Anderson fit for Intertoto mission

Tantalising tie
Perhaps the most tantalising is the all-Spanish showdown between Villarreal CF and Club Atlético de Madrid. Villarreal were one of the winners of this competition last year, and used it as a springboard to reach the UEFA Cup semi-finals.

Anderson boost
For the home leg, Manuel Luis Pellegrini's side are boosted by the return of Brazilian forward Sonny Anderson, who has hit four goals in this tournament already and has shaken off a knee injury. Right-back Armando Sá and midfield player Román Riquelme have also recovered from knocks and are available, but Sergio Ballesteros looks set to miss out with a knee problem.

Trio out
Atlético coach César Ferrando has three late casualties to contend with. Midfield player Peter Luccin has been ruled out by an ankle sprain, and joined in the treatment room by central defender José Antonio García Calvo, who has a badly bruised shin, and midfield player Álvaro Novo, who has damaged a knee ligament. All three definitely miss tonight's encounter.

Torres thoughts
Atlético's star striker Fernando Torres, who has scored twice in three Intertoto appearances so far, has underlined the importance of the final to his team. "Losing would be a huge blow for us," he said. "It would mean that this whole month of competition has meant nothing. We really want to qualify for the UEFA Cup. A draw would suit us fine on Tuesday, especially if we manage to grab an away goal but the ideal result would be to secure a win to take back to Madrid."

Schalke return
Another of last season's winning sides to reach a second successive final are Germany's FC Schalke 04, who host FC Slovan Liberec of the Czech Republic in the first leg - a repeat of one of last summer's semi-finals.

Bordon decision
Schalke's new signing from VfB Stuttgart, Brazilian defender Marcelo Bordon, is in their squad and could make his competitive debut for the club, having recently returned from the Copa América. "We will decide on the day of the match whether he will be among the starting eleven," said coach Jupp Heynckes.

Hološko ruled out
Definitely missing for Schalke will be Ebbe Sand, Jörg Böhme and Gustavo Varela, while Hamit Altintop and Mike Hanke are doubts with groin and thigh injuries respectively. Slovan have problems of their own, with striker Filip Hološko, scorer of decisive goals in earlier rounds against Roda JC and FC Nantes Atlantique, sidelined for both legs with a knee injury.

Pospíšil set to start
With his usual replacement Libor Došek absent with back pains, coach Stanislav Griga has just one out-and-out forward available - Michal Pospíšil. "Schalke have a better team than a year ago, particularly in attack," Griga said.

No regrets for Puel
The night's final match sees French team Lille OSC, losing finalists in 2002, against Portuguese outsiders UD Leiria. Lille coach Claude Puel turned down the overtures of European champions FC Porto earlier this week, but insisted he has no regrets.

'Solid outfit'
"I felt proud such a club were interested in me, but it was not the time to leave," he said. "Not now the season has started." Puel assesses Leiria, 4-1 victors at Russia's FC Shinnik Yaroslavl in the third round, as "a solid outfit with a tough defence". He will also beware their capacity to pull off a surprise result on foreign soil.