Walter Smith has challenged his players to match the expectations of their travelling army of fans as Rangers bid to reach the UEFA Cup semi-finals for the first time.

DAVID PIZARRO stole a late deflected equaliser to put Roma back on course for a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League and hand Manchester United confirmation of their spot.

Sporting Lisbon 0 Man Utd 1

BARCELONA got their defence of the Champions League off to a flying start by giving out a 5-0 thrashing to Levski Sofia in torrential rain, in their Group A match last night.

Barcelona began the defence of their Champions League crown with a comfortable 5-0 victory over Levski Sofia at the Nou Camp.

MANAGER Steve McClaren takes a second shot at UEFA Cup glory with Middlesbrough admitting this season’s dream is to take the club into the Champions League.

CSKA Moscow and Sporting Lisbon will contest the UEFA Cup final at Sporting’s own Jose Alvalade Stadium.

AZ Alkmaar 3 Sporting Lisbon 2 aet (4-4 on agg, Sporting win on away goals)

Newcastle’s conquerors Sporting Lisbon kept on course to reach the UEFA Cup final on their home ground after a 2-1 victory against AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of their semi-final at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.

Sporting Lisbon 4 Newcastle 1 (Agg:4-2)

NEWCASTLE goalkeeper Shay Given has been labelled “Lazarus” by his rival Steve Harper.

NEWCASTLE boss Graeme Souness has admitted that the next four days hold the key to the club’s season.

ALAN SHEARER headed into one of the biggest weeks of his Newcastle career confident that he can emerge with his trophy dreams still intact.

SPORTING LISBON boss Jose Peseiro has admitted tonight’s UEFA Cup quarter-final clash with Newcastle could be the most important victory of his career.

Newcastle midfielder Kieron Dyer could play a part in his side’s bid for UEFA Cup glory in Portugal after being given the all-clear over his hamstring problem.

MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren hopes the club’s Premier League demise will serve as a wake-up call to his players but fears the season is beginning to take its toll.

MIDDLESBROUGH have landed the most glamorous ties of the new-look UEFA Cup - but also face the most difficult opponents of the inaugural group phase of the competition.

Newcastle and Rangers should have high hopes of progressing through the first-ever group stage of the UEFA Cup following today’s draw but Middlesbrough and Hearts face stiffer tests.

Newcastle have been drawn to face Sporting Lisbon, Sochaux, Panionios and Dinamo Tbilisi in the UEFA Cup group stage.

Greece striker Demis Nikolaidis believes the Euro 2004 surprise packages will seize their “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity and claim a place in the final by beating the Czech Republic tomorrow.

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has tried to reduce the pressure on his team ahead of tonight’s Euro 2004 semi-final by insisting it would not be a failure if they did not lift the trophy.

Germany midfielder Michael Ballack insists he and his team-mates are under no extra pressure as they attempt to book their place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2004.

Spain 0 Portugal 1

The whole of Portugal heaved a collective sigh of relief following the host’s victory over Russia yesterday but they know there is far more nerve-jangling agony to come.

Greece midfielder Stelios Giannakopoulos is confident his side will make the Euro 2004 quarter-finals – but does not believe host nation Portugal will join them.

Freddie Ljungberg has refused to comment on speculation that he is about to sign a new long-term contract to stay at Arsenal.