Eight more games are on tap for Wednesday with big clubs like Arsenal, FC Barcelona, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Valencia and Chelsea all coming off victories two weeks ago in the first rotation.
Bundesliga
Arminia Bielefeld jumped 10 spots in the Bundesliga table when Delron Buckley's 79th-minute goal lifted the club to a 1-0 victory against Hannover 96 on Tuesday.
The South African forward put back teammate Klodian Duro's attempt off the crossbar after wasting several similar chances this season.
"I said, today if it happens again, I will score," Buckley said.
The Bundesliga table is so close the three points elevated Bielefeld, a promoted team, from 16th place to sixth.
Hannover slid to bottom of the table as some among the 31,000 spectators chanted "Lienen has to go," refering to coach Ewald Lienen.
Italian Cup
Newly signed Argentine striker Ernesto Antonio Farias scored twice Tuesday as Palermo downed second-division Salernitana 2-0 in a second-leg match of the Italian Cup to earn a third-round berth against defending league champion AC Milan.
The Sicilian team advanced on a 3-2 aggregate score, after losing 2-1 the first leg of the second round at Salernitana.
Farias, who transferred to the Sicilian team from Estudiantes in the offseason, netted in the 22nd and 65th minutes.
The 24-year-old started in the absence of regular striker Luca Toni, who is nursing a leg injury.
Newcomer Palermo is doing well in Serie A. It has six points after four rounds, and has held powerhouses Juventus and Inter Milan to draws. Other second-round matches on Wednesday included Lecce vs. Livorno, Reggina vs. Atalanta and Torino vs. Chievo Verona. On Thursday, Brescia will play host to Fiorentina.
Former team captain Johan Mjallby will be back in Sweden's squad for their next two World Cup qualifiers against Group 8 opponents Hungary and Iceland.
He was among the 22 players named by coach Lars Lagerback as the team hopes to rebound from a 1-0 home loss to Croatia in the first round of qualifying play.
RSS