester City lost to Liverpool. Once again, they were defeated by a wonderful strike from Philippe Coutinho. The Brazilian's ability to unleash unstoppable shots at vital moments is ever more apparent. Seven days after Coutinho scored a glorious...

GRANADA, Spain -- Three quick thoughts from Barcelona's 3-1 win over Granada in La Liga at the Nuevo Los Carmenes on Saturday.

1. Barcelona tough it out

Barcelona were far from their fluid best here, but goals from Ivan Rakitic, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi were enough to get three valuable points, with Granada's reply coming from a second-half Javi Marquez penalty.

Barca had warning of how difficult it can be coming to the Nuevo Los Carmenes, where Granada were unbeaten in six games since...