Bolton and Beşiktaş on the up

The four active sides in UEFA Cup Group H all had home advantage in the weekend domestic engagements, with Bolton Wanderers FC having most to cheer with an impressive victory. Beşiktaş JK also climbed the table with a fine first-half effort, although Sevilla FC and Vitória SC both lost. Finally, FC Zenit St. Petersburg could take a back seat knowing their place in the last 32 was already assured.

Bolton Wanderers FC 2-0 Arsenal FC

Abdoulaye Faye scored his first goal for Bolton as Sam Allardyce's side made it six home league games without conceding to join their opponents on 26 points in the Premiership. The Senegalese midfielder, who signed a permanent deal at Bolton earlier in the week, put the home side ahead with a header from Stylianos Giannakopoulos' free-kick after 20 minutes. Provider Giannakopoulos, who was returning after a foot injury, then scored 12 minutes later after Kevin Davies capitalised on a Gilberto mistake. However, Faye's afternoon ended in disappointment as he limped off with a leg injury.

"We put Arsenal under severe pressure, they made mistakes and we capitalised on that," said Allardyce. "It's maybe slightly greedy to want three goals against Arsenal but they were there for the taking. We ran harder and were more committed than they were, we scored great goals and totally deserved to win."

Vitória SC 0-3 UD Leiria

Guimarães's slump in the Portuguese Liga went from bad to worse on Monday. Leiria needed just two minutes to take the lead through Touré before Moreno missed a penalty three minutes later for the hosts. Guimarães suffered another setback in the seventh minute when Paulo César headed Leiria's second. The home team were reduced to ten men when Marek Saganovski was sent off in the 36th minute for handling in the area, although Leiria defender João Paulo missed the resulting penalty. However, the third came two minutes before half-time, with Paulo César getting his second.

Coach Jaime Pacheco said: "I apologise to our fans for this result but I also ask them for their support. Everything is going wrong for us. I love working here and I will do what is best for the club. I’m very sad but I’m not a coward. I still feel I can improve the team." He had been without injured midfielder Flávio Meireles (foot) but there was room in the squad for Brazilian winger Clayton.

Beşiktaş JK 3–1 Manisaspor

Beşiktaş struck three times in the first half to overcome Manisaspor at the İnönü stadium and climb up to fourth in the Turkish Superleague. Jean Tigana's side went into the game without the suspended duo of Ailton, who has requested a move after failing to settle, and Koray Avcı, while Tümer Metin, Tayfur Havutçu, Ahmet Dursun and Gökhan Zan missed out through injury. İbrahim Akin headed Beşiktaş in front after 34 minutes before Ahmed Hassan doubled the lead four minutes later. Brazilian midfielder Kleberson, a late replacement for Sergen Yalçin who failed a late fitness test, opened up a 3-0 lead three minutes before the break. Sinan Kaloglu, on loan from Beşiktaş, got the visitors' consolation after the restart.

"We looked tired in the second half after our midweek UEFA Cup game, while we also played for 70 minutes against Sivasspor with ten men," said Tigana. "More or less the same players have played in all three of these games. The future is bright for us and I'm looking forward to seeing all our players recover from injury."

Sevilla FC 0-2 RC Deportivo La Coruña

Sevilla's eight-game unbeaten run in the Primera División came to an end as they fell to a defeat at home against Deportivo and ended the match with nine men. Sevilla fell behind after 26 minutes, Deportivo striker Diego Tristán converting a twice-taken penalty, and the home side's situation worsened immediately as Enzo Maresca was sent off for dissent before the visitors effectively sealed the points four minutes before half-time as Víctor Sánchez doubled the lead with a free-kick. The game was marked by a number of yellow cards, and Sevilla's slim hopes all but ended 21 minutes from time as Brazilian defender Daniel was sent off for a second bookable offence.

The final margin might have been even more emphatic but Deportivo forward Sebastián Taborda was unable to convert a second penalty in the 73rd minute. Sevilla coach Juan De La Cruz Ramos was left in reflective mood, saying: "Sometimes you cannot understand players' reactions. The retaken penalty made everyone nervous and put us all on edge but that does not excuse Maresca for leaving the team a player short. Obviously, the penalties and the red cards were the decisive factors."

FC Zenit St. Petersburg

Zenit go into the winter break having completed their UEFA Cup group fixture programme and safe in the knowledge that they have secured at least second place in the section and a berth in the knockout stages. Nevertheless, after ending the Russian Premier-Liga season in sixth position having harboured pre-season hopes of a title challenge, coach Vlastimil Petržela has promised wholesale changes for the beginning of 2006.

"The list of changes will shock our fans," said the Czech coach. "But if we are to make the step up we need to take extreme measures. We need to buy and strengthen the team. Our gameplay also needs modifying because I am completely dissatisfied with the way we look at the moment."