Pick of the weekend

You have to credit the Chelsea physios. After masterminding the return of Peter Cech and John Terry from potentially career-ending injuries, they pulled off their greatest achievement yet when Drogba went down with an ankle sprain in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Blackburn. The Ivorian, unable to walk, was armed off the pitch as fans debated whether he would play again this season. Two minutes later he was back on. Truly miraculous.

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But the Drogba saga wasn't over yet. It appeared Jose Mourinho was playing it safe when he ordered Salomon Kalou to strip off. Up went the board, confirming the withdrawal of... Shevchenko. The Ukrainian had earlier missed a golden opportunity to give Chelsea a 2-0 lead when the ball was squared to him ten yards from goal, but he took a £31 million airshot and the ball bounced away off his standing leg.

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We really want to like Joey Barton. Really. There is something admirable about his uncomplicated approach to the game and refusal to complain when on the receiving end of rough treatment. Then he does something idiotic, like aim a two-footed tackle at Steven Gerrard, the man he berated for releasing an autobiography after the World Cup. Barton was lucky to stay on, Gerrard thankfully reacted with a wry smile rather than fisticuffs.

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Saturday was a great night for fans of defensive football in France, and a bit of a farce for anyone else. The eight results read as follows: 0-0, 0-0, 0-0, 2-0, 0-0, 0-0, 2-0, 0-0. Out of 16 teams in action, Toulouse and Lille were the only ones to locate the back of the net. The French have already devised schemes to encourage more attacking play - clearly they need a radical solution. How about 10 points for a win?

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Fabio Capello's side could have gone top of La Liga with a win against Racing Santander on Saturday but, frankly, bottled it. Having gone in front, Real proceeded to concede two penalties - the first admittedly rather contentious - losing their rag and finishing the game with nine men and losing 2-1. The Madrid papers have been livid ever since, with Monday's Marca calling referee Turienzo Alvarez: "The man who cost Madrid the league".

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The Sicilian side started the season looking like title contenders before the wheels fell off just after Christmas. Manager Francesco Guidolin has flirted with the sack after a dismal run saw them drop out of the Champions League places. The Rosanero's schizophrenia was in full effect on Sunday, when they raced into a 2-0 lead against previously unbeaten Inter before falling apart in the second half, and eventually escaping with a 2-2 draw.

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