Goalkeeper Andres Palop has apologised to the club's fans after his error helped CSKA Moscow knock Sevilla out of the Champions League.

Sevilla were seeking a place in the last eight of the competition for the first time in their history and held a slight advantage from their first leg after drawing 1-1 in Russia.

However, CSKA claimed a 2-1 win in last night's second leg at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan to secure their quarter-final spot 3-2 on aggregate.

CSKA's winning goal came 10 minutes after half-time when Palop's mistake allowed Keisuke Honda's 25-yard free-kick to find the back of the net.

Although well struck, Honda's effort was straight at Palop and the veteran goalkeeper would have been expected to make the save.

And he was quoted by AS as saying: "I feel obliged to say sorry. When there are so many people with such high hopes, I have to apologise.

"This was a very important day and I've let them down, and for this I apologise a thousand times.

"It was a powerful free-kick, but that's no excuse."

Spain winger Jesus Navas admits it was a huge setback to be knocked out of Europe but hopes they can still end the season on a high note.

Sevilla are currently fourth in the Primera Division and have reached the Copa del Rey final, where they will play Atletico Madrid.

"The dressing room is very hurt. We were so keen to get through this tie, we've fought hard but it wasn't enough," Navas said.

"The tie was very even, it was a very tough game. Now we need to be calm and think about our next match.

"It's been a tough blow but we need to lift ourselves and think about our goals in La Liga and in the final of the Copa del Rey."