Werder Bremen hit back from a 3-0 deficit to knock Sampdoria out of the Champions League in a thrilling match at the Marassi stadium in Genoa last night that went to extra-time.

Samp seemed to be cruising after a brace from Giampaolo Pazzini and a backheel from Antonio Cassano gave them a 3-0 lead with five minutes to play.

But Markus Rosenberg equalised deep into injury-time and former Chelsea forward Claudio Pizarro struck the decisive goal in extra-time to send the Germans into the group stages with a 5-4 aggregate victory despite a 3-2 defeat.

Werder Bremen had looked to have a foot in the group phase despite losing their German World Cup star Mesut Ozil to Real Madrid for 16 million euros as goals by Clemens Fritz, captain Torsten Frings and Claudio Pizzaro brought a 3-1 home leg advantage against Italy’s Sampdoria.

But Samp, European Cup runners-up to Barcelona in 1992, were a different side to the one which had struggled in North Germany and within 13 minutes of the first whistle they were in charge of the tie thanks to the away goals rule courtesy of a stunning double by Giampaolo Pazzini.

Antonio Cassano, one of the ‘bad boys’ of Italian football – he famously fell out with former coach Fabio Capello in an unproductive spell at Real Madrid – nudged home the third to spark scenes of wild celebration.

But those celebrations were premature as Markus Rosenberg fired across home a fine low drive on the run to force extra-time.

And then in the 10th minute of extra-time, Marko Marin beat two players and fed Pizarro, whose firm effort sneaked just inside the post.

Spain may have claimed the World Cup this summer, dumping out neighbouring Portugal along the way – but the boot was on the other foot last night as Braga denied Sevilla a place in the lucrative Champions League group phase.

After Braga won the home leg by the only goal a week ago, progress appeared to be a formality – but the visitors had other ideas as they won a thrilling return game 4-3.

Matheus and Rodrigo Lima, fed by the Brazilian, scored after 30 and 60 minutes respectively for the Portuguese in a rousing start.

But Luis Fabiano netted for the Spaniards within seconds of Lima’s strike and it seemed that the hosts would survive after Jesus Navas levelled on the night with five minutes left on the clock off a Freddy Kanoute assist.

However, Lima then made it 3-2 almost straight from the restart after Silvio played him through on goal and then with 90 minutes showing completed his hat-trick to put the contest beyond doubt.

Even then, Kanoute managed to pull one back but Braga held on.

Israeli side Hapoel Tel-Aviv edged through after seeing off Austrian outfit Salzburg. Having won on the away leg 3-2 the Israelis advanced after a 1-1 draw in their return as Salzburg fell at this stage for the fourth time in five seasons.

Also through are Swiss side Basel who are into the group stages for the third time after 2002 and 2008 after a thumping 3-0 win at Moldovan outfit Sheriff Tiraspol, adding to a 1-0 away success.

Marco Streller scored the opener in the 74th minute and Alex Frei added two coups de grace in the closing stages.

Play-offs, second legs

Hapoel Tel Aviv vs Salzburg 1-1 (Hapoel win 4-3 on aggregate); Sheriff vs Basel 0-3 (Basel win 4-0 on aggregate); Anderlecht vs Partizan Belgrade 2-2 (agg: 4-4; aet; Partizan win 3-2 on pens); Sevilla vs Braga 3-4 (Braga win 5-3 on aggregate); Sampdoria vs Werder Bremen 3-2 (aet; Werder Bremen win 5-4 on aggregate).

Today – 20.45
Auxerre vs Zenit SP (0-1); FC Copenhagen vs Rosenborg (1-2); MSK Zilina vs Sparta Prague (2-0); Tottenham vs Young Boys (2-3); Ajax vs Dynamo Kiev (1-1).