GERMANY: SCHALKE 04 upset Bayer Leverkusen's preparations for the Champions League final to outplay them 4-2 in the German Cup final yesterday.
Leverkusen - who will challenge Real Madrid Wednesday at Hampden Park in Glasgow - missed out on a trophy again just a week after finishing runners-up to Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga.
SPAIN: Barcelona got the point they needed on the last day of the Primera Liga at relegated Real Zaragoza to grab the fourth Champions League spot. The Catalans drew 1-1 at La Romareda, Javier Saviola equalising Santi Aragon's strike.
Celta Vigo claim a UEFA Cup spot despite a 1-0 defeat at Rayo Vallecano, as do Real Betis and Alaves.
FRANCE: Lorient beat Bastia 1-0 in the French Cup final on Saturday to restore some pride after finishing bottom of the first division and being relegated.
Kick-off was delayed for 20 minutes by French president Jacques Chirac, who demanded public apologies from French soccer authorities after the national anthem was booed by a portion of the crowd.
PORTUGAL: Phil Babb's Sporting Lisbon secured the Portuguese league and cup double for the sixth time in their history yesterday when they pulled off a 1-0 cup final win against second division Leixoes.
Brazilian striker Jardel grabbed the goal in the 41st minute as Sporting added the cup to their 18th league title.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)