Espanyol, who had defeated Barcelona last weekend, were in charge at the Olympic Stadium through Ivan de la Pena’s promptings in midfield, but their inability to create clear cut chances was to prove crucial.

An impressive run from De la Pena from the midfield, and a strike from Nene which went close, were all that Espanyol had to show for all their possession in the first half.

Real soaked up the pressure before Guti put them ahead from a free-kick conceded after a rare attack in the 67th minute.

He curled a left-footed shot from 30 yards into the top corner and five minutes later Raul slotted home to give Real the three points and extend their winning run to ten matches.

Earlier, a Frederic Kanoute brace helped Sevilla come from behind to beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1 in a dress-rehearsal of the Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday.

Sevilla are third in the table, but 13 points behind leaders Barcelona.

Mali international striker Kanoute scored either side of half-time to see off the challenge of Bilbao who took the lead through Inaki Gabilondo.

Both sides started with weakened sides but while Sevilla were dominating it was Gabilondo who made the breakthrough after the visitors’ defence made a hash of clearing a corner and the left-winger fired home from 12 yards.

Kanoute deservedly brought the sides level, bringing the ball down inside the area before beating the keeper in the 38th minute.

Just before the hour mark, he calmly finished in the corner as Sevilla continued to take the game to Bilbao whose coach Joaquin Caparros defended his decision to leave out players with on eye on the Spanish Cup.

“I had to rest them for Wednesday so that they would be fresh but still we had options in the game. We had possession but we committed two silly mistakes,” he said.

Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez said: “Our intention was not to think about Wednesday, we are an ambitious team and we have set ourselves targets in the league which we have to achieve.”

On Sunday, Barcelona face Atletico Madrid and midfielder Yaya Toure feels it’s imperative they don’t allow any more points to slip away.

“We cannot allow Real to make any ground on us. Our last three games have been difficult for us in the way that the opposition had played,” he said.

Elsewhere, Villarreal will be looking to consolidate their Champions League place when they face Real Betis, while misfiring Valencia aim to pick up ground with a win against Valladolid.

At the other end of the table Numancia are in deep trouble and have asked for a big crowd to get behind the players against Deportivo La Coruna.

Mallorca, who have put together back-to-back wins, know that a further victory against Sporting Gijon could take them clear of the relegation zone.

- AFP/yt

Channel News Asia

The Ukrainian striker, on loan from Liverpool, hit a first-half goal, which show-cased his excellent finishing, before Hungary midfielder Pal Dardai put Hertha 2-0 up at half-time.

United States midfielder Michael Bradley converted a penalty for Moenchengladbach on 69 minutes after Hertha’s Germany defender Arne Friedrich brought down international team-mate Marko Marin in the area.

Berlin now have a one-point lead, but their stay at the top of the table could only last 24 hours as second-placed Hamburg face fifth-placed Wolfsburg on Sunday.

Third-placed Hoffenheim missed out on the chance to claim top spot when they were held 0-0 at Borussia Dortmund.

Both sides were reduced to ten men when Hoffenheim midfielder Tobias Weis retaliated after being brought down by Dortmund’s Sebastian Kehl.

Weis was shown a straight red while Kehl was shown his second yellow.

After both sides heroics in Europe in midweek, Bayern Munich on Sunday travel to face Werder Bremen, who are without goalkeeper Tim Wiese, while Bayern are missing striker Luca Toni and defender Daniel van Buyten.

Bayern stunned Sporting Lisbon 5-0 in the Champions League Round of 16 on Wednesday, while Werder Bremen knocked AC Milan out of the UEFA Cup the following day.

Defending champions Munich are now five points behind Hertha in fourth and badly need a win after three defeats in their last four games while Bremen are down in 11th.

Relegation candidates Bochum escaped the bottom three after a 3-2 win over fellow strugglers Energie Cottbus who drop into the danger zone.

