UEFA Cup - Behind Enemy Lines

Eurosport - Mon, 20 Oct 12:55:00 2008

We take a look at the domestic fortunes of the four teams set to face English opponents in the first round of UEFA Cup group stage, with none of the sides beaten.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Serie A Lecce-Udinese - 0

Udinese (home to Tottenham Hotspur, October 23)

Lecce 2-2 Udinese

Udinese (pictured) slipped to second place in Serie A after they drew at Lecce and Internazionale won 4-0 at Roma.

Simone Tiribocchi opened the scoring for the hosts in the 32nd minute after Andrea Coda was careless with possession at the edge of the box and goalkeeper Samir Handanovic floundered.

The home side doubled the lead at the start of the second half with a Maurizio Domizzi own-goal.

But Udinese came back with an effort from substitute Alexis Alejandro Sanchez and a seemingly inoffensive Gaetano D'Agostino free kick that was allowed to drift into the net.

Sporting Braga (home to Portsmouth, October 23)

Chaves 0-1 Braga (Cup)

A controversial late penalty from Albert Meyong gave Braga a 1-0 Portuguese Cup win at third division side Chaves.

A tight match turned on 77 minutes, when Ricardo Rocha was adjudged to have deliberately handled in the area.

He received a second yellow card for the offence, and was joined down the tunnel by Chaves captain Carlos Pinto, who was shown a straight red for his protests.

Meyong converted the spot-kick to give Braga an unconvincing win.

Ajax (away at Aston Villa, October 23)

Ajax 1-0 Groningen

Ajax's poor start to the season took a turn for the better after a scrappy win over a team who started the match as surprise Eredivisie leaders.

Former Barcelona defender Oleguer Presas scored the only goal of the game which was a timely response to the 5-2 mauling at the hands of Heerenveen in their previous league game.

Ajax move up to ninth in the league.

FC Twente (away at Manchester City, November 6)

Twente 2-0 Heracles

Steve McLaren's side bounced back from a first league defeat of the season with a late win at home to Heracles.

Marko Arnautovic scored the opener on 81 minutes and Eljero Elia sealed the win in injury time.

The result puts them seventh in the Eredivisie and ended Heracles's own unbeaten record.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

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  1. COME ON THE BLUES,NOT PORTMOUTH BUT MANCITY­ !!!!!!!!!!!!

    From anna.martin4, on Thu 23 Oct 6:40PM

  2. come on villa we have a good chance of qualifying from­ our group even if its third due to our lack of recent­ european experience

    From pete the greek, on Sun 19 Oct 3:40PM

  3. I see McClaren Is doing another great job he will be­ sacked by christmas City through to the next round­ probally wont even have to turn up long live the FA

    From JOHN S, on Tue 7 Oct 8:02PM

  4. Good luck to Spurs, they need it!

    From , on Tue 7 Oct 7:52PM
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