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Defence looks set to decide Real Madrid's Champions League round-of-16 clash with Manchester United despite both team's attacking riches.

While the focus for Wednesday's first leg in Madrid will be on Cristiano Ronaldo taking on his former club as well as the Portuguese forward going head-to-head with Manchester United's main marksman Robin van Persie, it is likely the game will actually be decided at the back.

United and Real managed just one clean sheet between them in the group stage of this season's competition - the Premier League leaders defeated Galatasaray 1-0 at Old Trafford back in September.

Melbourne Heart have added midfielder Marcel Meeuwis to their squad, with the Dutchman joining from Eredivisie club VVV Venlo.

The 32-year-old has played most of his career at VVV, with his two stints at Venlo broken up by four seasons at Roda JC, one at Feyenoord and two at Bundesliga outfit Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Heart general manager John Didulica said Meeuwis, a defensive midfielder, would bolster their skinny stocks in the middle of the pitch.

"With the combined losses of Vince Grella, Aziz Behich and Michael Marrone, we needed to add depth and quality to the squad and in Marcel we have certainly done that," Didulica said in a release.

African Cup of Nations' organisers have been quick to hail the success of the tournament in South Africa.

The dust had barely settled following Nigeria's 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso at Johannesburg's Soccer City on Saturday night when South African organising committee chairman Mvuzo Mbebe declared the tournament one of the best in the competition's 56-year history.

"I think that you saw on the field of play that this was possible some of the best football ever, certainly that we have seen for years," Mbebe said.

"For me I would say the match between Ghana and Burkina Faso was possibly the best. 

"You are going to spend a long time thinking of a better game of football than you saw that day."

Santos star Neymar has denied talking to Brazil team-mate Dante about playing for Bayern Munich.

The Brazilian has been linked with a move to Europe for the past two years, with Barcelona and Real Madrid believed to be interested in signing the attacker, though he recently admitted he could see himself at the Bundesliga side.

After Brazil's 2-1 defeat to England, Dante had revealed that Neymar had asked what life is like at the Bavarian side, but Neymar has denied having that conversation.

When asked about the claims by Kicker, Neymar responded: "No, no, we have not spoken."

Dante has secured a permanent first-team spot in the Bayern defence after moving from Borussia Moenchengladbach in the middle of 2012.

Scottish goalkeeper Craig Gordon says a knee injury may force him to retire at the age of 30.

Gordon was signed by Sunderland for nine million pounds in 2007 - at the time the highest fee ever paid by a British club for a goalkeeper - but was released at the end of the 2011/12 campaign.

A 40-cap Scotland international, Gordan has been without a club since his departure from the Stadium of Light and, while he is not prepared to give up on making a return to playing just yet, Gordon has already begun planning for his future by taking up a coaching role with Dumbarton.

"I'm not ruling out playing again but as it goes on, increasingly it gets harder," Gordon told the Daily Record. 

Paris Saint-Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti has rubbished suggestions his side are favourites ahead of their clash with Valencia on Tuesday.

The Ligue 1 leaders go into their last-16 Champions League encounter without Thiago Motta and Thiago Silva and the Italian is expecting a difficult encounter against quality opposition.

"I do not think we are favorites for this game, we're playing against a team who are very well organised and have very good players," Ancelotti told reporters.

"Both teams are currently in good form. I think it will be an open game. I don't think it'll be a physical game, but tactical.

Real Betis played out a scoreless draw at home to Real Valladolid in a dour La Liga encounter that saw both sides reduced to 10 men.

Hosts Betis settled best and tested Daniel Hernandez's goal with a shot from Benat on 24 minutes, with Antonio Amaya firing an effort over from the resulting corner.

In a game of few chances, Benat was at a the centre of Betis' next attack of note, setting up Joel Campbell on 66 minutes only for the Costa Rican to fire wide. 

Valladolid were put under further pressure when Antonio Rukavina brought down Benat to get his marching orders after a second yellow card.