Nov 5, 2009, 19:10 GMT
Hamburg - Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam, Belgium club Anderlecht and Hapoel Tel Aviv on Thursday closed in on a place in the knock-out stage of the Europa League with good victories.
Former Champions League winners Ajax won their Group A game 2-0 at Dinamo Zagreb, while Anderlecht beat Timisoara 3-1 in the other group match.
The two winners top the group with eight points from their four
games - five more than Zagreb.
Hapoel have an even bigger lead in Group C after their 3-0 victory at Rapid Vienna. The Israeli club is on nine points, while SV Hamburg are second with seven points after being held to a goalless draw by visiting Celtic.
In Group B Italian Serie A club Genoa stayed in the hunt for a place in the next round after beating Lille 3-2 with a last-gasp goal to move to six points - just one point behind the French club.
Valencia are also on six points after playing to a 2-2 draw at Slavia Prague.
Beleaguered Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin put their woeful Bundesliga form aside with a 3-2 victory at Heerenveen to move to four points in Group D.
Although leaders Sporting Lisbon have a comfortable lead at the top of the table with ten points after playing to a 1-1 draw at home against Ventspils, they are not yet assured of a place in the next round.
AS Roma came from behind against Premier League club Fulham to register a 2-1 victory in their Group E game to move above the visitors on seven points. Fulham stay on five points and are now four points behind leaders Basel, who beat CSKA Sofia 3-1.
Both games in Group F ended in away wins, with Galatasaray's 3-0 victory at Dinamo Bucharest ensuring them a place in the next round, while Panathinaikos, who won 1-0 at Sturm Graz are also virtually guaranteed a place in the next round.
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