Prize ties await winners

A high-profile tie against the third-placed teams from the UEFA Champions League awaits some of tonight's UEFA Cup second round victors.

Fenerbahçe fears
Fenerbahçe SK go into their eagerly-awaited tie against Panathinaikos FC in Athens without Haim Revivo, Ali Akdeniz, Zoran Mirkovic and Ismail Güldüren. Mustafa Dogan is also a major doubt for the tie which is delicately poised at 1-1 after the first leg.

Strike out
Panathinaikos coach Sergio Markarian, meanwhile, has left misfiring striker Michalis Konstantinou out of his squad. Nigerian-born Emmanuel Olisadebe will start for the first time this season alongside Nikos Lyberopoulos.

Three-pronged attack
Blackburn Rovers FC coach Graeme Souness is banking on a three-pronged attack of Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke and Damian Duff to see off Celtic FC at Ewood Park after a 1-0 defeat last week in the Glasgow leg of the 'Battle of Britain'. "Those three are our most exciting players, yet they have hardly played any games together back to back because of injuries," Souness said.

Back for more
Cole and Yorke have been reunited at Blackburn in the hope of recreating the prolific partnership they enjoyed at Old Trafford, where they were a key part of Manchester United FC's Champions League-winning side in 1999. Garry Flitcroft will be missing from the Blackburn midfield after injuring his ankle in training.

Lazio lament
S.S. Lazio hold a 1-0 advantage against FK Crvena Zvezda, but coach Roberto Mancini has been left with an awkward decision ahead of the return in Belgrade. Key midfield player Dejan Stankovic and defender Sinisa Mihajlovic are both reluctant participants against their former club. "Honestly I hope that I don't play," said Stankovic. "But if Mancini wants me to play, I will give my best for Lazio. I just don't know what I will do if I score."

Veteran chance
Veteran goalkeeper Luca Marchegiani will replace Angelo Peruzzi, with Enrico Chiesa likely to start up front after missing the home draw against AC Parma on Sunday. With Giuliano Giannichedda and Stefano Fiore both injured, Diego Simeone and Fabio Liverani will move into the midfield. Crvena Zvezda, European champions in 1991, have no injury worries.

Turkish challenge
Besiktas JK host Deportivo Alavés in Istanbul following a 1-1 draw in Spain. Ahmet Dursun is a major doubt for the home side, who also have concerns over Gabriel Pancu and Sergen Yalçin. The third Turkish side in the tournament, Denizlispor, host AC Sparta Praha attempting to overturn a 1-0 deficit.

Parma prepared
AC Parma coach Cesare Prandelli has a full squad as his side take on TS Wisla Kraków in Poland holding a precarious 2-1 advantage. "We have to be really careful because a 2-1 lead can be dangerous," said Adrian Mutu, who will be joined up front by fit-again Adriano.

History counts
PAOK Thessaloniki take on Grasshoppers Zurich in Switzerland with a 2-1 first-leg lead. Coach Angelos Anastassiadis said: "Our 2-1 advantage does not guarantee anything. Our main goal is the victory."

Sofia certain
Nasko Sirakov, PFC Levski Sofia's managing director, is confident ahead of his side's match against SK Sturm Graz despite being a goal down. "Even though Sturm are a goal up from the first leg, I think we can win and progress," he said. "My guess is a 3-0 win."

Mission impossible
FC National Bucuresti coach Walter Zenga, whose side are 2-0 behind after the first leg, was similarly upbeat ahead of his side's tie against Paris Saint-Germain FC in Paris. "Tom Cruise had two missions impossible and he overcame them," he quipped.

Clear favourites