AaB campaigning for a second term

Aalborg BK hope the addition of Marek Saganowski will boost their bid to become the first Danish club to qualify for the UEFA Champions League group stage twice as they tackle an FBK Kaunas side looking to cause another upset after disposing of Rangers FC in the last round.

Extra firepower
The Danish champions have struggled to replace Lasse Nilsson since the Swedish forward returned to AS Saint-Etienne at the end of his season-long loan stay and have tallied just four points from as many Superligaen outings this term. However, Saganowski has been brought in from Southampton FC – for a minimum of six months – and sports director Lynge Jakobsen feels the Poland striker can add the extra firepower the club have been missing, saying: "Saganowski is a player who has played on the international stage for several years now, and will be an obvious reinforcement to our forward line."

Dangerous opponents
The general feeling in Denmark is that AaB have an excellent chance to progress as evidenced by shares in the club climbing 34 per cent following Kaunas's qualification. Yet Jakobsen knows that overcoming the Lithuanian title-holders will not be as straightforward as many people think. "I do not know much about Kaunas, but any team who can knock out Rangers have to be good," he added. Only three Danish sides have played in the group stage, and AaB have a chance to become the first Superligaen side to do so for a second time ahead of FC København and Brøndby IF.

'Chance to progress'
Kaunas have already made history by reaching this stage for the first time, but the team have now set their minds on lining up alongside Europe's élite in the last 32. "The Danish team is very quick and their players are technically gifted," said coach José Couceiro, after watching AaB's 1-1 draw with Esbjerg fB on Saturday. "I think that it might be more difficult for us to play against Aalborg than against Rangers. However, I believe we have a chance to progress."

Rest period
Couceiro believes his side could draw a slight advantage from playing the first leg away. He has also had extra time to prepare his players after the Lithuanian Football Federation postponed Kaunas's game against their main domestic rival FK Ekranas. The Portuguese trainer has been linked with the Lithuanian national team job since the win against Rangers, but his sole aim at the moment is seeing off the challenge of AaB. While he will have to do without two defenders on Wednesday, with Irmantas Zelmikas suspended and team captain Tomas Kančelskis injured, he has received some good news as Mantas Fridrikas is due to return at the back.