El-Hadji Diouf's goal in the first leg at the Reebok Stadium a week ago was enough to send Bolton through but they had to work hard to set up a two legged encounter with Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon.

Actions off the pitch by the Spanish police before, during and after the game marred a momentus night for Bolton and the club will be conducting investigations into the matter.

On the pitch the Trotters players gave a fantastic account of themselves despite being put under pressure for large spells by a Atletico side who could not turn their possession into goals.

Surprisingly El-Hadji Diouf, Ivan Campo and Danny Guthrie where left out from the starting eleven with Bolton manager Gary Megson having one eye on Sunday's important local derby against Blackburn Rovers.

Campo and Diouf made the bench and where to come on to play their part in the second half but for on loan Guthrie he picked up an injury which robbed him of making a sixth consecutive European game.

Veteran Stelios Giannakopoulos came into the Bolton side at Diouf's expense and the little Greek nearly gave the visitors the lead on ten minutes only for Atletico keeper Christian Abbiati to produce a fine save and tip the ball over the crossbar.

Atletico themselves had a better chance to open the scoring but former Liverpool man Luis Garcia could only scoop the ball over the top of Jussi Jaaskelainen's goal.

One time Manchester United man Diego Forlan was causing the Wanderers problems with his pace and unlike in the first leg he was finding one or two openings.

One such case came in the 22nd minute but fortunately for Bolton the Uruguayan marksman headed wide of the mark from within the penalty area.

Atletico attacked Bolton early in the second half but Luis Garcia was again wasteful with a curling shot after managing to put Trotters full back Jlloyd Samuel under pressure.

It proved to be one of the last acts for the Spanish international as he was soon replaced by Miguel De Las Cuevas shortly before the hour.

Bolton themselves introduced fresh legs with Ivan Campo and El-Hadji Diouf coming into the fray in place of Gavin McCann and Stelios Giannakopoulos.

For ex-Real Madrid ace Campo it proved to be, as expected, a hostile welcome on his return to the Spanish capital as the home crowd viciously jeered his entry onto the pitch.

The Atletico onslaught continued as Mariano Pernia, Jose Jurado and Forlan all had chances foiled by the resolute Wanderers defence.

Jurado hit a shot wide, compatriot Jose Reyes tried his luck from range and a penalty appeal after Forlan's shot had hit Samuel where all things Bolton had to survive in the closing moments of the game but they did so in remarkable fashion to deservedly progress through to the last sixteen for the first time ever.

Games against Sporting Lisbon will take place in early March but before then Bolton will have two very difficult Premier League games away at Blackburn and at home to Liverpool.

BOLTON WANDERERS: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Nicky Hunt, Gary Cahill, Andy O'Brien, Jlloyd Samuel, Joey O'Brien (Abdoulaye Meite), Gavin McCann (Ivan Campo), Kevin Nolan, Stelios Giannakopoulos (El-Hadji Diouf), Kevin Davies, Matthew Taylor

SUBS NOT USED: Andranik Teimourian, Mikel Alonso, Ricardo Vaz-Te, Ali Al-Habsi (GK)

ATLETICO MADRID: Christian Abbiati, Mariano Pernia, Pablo Ibanez (Mista), Antonio Lopez, Luis Perea, Cleber Santana, Maxi Rodriguez, Luis Garcia (Miguel), Jose Jurado, Jose Antonio Reyes, Diego Forlan

SUBS NOT USED: Fabiano, Ze Castro, Alejandro Rodriguez, Alvaro Dominguez, Falcon (GK)

REFEREE:

Jacek Granat (Poland)

ATTENDANCE:

30,000

BOOKED:

J.O'Brien (Bolton)

Nolan (Bolton)

M.Rodriguez (Atletico)

Diouf (Bolton)

Davies (Bolton)

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