Post by Taxigirl on Feb 25, 2004 12:46:44 GMT
Liverpool and Newcastle renew their Uefa Cup campaigns as Celtic join the competition for the first time in Thursday's third-round, first-leg ties.
Liverpool host Bulgaria's Levski Sofia, Newcastle travel to Norway to play Valerenga and Celtic entertain FK Teplice of the Czech Republic.
After almost three months off, the tournament begins again in earnest with Champions League drop-outs joining in.
The return legs are set to be played on Wednesday 3 March.
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/3515971.stm
Beleaguered Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier will be hoping a convincing performance against Levski Sofia at Anfield keeps his mounting critics at bay for another few days.
The 2001Uefa Cup champions are desperate to qualify for Champions League football next year, and Houllier is aware that a strong Uefa Cup run would bolster his case to remain in a job after crashing out of the FA Cup.
"It's a big game in our season and the players are aware of that," Houllier told the club's website.
"The good thing about when you lose is that there's always another game for you to try and put things right."
The last time Liverpool met Bulgarian opposition in Europe was when they played Levski's neighbours CSKA Sofia, winning 6-1 on aggregate en route to lifting the European Cup in 1981.
Levski Sofia defeated Czech side Slavia Prague in the second round on away goals, while Liverpool beat Steaua Bucharest 2-1 on aggregate in November.
Sir Bobby Robson's Newcastle face a cold trip north to Norway to take on Valerenga in Oslo.
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/3485058.stm
Temperatures have been hovering around the freezing mark but the match should go ahead, barring major snowfalls.
Newcastle will be without Lee Bowyer following an administrative mix up stemming from a ban from a Uefa Cup match during his time at Leeds.
The Magpies disposed of Swiss side Basle 4-2 in the second round, while Valerenga beat Wisla Krakow 4-3 on penalties.
In Glasgow, Martin O'Neill's Celtic make their first appearance after crashing out of the Champions League following a third-place finish behind Lyon and Bayern Munich in Group A.
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/3485084.stm
Celtic, runners up to Porto in 2003, meet the Czech side who dumped 2002 champions Feyenoord out of the competition.
Teplice coach Frantisek Straka said: "We know all about Celtic and their qualities. We respect them but we are not frightened.
"If we were frightened, there would be no point in us going to Scotland."
In other action, Spanish giants Valencia host Besiktas of Turkey, Barcelona travel to Brondby of Denmark and Italy's Inter Milan visit Sochaux of France.
Valencia, who beat Israel's Maccabi Haifa in the second round, are five points adrift of Real Madrid in La Liga.
Barcelona are fourth in La Liga after five straight wins following a sluggish start to the season.
The Catalans, who have not won a trophy since 1999, could be inspired by the return of Brazilian Ronaldinho from injury.
But they are without the injured Rafael Marquez and Edgar Davids, who is ineligible since his switch from Juventus in January.
Frank Rijkaard's side defeated Greece's Panionios 5-0 on aggregate to reach the third round.
And Brondby coach Michael Laudrup is aware of the task facing his league leaders.
"We have to be realistic. Spanish football is much better than Danish football, Barcelona is much better than Brondby. But in football anything can happen," said the former Barcelona star.