Rapid seek quick progress

AFC Rapid Bucuresti can book their place in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup with a draw against point-less PAOK FC at the Giulesti stadium. But while the Romanian side will be looking to extend their 100 per cent start to Group G following victories against Stade Rennais FC and FC Shakhtar Donetsk, Greek outfit PAOK need to win to retain any hope of qualifying for the knockout stages following two defeats.

• Inactive on Matchday 1, Rapid hit the ground running in their opening match of the group stage as goals from Daniel Niculae and Mugurel Bruga earned them a 2-0 win against Rennes. They were even more impressive on Matchday 3 as Rapid coach Razvan Lucescu edged a familial battle against his father Mircea, coach of Shakhtar. Marius Maldarasanu scored the only goal of a tight game with just three minutes remaining.

• PAOK's match against Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar was also decided by a single goal, but the Greek outfit ended up on the losing side after Brandão's penalty midway through the second half.

• The Salonika side looked to have turned things around in their second outing at home to VfB Stuttgart on Matchday 3 as they led through Hristos Karipidis's 48th-minute goal going into the last five minutes. But Danijel Ljuboja scored twice in the last five minutes to leave the home side still seeking their first point.

• The clubs have not previously met in UEFA club competition, and this will be their first meetings with clubs from their opponents' country.