Arsenal substitute Kieran Gibbs scored three minutes after coming on to earn his side a 1-1 draw in Sunday's north London derby and deny Tottenham Hotspur a famous victory. Harry Kane's 32nd-minute goal, his sixth in four games, put Spurs on course for a first win at the Emirates Stadium in five years, but after Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech had prevented the visitors from swelling their lead, Mesut Ozil teed up Gibbs for a 77th-minute equaliser.

Italy striker Mario Balotelli has undergone successful surgery on a groin injury and may be playing again in as little as four weeks, his club AC Milan said on Wednesday. Previous reports had suggested he would miss between six to 12 weeks, harming his hopes of a recall to the Italy squad ahead of next summer's European Championships in France.

Daniel Sturridge could make his return after seven weeks out through injury in Liverpool's game at Premier League co-leaders Manchester City on Saturday, manager Jurgen Klopp revealed on Thursday. Sturridge, 26, has not played since Liverpool's 1-1 draw at Everton on October 4, having sustained a knee injury in a training-ground collision with Jordon Ibe shortly after Klopp's appointment.

Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta admitted on Thursday it is impossible to ignore security concerns ahead of Saturday's huge clash between Real Madrid and Barca in the Spanish capital just days after a series of deadly attacks in Paris. The Spanish government have promised security measures on an unprecedented level for the match that will see a capacity 81,000 fans descend upon the Santiago Bernabeu with 2,400 police, stewards and emergency services set to form a triple ring of security around the stadium.

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has said he will wait until an hour before Saturday's mammoth clash with Real Madrid before deciding whether Lionel Messi will start on his return from a two-month injury layoff. Messi has been sidelined since damaging knee ligaments against Las Palmas on September 26, but is expected to feature at the Santiago Bernabeu after taking a full part in training this week.

Watford striker Troy Deeney has invited six former cellmates from prison to watch him achieve the peak of his rehabilitation in Saturday's glamour Premier League clash against Manchester United. The 27-year-old served three months in jail in 2012 following a violent brawl in his home town of Birmingham which left four students injured.

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy equalled former Manchester United forward Ruud van Nustelrooy's record of scoring in 10 consecutive English Premier League games when he netted away to Newcastle United. England international Vardy struck in first-half stoppage-time at St James' Park.

Sniffer dogs, mounted police, helicopters, security forces in their hundreds and countless identity checks greeted fans for Saturday's El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Supporters flocking to see the mammoth clash between Real Madrid and Barcelona in the Spanish capital (kick-off 1715GMT) were confronted with an unprecedented security display for what is widely regarded as the biggest game in world football, just over a week after the deadly Paris attacks.

Reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain stretched their lead in Ligue 1 to 13 points after claiming a 2-1 victory away to Lorient with security tight after the attacks in Paris. The capital club extended their winning run to eight matches through first-half goals from Hervin Ongenda and Blaise Matuidi at the Stade du Moustoir.

Javi Martinez scored his first goal for Bayern Munich for two years as their 3-1 win at Schalke 04 opened an eight-point lead in the German league. After second-placed Borussia Dortmund's shock 3-1 defeat at Hamburg, Pep Guardiola's Bayern took their chance to extend their lead.