Uefa Cup round-up:  Middlesbrough claimed a first-leg advantage in their fourth round clash with Italian giants Roma courtesy of Aiyegbeni Yakubu's early penalty.

The Nigerian claimed his 19th goal of the season from the spot after French referee Alain Sars harshly ruled Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink had been brought down by keeper Gianluca Curci.

The Teessiders had few scares and might have increased their advantage for next week’s match in Italy only for Gaizka Mendieta and Emanuel Pogatetz to pass up late chances.

Elsewhere, Lille’s Geoffrey Dernis scored the goal of the night direct from a corner to give the French side a slender advantage after their first leg against Sevilla.

Left-footer Dernis curled the ball from the right corner straight into the net in the 24th minute for the only goal of the match.

Former Spurs striker Fredi Kanoute missed a host of chances for the visitors.

Rapid Bucharest take a 2-0 lead to Hamburg after goals from Daniel Niculae on the stroke of half-time was followed by another in the 88th minute from Mugurel Buga.

The German side had Nigel De Jong sent off for second bookable offence just after the hour but the hosts were also reduced to 10 men as defender Vasile Maftei was dismissed after earning two cautions in the closing three minutes.

The Romanians’ city rivals Steaua were held to a goalless draw at home to Real Betis, while Italians Palermo had Franco Brienza to thank for the only goal, in the 15th minute, at home to Schalke 04.

Basle put themselves in a strong position heading into the away leg in Strasbourg after a 2-0 victory in Switzerland.

Matias Delgado converted an eighth-minute free-kick and Zdravko Kuzmanovic swung the tie in their favour with an 89th-minute header.

Marseille have it all to do in Russia next week after losing 1-0 to Zenit St Petersburg.

Trailing to Andrei Arshavin’s 51st-minute goal, the French side had Franck Ribery sent off for a second bookable offence in the 70th minute.

Udinese and Levski Sofia finished goalless in Italy.

PA