Mixed fortunes for quartet

AC Sparta Praha and AFC Ajax enjoyed morale-boosting returns to form over the weekend ahead of their UEFA Champions League Group B meeting in the Czech Republic on Wednesday. But things are less rosy for FC Thun and Arsenal FC, who both dropped points away from home.

Middlesbrough FC 2-1 Arsenal FC

Arsenal's indifferent start to the season continued on Saturday when a weakened side suffered a 2-1 defeat at Middlesbrough. Two goals before the hour mark from Yakubu Ayegbeni and Massimo Maccarone set Arsène Wenger's team on course for their second defeat of the season, leaving them eighth in the Premiership standings. José Antonio Reyes, who hit the post in the first half, scored a late consolation for Arsenal.

The Spanish forward's usual strike-partner, Thierry Henry, was ruled out with a groin injury and Wenger was left to rue his absence. "We never should have lost," said the Arsenal manager. "I feel that we had very good patches in the game - we could have won this game in the first 20 minutes with three clear chances but we did not take them. We missed our chances and we gave them presents for their two goals."

The talismanic Henry, who scored for France against the Republic of Ireland last week, will also be sidelined on Wednesday, but the Arsenal lineup could include England centre-back Sol Campbell for the first time since May. Midfield player Fredrik Ljungberg could also return after he was rested for the trip to the Riverside after back-to-back games for Sweden last week.

Several others were also on international duty with Lauren and Kolo Abib Touré finding themselves on opposing sides as Cameroon defeated the Ivory Coast, while Gilberto Silva played in Brazil's 5-0 win against Chile, sealing the world champions' place in Germany. The host nation's goalkeeper Jens Lehmann also hopes to be there, but will play no part against Thun due to suspension.

BSC Young Boys 0-0 FC Thun

A weakened Thun side were held to a goalless draw by Young Boys in the Bernese derby at the Stade de Suisse to maintain their steady start to the new season. Without captain Andreas Gerber and Cameroon defender Armand Deumi, Urs Schönenberger's team struggled to find their rhythm in the stadium that will provide their European home, although Gelson did hit the post at the start of the second half.

The result means that since the Swiss side eliminated Malmö FF in the Champions League third qualifying round, they have gained just a point after a shock 2-0 defeat by basement side FC Yverdon-Sports last week. It also means that Thun have not scored in their last two games and Switzerland striker Mauro Lustrinelli, the club's only international representative last week, again looked isolated up front as a lone striker.

AC Sparta Praha 2-0 FC Vysocina Jihlava

Sparta defeated Czech top-flight newcomers Vysocina 2-0 on Saturday with two Lukáš Zelenka goals to boost their confidence ahead of the Ajax fixture. The Czech champions needed the victory badly as they struggled in the previous two rounds, when they lost at leaders FC Slovan Liberec 2-0 and drew 1-1 with lowly 1. FC Brno. They now have ten points from five games.

Coach Jaroslav Hřebík kept captain Karel Poborský on the bench after recent disappointing performances for club and country. Poborský said: "The coach said to me that it would be better to give me a rest, but I answered that I am not tired. However I respect his decision."

Slovakian player Karol Kisel replaced him on the right wing, while Tomáš Polášek, who signed from SIAD Most just before the transfer deadline, made his debut on the left. Zelenka ended the home fans' frustration 55 minutes in when he collected Kisel's long ball and rounded the goalkeeper. Poborský then came off the bench and made the second goal in the 72nd minute with a super run and cross for Zelenka. Hřebík said: "I hope we have stopped talking about our lack of conditioning."

Willem II 0-2 AFC Ajax

Midfield player Tomáš Galásek made an immediate impact in his first start of the season when his curling shot gave Danny Blind's side the lead on the half-hour mark in Tilburg. His Czech Republic team-mate Zdenek Grygera fared less well, however, and was dismissed midway through the second half. But despite the numerical disadvantage, substitute Angelos Charisteas sealed victory with four minutes remaining as Ajax returned to winning ways following last week's 2-1 defeat by Feyenoord.

Coach Danny Blind said: "We played some good football. [Debutant] Olaf Lindenbergh played well, and Galásek was excellent. We dominated and controlled the match, but should have scored more. As for Wednesday; we aren't a team that uses the same lineup for 30 matches out of 34. I will change my team depending on our opponents."

Blind might not have too much choice, with injuries hampering his preparations ahead of Matchday 1. JuanFran is not yet match fit, while captain Julien Escudé (back), Maxwell and Nicolae Mitea (both knee), Maarten Stekelenburg (shoulder) and Edgar Manucharyan (hamstring) are all sidelined. The latter picked up his injury in Armenia’s 1-0 defeat at the hands of the Netherlands last Saturday, which saw him line up against club mates Wesley Sneijder, Hedwiges Maduro and Ryan Babel.