Espanyol seek solace in Europe
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Article summary
Weary RCD Espanyol are eager to put their Primera División woes behind them in the second leg of their UEFA Cup tie against FC Schalke 04.
Article body
Three fronts
The only Spanish side still competing on three fronts - the Primera División, Copa del Rey and UEFA Cup - Espanyol have been showing the strain, with injuries a factor as they suffered a third straight league defeat on Saturday, 4-0 at Villarreal CF.
Returning players
However, coach Miguel Ángel Lotina should be able to call on Didier Domi, Ito, Juanfran, Moisés Hurtado and Mauricio Pochettino - who has finally overcome an achilles problem - as they look to overturn a 2-1 deficit at home to Schalke.
Lotina confident
"I do think that if we're capable of doing great things in the Copa del Rey and UEFA Cup, we can also do them in the league," said Lotina. "Schalke are a great team but I think we have a chance of knocking them out. The players always want to win and we don't intend to lose this one."
Poulsen fit
Meanwhile, Schalke are confident Danish international Christian Poulsen will be fit to play following a groin complaint. The German Bundesliga club's coach Mirko Slomka has already been forced to do without long-term absentees Hamit Altintop, Mimoun Azaouagh, Tomasz Wałdoch and Christian Pander.