Europa League last 32: Sparta Prague 0 Chelsea 1

Czech Republic 0 Portugal 1

Bayer Leverkusen director of sport Rudi Voller has condemned the behaviour of Michal Kadlec and Manuel Friedrich following the pair’s over-exuberant efforts to swap shirts with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi in their Champions League encounter on Tuesday.

Barcelona put one foot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League with victory over a Leverkusen side who might wonder what might have been had they attacked from the start last night.

IF CHELSEA weren’t a club in crisis before last night, they are now.

Bayer Leverkusen 2 Chelsea 1

A late header from Tomas Sivok saw the Czech Republic put one foot in the Euro 2012 finals with victory over Montenegro in the first leg of their qualifying play-off.

DAVID LUIZ, the forgotten man of Chelsea’s January transfer spree, ensured it wasn’t all about Fernando Torres as Chelsea scraped past Bayer Leverkusen in their opening fixture of the Champions League; but the Spaniard did at least set up both goals to provide a glimmer of hope that his own luck is about to change.

Andre Villas-Boas rested Chelsea captain John Terry for tonight’s Champions League opener against Bayer Leverkusen at Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool have chosen not to risk captain Steven Gerrard but Joe Cole will start as Liverpool chase a place in the Europa League last 16 tonight.

KENNY DALGLISH waited 9,394 days to get the chance to manage Liverpool in Europe but after a turgid Europa League goalless draw against Sparta Prague, he must have wondered why he looked forward to it so much.

CZECH REPUBLIC sealed first place in Ireland’s Group D with a comfortable victory in Cyprus.

CESC FABREGAS stressed the side’s determination to make up for losing the 2006 Champions League final after Arsenal progressed to the group stages with a 5-0 aggregate victory over Sparta Prague.

ARSENAL moved a step closer to the lucrative group stages of the Champions League with a 2-0 away victory over Sparta Prague last night.

HEARTS’ European hopes were hanging by a thread after losing 2-0 to Sparta Prague in their UEFA Cup first round, first-leg tie at Murrayfield.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has not given up hope of signing Sparta Prague defender Michal Kadlec.

CELTIC are still tracking Czech defender Michal Kadlec and his agent gives them a 50-50 chance of getting their man from Sparta Prague.

Celtic are still tracking Czech defender Michal Kadlec and his agent gives them a 50-50 chance of getting their man.

Celtic are tracking €3m-rated Sparta Prague full-back Michal Kadlec.

CZECH REPUBLIC Under-21 international Michal Kadlec is set to meet with Celtic officials next week to discuss a possible move to Glasgow.

Arsenal 3 Sparta Prague 0

Sparta Prague 0 Arsenal 2