SO many clubs will be contesting next season's UEFA Cup that twos preliminary rounds are planned. UEFA spokesman Salvatore Cuccu said yesterday that about 117 entries were expected.

The draw for the first preliminary round will involve clubs whose federations have been the least successful in Europe over the past five years. It will be staged in Geneva on July 6th. Matches will be played over two legs on July 17th and 24th.

The draw for the second preliminary round will be made on July 26th along with the preliminary round draws for the Cup Winners' Cup and European Cup.

. Atletico Madrid stretched their lead at the top of the Spanish first division to eight points last night after beating neighbours Rayo Vallecano 3-0. Barcelona were surprisingly held 2-2 at home by Tenerife and were joined in second place on 64 points by Valencia, who beat bottom club Salamanca 2-0.

Champions Real Madrid saw, their hopes of a UEFA Cup place next season battered by a 2-1 home defeat by Racing Santander which left them eighth in the table, 21 points behind Atletico.

Argentinian Leonardo Biagini put Atletico ahead in the 15th minute against Vallecano and victory was sealed with two goals from Serbian midfielder Milinko Pantic, one from the penalty spot.

Atletico had struggled in their last few games and Barcelona cut the lead from 11 points to six. Barcelona twice fought back from behind but in the end were unable to break down an organised Tenerife side.

Real Madrid slipped behind Tenerife and are five points away from a UEFA Cup place following their defeat by Santander. The game drew just 25,000 people to Real's vast Santiago Bernaheu stadium, half the club's previous lowest gate this season.