Europe's élite waiting in the wings

The UEFA Champions League returns to action tonight with a place in the final qualifying round against some of Europe's finest clubs the prize for the winners of the 14 second-round ties.

Bayern next
FK Partizan may be in the ascendancy after holding Hammarby to a 1-1 first-leg draw in Sweden but they are not taking a potential meeting with FC Bayern München for granted. "All my thoughts are channelled to Hammarby and I have refused to watch videos of Bayern matches," said Partizan coach Ljubisa Tumbakovic. Partizan will welcome back Goran Trobok after illness and captain Sasa Ilic also looks set to play.

'Better prepared physically'
Yet Hammarby's coach Anders Linderoth is confident his side can win in Yugoslavia. He said: "The home team are favourites, I admit that. But we have come to win. Our advantage is that we are better prepared physically." Scandinavian neighbours Brøndby IF face a similarly tough task after their 1-0 win against KS Dinamo Tirana in Denmark. A tough trip to Rosenborg BK is the reward for the winners after the second leg in Albania.

Legia luxury
Legia Warszawa are clear favourites to meet FC Barcelona in the next round after winning the first leg of their tie against FK Vardar 3-1 in Skopje. Vardar are again without suspended striker Dmitar Spasovski, but they do finally welcome back Dragan Nacevski. Zalaegerszegi TE hold a slight advantage over NK Zagreb after their 1-0 win in Hungary. The victors will take on Manchester United FC in the third qualifying round. Similarly close is the Lillestrøm SK tie against NK Zeljeznicar, with Newcastle United FC waiting for the winner. The Bosnia-Herzegovnian side are 1-0 up after their impressive performance in Norway.

Determined Dinu
FC Dinamo Bucuresti, 3-1 down to Club Brugge KV after the first leg in Belgium, are without suspended defender Ciprian Danciu and the injured Ovidiu Burca. Coach Cornel Dinu does not feel defeat will cost him his job, saying: I have a one-year contract and there is no clause that I'll be fired if we don't qualify."

Important match
Latvian champions FC Skonto are bracing themselves for the most important match of their season as they prepare for PFC Levski Sofia in Bulgaria after a scoreless first leg. Lithuanian international Orestas Buitkus is back for Skonto, while captain Alexander Rekhviashvili is unavailable. MŠK Zilina and FC Basel is similarly tight after the first leg, a 1-1 draw in Slovakia. 
 
Warned against complacency
AC Sparta Praha coach Jozef Jarabinský has warned against complacency despite a 3-0 home victory against FC Torpedo Kutaisi. "We must take it seriously like the first match," said Jarabinský. Torpedo are without David Janashia and 18-year-old right-back Lasha Chelidze after he sustained a facial injury in a Georgian league match.

Going for broke
Cypriot champions APOEL Nicosia FC are to go for broke against NK Maribor after losing 2-1 in Slovenia. APOEL welcome back Hungarian striker Barnabas Sztipanovics to partner Marios Agathocleous up front. Costas Malekkos and Armenian international Romik Khachatryan are also fit to play.

Dynamo injuries
Despite winning 4-0 away at FC Pyunik, Ukrainian champions FC Dynamo Kyiv are concerned about injured players. Pyunik will be unable to call on Mali forward Mamadou Diawara and Argentinian defender José André Bilibio, but Fernando Zagaryan is expected to make his debut.

Staying focused
Maccabi Haifa are staying focused on their second leg against FC Belshinia Bobruisk despite their 4-0 home victory last week. "I will stop myself from accepting any congratulations now," said Haifa coach Izhak Schum. Haifa midfield player Valid Badir will be back in action after serving a ban, while first-choice goalkeeper Nir Davidovich is doubtful with a knee injury.

Losing battles
FC Sheriff Tiraspol are already in a tough position after their 4-1 home defeat by Grazer AK. It is a situation made all the worse by Romanian goalkeeper Sebastian Hutan having undergone surgery in Belgium, while playmaker Vadim Boret is also doubtful for the game with a minor injury. Hibernians FC are also all but out after losing 4-0 at Boavista FC, who are clear favourites to meet AJ Auxerre in the next round.