Barcelona overcame the shock of conceding a goal after just 23 seconds -- the fastest in El Clasico history -- to defeat bitter rivals Real Madrid 3-1 on Saturday and go top of La Liga.

French striker Karim Benzema scored the early goal to give Real a 1-0 lead after a terrible clearance from Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes.

Former Germany goalkeeper Rene Adler is in talks with Hamburg, according to reports in the German media on Saturday, after he has fallen out of favor at Champions League side Bayer Leverkusen.

Both Cologne newspaper Express and Hamburg's Morgenpost report Adler is in talks with Hamburg, while his contract with Leverkusen is set to expire in June.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Saturday that he was open to quake-stricken Japan hosting the Women's World Cup after having proven its mettle for other top-shelf football events.

Following Japan's victory in the last installment of the tournament in Germany in July, Blatter said bringing it to the champion's home turf was a welcome idea, but he stopped short of giving a firm commitment.

The coach of African champions Esperance admitted on Saturday that it was a problem getting his players to focus on their Club World Cup opener when they know Barcelona await them if they win.

The Tunisians take on Asian winners Al Sadd, from Qatar, at the intercontinental showpiece in Japan on Sunday, with a glamour tie against the European and Spanish champions the prize.

With passion, determination and a big smile on his face Edward Maalouf greeted the students, faculty and administration of Jbeil’s public secondary school and Modern St. Anthony private school. The Lebanese Paralympic champion addressed the students about his disability and how sports has inspired him. This talk was part of the British Embassy’s activities in the run-up to the Olympic and Paralympic games that London will be hosting in 2012.

Edward was received by the students with eagerness and enthusiasm. They prepared a power-point presentation marking his sports milestones, from joining the basketball team to becoming a hand-cycling champion. In return Edward talked about his life as an athlete and his accomplishments in the run-up to the 2012 games. He also tackled the subject of his disability and how important it is to have ambition, strong will and determination. His latest dream – one of many –is aiming for gold at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games.

Star Brazilian striker Neymar said on Friday that he would never be better than Pele and insisted he was not interested in impressing his many European suitors at the Club World Cup.

The much-coveted Santos player, 19, has been touted as one of the planet's finest prospects and linked with a host of top European clubs, with Spanish giants Real Madrid understood to be leading the charge for his signature.

Kim Clijsters will take greater care over her scheduling in 2012 after injury in August brought this season to a premature end.

The four-time Grand Slam title winner suffered an abdominal strain in Toronto which ruled her out of the U.S. Open where she was the double defending champion.

UEFA president Michel Platini spoke of his preference for human eyes over technology during the European football governing body's Executive Committee meeting here on Thursday.

Earlier this week, FIFA president Sepp Blatter gave his backing to goal-line technology but Platini remained steadfast in his opposition to the idea, claiming UEFA's solution of putting two extra officials behind the goal was preferable to going down the route of electronic aids.

Former double world champion Fernando Alonso believes that Ferrari will break Red Bull's Formula One title stranglehold "sooner rather than later".

Sebastian Vettel has taken Red Bull to back-to-back world championships, but Spanish driver Alonso came close in 2010 when only a strategic error in the Abu Dhabi finale allowed his German rival to triumph.

Andy Murray's mother Judy had been appointed as captain of Britain's Fed Cup team, the Lawn Tennis Association confirmed on Thursday.

Murray, who has helped coach her world number four son Andy, will take charge of the team in the Euro/Africa Zone Group I from February 1-4 next in Eilat, Israel.