Utrecht up for zesty Zaragoza

Fine start
Zaragoza defeated Real Sociedad de Fútbol 2-1 on Sunday to equal their best start to a season, set by their mid-1960s team dubbed 'Los Magníficos'. Zaragoza are without goalkeeper César Láinez but can call on defender Gabriel Milito so should field the same side that beat Real with Luis García in goal.

Utrecht confident
In stark contrast, Utrecht fell to a 3-0 defeat by FC Groningen, but remain third in the Eredivisie and coach Foeke Booy said: "We travel with confidence to Zaragoza." Bas van den Brink, Samir El Gaaouri and Sandro Calabro are ruled out, but winger Dave van den Bergh is fit.

Rotan out
Dnipro midfielder Ruslan Rotan has picked up an injury in training, having only recently returned to fitness, and will not play against Brugge. With several players rested, Dnipro won 2-0 at FC Neftyanik Akhtyrk in the first leg of their Ukrainian Cup quarter-final.

Long journey
Brugge coach Trond Sollied, who is deprived of midfield duo Serhiy Serebrennikov and Jonathan Blondel through injury, admitted he did not want Dnipro as one of their two away games due to the long journey. "It can never be an excuse for a defeat, but it could be an explanation," he said.