Bremen dealt Borowski blow

Werder Bremen

Meanwhile, Bundesliga leaders FC Bayern München, also qualified for the first knockout round of the top UEFA club competition, have confirmed that French international Willy Sagnol will decide about his future at the start of January. The 28-year-old full-back, out of contract in the summer, has been offered new terms until 2010.

FC Barcelona will receive another €1m from Villarreal CF after Juan Román Riquelme helped take the club into the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League. A clause in Barça's agreement to sell the Argentinian to Villarreal included the stipulation that €1m would be due to the Camp Nou side if Villarreal reached the knockout stage of the competition.

Finishing touches are being put to preparations for Friday night's 2006 FIFA World Cup draw in Leipzig, Germany. The Netherlands and the Czech Republic are both unseeded and as such have been billed as the teams to avoid when the 90-minute ceremony gets under way at 20.30CET in front of 4,000 invited guests at the Neue Messe trade hall.

Real Madrid CF-bound full-back Cicinho has revealed he is "relaxed" about signing for the club despite the departure of his compatriot Vanderlei Luxemburgo as coach. The São Paolo FC player, who could move to the Santiago Bernabéu in January having agreed a five-year deal, said: "I have signed a contract with Madrid, not Luxemburgo. I'm relaxed about the matter and I hope it all turns out well."

Meanwhile, Madrid sporting director Arrigo Sacchi, who announced on Tuesday that he would be leaving the job this month, has said he will walk away from the Bernabéu with his head held high. "I will leave thinking I have done all I was asked to do by the club," Sacchi said. "People talk about Luxemburgo and Sacchi's failure and that hurts. But my decision is based on personal problems – I miss my wife, my daughter and my country. Results didn't go Luxemburgo's way this season, but he did a very good job."

Newcastle United FC and England midfielder Kieron Dyer has again been frustrated in his attempt to return after a long-standing battle with injury. The 26-year-old has suffered a hamstring strain, ending hopes of a comeback this weekend.

Fenerbahçe SK made a bitter farewell to the UEFA Champions League by picking up two injuries in the 2-0 defeat by PSV Eindhoven that confirmed them in last place in Group E. Brazilian striker Márcio Nobre will not play again until the new year with a groin problem while fellow forward Nicolas Anelka is sidelined for at least a week with a troublesome calf.

Real Betis Balompié have asked for the crowd's support as they look to lift themselves off the bottom of Spain's Primera División. Following their midweek UEFA Champions League exit, players are pleading for patience from supporters. Winger Joaquín Sánchez said: "I ask the fans to come and help us and those who come to the ground to boo, please stay at home."

Reports from Russia suggest that FC Lokomotiv Moskva have confirmed the departure of coach Vladimir Eshtrekov. Speaking to Russian daily Sport-Express, club president Valeri Filatov said: "The team will have a new coach for next season. I will announce his name this week." The 58-year-old Eshtrekov has said he will not comment until the news is official.

Athletic Club Bilbao midfielder Ibon Gutiérrez is to seek specialist advice in Germany next week on the groin injury which has kept him out of action since the end of October. The 21-year-old may or not require surgery.

Former Moldova coach Victor Pasulko is poised to become the third man to lead Azerbaijani club FK Khazar Lenkoran this season. Last year's runners-up began the term with Rasim Kara at the helm, but he made way for Nazim Suleymanov after four matches. The 44-year-old Pasulko, a former Soviet international, had coached Moldova since 2002 before leaving the post last month.

Former Arsenal FC goalkeeper Rami Shaaban has signed a three-year contract with Norwegian top-flight side Fredrikstad FK. The 30-year-old Egyptian-born Swede was released by English second division outfit Brighton and Hove Albion FC at the end of last term.