Bochum’s Austrian defender Christian Fuchs equalised with a direct free-kick on 54 minutes before French defender Marc Pfertzel converted an 80th-minute penalty to give Bochum three much-needed points.

Struggling Schalke 04 allowed a late equaliser from Eintracht Frankfurt to threaten to share the points before Germany defender Heiko Westermann volleyed into an empty net in the 83rd minute.

The 2-1 win moves Schalke up to seventh in the league with Frankfurt now 13th.

Bayer Leverkusen were shocked by a 1-0 defeat at Hanover which leaves them sixth in the table while Hanover are 12th.

On Friday, Cologne drew 1-1 with Arminia Bielefeld while on Sunday Stuttgart are at Karlsruhe.

– AFP

Channel News Asia

The Ukrainian striker, on loan from Liverpool, hit a first-half goal, which show-cased his excellent finishing, before Hungary midfielder Pal Dardai put Hertha 2-0 up at half-time.

United States midfielder Michael Bradley converted a penalty for Moenchengladbach on 69 minutes after Hertha’s Germany defender Arne Friedrich brought down international team-mate Marko Marin in the area.

Berlin now have a one-point lead, but their stay at the top of the table could only last 24 hours as second-placed Hamburg face fifth-placed Wolfsburg on Sunday.

Third-placed Hoffenheim missed out on the chance to claim top spot when they were held 0-0 at Borussia Dortmund.

Both sides were reduced to ten men when Hoffenheim midfielder Tobias Weis retaliated after being brought down by Dortmund’s Sebastian Kehl.

Weis was shown a straight red while Kehl was shown his second yellow.

After both sides heroics in Europe in midweek, Bayern Munich on Sunday travel to face Werder Bremen, who are without goalkeeper Tim Wiese, while Bayern are missing striker Luca Toni and defender Daniel van Buyten.

Bayern stunned Sporting Lisbon 5-0 in the Champions League Round of 16 on Wednesday, while Werder Bremen knocked AC Milan out of the UEFA Cup the following day.

Defending champions Munich are now five points behind Hertha in fourth and badly need a win after three defeats in their last four games while Bremen are down in 11th.

Relegation candidates Bochum escaped the bottom three after a 3-2 win over fellow strugglers Energie Cottbus who drop into the danger zone.

Bochum’s Austrian defender Christian Fuchs equalised with a direct free-kick on 54 minutes before French defender Marc Pfertzel converted an 80th-minute penalty to give Bochum three much-needed points.

Struggling Schalke 04 allowed a late equaliser from Eintracht Frankfurt to threaten to share the points before Germany defender Heiko Westermann volleyed into an empty net in the 83rd minute.

The 2-1 win moves Schalke up to seventh in the league with Frankfurt now 13th.

Bayer Leverkusen were shocked by a 1-0 defeat at Hanover which leaves them sixth in the table while Hanover are 12th.

On Friday, Cologne drew 1-1 with Arminia Bielefeld while on Sunday Stuttgart are at Karlsruhe.

– AFP

Channel News Asia

Lille, who enjoyed a brief foray into the Champions League three seasons ago, stay sixth after goals in quick succession from Gael Danic and former Glasgow Rangers striker Jean-Claude Darcheville around the half-hour mark put paid to their lofty ambitions.

The northerners stay on 43 points from 27 games, one behind Bordeaux, who host Lorient on Sunday.

Toulouse were hoping to bag second place themselves at least overnight with three points at Auxerre in the late match.

Valenciennes pushed into midtable after they made it nine matches unbeaten in all competitions.

Reigning champions Lyon, who have a six-point lead over Paris St Germain, on Sunday host a Rennes side who in the event of a shock win could overhaul Lille.

PSG are also in action Sunday, at home to midtable Nancy while third-placed Marseille visit struggling Caen and St Etienne look to exit the drop zone with a win at Monaco.

Elsewhere Saturday, Nice saw their hopes of bagging a potential place in Europe fade after a 1-0 loss at Sochaux, now level on points with fourth-bottom Caen.

