Football: Muted Maradona return: European round-up

LIKE Paul Gascoigne, Diego Maradona failed to last the distance on his Spanish league debut for Sevilla at Bilbao yesterday - but he did create his new side's only goal before his 72nd-minute substitution.

In his first league match for 18 months, the former Argentina captain hit a thumping free-kick just before half-time which the Bilbao keeper, Juan Valencia, could only parry to Marcos de la Fuente, who netted the rebound from close in.

Maradona looked off the pace at times on a heavy, wet pitch, and he was taken off after a heavy tackle by a home defender. After his departure, Bilbao took control and won the match with two goals in the last 10 minutes.

Deportivo Coruna were two down after 25 minutes at home to Real Madrid, but came back to win 3-2 and maintain their 100 per cent record. The winner came nine minutes from time when Real's Brazilian Ricardo Rocha headed an own goal. Coruna's Brazilian, Bebeto, hit their first two goals.

Like Leeds on Saturday, Stuttgart conceded four yesterday, losing 4-0 at Eintracht Frankfurt in the German league.