Barcelona

By George Georgakopoulos

Panathinaikos lost 78-69 at unbeaten Barcelona on Friday for its second defeat in five Euroleague games, as its defensive effort went to waste due to its poor shooting outside the line.

A pre-Euro 2016 qualifier match-up is more than a friendly for both Turkey and Brazil, with the visiting side’s Neymar putting Arda Turan under the spotlight during a sideline interview Brazilian international Neymar did not hide his hesitation before the Nov.

About 81 percent of Catalonia's voters have supported independence form Spain in a non-binding vote held in Spain's wealthiest region Sunday.

The event was however also marked by a low turnout, with nearly a third (32.8% or about 2.04 million) of those eligible to vote having cast a ballot.

Catalonia's nationalist government vowed to step up its secession drive after over two million people voted Nov. 9 in a symbolic independence referendum which Spain's central government dismissed it as "useless."

Catalan government head Artur Mas called the vote, not sanctioned by Madrid, "a total success" after a large majority of those who took part supported independence.

Hundreds of thousands of Catalans are expected to back independence from Spain on Nov. 9 in a symbolic referendum on secession that they hope will propel the issue further despite opposition from Madrid.

Italy is the country with the highest number of polling stations organized abroad by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) for the presidential elections; Spain, the United States and the Republic of Moldova follow.

Lionel Messi enjoyed another landmark European night as he equaled the Champions League scoring record against Ajax but doubts remain over Luis Enrique's Barcelona side after a stuttering start to the season.
   

Two defeats in as many games has not been the dream start Luis Suarez sought to life as a Barcelona player, but one of his old hunting grounds offers the chance to get up and running as the Catalans travel to Ajax on Wednesday.
      

Luis Suarez remains without a victory in a Barcelona shirt as the Catalans suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Celta Vigo on his home debut on Nov. 1.
      
Barca had been unbeaten in the league until the Uruguayan's bow away to Real Madrid last weekend, but consecutive defeats have seen them slip to third in La Liga behind Real and Atletico Madrid.
      

Cristiano Ronaldo scored to spark Real Madrid's 3-1 comeback win over Barcelona in a thrilling "clasico" match Oct. 25 in the Spanish league that handed the visitors their first loss of the season.