Nantes and Grenoble shared a 1-1 draw and Le Mans moved away from the danger zone with a 2-0 home win over a Le Havre side which appears doomed after a 20th league defeat left them ten points behind St Etienne.

– AFP /ls

Channel News Asia

Parry’s departure, the latest twist in the boardroom unrest at Liverpool, is the result of the breakdown in his relationship with Benitez, who has been unhappy with the chief executive’s failure to sign players targeted by the Spaniard.

Benitez has been refusing to sign a new contract because he wants more control over the club’s transfer policy instead of Parry, who had been responsible for negotiating with clubs and players.

Rumours swept Merseyside ahead of Wednesday’s 1-0 Champions League win at Real Madrid that Benitez was set to quit.

But Benitez, who lifted the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, appears to have won the power struggle and is likely to agree a new deal in the near future, ending reports that he may join Real Madrid.

A statement from Tom Hicks, joint owner of the club with George Gillett, on the Liverpool website read: “Rick’s commitment to Liverpool Football Club is epitomised by his desire to ensure that this transitional period is managed efficiently and we are grateful to him for his help. He will always remain a friend of the football club.”

Parry played a key role in helping American tycoons Hicks and Gillett buy Liverpool in February 2007 after Dubai Investment Capital’s bid fell through and he was understood to have received a 500,000 pounds bonus when the deal was completed.

But the relationship between the trio gradually disintegrated, leaving Parry allied with Gillett and Hicks with Benitez.

Hicks tried to force out Parry last April and used commercial director Ian Ayre and finance director Steve Nash, who operate out of a city centre office away from Anfield, to marginalise the 54-year-old.

In November, Parry pledged to stay at Anfield after he was linked with a senior job in the English Football Association’s 2018 World Cup bid.

Now the former chief executive of the Premier League, who joined Liverpool in 1998, will be looking for a new job after falling victim to Benitez’s desire for total control at Anfield.

Parry refused to criticise the club and insisted he could leave Liverpool with his head held high.

“I have had 12 very exciting years at Liverpool and am extremely proud of what has been achieved by the club over that period,” Parry said.

“The victory in Madrid was a wonderful reminder of the many high points we have experienced and adds to the moments that make Liverpool and its magnificent fans so special.

“It has been a privilege to serve the club and as a lifelong supporter I wish the owners, Rafa (Benitez), the players and the wonderful staff all the very best for the future.

“I will be leaving at the end of the season knowing that the club remains strong and with a set of supporters who deserve success in all that Liverpool does.”

Gillett added: “I would like to thank Rick for his significant service to the club and the assistance he has given us since we joined Liverpool. He has been integral to the club’s success over the past decade and leaves with our best wishes for the future.”

Liverpool confirmed they will begin their search for Parry’s replacement and will “update supporters and other stakeholders when appropriate”. – AFP/ms

Channel News Asia

Parry’s departure, the latest twist in the boardroom unrest at Liverpool, is the result of the breakdown in his relationship with Benitez, who has been unhappy with the chief executive’s failure to sign players targeted by the Spaniard.

Benitez has been refusing to sign a new contract because he wants more control over the club’s transfer policy instead of Parry, who had been responsible for negotiating with clubs and players.

Rumours swept Merseyside ahead of Wednesday’s 1-0 Champions League win at Real Madrid that Benitez was set to quit.

But Benitez, who lifted the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, appears to have won the power struggle and is likely to agree a new deal in the near future, ending reports that he may join Real Madrid.

A statement from Tom Hicks, joint owner of the club with George Gillett, on the Liverpool website read: “Rick’s commitment to Liverpool Football Club is epitomised by his desire to ensure that this transitional period is managed efficiently and we are grateful to him for his help. He will always remain a friend of the football club.”

Parry played a key role in helping American tycoons Hicks and Gillett buy Liverpool in February 2007 after Dubai Investment Capital’s bid fell through and he was understood to have received a 500,000 pounds bonus when the deal was completed.

