Rangers lead resurgent trio

Rangers
Rangers extended their good run with a 1-0 Scottish Premier League win at Hibernian FC on Sunday. Dado Pršo scored from the penalty spot, but missed a second spot-kick in the final minute. Striker Nacho Novo was sent off for retaliation in the first half. Manager Alex McLeish had made three changes to the side that beat Celtic FC in the League Cup four days earlier. The biggest surprise had been the recall of left-back Michael Ball. He had not featured since May but was called up to replace Grégory Vignal who has a muscle strain. Robert Malcolm also returned for Alex Rae, while Pršo continued in attack with Steven Thompson struggling with an ankle injury. Pršo and Shota Arveladze scored the goals.

GAK
Austrian champions GAK missed the chance to go third in the Bundesliga after they could only draw 0-0 at home to lowly VfB Admira Wacker Mödling on Saturday. GAK had plenty of opportunities but found no way past Admira goalkeeper Gregorz Szamotulski. Things got worse when captain Anton Ehmann was sent off in the second half for foul play. GAK had already been without Joachim Standfest, who injured his thigh in the pre-match warm-up. Croatian midfielder Mario Bazina missed out entirely through suspension but has given the club a lift by signing a new contract until 2007.

Amica
Amica warmed up for their home league match against Zaglebie Lubin on Saturday with a 2-1 win at Kotwica Kolobrzeg in the Polish Cup three days earlier. Two goals from defender Piotr Dziewicki did the damage and ensured Amica's progress to the knockout stage. However, they followed that with a 2-0 home defeat by Zaglebie, with both goals coming on the counterattack. Coach Maciej Skorza is wary of the number of games his side must play. "I'd like to change some things, but I don't have time to train with my players," he said.

Alkmaar
The surprise team in the Eredivisie are Alkmaar who took second spot thanks to a 3-0 victory at NAC Breda. Martijn Meerdink had put Alkmaar on their way but it was substitute Tarik Sektioui who gave the scoreline its gloss, the Moroccan striker scoring twice in the final two minutes. Alkmaar were missing midfield duo Barry van Galen (suspension) and Reinier Robbemond (flu) but showed they could cope without the experienced pair. Proof of their strength came when defender Joris Mathijsen and midfielder Danny Landzaat were called up by the Netherlands to face Andorra. On the injury front, Finnish international Juha Reini is some way off a return from his achilles problem.

Auxerre
Auxerre responded well to two matches in quick succession to reach the last 16 of the French League Cup and maintain their third position in Ligue 1. Guy Roux's men beat Stade Rennais FC 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw and then returned to their home stadium three days later to defeat AC Ajaccio 1-0. Yann Lachuer scored the only goal but there was a setback for Roux when Bonaventure Kalou had to be substituted in the first half with a thigh problem. Better news was that Younes Kaboul played the 90 minutes after recovering from an ankle injury.