LONDON -- AC Milan and Slavia Prague advanced to the UEFA Cup quarterfinals, joining six other teams who qualified earlier this week.
AC Milan -- an early favorite to win the cup with Spanish side Barcelona and Bayern Munich of Germany -- played a scoreless draw on a snowy pitch at Sparta Prague on Thursday to advance on a 2-0 aggregate.
Sparta had few scoring chances in the first half -- and fewer still in the second when Milan's defense clamped down.
The other Czech team playing Thursday had better luck.
Slavia Prague, on a goal in the 96th minute by Karol Poborsky, defeated French team Lens 1-0. The two teams played a scoreless draw in the first-leg two weeks ago in Prague, and were scoreless in regulation 90 minutes before Poborsky scored in extra time.
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English league leader Newcastle returns to London for the second time in six days when it plays Chelsea on Saturday looking to complete the double over Glenn Hoddle's side.
Uncharacteristic lapses from the Newcastle defense last Sunday allowed Wimbledon to come back twice to force a 3-3 draw with Kevin Keegan's men, who are five points clear of Manchester United at the top of the table.
Newcastle, which has not lost for 15 matches, beat Chelsea 2-0 in September and will be determined to pick up three more points against the mid-table Londoners who held Manchester United to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford last week.
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(For schedules, see Scorecard.)
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