Sporting briefs...

Xavi: Spain midfielder Xavi underwent a knee operation yesterday but doctors refused to speculate on whether the Barcelona playmaker would be fit for the World Cup finals which start next June. "We have just finished the operation and we need to be prudent," doctor Ramon Cugat said. "All we are interested in is that Xavi's knee recovers correctly, and it is his knee that will dictate when he returns." Xavi, 25, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during training on Friday and is expected to be out of action for six months.

Hamburg: Hamburg midfielder Alexander Laas was cut in the head after being hit by a drumstick thrown from the crowd in Saturday's 3-1 win over Cologne in the Bundesliga. The drumstick was thrown from a section of the crowd occupied by Cologne fans while Hamburg were celebrating their second goal. Laas, who was carried away for treatment by his captain Daniel van Buyten, was able to return to the pitch a few minutes later.

Ailton: Brazilian striker Ailton wants to leave Turkish club Besiktas and return to the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund. "I want to move as soon as possible to Dortmund," Ailton told Bild newspaper yesterday. Ailton, 32, scored 28 goals when he helped Werder Bremen to the league and cup double in the 2003-04 season. He then spent a year at Schalke 04 before completing a move to Besiktas in July this year. He was recently fined $100,000 by Besiktas after being sent off for kicking an opponent in the groin.

English League Cup: Quarter-final draw - Doncaster vs Arsenal; Birmingham vs Manchester United; Wigan vs Bolton; Middlesbrough vs Blackburn. Matches will be played in the week starting December 19.

In France: Ligue 1 - Auxerre vs Nantes 4-0; Ajaccio vs Troyes 0-1; Monaco vs Le Mans 2-0; Metz vs Toulouse 2-2; Bordeaux vs Lille 1-0; Lyon vs PSG 2-0; Strasbourg vs Sochaux 0-0.

In Spain: Primera Liga - Celta Vigo vs Real Betis 2-1; Real Madrid vs Getafe 1-0.