Football: Germans to test Marseilles appeal

SPORTS BETTING

MARSEILLES, the ambitious French club who were fancied in this neck of the woods at 20-1 with Ladbrokes when the tournament began (and still available at 16-1 with Ladbrokes and Stanley) to win the Uefa Cup face a tricky second round tie against the useful German outfit Werder Bremen.

Parma, the 13-2 favourites with the Tote who beat Juventus in Serie A recently, have an easier task against the Polish side Wisla Krakow, while the joint 8-1 second favourites Fiorentina, quick out of the blocks in the league this term, will fancy their chances against Grasshoppers, of Zurich. Atletico Madrid, the other second favourites, face CSKA Sofia.

Liverpool, 10-1 with Coral, must play Valencia, while Leeds United - 40-1 with Coral - face a tough tie against Roma, who are a top-priced 10-1 with Stanley.

Aston Villa - 28-1 with Coral - will be favourites to beat the Spanish club Celta Vigo but Rangers - generally available at 50-1 - will find life hard against the very good German side Bayer Leverkusen (16-1 with William Hill), who knocked out Udinese in the first round. Celtic, 80- 1 with Coral, face FC Zurich.

Lazio, who lashed out over pounds 30m to pair Italy's World Cup striker Christian Vieri with the brilliant Chilean Marcelo Salas this summer, are 7-4 favourites with Ladbrokes for the Cup- Winners' Cup despite making heavy weather of getting past Lausanne in the first round.

They face a tricky tie against the bane of Newcastle United, Partizan Belgrade, while the holders Chelsea, 5-2 second favourites with Stanley, face a potentially somewhat easier tie against FC Copenhagen.

Hearts' conquerors Real Mallorca, the 9-1 third favourites with Coral, have an interesting tie against the Belgians, Genk, and it is 20-1 and upwards the rest in what is clearly the softest of the three European club tournaments.