Post by Taxigirl on Nov 5, 2003 18:22:52 GMT
Britain's four remaining clubs - Liverpool, Newcastle United, Manchester City and Hearts - continue their quest for Uefa Cup success in Thursday's first leg, second round ties.
Gerard Houllier's Liverpool are away to Steaua Bucharest - the team who ended the hopes of Southampton.
The Anfield boss believes his side can cope with the task despite being without top striker Michael Owen who is sidelined with an ankle injury.
"Obviously we will miss him, but my players are confident and believe they can get the right sort of result against Steaua Bucharest," said Houllier.
"We will be aiming to score, to get that vital away goal you need to succeed in Europe."
One factor which may hinder Liverpool's progress is the state of the Bucharest pitch, which Houllier is certain is the worst he has ever seen.
"The pitch is not poor, it is extremely poor, in fact terrible," he said.
"It is even worse than the one in Ljubljana where we played in the first round of the competition.
"I said that was the worst pitch we ever played on but this pitch will undoubtedly affect the way we play."
Newcastle face FC Basle, a side who like themselves exceeded expectations and reached the second phase of the Champions League last season.
The Magpies, who beat NAC Breda 5-0 in the last round, travel away for their first leg against the Swiss side.
Full-back Olivier Bernard believes his team-mates will be going into the match with just one thing on their minds.
"We won't be going over there and playing for a draw or anything like that, we will approach the game in the way we do every game by wanting to win it,"said the Frenchman.
"If we can get a good result in Basle then we will be looking to finish the job off at home in the second leg.
"But it will be a tough game because I think Basle are a stronger team then Breda."
Meanwhile Hearts, the only Scottish team to survive in the competition following Dundee's exit, face a tricky test away to French side Bordeaux.
The Tynecastle side will be seeking a repeat of the performance which saw them defeat Bosnians Zeljeznicar Sarajevo in the first round.
Manager Craig Levein has been handed a welcome boost ahead of the tie with the return to fitness of striker Mark de Vries.
"Mark has had the problem for a while but has managed to get by," he said.
"His knee was sore after the game on Saturday but he is improving and I expect him to be okay for Thursday
"He will be an important player for us against Bordeaux with his height and strength up front."
Manchester City are the only team from the British quartet to be playing their first leg, against Polish side Gronclin, at home.
Although Kevin Keegan's men are favourites to progress, the City boss expects the Polish side to look for an away goal rather than closing down the game in the hope of snatching a draw.
"They will come here and I don't think they will shut up shop," said Keegan.
"They will be more ambitious because four of their better players are two attackers and two of their midfield players that like to go forward.
"You have to give them a lot of respect as they beat Hertha Berlin in the last round and you don't expect Polish sides to be beating Bundesliga sides."
Elsewhere in Europe, Spanish giants Barcelona are away to Panionios while Primera Liga rivals Valencia entertain Israel's Maccabi Haifa.
Roma host Hajduk Split, with fellow Italians Parma in Austria for their match against SV Salzburg.