The ex-Barcelona coach was hospitalised following a drastic downturn in his health which required emergency surgery, but was tragically unable to survive his battle with cancer.

Former Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova has died at the age of 45 after losing his battle with cancer, the club have confirmed.

The ex-central midfielder was admitted to hospital on Thursday following a downturn in his health which required an operation on his stomach on Thursday, with club president Josep Maria Bartomeu confirming the trainer was “fighting” for his life.

However, Vilanova, whose post-playing career has been tragically plagued by cancer, was unable to battle any longer and passed away on Friday afternoon.

Vilanova’s public health problems began during his final season as Pep Guardiola’s assistant when he was diagnosed with cancer of the parotid gland.

He took over from his long-time friend for the 2012-13 season but suffered a relapse just six months into his tenure as head coach.

He underwent surgery in December 2012, with Jordi Roura taking his place on the bench while he recovered in New York, before returning in March 2013 to see out the rest of the reason and guide Barca to La Liga victory.

However, his continued health problems saw his step down as coach of the Catalans last summer, with Gerardo Martino taking the reins in his place.

Vilanova has largely – and understandably – been out of the spotlight since he left his position at Camp Nou but rumours of his ill health have sadly been revealed to be true. He is survived by a wife and two children.

Following confirmation of his death, Barcelona president Bartomeu said in a statement: “Tito will be reference as a man and in terms of football for Barcelona forever. We thank him for everything he taught us. Rest in peace.”

The Catalans, whom he worked under for years before being promoted from within to head coach in 2012, also sent their condolences to the family of Vilanova.

“The club wishes to express its most heartfelt sympathy to his family, who are being joined in these moments of mourning by Barcelona members and fans all around the world, as well as the rest of the footballing and sporting world.

“The Vilanova family has asked for respect for their desire for the strictest intimacy in the moments after his death.”

According to Goal

Real Madrid took a step towards their first Champions League final in 12 years by beating Bayern Munich 1-0 at the Bernabeu.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side must still survive another 90 minutes against the European champions, but head to the semi-final second leg in Munich with the added advantage of not conceding an away goal.

The visitors dominated possession but were unable to break down a sturdy Madrid side, who looked far more dangerous than the Germans when they attacked, and Los Blancos will be frustrated that they were not able to add to Benzema’s 19th minute tap-in, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria spurning great chances.

However, Bayern thought they should have been awarded a penalty in injury time when Thomas Muller was brought down by Xabi Alonso.

Bale, who had been suffering from flu, began on the bench, while Ronaldo returned after four games out with a hamstring injury. Bayern’s two most expensive players, Javi Martinez and Mario Gotze, were also substitutes.

The Bernabeu was rocking at the start for Real’s fourth consecutive semi-final, but soon quietened down as Bayern took full control of the ball.

Guardiola’s side enjoyed 85 percent of possession in the opening 20 minutes, but Madrid managed just fine without the ball, limiting their opponents to a shot by Arjen Robben that was deflected wide, and a soft effort by Bastian Schweinsteiger which Iker Casillas saved comfortably.

Madrid had barely set foot in Bayern’s area up until then but took the lead with their first attack. Bayern lost possession in Madrid’s half and Ronaldo quickly released Fabio Coentrao down the left – and the defender pulled the ball across goal for Benzema to slam home from four yards out.

Di Maria tested Manuel Neuer a moment later, before Ronaldo squandered a glorious chance to double the lead. The Portuguese blazed over from inside the area when Benzema rolled the ball across to him from the left, one of few areas Bayern looked vulnerable in.

Madrid’s next chance fell to Di Maria, who arrived at the far post to get on the end of an Isco cross, but shot well over the bar with the outside of his boot.

The Argentinian winger then frustrated the home crowd by trying to play in Ronaldo with a backheel, misplacing the pass. At the other end, Philipp Lahm hit the side-netting and Robben’s shot was blocked by Alonso.

Ronaldo gave Bayern another fright at the start of the first half when he tried to beat Neuer from a tight angle at his far post after a poor pass by David Alaba but the goalkeeper palmed the shot away for a corner.

Robben was Bayern’s most adventurous attacker. He attempted a cross into the box that was swatted away by Casillas, then marauded through midfield but failed to trouble the Madrid goalkeeper with a soft effort.

Ronaldo then attempted to catch Neuer off his guard from the edge of the area, but the goalkeeper parried.

With six minutes remaining, the German’s opposite number Casillas made the only decisive intervention he needed to, repelling substitute Gotze’s strike from inside the area.

Bale caused Bayern problems after replacing Ronaldo – who did not look fully recovered from his fitness problems – but sent his only chance into the side-netting.

Real were hanging on towards the end and survived Bayern’s appeals when Muller went down in the area – but English referee Howard Webb was unimpressed, meaning the Spanish giants head to the Allianz Arena next Tuesday with a lead.

According to Foxsports

Barcelona’s one-year transfer ban has been suspended while the club’s appeal against the sanction remains unresolved.

FIFA has cleared the Spanish club to sign players from July 1, with their case unlikely to be resolved before the transfer window opens for the summer.

They were barred from registering new players earlier this month by FIFA’s disciplinary committee as punishment for signing youth players from overseas in breach of rules designed to prevent child trafficking.

The club was found to have broken the rules in the case of 10 under-18 players with a 14-month transfer ban and a fine of £305,000 as punishment.

FIFA only allows international youth transfers when one of three situations apply; the player’s parents have moved country for their own, non-related reason, the move takes place within the European Union if a player is aged between 16 and 18 or the player’s home is less than 50 kilometres from the national border being crossed.

