Celtic boss Gordon Strachan insists the Parkhead side can still qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League despite their defeat against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Olympiyskiy Stadium last night.

Shakhtar Donetsk 2 Celtic 0

Shakhtar Donetsk 2 Celtic 0

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan drafted in midfielder Paul Hartley at the expense of Aiden McGeady for their first Champions League Group D game against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Olympiyskiy Stadium.

Italy’s players and club officials have reacted with dismay to the decision to declare all bar six venues closed to supporters on security grounds.

MARTIN JOL hailed Dimitar Berbatov after the Bulgarian striker fired Tottenham to a 2-0 victory over Besiktas.

Livorno 2 Rangers 3

BARCELONA’S Cameroonian international Samuel Eto’o was targeted by racist taunts after scoring at Racing Santander in the Primera Liga last night.

It may have been one of the murkier days in the history of Italian football but there were at least some winners emerging from the wreckage of the Serie A match-fixing scandal.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi named his squad for the 2006 World Cup with Filippo Inzaghi of AC Milan and Udinese’s Vincenzo Iaquinta both getting a late call.

JUVENTUS striker Alessandro Del Piero has been ruled out of tomorrow night’s Champions League quarter-final, first leg away to Arsenal.

A DREADFUL mistake from Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes gifted Valencia all three points and cut Frank Rijkaard’s side’s lead at the top of La Liga to six points at the Mestella last night.

Fiorentina moved within five points of Serie A leaders Juventus with a 2-1 win over nine-man Cagliari.

England striker Michael Owen completed his move to Newcastle and there was a flurry of activity at Tottenham as the transfer window closure neared.

Tottenham have completed the signings of England midfielder Jermaine Jenas from Newcastle and South Korean full-back Lee Young-Pyo from PSV Eindhoven.

Tottenham are set to make a £2m bid for Chelsea striker Carlton Cole as Mido was left pleading his innocence after his dismissal against the Blues.

Italy striker Cristiano Lucarelli is considering a move to Tottenham before the transfer window closes on Wednesday.

Disgraced former Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu made his comeback from a seventh-month drugs ban in Serie A champions Juventus’ 4-2 victory over Cagliari.

PARMA have warned off Chelsea and other potential suitors for Alberto Gilardino by estimating their star striker’s value at more than £34m.

Parma have warned off Chelsea and other potential suitors for Alberto Gilardino by estimating their star striker’s value at more than £34m (€50m).

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.