Intertoto cup, semi-final, first leg

The possibility of an all Spanish final is a step closer after Atlético Madrid and Villarreal both won their first leg ties. Atlético bounced back from their disastrous second leg in the last round to beat OFK Belgrade 1-3 and virtually ensure their place in the final. Ibagaza started things off midway through the first half when he converted a free kick, and Fernando Torres made it two from the penalty spot after he himself had been brought down just before the break. Simic got a goal back after the restart, but Simeone got a third goal with a diving header a few minutes later to round things off.

Later in the evening, a second half penalty from Sonny Anderson was enough to give Villarreal a 1-0 win over Germany's Hamburg. The Spaniards should have won by a bigger margin though, with Wicky clearing off the line from Anderson and Roger and Sá going close before the break, and substitutes Víctor and Font both wasting easy chances near the end. It was the twelfth European home game in a row that Reina has kept a clean sheet, but his side still have work to do in a week's time if they are to qualify. (28.07.04)