Eintracht suffer Spycher setback

Eintracht Frankfurt

Meanwhile, FC Bayern München have been drawn away to third division FC St. Pauli in the German Cup semi-finals. Eintracht play host to DSC Arminia Bielefeld in the other tie and, should Bayern beat their Hamburg-based opponents, the winner of the latter match will be all but guaranteed a place in next season's UEFA Cup.

Liverpool FC have been drawn against Manchester United FC in the FA Cup fifth round. The UEFA Champions League holders will entertain eleven-time winners United at Anfield on the weekend of 18 February. The other ties include Bolton Wanderers FC-West Ham United FC, Aston Villa FC-Manchester City FC, and Colchester United FC of the third tier at either Everton FC or Chelsea FC.

The 2006 Finnish Veikkausliiga season may start with just 13 teams after AC Allianssi were refused a licence. The club, who have experienced severe financial problems since their owners left in the autumn, could appeal against the decision, with supporters having made strenuous efforts to secure adequate funding over the winter.

Former Russian international Andrei Chernyshov has been appointed coach of Georgian champions FC Dinamo Tbilisi, replacing Kakhaber Tskhadadze. The 38-year-old, who has signed a 16-month deal, takes over a team lying third in the Premier League. "It's a great honour to work at a famous club like this with such a rich tradition," Chernyshov said. "Our task is to win the Georgian title and qualify for Europe."

Olympiacos CFP came from two goals down to win 3-2 at Panionios NFC and consolidate their lead in Greece's Alpha Ethniki. Dimitrios Zografakis and Luciano de Souza put the hosts ahead, but two goals from Michalis Konstantinou either side of a Predrag Djordjević penalty gave the champions victory.