Holders Shakhtar, Galatasaray and Werder progress

Galatasaray, Werder Bremen and holders Shakhtar Donetsk booked their place in the knock-out stages of the Europa League with convincing victories yesterday.

Frank Rijkaard's Galatasaray were the first team to qualify for the last 32 after breezing to a 3-0 win over Dinamo Bucharest in Romania last night.

Harry Kewell opened the scoring in the 22nd minute for the visitors and further goals from Shabani Nonda and Mehmet Topal took Rijkaard's men to 10 points from their four games to date.

Werder Bremen scored twice in the final nine minutes to secure a crucial home victory over Austria Vienna, and with it a place in the knockout stages.

Tim Borowski finally opened the scoring in the 81st minute and Hugo Almeida capped off his first game since August with the second goal three minutes later.

Werder extended their unbeaten run to 18 games and Thomas Schaaf's side now have 10 points at the top of Group L.

Shakhtar Donetsk were the other team to book their place into the next round with a 2-0 win in Toulouse.

Second-half goals from Luiz Adriano and Oleksiy Gai earned the defending champions their fourth successive win in Group J.

Salzburg are on the verge of the Europa League's last 32 after snatching a dramatic victory over Levski Sofia.

Franz Schiemer's header four minutes into injury time gave the visitors all three points to put them six points clear at the top of Group G.

However, Villarreal's 4-1 victory over Lazio means they still need one more point to be sure of progression.

Convincing wins

Group A pace-setters Ajax and Anderlecht scored convincing wins over Dinamo Zagreb and Timisoara respectively and need just one point to seal their progress.

Ajax's 2-0 win in Zagreb was played behind closed doors as a result of serious crowd disturbances during Zagreb's game in Timisoara, for which the Croatians were also penalised three points subject to appeal.

Giuseppe Sculli struck in injury time to give Genoa a dramatic 3-2 win over Group B leaders Lille and boost their qualification hopes. The Italians are now level with Valencia, who blew a late 2-0 lead to draw with 10-man Slavia Prague.

Hapoel Tel Aviv moved to the top of Group C as they breezed to a 3-0 win at Rapid Vienna with goals from Avihay Yadin, Gil Vermouth and Bebars Natcho. Hamburg relinquished the lead after being held to a goalless draw by Celtic.

In a crucial clash in Group D, a double from Valeri Domovchiyski helped keep Hertha Berlin in with a chance of joining leaders Sporting Lisbon in the next stage as they edged Heerenveen 3-2.

Roma edged into second place in Group E after another hotly-contested clash with Fulham, who had two men sent off as the Italians hit back from a goal down to win 2-1 with goals from John Arne Riise and Stefano Okaka.

Results, standings

Group A: Anderlecht vs Timisoara 3-1; Dinamo Zagreb vs Ajax 0-2. Standings: Anderlecht, Ajax 8; Timisoara 2; D. Zagreb 0.

Group B: S. Prague vs Valencia 2-2; Genoa vs Lille 3-2. Standings: Lille 7; Valencia, Genoa 6; Slavia Prague 2.

Group C: Hamburg vs Celtic 0-0; Rapid Vienna vs Hapoel Tel Aviv 0-3. Standings: Hapoel TV 9; Hamburg 7; R. Vienna 4; Celtic 2.

Group D: Sporting Lisbon vs Ventspils 1-1; Heerenveen vs Hertha Berlin 2-3. Standings: S. Lisbon 10; Heerenveen, H. Berlin 4; Ventspils 3.

Group E: Roma vs Fulham 2-1; Basel vs CSKA Sofia 3-1. Standings: Basel 9; Roma 7; Fulham 5; CSKA Sofia 1.

Group F: D. Bucharest vs Galatasaray 0-3; Sturm Graz vs Panathinaikos 0-1. Standings: Galatasaray 10; Panathinaikos 9; D. Bucharest 3; S. Graz 1.

Group G: Levski Sofia vs Salzburg 0-1; Villarreal vs Lazio 4-1. Standings: Salzburg 12; Villarreal, Lazio 6; L. Sofia 0.

Group H: Twente vs Sheriff 2-1; Fenerbahce vs Steaua Bucharest 3-1. Standings: Fenerbahce 9; Twente 7; S. Tiraspol 4; S. Bucharest 2.

Group I: AEK Athens vs BATE Borisov 2-2; Everton vs Benfica 0-2. Standings: Benfica 9; Everton 6; B. Borisov, AEK Athens 4.

Group J: Toulouse vs Shakhtar Donetsk 0-2; Partizan vs Club Brugge 2-4. Standings: S. Donetsk 12; Club Bruges 7; Toulouse 4; P. Belgrade 0.

Group K: FC Copenhagen vs PSV 1-1; CFR Cluj vs Sparta Prague 2-3. Standings: PSV 8; S. Prague 7; Copenhagen 4; CFR Cluj 3.

Group L: Werder Bremen vs Austria Vienna 2-0; Nacional vs Athletic Bilbao 1-1. Standings: W. Bremen 10; A. Bilbao 7; A. Vienna, N. Madeira 2.