Chelsea’s Europa League opponents Rubin Kazan insist they want to play at their home stadium instead of Moscow.

West Brom have inquired about signing striker Obafemi Martins on loan – but his current club Rubin Kazan are only interested in a permanent deal, it is understood.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp could face disciplinary action from UEFA after he appeared to aim a clenched-fist gesture towards Shamrock Rovers supporters during tonight’s 4-0 win at Tallaght Stadium.

Harry Redknapp last night defended his decision to rest several first-team stars as Tottenham were left on the brink of Europa League elimination by a 2-1 defeat to 10-man PAOK Salonika.

Shamrock Rovers striker Karl Sheppard says the team are determined to get at least one point on the board from their remaining Europa League Group A fixtures.

Sebastien Bassong still believes Tottenham’s hopes of winning the Europa League are alive despite their 1-0 defeat to Rubin Kazan last night.

Kevin Bond has instructed Tottenham’s players to put a smile back on Harry Redknapp’s face by securing their passage to the last 32 of the Europa League with a win over Rubin Kazan tonight.

Tottenham 1 Rubin Kazan 0

Shamrock Rovers manager Michael O’Neill saluted the best team he has come across in European competition after seeing Rubin Kazan ease their way to Europa League victory in Tallaght.

Shamrock Rovers boss Michael O’Neill remains convinced his side will collect Europa League points after they were taught a harsh lesson by Rubin Kazan.

Shamrock Rovers 0 Rubin Kazan 1

Former Tottenham midfielder Rohan Ricketts was handed a start in Shamrock Rovers’ opening Europa League Group A clash with Rubin Kazan.

Shamrock Rovers midfielder Stephen Rice will call upon the spirit of Belgrade as he and his team-mates attempt to produce another European shock.

BELIEF in themselves and the confidence garnered from their adventures in Europe to date are what will give Shamrock Rovers every chance of causing an early upset in Group A of the Europa League tonight.

Michael O’Neill has warned Russian aristocrats Rubin Kazan his Shamrock Rovers team has not just come along for the Europa League ride.

Lyon booked their place in the Champions League group stage as a 1-1 draw in Russia gave them a 4-2 aggregate win over Rubin Kazan.

LYON look set to advance to the group stages of the Champions League after downing Rubin Kazan 3-1 in their play-off first leg tie, although the French side needed to fight back from an early deficit.

Arsenal will be hoping to avoid Udinese and Rubin Kazan when the draw is made tomorrow for the Champions League play-off round in Nyon.

Birmingham’s Carling Cup final hero Obafemi Martins admits he has no idea what the future holds for him.

THEY may have rested their star names, but a largely second-string Barcelona consigned Rubin Kazan to a place in the Europa League after easing to a narrow victory at the Nou Camp.

Tottenham qualified for the last 16 as Group A winners in their maiden Champions League season after a typically high-scoring draw was coupled with a surprise 3-0 defeat for holders Inter Milan.

AIDEN McGEADY experienced football’s ugly side once or twice in Glasgow, but nothing compared to the scenes that unfolded last Sunday when his Spartak Moscow side travelled to play Anzhi Makhachkala in Dagestan.

RANGERS joined Manchester United at the top of Group C as they beat Bursaspor 1-0 at Ibrox last night.

HOLDERS Barcelona moved two points clear at the top of their Champions League group last night after producing a classy display to defeat erstwhile leaders Inter Milan at the Nou Camp.

BARCELONA are hoping to call on Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic for tonight’s must-win Champions League showdown against Inter Milan.

QPR have abandoned their bid to sign Czech Republic international Richard Dostalek after his club Rubin Kazan tried to change the terms of the deal.

A note left by a dying officer on the Kursk says the nuclear submarine was sunk by the explosion of one of its own torpedoes, reports a Russian newspaper.