Rangers manager Walter Smith made opponents Zenit St Petersburg favourites to lift the UEFA Cup in Wednesday's final after the Russian side's demolition of Bayern Munich in the last four.

When the roar of the crowds has faded, Austria expects to count a substantial economic benefit from next month's Euro 2008 soccer championship.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson trusts his former assistant Archie Knox to make it tough for Chelsea as they bid to wrest the Premier League title away from the champions on Sunday.

Real Madrid confirmed their supremacy in Spain late Wednesday with an emphatic 4-1 thrashing of arch rivals Barcelona.

Cristiano Ronaldo or Didier Drogba might by the key players on the pitch but Wigan Athletic manager Steve Bruce is being touted as the central figure in Sunday's Premier League showdown.