GAK look to continue promising run

Grazer AK will play Polish opposition in UEFA club competitions for the first time when they host KS Amica Wronki on the second matchday of the 2004/05 UEFA Cup group stage.

Promising run
The Austrian League and Cup double winners made a fine start in the group games with a 0-0 draw at AJ Auxerre, to continue a useful run in the competition. The Austrians, as domestic champions, entered the UEFA Champions League at the third qualifying stage, but lost their home game with Liverpool FC 2-0, with both goals coming from Steven Gerrard. GAK then became one of the few teams to win at Anfield, when a Morio Tokic goal in the return leg gave them a 1-0 win, but they were eliminated 2-1 on aggregate.

Comfortable qualification
Transferring to the UEFA Cup, GAK won their first round tie with PFC Litex Lovech as Mario Bazina and Roland Kollmann both scored twice in a 5-0 first leg win at Graz. A single goal defeat in Bulgaria gave the Austrians their passage into the group stage, and the well-earned point at Auxerre. GAK have conceded just one goal in their last four UEFA club competition matches.

Confidence issue
For Amica, there will be a need to restore confidence for their second group match, after suffering the widest margin of defeat in the 16 opening fixtures. Their 5-0 loss in front of their own fans by Rangers FC meant that Amica joined KSK Beveren and AEK Athens FC in conceding five goals on the opening day of group competition.

Resilience
But the Polish club have already shown considerable resilience to reach the group stages with a penalty shoot-out success after a 1-1 draw in the second qualifying round against Budapest Honvéd FC followed by a 2-1 aggregate win against Latvian club FK Ventspils in the first round.