Impressive Dnipro seek Zaragoza scalp

Real Zaragoza enter new territory with the home game with FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk. It is the first time in the Spaniard’s long European history that they will have met a team from either the old Soviet Union, or from the Ukraine, in whose championship Dnipro now play. Similarly for Dnipro, it will be the first time that they have encountered Spanish opposition in UEFA club competitions.

Three from three
Dnipro have already made their mark on Group C with three straight wins, which have ensured qualification for the next stage of the competition. The Ukrainians have marched impressively past Club Brugge (3-2), FC Utrecht (2-1) and FK Austria Wien (1-0) for a hat-trick of single goal wins and could wrap up the group title with a win at La Romareda stadium.

Home advantage
Zaragoza, though, currently lie second in the group table and are one of a group of Spanish clubs who are keen to keep the UEFA Cup in Spain, following the success of Valencia CF last season. Zaragoza won their opening game at home, by 2-0 against FC Utrecht, but now need to make home advantage count again following their loss by the only goal of the game at Austria.

Proud history
If current European form favours Dnipro, then history favours Zaragoza. Dnipro have yet to reach a major semi-final, with their best performance being in making the European Champion Clubs’ Cup quarter final in 1984/85. However, 40 years ago, Zaragoza won the old Inter-Cities' Fairs Cup, and a decade ago, the club were successful in the 1994/95 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup with Nayim’s remarkable last-gasp winner against Arsenal FC in the final.