UEFA Cup

Werder Bremen 1 - Espanyol 2

Bremen: Reinke; Owomoyela (Schindler 46'), Pasanen, Naldo, Schulz; Jensen (Wome 70'), Frings (Baumann 75'), Diego, Hunt; Klose, Almeida. 4-4-2.
Espanyol: Gorka Iraizoz; Lacruz, Torrejón, Jarque, David García; Zabaleta (Angel Martínez 65'), Ito; Corominas Luis García, Riera (Rufete 71'); Tamudo (Julián 79'). 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 04. Almeida. Got ahead of Gorka to poke ball into net from outside area.
1-1. 50. Corominas. Turned ball into net after Reinke pushed out Riera cross.
1-2. 60. Lacruz. Far post header down past Reinke from Zabaleta's corner.

Espanyol are through to their second ever UEFA Cup final after beating Werder Bremen 1-2 in the second leg. The ghosts of the final defeat 19 years ago against Bayer Leverkusen were awakened when David García's clearance was charged down by Diego in midfield, and Almeida raced on to get ahead of Torrejón and poke a long shot past the advancing Gorka in only the fourth minute.

Klose was causing some problems for the visiting defence, but midway through the first half the German striker was shown a second yellow card for diving, leaving his side with ten men. Even so the locals continued to dominate, and Hunt and Jensen both tested Girka before the break.

Werder still needed two more to draw level though, and Schaaf went for broke taking off a full back to bring on the more attacking Schindler. Just five minutes later though Riera got away down the wing, and Reinke could only push the ball to the feet of Coro for him to score into the empty net.

That meant the locals had to score four more, and their task became even more impossible when Lacruz rose up on the far post to head home Zabaleta's corner. Espanyol were back in a European final, and although their opponents are defending champions Sevilla, they must fancy their chances having kept up an unbeaten record in the competition this season.