Lazio lead way for big guns

Away wins
Italian contenders Lazio had to wait for victory at FC Metalurh Donetsk but will feel more than satisfied with the 3-0 win in Ukraine. Tommaso Rocchi broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute before César doubled the advantage two minutes later and Goran Pandev wrapped up a good night's work five minutes from time. Feyenoord also triumphed on their travels but had to wait even longer for their breakthrough at Odd Grenland of Norway. Japan midfield player Shinji Ono, who helped them win the trophy in 2002, scoring the only goal in the 74th minute.

Sand return
Schalke were untroubled by the sacking of coach Jupp Heynckes yesterday as they cruised to a 5-1 victory at home against FHK Liepajas Metalurgs of Latvia. Ebbe Sand, playing his first match of the season after recovering from meningitis, had given Schalke the lead in the 20th minute only for Aleksandr Katasonov to level matters from close range for Metalurgs 14 minutes later. It was a different story after the interval as Sand completed his hat-trick with a diving header and a deflected shot before Levan Kobiashvili and substitute Gerald Asamoah completed the rout.

Rimkus strike
Another Latvian side, FK Ventspils needed a second-half goal from international striker Vit Rimkus to earn a 1-1 home draw against KS Amica Wronki, who had taken the lead through Polish forward Karol Gregorek. Greek side AEK Athens FC could only manage the same scoreline from their trip to Slovenia to play NK Gorica, with Konstantinos Katsouranis's penalty cancelling out Aleksandar Rodic's first-minute opener.

Egaleo happy
Yet another 1-1 draw came at Aalborg BK with the Danish contenders battling back from a goal behind against AJ Auxerre. Benjani Mwaruwari had put the French side in front four minutes before half-time but AaB trailed for just five minutes before home defender Bård Borgersen ensured parity. Elsewhere, Egaleo FC picked up an excellent 1-0 home win against Gençlerbirligi SK with a 13th-minute penalty from Georgios Barkoglou.

Tanghe hits two
Austria's champions Grazer AK were never in trouble against ten-man PFC Litex Lovech of Bulgaria, earning a 5-0 home victory. Mario Bazina started the rout just after the dismissal of Zlatomir Zagorcic before Roland Kollmann added two goals in the space of five minutes. Bazina again and Emanuel Pogatetz finished off the scoring. FC Utrecht picked up an impressive 4-0 win against Swedish side Djurgårdens IF. Goals from Hans van der Haar and Dave van der Bergh either side of two goals for Stefaan Tanghe should mean a comfortable night in the return leg.

Mijatovic off
Villarreal CF were 2-1 winners against Hammarby in Sweden with goals from Antonio Guayre and Gonzalo Rodríguez before Hammarby pulled one back through Björn Runström. Finally, NK Dinamo Zagreb were 2-0 winners at home against Esbjerg fB despite having Andre Mijatovic sent off early in the second half with goals in each half from Veldin Karic and Ivan Bošnjak respectively.