UEFA Cup

Results were as follows (first leg scores in brackets):

Celta (2) 2 - Aris Salonica (2) 0
Celta struggled to win against a clearly inferior Greek side, and only put the result beyond doubt in the last half hour of the match after their supporters had begun to whistle in protest. Víctor Fernandez brought in Velasco, Revivo and Celades, leaving Segio, Gustavo López and Giovanella on the bench. A brilliant double save by Dutruel in the eighth minute kept the game scoreless at half time, and with McCarthy and Revivo ineffective in attack, the manager decided to change them for Turdó and Gustavo López on the hour mark. Within five minutes they were ahead, central defender Djorovic heading into an empty net after Cáceres header from Mostovoi's free kick was blocked by Katergianakis. In the last minute Turdó ran on to a long pass by Mostovoi and chipped the keeper for the second goal. They will have to get their act together if they are to get any further, as Benfica will not be as easy to beat.

Montpellier (1) 0 Deportivo de La Coruña (3) 2
Roy Makaay sentenced the tie on the stroke of half time with probably the best goal of his career. Makaay picked up the ball in his own penalty area after a corner and galloped eighty metres up field, leaving behind a trail of defenders, before chipping keeper Cassard from the edge of the penalty area. Up to that point Deportivo had been contained in their own half as Montpellier came forward to try and pull back the two goals they needed to win through to the next round. Irureta's plan was clearly to defend, and as is normal in their away matches this season he played with a lone striker, this time Makaay, with Djalminha playing behind him. With the result comfortably in their favour, Deportivo brought on Pauleta for Makaay, and the Portuguese striker got his name on the scoresheet as well eight minutes from time from Flavio's pass. Deportivo will have Greek opposition in the next round, and would be well advised to wear cast-iron underpants in the return leg in Panthinaikos's Olympic stadium in Athens as Greek crowds do not take prisoners.

Amica Wronki (0) 1 - Atlético de Madrid (1) 4
In a game which was almost suspended because of the surrounding fog, Atlético moved easily through to the next round against an inexperienced Wronki side. Full of new found confidence after their win at Real Madrid at the weekend, the side completed their fourth victory in a row to consolidate Claudio Ranieri's position as team manager. Ranieri played with Correa accompanying Hasselbaink up front, and found a place for on form youngster Baraja, whose goal separated the sides from the first leg. The Polish side's manager Stefan Majewski mistakenly decided to play the offside trap, and Atleti's quick attackers came through time and time again to leave the defence standing. Hasselbaink scored the first, following up after Kukielka cleared Chamot's shot off the line on the half hour, but Amica equalised four minutes later through Jackiewicz after Molina only half stopped Kryszalowicz's shot. Shortly before half time Baraja's precise pass left Capdevila with the easy task of beating the local keeper, and Atlético beat the offside trap twice more in the second half for Baraja and then Correa to score. Of the four Spanish clubs still in the competition, the Madrid side have the easiest draw in the next round, although Wolfsburg are backed by Volkswagen and have been rising through the ranks recently. Mallorca (2) 3 Teplice (1) 0 Mallorca cruised through to the next round, running out 5-1 winners on aggregate against the Czech side. Fernando Vázquez made several changes from the eleven who started at the weekend, leaving out ever-present defenders Olaizola and Siviero and giving a start to Armando and Fernando Niño. Tristán was left on the bench, with Ibagaza, Djokaj and Biagini coming in in attack. First choice keeper German Burgos had not fully recovered from an injury and Leo Franco once again replaced him in goal. Ex Barcelona defender Nadal scored his first goal since returning to his home town club, following up on an intelligent back-heel by Djokaj in the 31st minute. Stankovic scored the second with a cross-come-shot in the second half, and Fernando Niño completed the scoring with a header from Ibagaza's corner. Mallorca were unlucky with the draw, being paired up with Ajax. There again, they have played so many times against Barcelona that the Dutch side can have no secrets for them.

The draw for the third round of the UEFA cup was not kind to the Spanish teams, with Mallorca and Celta coming up historical giants and Deportivo and Atlético meeting on form sides. The first leg will be played on 25th November, with the return tie two weeks later on 9th December. Teams mentioned first will play the first leg at home:

Deportivo de La Coruña vs Panathinaikos (Greece)
Ajax (Holland) vs Mallorca
Celta vs Benfica (Portugal)
Wolfsburg (Germany) vs Atlético de Madrid