Fenerbahçe find timely form

With the UEFA Cup set to resume after its winter break, uefa.com looks at the form of the 32 clubs involved in first-leg ties this week.

Fenerbahçe SK v Real Zaragoza
After securing their UEFA Cup berth with successive UEFA Champions League wins against AC Sparta Praha and Manchester United FC, Fenerbahçe have enjoyed an excellent run that has opened up a two-point lead over Galatasaray SK at the Turkish Superleague summit. Their Istanbul rivals did win the derby midway through December but Christoph Daum's side bounced back with a 3-0 win against Konyaspor.

Although already the league's top scorers, Daum signed Nicolas Anelka from Manchester City FC for €10m during the winter break and his side returned to action with a 2-0 win against Rizespor on 2 February. Anelka's arrival led to the departure of Brazilian left-back Fabiano so not to exceed the Turkish Football Association's quota on foreign players. The French striker came off the bench but could not find a winner against Samsunspor as they were held to a 1-1 draw three days later, before opening his Fenerbahçe account with a goal in his new side's 4-0 victory at strugglers Istanbulspor AS on Sunday.

Registered players: Nicolas Anelka
Players out: Fatih Akyel, Fabiano

Zaragoza's inconsistent season has continued since a 1-1 draw against Club Brugge KV earned a place in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup. They were in action just three days later, losing 2-0 to Athletic Club Bilbao before entering the winter break on the back of a 3-2 victory at fellow Primera División underachievers RC Deportivo La Coruña. Their domestic campaign restarted with a 1-0 win at Real Betis Balompié, but it is away from La Romareda where Zaragoza side have struggled this term.

A run of away defeats by Real Madrid CF, Getafe CF and Albacete Balompié was only interrupted by a 1-0 home victory against Málaga CF. In such dire form, the visit of FC Barcelona on Saturday was the last thing Víctor Muñoz's side needed and so it proved as the league leaders eased to a 4-1 win. Although central defender César Jiménez has been ruled out for the rest of the season after sustaining a cruciate ligament injury against Madrid, the team have been boosted by the return of goalkeeper César Láinez after a knee complaint.

Registered players: None
Players out: None