Real the only credible candidates in Spanish quartet

Spain will have four teams in the second round of the Champions League but only Real Madrid will inspire any fear from potential rivals in Friday's draw after ramshackle campaigns from the other three.

Real, bidding for a 10th European title, are justifiable favourites for the competition after cruising through the opening phase with four wins and two draws giving them first place in Group F.

Deportivo Coruna, Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad all joined them in the last 16 this week but only after nerve-jangling final group games that might easily have seen them eliminated.

Deportivo were heading for an early exit when they fell 2-0 behind to PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday, leaving them in provisional third place in Group C.

Goals from substitutes Albert Luque and Walter Pandiani brought them back level in the second half and they ended up clinching second place behind Monaco despite a late strike from John de Jong that consigned them to a 3-2 defeat.

Deportivo have enjoyed excellent wins over the likes of Bayern Munich and Manchester United in recent seasons but they have been a long way short of top form this term, as shown in an abject 8-3 defeat by Monaco earlier in the campaign.

"We had to find everything we had within us to turn the game around and get through," said relieved Deportivo coach Javier Irureta.

Real Sociedad and Celta Vigo, both playing in the Champions League for the first time, also rode their luck to get through to the last 16.

Celta were fortunate to be up against what was virtually an AC Milan reserve side in their all-important final game.

The Spaniards were far from convincing but they managed to snatch a 2-1 win that, combined with defeat for Ajax Amsterdam, proved enough to take them through in second place behind the Italians in Group H.

Sociedad also cut it fine, coming from behind to clinch a 1-1 draw at home to Galatasaray on Wednesday to claim second spot in Group D behind Juventus.

Celta and Sociedad could both provide awkward opposition for anyone in the second round but neither side are serious candidates for the title.

Celta are currently in 17th place in the Primera Liga, while Sociedad are in even greater trouble a place further back in the third relegation spot.

For both sides, reaching the last 16 in Europe will come as a lucrative bonus but they will soon have to concentrate on climbing away from the danger zone at home.

"I get the feeling that the fans are happy to have reached the last 16," Celta coach Miguel Angel Lotina said.

"This competition is a nice one and it gives prestige to the club but what worries me is the day to day situation in the league."

As usual, Real Madrid will provide Spain's best hope of a European title and, unlike the country's other three representatives, they can look forward to a second-round tie against one of the group runners-up.

"All the teams in the draw will be scared of meeting Real Madrid," said midfielder Oscar Minambres.