Fiorentina scrape through

The first leg in the Portuguese capital last week ended in a 2-2 draw meaning La Viola have qualified for the group stages for the second year in a row.

Sporting had to either win the match or force a high-scoring draw and they came out of the traps fired up.

Yannick Djalo should have given the visitors the lead early on but with only goalkeeper Sebastien Frey to beat he scuffed his shot from 12 yards horribly wide.

Sporting were dominant though and Frey had to make smart saves from both Matias Fernandez and Brazilian-born new Portugal recruit Leidson.

They got the goal their dominance deserved on 35 minutes direct from a free-kick scored by former Everton target Joao Moutinho.

Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli made a switch at the break replacing Massimo Gobbi with attacking Montenegro midfielder Stevan Jovetic.

The momentum then shifted completely and following some early pressure Jovetic restored parity, jinking inside one defender before firing low inside the near post.

Alberto Gilardino could have sealed the tie for the Italians but couldn't direct his close range effort from Juan Vargas's left wing cross on target.

Sporting piled on some late pressure but Fiorentina held firm.

Cypriot international Chrysis Michael played a captain's role in bagging a brace to ensure Cyprus minnows APOEL Nicosia reached the Champions League groups following a 3-1 win over Copenhagen.

The Cypriot outfit overturned a 1-0 away defeat in Denmark to win the tie 3-2 on aggregate and put Cyprus back on the European map.

APOEL got off to a flying start with Polish midfielder Kamil Kosowski catching the defence square and volleying home from six yards after chesting down a lofted through ball from Cypriot international Costas Charalambides.

The Danish visitors were shell-shocked by the early goal with nervy defenders unsure of themselves and making unnecessary errors.

And it was a reckless challenge by Zdenek Pospech inside the area that enabled APOEL to go two up on 18 minutes when Michael calmly converted from the penalty spot.

Just when Copenhagen seemed to be sinking without trace Dame N'Doye pegged back the score with a vital away goal four minutes later, scoring with a downward header as APOEL failed to deal with a low cross into the box.

But the scoring didn't finish there, during an entertaining first half, when Michael scored his second with a diving header after an inch perfect Charalambides cross.

Copenhagen almost mustered an instant reply but a Zanka Jorgensen effort was cleared off the line as the interval beckoned.

The Danes pushed for another away goal after the break but William Kvist had a shot smartly tipped over by reliable Greek keeper Dionisis Chiotis. Striker Ailton Almeida and sub Jasper Gronkjaer posed a constant threat as Copenhagen piled on the pressure but the Nicosians held firm to register a famous victory.

Olympiacos kept Moldovan side Sheriff at bay as they nursed a comfortable first leg lead throughout the match before Kostas Mitorglou's 82nd mintue goal put the tie beyond doubt.

Stuttgart were held 0-0 at home by Timisoara of Romania but progressed courtesy of their 2-0 away win last week. The Romanians never looked like breaking through as the hosts qualified at a canter.