LONDON -- Despite a ruling damaging to his already tarnished image, Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone won a multimillion-dollar case at Londons High Court Thursday relating to the sale of F1 in 2005. The case was dismissed but the judge said it had nevertheless been a corrupt deal and questioned Ecclestones honesty. "Even ... making allowances for the lapse of time and Mr Ecclestones age, I am afraid that I find it impossible to regard him as a reliable or truthful witness," judge Guy Newey said. A former F1 shareholder, German media company Constantin Medien, had sued Ecclestone and other defendants for up to $144 million, claiming F1 was undervalued at the time of the sale to investment group CVC Capital Partners. The 83-year-old Ecclestone was accused of entering into a "corrupt agreement" with German banker Gerhard Gribkowsky to facilitate the sale of Formula One Group to a buyer chosen by him. The High Court said the deal was corrupt, but ruled that Constantin Medien did not lose out as a result. "No loss to Constantin has been shown to have been caused by the corrupt arrangement with Dr Gribkowsky," the judge said in his conclusions. "That fact is fatal to the claim." During the trial, which ran from October to December last year, Constantin Mediens lawyers said that payments totalling about 27 million pounds ($45 million) were made to Gribkowsky at the instigation of Ecclestone. Gribkowsky, who was in charge of selling German bank BayernLBs 47-per cent stake in F1 to CVC, has already been found guilty of corruption, tax evasion and breach of trust and is serving an 8 1/2-year prison sentence. Ecclestone acknowledged during Gribkowskys trial that he made the payment to avoid being reported by the banker to authorities over his tax affairs. "The payments were a bribe. They were made because Mr Ecclestone had entered into a corrupt agreement with Dr Gribkowsky in May 2005 under which Dr Gribkowsky was to be rewarded for facilitating the sale of BLBs shares in the Formula One group to a buyer acceptable to Mr Ecclestone," the judge said. Constantin said it would appeal the decision. "The judge ruled against Constantin essentially on technical grounds -- including extremely complicated questions of German law which is the governing law in the case -- and Constantin will be appealing those findings," said lawyer Keith Oliver, head of commercial fraud litigation at Peters and Peters Solicitors. Ecclestone is also facing trial in Germany. He is charged with bribery and incitement to breach of trust connected with the payment to Gribkowsky. The trial will begin on April 24 and is set to run until Sept. 16. Bribery convictions can result in prison sentences ranging from three months to 10 years in Germany. 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Len Chappell Jersey . -- Catriona Matthew remained atop the Airbus LPGA Classic leaderboard Friday, birdieing four of the last seven holes to take a one-stroke advantage over Charley Hull into the weekend. BARCELONA, Spain -- Atletico Madrids record-setting 1-0 win over Real Madrid brought an emphatic end to its crosstown rivals 14-year unbeaten league run in their Spanish capital derby on Saturday. On-form Diego Costa struck in the 11th minute and not even Gareth Bale in his home debut for Madrid could help it rally. Atleticos big win came after Lionel Messi scored before being substituted due to injury to help Barcelona win 2-0 at Almeria. Barcelona and Atletico set club records by staying perfect through seven rounds to start the season, opening up a five-point gap over Madrid. Messi and Diego Costa have guided their teams to their milestones and lead the league with eight goals each. "We are having a great year and we have to keep it going," said Atleticos Jorge "Koke" Resurreccion, who set up Diego Costas goal. "Diego Costa is in a spectacular moment. He has helped us a lot." Bale, Madrids 100-million-euro man, went on at the start of the second half, finally playing in front of his new home fans after straining his left thigh while warming up before last weekends match. Yet neither the Wales winger in 45 minutes nor Cristiano Ronaldo in 90 were able to target Atleticos goal. "Atletico was more aggressive and ran more. It wasnt our day," said Ronaldo. "We have to understand that we need to improve. I played poorly and many of my teammates did so as well. Our coach had nothing to do with it. Its our fault." Atleticos last league win against Madrid had come in 1999, and since then it had gone 23 games without a victory. But Atleticos victory over Madrid in the same Santiago Bernabeu Stadium last May to claim the Copa del Rey had apparently given it the boost in confidence it needed to break its horrendous streak. While Atletico squeaked out that cup win in extra time, Diego Simeones side simply outplayed Madrid on Saturday, creating many more shots and deploying a swarming defence that kept Madrid in check until the final minutes. Simeone pumped both fists on the final whistle as he left the dugout, deservedly satisfied with his teams effort. "We can play better or worse, but our commitment to working hard is nonnegotiable," said Simeone. "The team is above everything else. The economic power of Barcelona and Madrid is supeerior to ours.dddddddddddd We give it our all in each game." Diego Costa, who also scored in last seasons cup final, took the games sole goal when Filipe Luis stole the ball from Madrids Angel Di Maria and Koke placed a throughball for his goalscorer to coolly fire it in. As the Brazilian forward soaked up the dismay of Madrids supporters, Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti turned away and slapped his leg in frustration. "We are not playing well. We have to solve this by having a better attitude, staying concentrated, and playing with more speed and pace," said Ancelotti. "Its true that five points behind Barcelona and Atletico isnt a little amount. But thats not the problem." Messi netted his goal in the 21st with a left-footed shot after combining with Pedro Rodriguez, but he asked to be replaced eight minutes later after hurting a muscle in his right leg. Adriano sealed the result for Barcelona in the 56th from a pass by Cesc Fabregas while Messi watched from the bench. Messis injury leaves him in doubt for Tuesdays Champions League match at Celtic, when Atletico plays at Porto. Madrid hosts Copenhagen on Wednesday. Barcelona said the Argentina forward would undergo more tests on Sunday. While Barcelona may be missing Messi for the trip to Glasgow, it should have Neymar well rested after the striker didnt play a minute at Juegos Mediterraneos Stadium. Barcelonas first-year coach Gerardo Martino has guided Barcelona to its best start in 82 leagues. Five other managers, including Pep Guardiola (2009-10) and predecessor Tito Vilanova (2012-13), had reached six wins. "I have only latched on to one of the records that these players have broken and continue to break," said Martino. "They have been doing so for years both individually and as a team. The fact that I formed a part of this one is circumstantial." Elsewhere, Jonas scored his third winning goal for Valencia this week to secure a 1-0 victory at home over Rayo Vallecano. Jonas netted the decisive goal in recent wins against Sevilla and Granada, and he stepped up once again to produce the 36th-minute winner after intercepting a poor pass by Rayos Saul Niguez. Real Sociedad, meanwhile, was held to 1-1 at home by Sevilla before its Champions League game at Leverkusen on Wednesday. ' ' '