The Spanish FA was fined £340,000 for rule breaches in terms of registering the players, who include 15-year-old South Korea striker Lee Seung Woo.

Barcelona have pledged to pursue a further challenge at the Court of Arbitration for Sport if, as expected, they lose the initial appeal at FIFA.

A FIFA statement said: “The chairman of the FIFA appeal committee considered that the appeal lodged by the club is to be granted suspensive effect.”

Barcelona have been linked with moves for teenage Croatia star Alen Halilovic and Borussia Monchengladbach keeper Marc Ter Stegen, which had been placed in doubt when the ban was first handed out.

Liverpool are planning a summer spending spree to add to their successful squad, according to managing director Ian Ayre.

Brendan Rodgers’ side are favourites for the Barclays Premier League title and have already guaranteed themselves a place in next season’s Champions League group stage.

That is a huge step up from not playing in Europe at all this term – making them a more attractive destination but also increasing the strain on Rodgers’ resources.

“There is no question we always expected that the squad we need for next season will be very different to the squad that we have needed for this year when we were not playing in Europe,” Ayre told national newspapers.

“It will cost what it costs when we decide who the manager wants to buy. That has always been on the cards. It is fairly obvious that we set out with an ambition to get into the Champions League.

“It has always been tougher in the transfer market when you are not competing at the highest level. We had the issue with Luis [Suarez] last summer because he wanted to play in the best games against the best players. That is always a factor.

“We have always been fortunate to be able to bring great players here despite that but there is no question it opens up a few doors for us and makes it a little bit easier.”

Liverpool are five points clear of Chelsea at the Premier League summit following Sunday’s win over Norwich – though third-placed Manchester City, a point further back, have a game in hand.

“What we achieved on Sunday was massive,” said Ayre. “This isn’t just about getting in the qualifiers. We are guaranteed Champions League football.

“It is an unbelievable achievement from where we were. It is what we set out for but if you were taking bets at the start of the season, you’d have said fourth place would be a great achievement. Now we are guaranteed third and we are determined to push on.”

According to Foxsports

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti insists he will not risk playing an unfit Cristiano Ronaldo against Bayern Munich in their first-leg of their Champions League semi-final tie.

The prolific Portuguese has not played any competitive football since Madrid’s 3-0 quarter-final first-leg win over Borussia Dortmund on April 2, coming off in the 80th minute of that match with an injury to his left knee.

The forward had to miss the return leg in Dortmund and last week’s Copa del Rey final win due to a subsequent hamstring problem, but returned to full training on Monday.

Last year Barcelona fielded Lionel Messi against Bayern in a Champions League semi-final when the Argentinian had not fully recovered from a hamstring problem, but Ancelotti vowed not to take any chances with Ronaldo, who is the top scorer in this season’s competition with 14 goals in nine matches.

“Cristiano trained normally today, he’s trained well in the last few days and tomorrow he’s going to have more tests and then we’ll make our decision,” Ancelotti told a press conference.

“If everyone is everyone is certain he can play without any problems at all, then of course he will play. I am confident he will play, but we’re going to make the decision tomorrow.”

The Italian coach hinted he might opt against starting Ronaldo at the Bernabeu, with next week’s return game at the Allianz Arena in mind.

He added: “If there’s any risk of a relapse he won’t play. We have to remember that this tie is not going to be decided tomorrow. We may be able to gain an advantage from the home leg, but the really decisive game is next Tuesday in Munich.”

Midfielder Xabi Alonso added: “Cristiano will play if he’s 100 percent fit, that is a decision he, the medical staff and the coach will take.

“We need him to play because he’s vital for the team. He gives us explosive play and an ability to create chances and score goals, he’s a fundamental player. But if he doesn’t play the team can still perform as we saw in the Copa del Rey final.”

If Ronaldo does not make it, Gareth Bale could start on the left side of attack, a position he shined in during the 2-1 cup final win against Barcelona, scoring the decisive goal.

Alonso said his team-mates were delighted for the former Tottenham player.

“Even before he scored that goal, Gareth has always been very valued by all of us,” the former Liverpool man said. “He’s had to adapt to a new country, a new league and a new team, he’s playing at a very high level and he showed that last week. We are very happy with him and everything he is doing for the team.”

Bayern knocked Madrid out of the Champions League semi-finals on penalties two years ago, but Alonso rubbished the suggestion the capital club go into Wednesday’s game as underdogs.

“I don’t think Real Madrid are victims, you can never say that,” he said.

“Bayern are a great team and we are in great form at the moment and so I don’t think either team are favourites. The role of favourite doesn’t interest us anyway, it’s something created by the media and has no effect on the players in the team.”

According to Foxsports

The Welshman, appointed as interim boss after David Moyes’s sacking, called on his long-time team-mate to assist in Wednesday’s practice session, his first in his new role

Interim Manchester United manager Ryan Giggs called on old team-mate Paul Scholes for assistance as he took his first training session at the club on Wednesday.

Giggs was appointed in a caretaker role on Tuesday after David Moyes was sacked less than 12 months into his six-year deal, and with Saturday’s home clash against Norwich City fast approaching, the veteran summoned his long-time team-mate to help.

Former United team-mates Nicky Butt and Phil Neville – who are on the club’s coaching staff – were also present at their Carrington training ground.

Butt coaches the club’s Under-19s team and Scholes has assisted in their European campaign.

Neville remains part of the club’s first-team staff despite the departure of Moyes, with whom he also worked at Everton.

Along with Gary Neville, the four members of the ‘Class of ’92’ agreed a deal in March to buy non-league club Salford City FC together.

United are languishing in seventh in the Premier League table, 23 points behind table-toppers Liverpool and with their hopes of Champions League qualification extinguished.

According to Goal