But the relationship between the trio gradually disintegrated, leaving Parry allied with Gillett and Hicks with Benitez.

Hicks tried to force out Parry last April and used commercial director Ian Ayre and finance director Steve Nash, who operate out of a city centre office away from Anfield, to marginalise the 54-year-old.

In November, Parry pledged to stay at Anfield after he was linked with a senior job in the English Football Association’s 2018 World Cup bid.

Now the former chief executive of the Premier League, who joined Liverpool in 1998, will be looking for a new job after falling victim to Benitez’s desire for total control at Anfield.

Parry refused to criticise the club and insisted he could leave Liverpool with his head held high.

“I have had 12 very exciting years at Liverpool and am extremely proud of what has been achieved by the club over that period,” Parry said.

“The victory in Madrid was a wonderful reminder of the many high points we have experienced and adds to the moments that make Liverpool and its magnificent fans so special.

“It has been a privilege to serve the club and as a lifelong supporter I wish the owners, Rafa (Benitez), the players and the wonderful staff all the very best for the future.

“I will be leaving at the end of the season knowing that the club remains strong and with a set of supporters who deserve success in all that Liverpool does.”

Gillett added: “I would like to thank Rick for his significant service to the club and the assistance he has given us since we joined Liverpool. He has been integral to the club’s success over the past decade and leaves with our best wishes for the future.”

Liverpool confirmed they will begin their search for Parry’s replacement and will “update supporters and other stakeholders when appropriate”. – AFP/ms

Channel News Asia

Leading 2-0 from the first leg, Shakhtar only briefly looked in danger of relinquishing control of the tie after Mexican midfielder Giovani dos Santos opened the scoring with a stunning strike for Spurs, ten minutes into the second half.

One more goal would have been enough to force extra-time but it was to be the visitors who found the net, Fernandinho grabbing a late goal to seal Shakhtar’s place in the last 16.

With Sunday’s League Cup final meeting with Manchester United looming, Spurs manager Harry Redknapp had made his priorities crystal clear by naming only one member of the side that defeated Hull on Monday night in his starting XI.

That meant a rare starting chance for Giovani and the midfielder may have done enough to force his way into Redknapp’s plans for Sunday.

His goal was his first since he arrived from Barcelona in a deal worth 8.6 million pounds and it was certainly worth waiting for.

Picking the ball up 40 yards out, the Mexican drove into the penalty area and found the net with a fierce drive.

He did blot his copybook somewhat by failing to connect with an inviting Gilberto cross when he could have levelled the tie.

But any doubt about the outcome was removed with four minutes left when Fernandinho finished crisply from the edge of the area.

Results in the UEFA Cup round of 32, second leg matches:

CSKA Moscow (RUS) 2 Aston Villa (ENG) 0

(CSKA Moscow win 3-1 on aggregate)

Metalist Kharkiv (UKR) 2 Sampdoria (ITA) 0

(Metalist Kharkiv win 3-0 on aggregate)

FC Twente (NED) 0 Marseille (FRA) 1 (after extra time; 1-1 on aggregate)

(Marseille win 7-6 on penalties)

Galatasaray (TUR) 4 Bordeaux (FRA) 3

(Galatasaray win 4-3 on aggregate)

Hamburg (GER) 1 NEC Nijmegen (NED) 0

(Hamburg win 4-0 on aggregate)

Wolfsburg (GER) 1 PSG (FRA) 3

(PSG win 5-1 on aggregate)

AC Milan (ITA) 2 Werder Bremen (GER) 2

(3-3 on aggregate; Werder Bremen win on away goals)

Ajax (NED) 1 Fiorentina (ITA) 1

(Ajax win 2-1 on aggregate)

Deportivo La Coruna (ESP) 1 Aalborg (DEN) 3

(Aalborg win 6-1 on aggregate)

