Covid-hit Santa Clara cruise into the next round while Pacos' first leg thrashing sees them also advance despite shock defeat to Larne - Europa Conference League

Despite only travelling to Slovenia with 14 players after a significant Covid-19 outbreak ruled out nine of their senior players, Santa Clara still managed to progress to the next round of the Europa Conference League - not only holding onto the lead they held after their 2-0 first leg victory, but even extending it, defeating Olimpija Ljubljana in the return leg 0-1 despite their considerable disadvantage.

It was therefore a very good day in the office for Santa Clara, who remained the better team - and more likely to score - throughout the match, and managed to break the deadlock with little more than 15 minutes remaining when Rui Costa helped force the ball home.

Santa Clara now know that just one more tie against the winner of the clash between Sochi and Partizan stands between them and the Europa Conference League group stage.

Meanwhile in Northern Ireland, Pacos de Ferreira were playing their second leg match with Larne FC having thumped their opponents 4-0 in their first meeting. Pacos therefore went into the second leg as comfortable favourites, and even fielded a relatively strong side to try and finish off the job away from home, but ended up falling to a shock 1-0 defeat to their opponents, a late Randall goal ensuring they lose on the night, but progress to the next round with relative ease.

Pacos have been handed what is, on paper, the hardest possible opponent for the next round - Tottenham Hotspur. Nuno’s side will be overwhelming favourites going into that match, and Pacos will have to do something very special in order to advance to the UECL group stage.