UEFA Cup, league stage, day 5

Bad news for La Liga on Thursday, with both teams knocked out of the tournament on the last day to leave Valencia and Deportivo La Coruña as the only Spanish representatives in tomorrow's draw. Two times champions Sevilla needed a draw at Sampdoria to be sure of going through, but they lost 1-0 thanks to a late goal by Bottinelli, and Stuttgart's win against Standard Liège left the Andalusians in fourth spot.

Racing Santander suffered an even crueller fate though, losing out on goal difference despite a 3-1 win over Manchester City. Pereira and Serrano put them two up at the break, and when Valera got the third earlier in the second half they seemed to be cruising. But Paris Saint Germain beat Twente 4-0 with two goals in the last five minutes, and with all their energy spent the Cantabrians let in a late goal from Caicido. (18.12.08)

Both Spanish sides qualified in second place in their respective groups after today's matches in the fifth and final round of the group stage. Valencia were already sure of a place in the last 32, but they needed to win against group G leaders Saint Etienne to finish top of the group. However they had to settle in the end for a 2-2 draw, with Morientes and Zigic getting the goals after the French side had twice taken the lead.

Deportivo La Coruña needed a victory themselves against Nancy to ensure their passage through to the knock-out stage, and when closest rivals Lech Poznan took the lead at Feyenoord the Galicians were out of the top three in group H. However substitute Bodipo latched on to an Omar Bravo cross with fifteen minutes to go to make it 1-0, tying up a berth for Miguel Angel Lotina's side in Friday's draw. (17.12.08)