Steaua fulfil destiny with tie in Sevilla

Former European champions Steaua Bucharest host UEFA Cup holders Sevilla tomorrow in a game they wished they could have played nine months ago.

The Romanians were cruelly denied a place in last season's final after Middlesbrough capped a remarkable comeback from 3-0 down on aggregate 24 minutes into the semi-final second leg, progressing with Massimo Maccarone's winner a minute from time.

Sevilla won the trophy with a 4-0 demolition of the English side.

"There is somebody up there who wanted Steaua to face Sevilla this year after Middlesbrough stopped us playing last year's final," Steaua coach Cosmin Olaroiu said of their last 32 meeting.

"There could not be a tougher rival for Steaua than the current holders."

Steaua playmaker Nicolae Dica will miss both legs after undergoing knee surgery, with Gabriel Bostina likely to deputise.

Sevilla travel to Bucharest in need of a confidence-boosting performance after winning one of six league games in 2007.

After topping the Primera Liga heading into the Christmas break, they have now slipped three points behind leaders Barcelona.

"Football teams aren't machines and have their ups and downs. We aren't doing as well as we were earlier but the important thing is that while we strive to recover our form we are still in a privileged situation," said coach Juande Ramos.

The Spaniards have injury doubts over midfielder Renato and defenders Ivica Dragutinovic and Javi Navarro.

Fifteen first knockout round ties take place today and tomorrow, Feyenoord having been expelled from the competition because of crowd violence to hand Tottenham a bye to the last 16.

Werder Bremen take on Ajax Amsterdam suffering a confidence crisis, after two successive defeats in the Bundesliga put them six points behind leaders Schalke 04.

"We'll have to see whether this latest defeat gives us the spur we need or not," said Germany striker Miroslav Klose.

Coach Thomas Schaaf hopes to have Danish midfielder Daniel Jensen in the side despite a leg muscle injury.

Ajax, whose Dutch title hopes have been re-ignited by PSV Eindhoven's poor run, have defensive worries with injuries ruling out defenders Urby Emanuelson, Zdenek Grygera and Thomas Vermaelen.

CSKA Moscow, the 2005 winners, will host Israel's Maccabi Haifa in Vladikavkaz today, a three-hour flight from the Russian capital and located in the volatile Caucasus region near Chechnya.

CSKA said it would be too cold to play the first leg of the tie in Moscow, although city rivals Spartak will have no problems hosting Spain's Celta Vigo tomorrow with the Luzhniki stadium boasting an artificial pitch.

Livorno will play the first leg of their tie against Espanyol behind closed doors today after the Picchi stadium failed to meet security regulations laid down in the Italian government's tough new anti-hooligan plan.

"The UEFA Cup match against Espanyol is an historic moment for the club and the city. It will be sad for all of us to see the stands at the Picchi empty," said club coach Daniele Arrigoni.

Paris St Germain have history on their side for their tie with AEK Athens having not lost, or conceded a goal, in five meetings with Greek opposition.

The French side secured a morale-boosting win before their trip to the Greek capital, a 4-2 victory on Saturday over Monaco their first league win since October.