Travelling teams take initiative

LOSC Lille Métropole 0-1 AJ Auxerre
We could not put more pressure on a team who, unlike their last league game at RC Lens [a 3-1 defeat], attacked at will. We tried to play further upfield during the second half but it was not sufficient, although they have not qualified yet. There will be a return and it will be tough for them. Claude Puel, Lille

Lille are able to win anywhere, something they have proved this season. As both teams had had five days rest we saw an excellent game and I'm sure the second leg will be even better next week. Usually we're poor in the away leg and good at home. This time it has started the opposite way. Guy Roux, Auxerre

Olympiacos CFP 1-3 Newcastle United FC
I'm not looking for excuses. We started well but when you're reduced to nine men you are always going to struggle. I congratulate my players for their effort in the second half but to be honest, by the end of the match I was already thinking about the forthcoming derby against AEK Athens. I respect Souness for saying that the tie is not over yet but I don't know if he really believes it. Dušan Bajevic, Olympiacos

Who can say what the result would have been if it had stayed eleven against eleven? All I can say is that we have put ourselves in a very strong position for the return leg although nothing has been decided. I have been in professional football for 37 years and I know that it's not over until it's over. Graeme Souness, Newcastle

Middlesbrough FC 2-3 Sporting Clube de Portugal
We definitely think we can win by two clear goals over there. We showed tonight that we can score against them, and the two goals are not consolations, they've brought us back into the tie. We caused them problems, particularly at set-pieces and we need to play better, particularly from a defensive point of view, in the second leg. But if we get an almighty performance, we can do it. We showed their vulnerability at the back and aim to exploit that next week. Steve McClaren, Middlesbrough

Of course I would like to play in the final, and my dream opponents would be Newcastle, even if I might not be able to play against them under the terms of my loan. Although we conceded two late goals, it's still a great result for us. We always play to win, and the second leg in Lisbon will be no different; we want to go as far as we can in this competition. Hugo Viana, Sporting forward

FC Shakhtar Donetsk 1-3 AZ Alkmaar
Sometimes in football a team which doesn't create a single chance scores three goals. Our opponents have won due to their experience, discipline and devotion, as well as their excellence in every challenge and good defending. I don't think they deserved such a victory and our chances of qualifying are much smaller but we still have a chance. Mircea Lucescu, Shakhtar

We knew that Shakhtar are a good and strong side and that their players make excellent use of space. They had their chances but we were inspired for the second and third goals. The result is a very good one for us but we know that Shakhtar play better away from home. Co Adriaanse, Alkmaar

FK Partizan 1-1 PFC CSKA Moskva
We were the better team and created a number of chances but failed to convert them. CSKA have the initiative now and will be favourites in their own backyard but we have a good record on our travels. Vladimir Vermezovic, Partizan

It was a hard match against a tough team in freezing temperatures so I'm delighted with the result. Tactically we were excellent and I'm confident we can now go on to secure a place in the quarter-finals. Valeriy Gazzaev, CSKA

FK Austria Wien 1-1 Real Zaragoza
We had opportunities to win this match. It's not over yet though, we won in Bilbao and we can do the same in Zaragoza. [Štepán] Vachoušek's yellow card is a major blow though. Günther Kronsteiner, Austria

The surface was awful. It's 2005 so it's a wonder that Vienna haven't got undersoil heating yet. The draw is a good, basic result ahead of next week's match but we're not through yet. We know Austria can perform away from home so we have to approach the game with caution. Victor Múñoz, Zaragoza

Sevilla FC 0-0 Parma FC
During the first half we had to change our tactics as they started to threaten us with counterattacks. I was happy with the way Jesús Navas played and with all of our attacks down the right but I have to admit that we lacked a killer finish. It was practically all Sevilla in attack, but we let three or four good chances escape and obviously that makes it difficult. Nevertheless the tie remains open for both sides. Antonio Álvarez, Sevilla assistant coach

Pietro Carmignani, Parma