Ukraine champions Shakhtar Donetsk put a dent in Sevilla's bandwagon as the UEFA Cup holders wobbled before securing a 2-2 draw with a late penalty in their second knockout round, first-leg tie on Thursday.
Italian midfielder Enzo Maresca salvaged a draw for Juande Ramos's side but the Primera Liga leaders face a tough return in Donetsk next Thursday.
"We are still alive and I think we are capable of going there and winning," Maresca told Radio Marca. "This is a very important competition for us and we know how good it feels to win it."
None of the four Spanish sides in the last 16 could muster a victory. Celta Vigo were beaten 1-0 at home by Werder Bremen, Osasuna drew 1-1 at Rangers while Espanyol held firm and drew 0-0 in Israel with Maccabi Haifa.
Goals were in plentiful supply at St James' Park where Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins scored twice as Newcastle United defeated AZ Alkmaar 4-2 in a pulsating match. Ireland striker Robbie Keane also notched a double, including a stoppage-time winner, as Tottenham Hotspur won 3-2 at Braga.
Sevilla, trying to become the first team to successfully defend the trophy since Real Madrid 21 years ago, made a flying start when midfielder Jose Luis Marti scored an eighth-minute penalty.
Shakhtar equalised a little over 10 minutes later when Czech defender Tomas Huebschman drilled home from close range.
After Sevilla twice hit the post before the break, Shakhtar went in front when Brazilian midfielder Matuzalem netted a penalty on the hour.
A shock defeat appeared on the cards until Maresca was hauled down and he fired in the third penalty of the game to spare Sevilla's blushes.
THREE-GOAL SALVO
Newcastle, who began their European campaign back in mid-July and qualified via the Intertoto Cup, raced into a three-goal lead inside 23 minutes to stun Alkmaar.
Defender Gretar Steinsson turned Kieron Dyer's low cross into his own net after eight minutes. Dyer then chipped over Boy Waterman to make it 2-0 on 22 minutes after a neat build-up and 60 seconds later Martins cut in from the left before drilling in a low shot.
Shota Arveladze's diving header got AZ on the board on 31 minutes only for Martins to restore the three-goal cushion six minutes later.
Alkmaar improved after the break and got a lifeline for the return when Steven Taylor handled Moussa Dembele's shot. Shay Given parried Dembele's poor penalty only for Danny Koevermans to net following the ensuing scramble.
Tottenham appeared set for a comfortable win over Braga in Portugal as goals from Keane and Steed Malbranque put them 2-0 up after 72 minutes.
Newcastle, who began their European campaign back in mid-July and qualified via the Intertoto Cup, raced into a three-goal lead inside 23 minutes to stun Alkmaar.
Defender Gretar Steinsson turned Kieron Dyer's low cross into his own net after eight minutes. Dyer then chipped over Boy Waterman to make it 2-0 on 22 minutes after a neat build-up and 60 seconds later Martins cut in from the left before drilling in a low shot.
Shota Arveladze's diving header got AZ on the board on 31 minutes only for Martins to restore the three-goal cushion six minutes later.
Alkmaar improved after the break and got a lifeline for the return when Steven Taylor handled Moussa Dembele's shot. Shay Given parried Dembele's poor penalty only for Danny Koevermans to net following the ensuing scramble.
Tottenham appeared set for a comfortable win over Braga in Portugal as goals from Keane and Steed Malbranque put them 2-0 up after 72 minutes.
The hosts hit back with quickfire goals from Paulo Jorge and Ze Carlos, only for Keane to burst through in stoppage time to fire a low shot past Paulo Santos.
Racing Lens playmaker Olivier Monterrubio scored and won a penalty as Racing Lens overcame Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 in the Felix-Bollaert Stadium.
Monterrubio, who joined Lens in January from Stade Rennes, lobbed keeper Rene Adler to put the French side ahead at the break.
Tunisian defender Karim Haggui equalised with a header from a corner but his delight turned to misery on 69 minutes when he crudely upended Monterrubio in the penalty area and was sent off. Daniel Cousin sent Adler the wrong way from the spot to make it 2-1.
Paris St Germain made it a French double on the night as the capital side came from a goal down to defeat Benfica 2-1 in the Parc des Princes. Simao headed the Portuguese ahead but goals from Pauleta and Pierre-Alain Frau gave the Ligue 1 side the advantage for the return.
Portuguese striker Hugo Almeida scored Werder Bremen's winner in Spain against Celta Vigo, while a superb stoppage-time goal from Brahim Hemdani, who scored with a curling shot from distance, rescued a 1-1 draw for Rangers at home to Osasuna.