MADRID: Real Madrid made an emphatic start to their Spanish League campaign yesterday, sweeping to 4-1 home victory over 10-man Villarreal. But the European Cup winners were given an early shock, as Romanian international Gheorghe Craioveanu put the visitors ahead after only four minutes. But they pulled back Pedrag Mijatovic, Savio Bertolini and Raul.

Six month suspension for Italian rider

MILAN: Italian rider Francesco Casagrande was handed a six month suspension by the Italian cycling federation here on Tuesday for returning two positive drugs tests this year. The 28-year-old, who recently won the San Sebastian Classic and is ranked fifth in the world standings, returned an illegal level of testosterone and epitestosterone in April's Tour of the Trentino.