UEFA Cup, first round, first leg

Four Spanish teams kicked off in the first round of the new look UEFA cup tonight, with a prize of a place in the league stage at stake. Athletic Bilbao were the first to start, and they seemed to be on their way out when Trabzonspor went three goals up with twenty minutes to go. But late strikes from Gurpegui and Del Horno pulled the score back to 3-2, giving the Basques a more than even chance of making it through in a fortnight's time.

Villarreal are on track for another good run in Europe after beating Hammarby 1-2. Guayre put his side ahead early on and set up a second goal for Gonzalo Rodríguez midway through the first half before Runström pulled one back. The ex Las Palmas attacker could have increased the lead further in the dying minutes when his header was cleared off the line.

Meanwhile Sevilla celebrated their return to Europe for the first time in nine years with a 2-0 win over Nacional de Madeira, Baptista and Sergio Ramos getting the goals, and a late strike by Generelo was enough to give Zaragoza a 1-0 victory over Sigma Olomouc. (16.09.04)