Football: Liverpool next for the conquerors of Villa

LIVERPOOL WILL face Celta Vigo - the conquerors of Aston Villa - in the third round of the Uefa Cup. It means another test against a Spanish side for the men from Anfield, who beat Valencia in the last round.

The first leg will be played in Galicia on 24 November with the return leg on Merseyside a fortnight later. Yesterday Roy Evans, Liverpool's joint manager, warned: "They looked a good side in beating Villa and we will give their manager, John Gregory, a ring to ask to for any help he can offer.

"I'm sure he'll help, that's normal from English clubs in Europe, if we can do things for each other. But Vigo are clearly a good side, they won the second leg at Villa after losing at home so obviously they mustn't be taken lightly.

"Celta did really well," Evans added. "Our coach Sammy Lee has got good contacts in Northern Spain from the time that he played out there and he'd already been told how good a side they are."

Rangers have been rewarded for their victory over Bayer Leverkusen with an attractive tie against the Italian side, Parma, with the first leg scheduled for Ibrox.

Parma won the Uefa Cup in 1995 and are currently lying fifth in Serie A, four points behind the leaders, Juventus. They currently boast the best defensive record in the Italian top flight, with only two goals conceded in seven league games.

Parma's best-known player - in this country, at least - is the former Newcastle forward, Faustino Asprilla, who returned to Italy last year after a spell on Tyneside.

Monaco and Marseilles will make history as the first two French clubs to play each other in European competition. The two teams met last night in a league fixture.

Uefa, European football's ruling body, will adjudicate tomorrow on the outcome of the Fiorentina v Grasshopper Zurich second-round tie. An assistant referee was injured by a firework during the second leg in Salerno on Tuesday, and it is likely that the Italian club will be expelled from the tournament.

UEFA CUP Third-round draw: Roma (It) v FC Zurich (Swit); Monaco (Fr) v Marseilles (Fr); Grasshopper Zurich (Swit) or Fiorentina (It) v Bordeaux (Fr); Real Sociedad (Sp) v Atletico Madrid (Sp); Lyons (Fr) v Club Bruges (Bel); Rangers (Sco) v Parma (It); Celta Vigo (Sp) v Liverpool (Eng); Bologna (It) v Real Betis (Sp). (First legs to be played Tuesday 24 November; second legs Tuesday 8 December).