FERNANDO TORRES has admitted that nerves got the better of him on his Chelsea debut against former club Liverpool last week, but has vowed to make the partnership with Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka work this season.

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI is too smart to express a preference in terms of Ireland’s World Cup play-off opponents, although it’s a pretty safe bet that he wouldn’t be wholly in disagreement with Marco Tardelli’s choice of Greece.

Blackburn hope to have veteran striker Christian Vieri on show when they play in a three-team tournament in Croatia tomorrow.

Blackburn will open negotiations with midfielders Steven Reid and David Dunn in the next few weeks as both have entered the final year of their contracts.

Fiorentina 0 Rangers 0 (after extra-time, Rangers win 4-2 on penalties)

Fiorentina 2 Everton 0

EVERTON manager David Moyes believes both his side and tonight’s opponents Fiorentina represent the future of the Champions League.

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.

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.

REAL MADRID beat Sevilla 3-2 in a topsy-turvy match at the Santiago Bernabeu to go second in La Liga.

Italy and Monaco striker Christian Vieri will miss the World Cup finals after it was confirmed he requires surgery on a knee injury.

AC Milan have confirmed that they are in talks with Monaco for the sale of striker Christian Vieri.

JUVENTUS continue to dominate Serie A with a 2-0 win at home to Sampdoria preserving their 100% record.

FORMER Leeds and Newcastle United star Jonathan Woodgate put his nightmare start to his Real Madrid career behind him with a goal that sparked his side’s 4-1 comeback win against Rosenborg in their Champions League Group F game at the Bernabeu last night.

Scotland came within 15 minutes of beating Italy today, for the first time in 40 years.

MARCELLO LIPPI has saluted his players for their “exceptional” performance at Lansdowne Road, especially the manner in which they slotted into a new “trident” attack system.

Chelsea 1 AC Milan 1

JOSE MOURINHO is in no doubt about Hernan Crespo's commitment to Chelsea.

Jose Mourinho has no doubt about Hernan Crespo’s commitment to Chelsea.

Hernan Crespo was scheduled to begin pre-season training with Chelsea this morning following the breakdown of his move to AC Milan.

Newcastle are still awaiting news of their bid for Inter Milan midfielder Emre Belozoglu after manager Graeme Souness won his battle with striker Craig Bellamy.

Chelsea have confirmed that striker Hernan Crespo will return to Stamford Bridge for the new Barclays Premiership season.

CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho welcomed his team of Premiership champions back to training yesterday and was boosted by the return to fitness of left-back Wayne Bridge.

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliano claims Chelsea had no intention of extending Hernan Crespo’s loan spell at the San Siro.

Hernan Crespo is set to return to Chelsea and play in England next season, according to the Argentinian striker’s agent.

AC MILAN yesterday announced the signing of former Inter striker Christian Vieri.

Christian Vieri has been linked with a move to Tottenham after he parted company with Inter Milan a year before his contract was due to expire.

AS they celebrate their first trophy after six years in the wilderness, Barcelona believe their victory in the Spanish title race will mark the beginning of a new era of success for the Catalan club.

Juventus beat defending champions AC Milan 1-0 in the top-of-the-table showdown at the San Siro to take a giant stride towards the Scudetto on Sunday.

BARCELONA restored their six- point lead over Real Madrid in the Primera Liga last night as a spectacular strike from Samuel Eto’o and a cool finish from substitute Lionel Messi helped them to a 2-0 win over Albacete.

AC Milan 2 Inter Milan 0

REVENGE will be the aim of the game when ‘visiting’ Internazionale tackle neighbours AC Milan at the San Siro in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie tonight.

INTER MILAN and Porto have had an extra week to prepare for tonight’s Champions League knockout round second leg but neither has used it well.

SUSPENSION-HIT holders Porto expect to face a packed Inter Milan defence in the first leg of tonight’s Champions League knockout round tie at the Estadio De Dragao.

CHAMPIONS AC Milan slipped further behind Serie A leaders Juventus when they suffered a shock 1-0 defeat by mid-table Bologna at the San Siro yesterday.

VALENCIA suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to nine-man Sevilla last night to leave Barcelona five points clear at the top of the Primera Liga table.

James Whelan

PITY the Euro 2004 managers whose loyalty to some tired old warriors was misplaced. How it cost them.

Italy beat Bulgaria but their worst nightmare was realised when Denmark and Sweden drew 2-2 to knock the Azzurri out of Euro 2004.

CHRISTIAN VIERI’S rant at the Italian media on Sunday was misdirected.

IT surely is the ultimate irony — the Italians cry ‘foul’ before ever a ball is kicked!