Valencia ready to join group stage fray
Thursday, November 6, 2008
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Eight teams will make their bow in the group stage of the UEFA Cup tonight after sitting out the opening round of games including Valencia CF, one of eight former winners of the competition in action on Matchday 2.
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Eight teams will make their bow in the group stage of this season's UEFA Cup after sitting out Matchday 1 including Valencia CF, who are one of eight former winners of the competition in action this evening.
Spain pain
Unai Emery's charges begin their Group G campaign at Mestalla against FC København, who have never defeated a Spanish team in Europe. Ståle Solbakken's side can take hope from the weekend, though, when Valencia were beaten at home for the first time in the Liga by Real Racing Club although the Danish challengers are already playing catch-up after a 3-1 defeat by AS Saint-Etienne on Matchday 1. The other game in the section sees the French side host Rosenborg BK.
McClaren returns
Former England manager Steve McClaren will be on familiar turf as FC Twente are the first group stage opponents for Premier League outfit Manchester City FC in Group A, while the second game is an intriguing contest between a Racing side beaten in the Netherlands in their first outing and leaders FC Schalke 04. FC Metalist Kharkiv begin their Group B quest at home to Hertha BSC Berlin while a former European champion hosts a UEFA Cup winner of yesteryear when SL Benfica welcome Galatasaray AŞ.
Sevilla starter
R. Standard de Liège may be relieved to face opposition from outside England having been knocked out of the UEFA Champions League by Liverpool FC before overcoming Everton FC to reach the group stage, but their task will be no more comfortable as they host two-time winners Sevilla FC in Group C. Two sides who were beaten on Matchday 1, VfB Stuttgart and FK Partizan, contest the other match. KKS Lech Poznań also appear for the first time, against AS Nancy-Lorraine, while Feyenoord face PFC CSKA Moskva in Group H.
Familiar faces
FC Spartak Moskva coach Michael Laudrup spent six of his playing years in Serie A so will take on a familiar opponent when Udinese Calcio visit Russia for their Group D opener, a section in which Tottenham Hotspur FC's Luka Modrić will be no stranger to former club NK Dinamo Zagreb when the Croatian champions arrive at White Hart Lane. VfL Wolfsburg kick off their maiden group-stage odyssey against SC Heerenveen, while Group E Matchday 1 winners AC Milan and SC Braga meet at San Siro. SK Slavia Praha complete the list of late starters and will receive a visit from Aston Villa FC in Group F, with AFC Ajax and MŠK Žilina both hoping to open their accounts in the group's other meeting.