UEFA Cup, fourth round first leg

Neither of Spain's two Sevilla based sides managed to score in their first leg ties, but they came away with very different results. Betis have the upper hand going in to next week's second leg after drawing 0-0 at Steaua Bucharest. But Sevilla have a difficult task ahead of them after losing 1-0 at Lille, Dernis getting the only goal directly from a corner kick midway through the first half. (09.03.06)


Betis have a good chance of reaching the quarter finals of the competition after coming away from Steaua Bucharest with a score-less draw. Varela shot just wide in only the second minute, but the Romanian side came back, Luis Fernández having to clear from Nicolita soon afterwards and Dica, Nesu and Nicolita all failing to find the target either side of half time. Edu and Juanito both had chances after the restart, but Doblas had to be at his best to prevent Radoi from scoring later on.

Sevilla have an uphill battle if they are to win through though after losing 1-0 to Lille. Kanouté missed an early chance but then the Andalusians were pinned back, Moussilou brushing the post with a lob before the French side took the lead with an inswinging corner from Dernis. Local keeper Sylva kept out Luis Fabiano and Kanouté failed to convert an assist from Fabiano later in the first half, and Saviola wasted another chance after the restart, but the away goal eluded them in the end.