Dernis’ curling corner finds net for a Lille bit of magic

LILLE’S Geoffrey Dernis scored the goal of the night direct from a corner to give the French side a slender advantage after their first leg against Sevilla in the last 16 of the UEFA Cup.

The left-footer curled the ball straight in after 24 minutes.

Rapid Bucharest, meanwhile, take a 2-0 lead to Hamburg after a goal from Daniel Niculae, on the stroke of half-time, was followed by another, in the 88th minute, from Mugurel Buga.

The Romanians’ city rivals Steaua Bucharest were held to a goalless draw at home to Real Betis, while Italians Palermo had Franco Brienza to thank for their only goal, in the 15th minute, at home to Schalke 04.

Basle put themselves in a strong position heading into the away leg in Strasbourg, after a 2-0 victory in Switzerland.

Matias Delgado converted an eighth-minute free-kick and Zdravko Kuzmanovic swung the tie further in their favour with an 89th-minute header.

Marseille have it all to do in Russia, next week, after losing at home 1-0 to Zenit St Petersburg.

Trailing to Andrei Arshavin’s 51st-minute goal, the French side had Franck Ribery sent off for a second bookable offence in the 70th minute.

Udinese and Levski Sofia, meanwhile, finished goalless in Italy.