Focus back on the UEFA Cup
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Article summary
AFC Ajax are among the sides entering the UEFA Cup this week as the Round of 32 begins on Wednesday.
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Obstacle in Sporting's path
For Sporting Clube de Portugal, a place in the final at their home ground would be a dream come true but they will face a notable obstacle in the form of 2002 winners Feyenoord. This is one of 16 ties to be played out over the next fortnight, with the first legs on Wednesday and Thursday and the return matches the following week.
Valencia return
Twenty-four teams came through the tournament's inaugural group stage before Christmas and they are now joined by the eight sides who finished third in their UEFA Champions League groups, among them UEFA Cup holders Valencia CF who meet Romania's FC Steaua Bucuresti. These teams will not provide the only new faces given most of the participating clubs strengthened their squads during the transfer window.
New face
The most expensive new recruit on show will be French striker Nicolas Anelka, Turkish side Fenerbahçe SK's €10m acquisition from Manchester City FC, who can look forward to a tie against Real Zaragoza. For a detailed account of the comings and goings at all 32 clubs, come back to uefa.com later today.
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