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Europa League, day 4

All three Spanish teams top their groups at the end of day four, with Valencia already sure of a place in the knock-out stage after a 2-3 victory at St. Gallen. They had to come from behind to do so though, Piatti scoring twice and Canales getting a late winner, even though the Swiss side played most of the second half with ten men. A last minute goal for Betis as well as they beat Vitoria Guimaraes 0-1 later in the evening, Chuli the scorer for the Andalusians after Verdú set him up. Their city neighbours Sevilla could only draw 1-1 against Slovan Liberec however, Perotti's first half free kick cancelled out by a strike from Pavelka, who ran through from his own half to beat Javi Varas. (07.11.13)

St. Gallen 2 - Valencia 3

Valencia are already sure of a place in the knock-out stage after a 2-3 victory at St. Gallen on Thursday evening. After their big win against the Swiss side a couple of weeks ago, the Ches were full of confidence, and Piatti put them ahead on the half hour mark after a Canales free kick came back off the post. However soon afterwards Besle headed the equalizer after Montandon headed back a Roberto Rodríguez cross, and Jonas missed the best possible opportunity to restore the lead when Lopar saved his penalty kick after Montandon was sent off for a foul on Postiga early on in the second half. Worse was to come, Karanovic putting the Austrian team ahead following a long gallop from midfield, and it was not until a quarter of an hour from the end that Piatti made it all square again, poking home a loose ball which fell to him in the area. But with four minutes to go Canales got the winner with an impressive shot from outside of the area, and with Swansea once again being held to a draw by Kuban Krasnodar, Djukic's side find themselves at the top of their group.

Vitoria Guimaraes 0 - Betis 1

Betis moved to the top of what is a difficult group after a last minute 0-1 victory over Vitoria Guimaraes. The heavy rain in Portugal made playing conditions difficult, and although Betis had the better of the play in the first half, their only real chance was a shot by Juan Carlos which Douglas got a hand to. Maazou caused some problems for Andersen at the other end, but the introduction of Jorge Molina after the break improved things, the striker bringing a good save out the local keeper midway through the second half, and just failing to turn in Caro's cross soon afterwards. The game appeared to be heading for a draw though until the third minute of injury time, when Verdú played the ball through for Chuli to turn a shot past Douglas and in to the net. It was ex Recreativo forward's first goal for his new club, and it meant that Pepe Mel's side now only need to win one of their last two games to go through to the knock-out stage.

Sevilla 1 - Slovan Liberec 1

Sevilla stay top of their group at the end of week four, although once again Unai Emery's side let their opponents off the hook after they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Slovan Liberec. Reyes and Rabello both tested Hrosso before Perotti put the Andalusians ahead with a well struck free kick on the half hour mark. And after the restart the locals created several more chances, Rusescu coming up against the visiting keeper once again and M'Bia and Perotti failing to find the target. With twenty minutes to go though Pavelka picked up the ball in his own half and ran on virtually unchallenged to fire a shot past Javi Varas, and the keeper had to be on his toes to save from Fleisman soon afterwards. Emery brought on Rakitic, Vitolo and Bacca after that, but although Cala hit the post near the end, there was no time for more. Sevilla are still looking good for a place in the next round, but this was not the result the coach needed to get things back on an even keel.