Cork City manager John Caulfield is convinced that Irish clubs will continue to make inroads in Europe in the coming years.

Cork City’s gruelling schedule sees them back in league action tomorrow against crisis club Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds (4pm) as they look to increase their lead at the top to 15 points once again.

Cork City’s Euro dream is very much in the balance after they suffered a first defeat in 26 matches losing out to AEK Larnaca in a tense and highly competitive Europa League qualifier at Turner’s Cross last night, writes Noel Spillane.

A second-half goal from Joan Truyois saw AEK Larnaca take control of this Uefa Europa League second qualifying round tie as they defeated a gallant Cork City in front of a packed Turner’s Cross last night.

Cork City boss John Caulfield has hailed Sean Maguire as the club’s greatest ever striker ahead of his last home game for the club tonight.

Cork City’s European tour takes a turn with a difference over the next two weeks as the club heads for Cyprus’s very own little enclave of Spain.

Stephen Kenny will be in Poland tomorrow to watch Legia Warsaw host Piast Gliwice as Dundalk accelerate preparations for their huge Champions League play-off games against the Polish champions at Aviva Stadium on August 17 and in Warsaw on August 23.

Football sometimes seems like politics in disguise but in Greece, the opposite is also true, writes David Shonfield.

AEK Athens midfielder Giorgos Katidis has been condemned by politicians, fellow sports personalities and fans after giving a Nazi salute to celebrate a goal he scored in the Greek league.

Two goals in the final two minutes saw Udinese overcome Atletico Madrid 2-0 and maintain their unbeaten record in Europa League Group I this evening.

Irish giantkillers Shamrock Rovers have landed a plum tie against Premier League stars Tottenham in the Europa League group stage draw today.

Senegal international Papa Bouba Diop has joined AEK Athens on a two-year deal.

AEK Athens 0 Everton 1

David Moyes insisted his players can turn their season round on the eve of their Europa League match against AEK Athens.

DAVID MOYES has reiterated he has no plans to quit as Everton manager as the Scot bids to secure a place in the last 32 of the Europa league with victory over AEK Athens.

EVERTON picked up their second home win in four days yesterday with a comprehensive Barclays Premier League victory over Blackburn.

Everton 3 Blackburn 0

DAVID MOYES saw his Everton side chalk up a much-needed victory after securing the signature of former West Ham full-back Lucas Neill shortly before the match.

Everton 4 AEK Athens 0

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez insists Sotirios Kyrgiakos will not fall foul of Premier League referees despite his reputation as a footballing hardman.

Greece defender Sotiris Kyrgiakos has claimed he is set for a surprise move to Liverpool from AEK Athens – however his club tonight said there was no agreement in place.

Blackburn’s Matt Derbyshire hopes to seal a permanent switch to Greek double winners Olympiacos.

ABERDEEN boss Jimmy Calderwood paid tribute to his side after a Jamie Smith double fired the Dons into the last 32 of the UEFA Cup with a stunning 4-0 victory over Copenhagen last night.

AEK Athens 1 Sevilla 4 (Sevilla win 6-1 on agg)

Sevilla made sure of their place in the Champions League group stage on Monday night with an emphatic 4-1 win at AEK Athens.

UEFA Cup holders Sevilla made a positive impact following their step up to Europe’s elite club competition with victory over AEK Athens.

THE referee for tonight’s Ireland-Slovakia Group D match at Croke Park was once suspended by the Russian Football Federation for poor decision-making.

AN INSPIRED Lille comfortably beat AC Milan to finish second in Group H behind the Italians and reach the knock-out stages for the first time in their history.

Porto threw Champions League Group G wide open with a deserved away win over CSKA Moscow in the Lokomotiv Stadium last night, but their stay at the top was short-lived.

Porto threw Champions League Group G wide open with a deserved away win over CSKA Moscow in the Lokomotiv Stadium tonight, but their stay at the top was short-lived.

PORTO have thrown Champions League Group G wide open as they notched up an impressive 3-1 victory in Hamburg to boost their chances of qualification and end any lingering hopes that the German side still had.

AFTER slumping to morale-sapping defeats in their opening games, Real Madrid and Dynamo Kiev meet at the Bernabeu tonight knowing that another slip-up could torpedo their Champions League ambitions.

FRENCH champions Lyon fired out a broadside at Champions League rivals on Wednesday, playing with considerable flair to outclass Real Madrid 2-0 in Group E.

THE long road to the 2007 Champions League final in Athens starts for AC Milan with a game against a side from the host city tonight.

Hearts head coach Valdas Ivanauskas will watch tomorrow’s UEFA Cup draw still nursing a sense of injustice after the Edinburgh side’s elimination from the Champions League at the hands of AEK Athens.

TWO sendings off and three late goals ended Hearts’ Champions League dreams as Valdas Ivanauskas’ team slumped to a 3-0 defeat in Athens last night.

Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon admits his side were second best against AEK Athens in their Champions League qualifying defeat by the Greek side at Murrayfield.

Hearts 1 AEK Athens 2

HEARTS will play AEK Athens in the third qualifying round of the Champions League after a 3-0 aggregate win over Siroki Brijeg.

Greece’s victorious Euro 2004 captain Theo Zagorakis was today made a free agent by cash-strapped AEK Athens.

Greece 1 Spain 1

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