Europe League

Gers grab Sporting success

Rangers through to last 16

Rangers produced a wonderful display in Portugal as they knocked out Sporting Lisbon on away goals after a 2-2 draw.

After a 1-1 draw in Glasgow in the first-leg, Rangers began well at the Jose Alvalade as El-Hadji Diouf headed them ahead on 20 minutes.

Sporting moved level on the night and on aggregate just before the break as Pedro Mendes struck against his former club.

The home side then looked to have won the tie as Yannick Djalo scored with just seven minutes left.

But Walter Smith's side grabbed the crucial second goal as Maurice Edu slid home from close-range after excellent work from David Healy and Richard Foster.

Rangers, who were runners-up in 2008, now meet PSV Eindhoven in the last 16. skysports.com

Bundesliga

Skrtel denies Wolfsburg talk

Slovakian keen to remain at Anfield

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel has insisted that he wants to stay at the club and denied any interest from Wolfsburg.

The Slovakia international has been an ever-present this season at centre-back in the Premier League for the Reds, making 27 appearances and scoring one goal.

Despite being a mainstay in Liverpool's backline, Skrtel has come in for criticism due to some lacklustre showings.

Although since Kenny Dalglish took the reins following Roy Hodgson's dismissal he has looked a stronger player.

Wolfsburg, who recently sacked former England coach Steve McClaren and sold star striker Edin Dzeko to Manchester City, are reported to be keen on landing the uncompromising 26-year-old.

However Skrtel, who moved to the Reds from Zenit St Petersburg in January 2008, insists he is happy at Anfield and has no intention of moving on.

"I have learned about the interest of Wolfsburg only from the internet and don't even know how true this news is," said Skrtel, who has three-and-a-half years of his contract left to run on Merseyside. skysports.com

La Liga Primera

Jose wants Benzema improvement

Real boss says striker still needs to progress

Jose Mourinho insists Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema still has some work to do before he reaches his full potential.

The Frenchman scored within seconds of coming off the bench during Real's UEFA Champions League draw against former club Lyon on Tuesday night.

But while Mourinho acknowledges the 23-year-old is on the right track, the Portuguese boss wants to see improvement in his football.

"Everyone knows his potential which is impressive," Mourinho told sports daily AS.

"But everyone knows, and he himself knows it, because he is an intelligent boy, that during matches he still needs to improve certain aspects.

"He is working to improve. He is going in the right direction."skysports.com

Serie A Italy

Winning start for Montella

Roma see off Bologna in first game under new coach

Vincenzo Montella enjoyed a winning start as coach of Roma with a narrow 1-0 win at Bologna.

Daniele De Rossi's goal on the stroke of half-time ended Bologna's unbeaten run at the Renato Dall' Ara stadium in 2011.

The win, Roma's first in a month, lifted them to sixth in the table, four points and two places adrift of city rivals Lazio.

Montella was on the Roma bench for his first match as a Serie A coach after replacing Claudio Ranieri, who resigned earlier this week.

Roma went into the contest having lost three straight in the league and Montella left captain Francesco Totti out of his starting XI, opting to play Marco Borriello alongside Mirko Vucinic in attack.

With Roma having conceded 11 goals in their last three league games, including four in the second half at Genoa last weekend, Montella played with a high defensive line and it paid dividends. skysport.com

English Premier League

Terry - We can catch United

Chelsea skipper John Terry has insisted that Manchester United can be caught in the title race and that they are "not invincible".

The Blues are in serious danger of losing the title this season, with their grasp on the trophy all but diminished as they trail the Red Devils by 12 points in the Premier League.

After such a strong start to the campaign, Chelsea have come off the rails in recent months, winning just five of their last 16 matches and seemingly suffering from a lack of confidence.

It has not been a vintage season for United either in the quality of their performances at times, particularly away from Old Trafford.

However, they have shown great resilience and maintained a winning mentality to stay top of the division, having only lost their first game of the campaign to Wolves at the start of February.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is under serious pressure to improve results, having spent over £70million on Fernando Torres and David Luiz to bolster their squad at the end of January, though an upturn has not been instant.

Terry accepts that the chances of retaining the title now are "really small," but feels that a 12-point lead is not unassailable, as demonstrated by United's victory over Newcastle in 1996 when they came back from a similar deficit.

"It's been done. Man United did it to Newcastle many years ago," the former England captain said. skysports.com