UEFA cup, league stage, day 1

Excellent results for Spanish sides on the first day of the new look league stage of the UEFA cup. Zaragoza made hard work of beating modest Dutch side Utrecht, but two late goals from David Villa were enough to give them a 2-0 win, Savio and Cani making the goals for the young striker. Athletic Bilbao also won 2-0 against Italy's Parma, Gurpegui starting things off with a dipping volley early in the first half and Del Horno getting the second just minutes after the restart from Yeste's free kick. And Villarreal drew 1-1 at Lazio, José Marí giving the Spaniards the lead early on but getting himself sent off a quarter of an hour from the end, allowing the Italians to equalise through Rocchi near the end. The fourth Spanish side Sevilla did not play on the opening day as it was their turn to rest. (21.10.04)