PARIS (AFP) - English sides Everton, Tottenham and Bolton as well as Scottish giants Rangers marched into the UEFA Cup last 16 on Thursday.
Everton brushed aside Brann Bergen 6-1 on the night for an 8-1 aggregate score to set-up a last 16 duel with Fiorentina.
Tottenham, who face Chelsea in the English League Cup final on Sunday, were held 1-1 by Slavia Prague but went through 3-2 on aggregate and will face PSV Eindhoven.
Bolton, flirting with relegation from the Premier League, returned from Madrid with a 0-0 draw against high-flying Atletico and went through 1-0 over the two legs.
They will meet Sporting Lisbon in the next round where they will be joined by Rangers who needed a late goal from Nacho Novo to secure a 1-1 draw at Panathinaikos to go through on the away goals rule.
Rangers will meet Germany's Werder Bremen in the last 16.
At Goodison Park, Nigerian international Ayegbeni Yakubu became only the third Everton player to hit a European hat-trick.
Yakubu followed Alan Ball and Andy Gray into the club record books with his three goals while strike partner Andrew Johnson grabbed two.
"Yakubu did so well," said Everton boss David Moyes.
"That's what he does, scores goals. We have always known he has got that in him. His second when he sent two defenders the wrong way was terrific."
Spanish midfielder Mikael Arteta grabbed Everton's other goal as the Merseysiders won their seventh successive UEFA Cup tie.
Fiorentina beat Rosenborg of Norway 2-1 on the night for a 3-1 aggregate. Fabio Liverani and Daniele Cacia were on target while Yssouf Kone grabbed a consolation for the Norwegians.
Tottenham received the perfect confidence booster ahead of Sunday's trip to Wembley when a debut goal from Jamie O'Hara fired Juande Ramos' side past Slavia Prague.
"We knew it was going to be a tough game and couldn't take it lightly," said Spurs keeper Paul Robinson
"We wanted a couple of goals in the first half and then be able to take it easier. But give them credit, they played well."
Slavia midfielder Matej Krajcik was on target for the Czechs.
Bolton, just three points above the Premier League relegation zone, took a 1-0 lead to the Vicente Calderon stadium and frustrated Atletico Madrid to set-up a clash with Sporting Lisbon.
Atletico's best chance fell to Luis Garcia but the ex-Liverpool man fired over the crossbar while the home side saw their playmakers Jose Antonio Reyes and Maxi Rodriguez blunted by the unsung Andy O'Brien and Gary Cahill.
"In terms of passing and creative football, we didn't play as well as I know we can, but in terms of heart and desire, enthusiasm and work-rate, we were marvelous," said Bolton boss Gary Megson.
Nacho Novo made up for missing a hatful of chances in the first leg to score a late goal in Rangers' 1-1 draw at Panathinaikos.
The Spaniard pounced on a loose ball nine minutes from full-time to score past goalkeeper Mario Galinovic and give the Scots a place in the next round on the away goals rule.
Ioannis Goumas had given Panathinaikos a 12th-minute lead with a fierce 25-yard drive.
Rangers boss Walter Smith praised Novo.
"He deserved the goal for all the effort he put in," said Smith.
"I know he was disappointed after the first leg but he showed great composure with his finish tonight."
Aberdeen were unable to make it a British sweep of five teams in the next stage when they were picked apart by Bayern Munich who won 5-1 in Bavaria for a 7-3 aggregate.
Germany striker Lukas Podolski announced his return from injury with two second-half goals as Bayern set up a last 16 clash with Anderlecht.
Germany are already guaranteed of seeing at least one of their teams in the quarter-finals with Bayer Leverkusen, who saw off Galatasaray 5-1, due to meet Hamburg who played out a 0-0 draw with FC Zurich for a 3-1 aggregate win.
Benfica reached the last 16 in dramatic circumstances.
They were losing 2-1 on aggregate to Nuremberg but saved themselves with a goal from Oscar Cardozo in the last minute and a winner from Angel Di Maria in the second minute of stoppage time.
