Samuel Eto'o

A Tottenham side missing Gareth Bale and fellow Londoners Chelsea will be seeking to book quarter-final berths in the Europa League on Thursday, but the Blues will have to do things the hard way after a first-leg defeat at Steaua Bucharest.

Gareth Bale boosted his sky-rocketing profile with one of the goals which helped Tottenham shock Inter Milan 3-0 on Thursday and help lift Britain's European gloom.

Britain's roller-coaster European ride endured a couple of Europa League twists Thursday when Chelsea slumped to a 1-0 loss at Steaua Bucharest while Newcastle carved out a 0-0 draw against Anzhi Makhachkala.

Newcastle, with seven Frenchmen in the line-up, carved out a 0-0 draw against Anzhi Makhachkala in their Europa League last-16 tie Thursday, ending the Russians' 100 percent home record in the tournament.

They could be forgiven for dreaming of more lucrative adventures in the Champions League come next season, but on Thursday both Tottenham and Chelsea will have their eyes focused on a place in the Europa League quarter-finals.

They could both be forgiven for dreaming of more lucrative adventures in the Champions League come next season, but on Thursday Chelsea and Tottenham will have their eyes focused on a place in the Europa League quarter-finals.

Dutch coach Guus Hiddink said in an interview published on Monday that he has not ruled out extending his time at Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala -- despite saying that he would quit at the end of the season.

Gareth Bale struck two magical free-kicks as Tottenham edged Lyon 2-1 in the Europa League last-32 Thursday, but Liverpool's hopes were on a knife-edge after a 2-0 defeat at Zenit St Petersburg in Russia.

Gareth Bale struck two magical free-kicks as Tottenham edged Lyon 2-1 in the Europa League last-32 Thursday, but Liverpool's hopes were on a knife-edge after a 2-0 defeat at Zenit St Petersburg in Russia.

Liverpool were left to regret a string of missed chances as Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg completed a convincing 2-0 victory in their Europa League last-32, first leg match on Thursday.

Samuel Eto'o is confident that Anzhi Makhachkala have a good chance of winning their first Russian title, local media reported Tuesday, after the Dagestan club's recent forays in the transfer market.

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in South Africa on Saturday with Didier Drogba's hugely gifted yet trophy-less Ivory Coast favourites once again to march off with the continental crown.

Anzhi Makhachkala's Dutch coach Guus Hiddink says his players are brimming with confidence as they chase both the domestic success as well as a deep run into the later stages of the Europa League.

Didier Drogba may lead a star-studded cast list at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations -- but this year's competition which gets underway on Saturday is bereft of some of the continent's top names.

Racist behaviour by football fans in Russia is damaging the country's attempts to seek international respect for the increasingly big-money domestic game, ahead of its hosting of the 2018 World Cup.

Ivorian Yaya Toure of Manchester City won Africa's top football honour on Thursday, beating out his countryman Didier Drogba and Alexandre Song of Cameroon for the CAF player of the year award.

Ivory Coast is in a strong position to capture the CAF Footballer of the Year award on Thursday, with two of its stars, both past winners, nominated against an up-and-coming midfielder from Cameroon.

Ivory Coast is in a strong position to capture the CAF Footballer of the Year award on Thursday, with two of its stars, both past winners, nominated against an up-and-coming midfielder from Cameroon.

Big-spending Anzhi Makhachkala beat visiting 10-man CSKA Moscow 2-0 on Sunday to end the Moscow side's seven-match unbeaten streak and join them on top of the Russian Premier league table.

Dutch football coach Guus Hiddink will bring the curtain down on an illustrious, globetrotting, coaching career at the end of the current season, the Anzhi Makhachkala handler told Dutch TV on Tuesday.