Cork referee Alan Kelly has been appointed to the knockout stages of a UEFA Cup match for the second year in succession, as Irish referees continue to earn significant international recognition in the field.

ALESSANDRO DEL PIERO scored two goals to give Juventus a 2-0 victory over Real Madrid last night and book the Italians’ place in the last 16.

Aalborg have parted company with coach Bruce Rioch with immediate effect, the club announced on Thursday.

AaB defender Michael Beauchamp has had his red card rescinded after he was incorrectly sent-off during the Champions League draw against Celtic on Wednesday night.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan ended days of speculation when he named his side for the Champions League Group E opener against Aalborg at Parkhead.

BOLTON’S passage to the UEFA Cup last 32 was confirmed last night after the unlikely combination of results needed to eliminate them failed to materialise.

Fiorentina romped to their first UEFA Cup triumph of the Group C campaign with a crushing 6-1 success at home to Elfsborg to go top of the table.

DAVID Bentley expects Blackburn to overturn their 2-0 deficit against Greece‘s Larissa at Ewood Park. “It was totally unacceptable with the way we performed over there,” he said. “But it is about how you react, how you respond. It is only the first half, it is 2-0 with 90 minutes to go, I don’t see 2-0 as a big deficit for us to overcome.

A SECOND-HALF equaliser from top scorer Eamon Zayed rescued Drogheda United after Henrik Larsson’s goal had put Helsingborgs in the driving seat in this UEFA Cup second qualifying round first leg.