Spurs march on, German double in UEFA Cup

Two clinical finishes from Bulgaria striker Dimitar Berbatov took twice winners Tottenham Hotspur through to the UEFA Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Berbatov's double took his UEFA Cup tally to seven for the season as Spurs overcame a spirited Braga side 3-2 at White Hart Lane for an 6-4 aggregate second knockout round success.

There was double celebration for Germany with Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen reaching the last eight along with Spain's Osasuna, who put out Rangers.

Tottenham can look forward to their first European quarter-final since 1992 when they bowed out in the last eight to Feyenoord in the Cup Winners' Cup.

The Premier League side, who enjoyed a bye through to the last 16 after Feyenoord were kicked out of the competition, have won all eight UEFA Cup matches this season.

"We started with 160-170 teams, its pleasing to be in the last eight," said Spurs manager Martin Jol.

Braga coach Jorge Costa hailed Berbatov as "one of the best strikers in Europe" after he proved too hot to handle for the Portuguese side.

BERBATOV BRACE

Berbatov quickly cancelled out Tom Huddlestone's own goal with a fine finish from Robbie Keane's pass and volleyed in a superb second just before halftime.

A scorching free kick from Brazilian Andrade gave Braga a glimmer of hope but Steed Malbranque, from a Berbatov flick, sealed the tie.

Leverkusen invoked memories of their run to the 2001-02 Champions League final with a clinical 3-0 win over Racing Lens at the BayArena, easily overturning a 2-1 first leg reverse.

The German side produced their most impressive performance of this season's competition to keep on course for a May 16 final at Hampden Park in Glasgow, the venue for their defeat by Real Madrid five years ago.

"Compliments to my team," said Leverkusen coach Michael Skibbe. "That's football as it should be played. It was a perfect evening for us."

Ukraine striker Andriy Voronin set Leverkusen on their way when he controlled the ball on his chest and swept a shot just inside the post from the edge of the area in the 36th minute.

Voronin, set for a move to Liverpool at the end of the season, also had a hand in his side's two other goals.

Sergej Barbarez tapped in 11 minutes into the second half to make it 2-0 after Voronin's header had struck a post and Brazilian defender Juan headed home from Voronin's corner with 20 minutes to go.

BREMEN ADVANCE

Werder Bremen, who failed to advance in the Champions League, defeated Spain's Celta Vigo 2-0 at the Weserstadion to complete a 3-0 aggregate victory.

The home side added to their 1-0 lead from the first leg with a Hugo Almeida header in the 48th minute and made the game safe with a fine Clemens Fritz shot inside the far post in the 61st.

"We had to be patient," said Werder coach Thomas Schaaf. "We stayed calm in the first half and that was important. In the second half we had more space and that made things a lot easier for us."

Bremen's only notable European success came when they defeated Monaco to win the 1991-92 Cup Winners' Cup. 

Osasuna moved into uncharted territory, reaching the last eight of a European competition for the first time with a 1-0 win at home to Rangers to take the tie 2-1.

Cameroon striker Pierre Webo made sure of victory by firing home 19 minutes from time.

It is the second time the team from Navarra have got the better of Rangers in the competition. They also beat the Scots 2-1 in the first round of the UEFA Cup in 1985.

Holders Sevilla take on Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk in the four remaining last 16 ties on Thursday. The Spanish side face a tough challenge having been held to a 2-2 draw at home in the first leg.