Italian clubs face tricky return ties in UEFA Cup

Italian clubs face tricky return ties in UEFA Cup
Greg Fraser

Paris, March 8: Italian league leaders Juventus, AS Roma and defending champions Parma all go into Thursday's UEFA Cup fourth-round, second-leg matches facing tough tasks as they aim to qualify for the quarter-finals. They will be hoping not to suffer the same fate as Serie A rivals Udinese, who exited on the away goals rule to Czech league leaders Slavia Prague on Tuesday.

The matchup between former French champions Lens and Spanish outfit Atletico Madrid is also finely balanced after a 2-2 draw in Madrid, while Arsenal, Real Mallorca and Galatasaray are all in strong positions after the first-leg matches last week.

Despite their slim 1-0 victory in Turin, Juventus and their inspirational leader Zinedine Zidane will rely on their renowned defensive strength away to a Celta Vigo side who have not shone in recent Spanish league action. Juventus are five points clear at the top of Serie A and have only lost one league match all season whilst Celta Vigo lie sixth in the Primera Liga and have lost a worrying twelve matches to date.

Reigning champions Parma, who thrashed Marseille 3-0 in last year's final, have had a recent return to form after a eight-game winless streak which ended with the 1-0 first-leg victory over Werder Bremen. The holders will probably need to notch up at least one more goal to be safe, however, as Bremen boast the second-best attack in the Bundesliga.

Perhaps the most intriguing match of the evening will take place in Leeds where AS Roma will enter the intimidating cauldron that is Elland Road. David O'Leary's young side pulled off a brilliant 0-0 draw in Rome last week led by a sparkling performance from England 'keeper Nigel Martyn.

Roma, however, are formidable Opposition and after their latest league success - a 1-0 victory over Torino, they are up to fourth in Serie A and looking for a Champions League place next season. The winner of the Leeds-Roma clash with play Slavia Prague in the last eight.

Lens go into their match with Spanish strugglers Atletico Madrid without their suspended Cameroonian midfielder Alex Nyarko and the injured Cyril Rool but their two away goals could prove invaluable as they try to save a disappointing season at the Felix Bollaert stadium.

Atletico will be led by a new coach after Raddy Antic returned to the helm for the third time on Saturday and replaced Italian Claudio Raineri, who resigned after the clubs recent poor results. Lens could go through as Atletico have relegation fears on their mind and are certainly more concerned about the upcoming league match against Valladolid at the weekend.

Arsenal will be without Dutch striker Dennis Bergkamp, who misses the trip to La Coruna due to his fear of flying, but should have no trouble eliminating the Spanish leaders Deportivo after they handed out a 5-1 thrashing in the first-leg at Highbury.

Defence could also be a worry for Arsene Wenger's men as Tony Adams is almost certainly ruled out with his persistent groin injury and both Martin Keown and Gilles Grimandi are suspended, having picked up three bookings apiece in Europe this season.

Wenger is likely to ask troubled French compatriot Emmanuel Petit to switch from midfield to partner Ukrainian Oleg Luzhny in central Defence where Luzhny, nornally a right-back, deputised for Adams in the first leg. However, Deportivo, who lost in the league on Sunday to lowly Malaga, will be without Brazilian playmaker Djalminha after he was sent off in the first leg for headbutting Grimandi in the chest - though the Frenchman reacted somewhat over the top.

Real Mallorca go to the Stade Louis II in Monaco without injured Yugoslav playmaker Jovan Stankovic - who grabbed a first leg hat-trick but is suffering from a knee injury. Real, losing Cup Winners' Cup finalists last year, will have to be careful defending a 4-1 lead against Trezeguet and Italian ace Marco Simone.

The runaway French leaders will be without Mexican defender Rafael Marquez who is suspended after being sent-off in the first leg last week. Right-back Willie Sagnol is doubtful with a stomach injury but the Monagasques will not be thinking about defense when the match kicks off Thursday as they will have to score at least three times.

Former European champions Borussia Dortmund face an uphill task as they attempt to overturn a shock 2-0 home defeat in the first-leg at the hands of Turkish champions Galatasaray. Dortmund are mid-table in the Bundesliga but will take heart from the fact that Premiership side Chelsea went into the intimidating Ali Sami Yen stadium earlier this season in the Champions League and came away with a 5-0 victory. (AFP)

Thursday's matches: Leeds United (Eng) V AS Roma (Ita); Galatasaray (Tur) V Borussia Dortmund (Ger); Lens (Fra) V Atletico Madrid (Spa); Celta Vigo (Spa) V Juventus (Ita); Deportivo La Coruna (Spa) V Arsenal (Eng); Monaco (Fra) V Real Mallorca (Spa); Werder Bremen (Ger) V Parma (Ita).