Manchester City (ENG) 2 FC Copenhagen (DEN) 1

(Man City win 4-3 on aggregate)

St Etienne (FRA) 2 Olympiakos (GRE) 1

(St Etienne win 5-2 on aggregate)

Standard Liege (BEL) 1 Sporting Braga (POR) 1

(Sporting Braga win 4-1 on aggregate)

Tottenham (ENG) 1 Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) 1

(Shakhtar Donetsk win 3-1 on aggregate)

Udinese (ITA) 2 Lech Poznan (POL) 1

(Udinese win 4-3 on aggregate)

Stuttgart (GER) 1 Zenit St Petersburg (RUS) 2

(Zenit St Petersburg win 4-2 on aggregate)

Valencia (ESP) 2 Dynamo Kiev (UKR) 2

(3-3 on aggregate; Dynamo Kiev win on away goals)

- AFP/de

Channel News Asia

Leading 2-0 from the first leg, Shakhtar only briefly looked in danger of relinquishing control of the tie after Mexican midfielder Giovani dos Santos opened the scoring with a stunning strike for Spurs, ten minutes into the second half.

One more goal would have been enough to force extra-time but it was to be the visitors who found the net, Fernandinho grabbing a late goal to seal Shakhtar’s place in the last 16.

With Sunday’s League Cup final meeting with Manchester United looming, Spurs manager Harry Redknapp had made his priorities crystal clear by naming only one member of the side that defeated Hull on Monday night in his starting XI.

That meant a rare starting chance for Giovani and the midfielder may have done enough to force his way into Redknapp’s plans for Sunday.

His goal was his first since he arrived from Barcelona in a deal worth 8.6 million pounds and it was certainly worth waiting for.

Picking the ball up 40 yards out, the Mexican drove into the penalty area and found the net with a fierce drive.

He did blot his copybook somewhat by failing to connect with an inviting Gilberto cross when he could have levelled the tie.

But any doubt about the outcome was removed with four minutes left when Fernandinho finished crisply from the edge of the area.

Results in the UEFA Cup round of 32, second leg matches:

CSKA Moscow (RUS) 2 Aston Villa (ENG) 0

(CSKA Moscow win 3-1 on aggregate)

Metalist Kharkiv (UKR) 2 Sampdoria (ITA) 0

(Metalist Kharkiv win 3-0 on aggregate)

FC Twente (NED) 0 Marseille (FRA) 1 (after extra time; 1-1 on aggregate)

(Marseille win 7-6 on penalties)

Galatasaray (TUR) 4 Bordeaux (FRA) 3

(Galatasaray win 4-3 on aggregate)

Hamburg (GER) 1 NEC Nijmegen (NED) 0

(Hamburg win 4-0 on aggregate)

Wolfsburg (GER) 1 PSG (FRA) 3

(PSG win 5-1 on aggregate)

AC Milan (ITA) 2 Werder Bremen (GER) 2

(3-3 on aggregate; Werder Bremen win on away goals)

Ajax (NED) 1 Fiorentina (ITA) 1

(Ajax win 2-1 on aggregate)

Deportivo La Coruna (ESP) 1 Aalborg (DEN) 3

(Aalborg win 6-1 on aggregate)

Manchester City (ENG) 2 FC Copenhagen (DEN) 1

(Man City win 4-3 on aggregate)

St Etienne (FRA) 2 Olympiakos (GRE) 1

(St Etienne win 5-2 on aggregate)

Standard Liege (BEL) 1 Sporting Braga (POR) 1

(Sporting Braga win 4-1 on aggregate)

Tottenham (ENG) 1 Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) 1

(Shakhtar Donetsk win 3-1 on aggregate)

Udinese (ITA) 2 Lech Poznan (POL) 1

(Udinese win 4-3 on aggregate)

Stuttgart (GER) 1 Zenit St Petersburg (RUS) 2

(Zenit St Petersburg win 4-2 on aggregate)

Valencia (ESP) 2 Dynamo Kiev (UKR) 2

(3-3 on aggregate; Dynamo Kiev win on away goals)

- AFP/de

Channel News Asia

Leading 2-0 from the first leg, Shakhtar only briefly looked in danger of relinquishing control of the tie after Mexican midfielder Giovani dos Santos opened the scoring with a stunning strike for Spurs, ten minutes into the second half.

