Champions Borussia Dortmund travel to Werder Bremen on Friday knowing defeat could deal a further blow to their chances of stopping Bayern Munich steamrolling their way to a 23rd Bundesliga title.

Jurgen Klopp's side ended last season ten points clear of third-placed Bayern, but they already lie six points adrift of the Bavarians, and three behind Bremen, with just eight games of this campaign played.

Cameroon captain Samuel Eto'o has been linked with a move back to Inter Milan, just two months after he left the club in a big-money move to Russian Premier League side Anzhi Makhachkala.

La Gazzetta dello Sport claims Eto'o has approached Inter about a possible loan move back to the nerazzurri during the Russian winter break, which lasts from November to March.

Portugal, losing finalists in 2004, will face outsiders Bosnia in their Euro 2012 play-off while Estonia take on the Republic of Ireland following Thursday's draw in Krakow, Poland.

In the other ties, 1996 runners-up the Czech Republic will take on Montenegro, who had only just achieved independence when the 2008 finals took place, and Guus Hiddink-coached Turkey will meet Croatia.

Defending champion Andy Murray survived a testing encounter with Stanislas Wawrinka to reach the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters Thursday as David Ferrer saved three match points to progress.

Second seed Murray, on a red-hot run of form of 21 wins from 22 matches coming into the clash against the Swiss 13th seed, won 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 under the roof at the Qi Zhong stadium.

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso said Thursday he did not care about the race for second spot in the Formula One championship and would just try to enjoy the year's final events.

The two-time champion from Spain is third in the standings behind newly re-crowned champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull and Briton Jenson Button of McLaren, with four races remaining.

Brazilian veteran Rubens Barrichello Thursday said he is ‘talking to the whole paddock’ about extending his Formula One racing career, already the longest in the sport’s history.

While seven-times champion German Michael Schumacher, 42, may be the oldest driver in the field, Barrichello, 39, has started the most races in an unbroken career that began with Jordan at the South African Grand Prix in 1993.

Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez has agreed a new five-year contract with the English champions, the player's agent was quoted by several newspapers as saying here Thursday.

The Mexican international has been rewarded with a long-term deal at the Premier League giants after a dazzling first season at the club which saw him finish with 20 goals in all competitions.

Britain's Lewis Hamilton Thursday apologized to Felipe Massa for their latest collision and insisted he still had "respect" for the Brazilian despite a series of heated incidents.

Speaking before the Korean Grand Prix, the 26-year-old McLaren driver said he failed to see Massa's Ferrari in his mirrors at Suzuka last weekend, in an incident where the furious Brazilian lost part of his front wing.

Big-serving Jo-Wilfried Tsonga crashed out of the Shanghai Masters on Wednesday, beaten by Japan's Kei Nishikori 7-6 (7/1), 4-6, 4-6 but third seed David Ferrer eased through to the third round.

Tsonga, the fourth seed, appeared to be on his way to a straightforward win when he stepped up the intensity of his game to seal the first set tie-break with the loss of just one point.

Portugal, Croatia, the Republic of Ireland and the Czech Republic will be seeded for Thursday's draw for the Euro 2012 play-offs, UEFA said on Wednesday.

UEFA selected the four seeds based on their current ranking coefficients for matches that will pit them against the other four survivors -- Turkey, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Estonia -- in the draw in Krakow.