One more goal would have been enough to force extra-time but it was to be the visitors who found the net, Fernandinho grabbing a late goal to seal Shakhtar’s place in the last 16.

With Sunday’s League Cup final meeting with Manchester United looming, Spurs manager Harry Redknapp had made his priorities crystal clear by naming only one member of the side that defeated Hull on Monday night in his starting XI.

That meant a rare starting chance for Giovani and the midfielder may have done enough to force his way into Redknapp’s plans for Sunday.

His goal was his first since he arrived from Barcelona in a deal worth 8.6 million pounds and it was certainly worth waiting for.

Picking the ball up 40 yards out, the Mexican drove into the penalty area and found the net with a fierce drive.

He did blot his copybook somewhat by failing to connect with an inviting Gilberto cross when he could have levelled the tie.

But any doubt about the outcome was removed with four minutes left when Fernandinho finished crisply from the edge of the area.

Results in the UEFA Cup round of 32, second leg matches:

CSKA Moscow (RUS) 2 Aston Villa (ENG) 0

(CSKA Moscow win 3-1 on aggregate)

Metalist Kharkiv (UKR) 2 Sampdoria (ITA) 0

(Metalist Kharkiv win 3-0 on aggregate)

FC Twente (NED) 0 Marseille (FRA) 1 (after extra time; 1-1 on aggregate)

(Marseille win 7-6 on penalties)

Galatasaray (TUR) 4 Bordeaux (FRA) 3

(Galatasaray win 4-3 on aggregate)

Hamburg (GER) 1 NEC Nijmegen (NED) 0

(Hamburg win 4-0 on aggregate)

Wolfsburg (GER) 1 PSG (FRA) 3

(PSG win 5-1 on aggregate)

AC Milan (ITA) 2 Werder Bremen (GER) 2

(3-3 on aggregate; Werder Bremen win on away goals)

Ajax (NED) 1 Fiorentina (ITA) 1

(Ajax win 2-1 on aggregate)

Deportivo La Coruna (ESP) 1 Aalborg (DEN) 3

(Aalborg win 6-1 on aggregate)

Manchester City (ENG) 2 FC Copenhagen (DEN) 1

(Man City win 4-3 on aggregate)

St Etienne (FRA) 2 Olympiakos (GRE) 1

(St Etienne win 5-2 on aggregate)

Standard Liege (BEL) 1 Sporting Braga (POR) 1

(Sporting Braga win 4-1 on aggregate)

Tottenham (ENG) 1 Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) 1

(Shakhtar Donetsk win 3-1 on aggregate)

Udinese (ITA) 2 Lech Poznan (POL) 1

(Udinese win 4-3 on aggregate)

Stuttgart (GER) 1 Zenit St Petersburg (RUS) 2

(Zenit St Petersburg win 4-2 on aggregate)

Valencia (ESP) 2 Dynamo Kiev (UKR) 2

(3-3 on aggregate; Dynamo Kiev win on away goals)

- AFP/de

Channel News Asia

Milan were cruising at half-time as they led 2-0 in their round of 32, second leg, tie through goals from Andrea Pirlo and Pato but a stirring second-half fightback from Werder saw them through on away goals after a 3-3 draw on aggregate.

Milan president and Italy Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was already fuming after the Italians conceded a late equaliser last week in Germany but this latest collapse at home could bring coach Carlo Ancelotti’s job into question.

The final whistle was met with a chorus of jeers from the pitiful home crowd that numbered less than 24,000.

Milan are already out of the Italian Cup and trail city rivals Inter Milan by a massive 11 points in the league, meaning the UEFA Cup had seemed their only remaining realistic hope of claiming silverware this season.

Bremen came out the stronger of the two sides as Milan seemed to take their time to settle into the rhythm of the game.

Werder’s Peru forward Claudio Pizarro played a neat one-two with Brazilian Diego in the second minute before firing just wide of the upright.

Bremen bossed the early stages and Diego twice stung Milan goalkeeper Dida’s hands with shots from distance.

But it was a controversial refereeing decision that changed the course of the game in the hosts’ favour.

David Beckham blasted a free-kick into the three-man wall in front of him but the ball crashed into Torsten Frings’s arm and Jonas Eriksson pointed to the spot.

It was a harsh decision and Pirlo added insult to injury by clipping home the penalty into the bottom corner on 26 minutes.

Werder still enjoyed the bulk of possession but were stunned on 33 minutes as Milan doubled their advantage.

Veteran defender Paolo Maldini launched a long ball forward for Pato and while the Bremen defence backed off the teenager thrashed a shot over Christian Vander and into the roof of the net.

Bremen should have pulled a goal back before half time but centre-back Per Mertesacker headed over the bar from Mesut Ozil’s cross.

The visitors kept plugging away after the break and it needed a last-gasp block from Gianluca Zambrotta to deny Pizarro a clear goalscoring chance.

At the other end, Pato was brimming with confidence and tried his luck from 45 yards with a first time volley that didn’t have enough power to beat Vander.

The game started to peter out until the 68th minute when Pizarro headed home a Diego free-kick to inject some life into the tie.

Werder were very much in the ascendancy now and it was no surprise when they equalised 11 minutes from time with a goal of consumate simplicity.

Sebastian Boenisch pumped a high ball into the box and Pizarro rose unopposed to head easily past a stranded Dida.

Results in the UEFA Cup round of 32, second leg matches:

CSKA Moscow (RUS) 2 Aston Villa (ENG) 0

(CSKA Moscow win 3-1 on aggregate)

Metalist Kharkiv (UKR) 2 Sampdoria (ITA) 0

(Metalist Kharkiv win 3-0 on aggregate)

FC Twente (NED) 0 Marseille (FRA) 1 (after extra time; 1-1 on aggregate)

(Marseille win 7-6 on penalties)

Galatasaray (TUR) 4 Bordeaux (FRA) 3

(Galatasaray win 4-3 on aggregate)

Hamburg (GER) 1 NEC Nijmegen (NED) 0

(Hamburg win 4-0 on aggregate)

Wolfsburg (GER) 1 PSG (FRA) 3

(PSG win 5-1 on aggregate)

AC Milan (ITA) 2 Werder Bremen (GER) 2

(3-3 on aggregate; Werder Bremen win on away goals)

Ajax (NED) 1 Fiorentina (ITA) 1

(Ajax win 2-1 on aggregate)

Deportivo La Coruna (ESP) 1 Aalborg (DEN) 3

(Aalborg win 6-1 on aggregate)

Manchester City (ENG) 2 FC Copenhagen (DEN) 1

(Man City win 4-3 on aggregate)

St Etienne (FRA) 2 Olympiakos (GRE) 1

(St Etienne win 5-2 on aggregate)

Standard Liege (BEL) 1 Sporting Braga (POR) 1

(Sporting Braga win 4-1 on aggregate)

Tottenham (ENG) 1 Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) 1

(Shakhtar Donetsk win 3-1 on aggregate)

Udinese (ITA) 2 Lech Poznan (POL) 1

(Udinese win 4-3 on aggregate)

Stuttgart (GER) 1 Zenit St Petersburg (RUS) 2

(Zenit St Petersburg win 4-2 on aggregate)

Valencia (ESP) 2 Dynamo Kiev (UKR) 2

(3-3 on aggregate; Dynamo Kiev win on away goals)

- AFP/de

Channel News Asia