Kaunas cling to group stage dream

Kello goodbye
Kaunas showed their ability on home turf with their dramatic 2-1 victory against Rangers FC in the previous stage but went into that game on the back of a 0-0 draw in Glasgow, whereas a fortnight ago in Denmark they conceded two goals in the last 19 minutes to lose 2-0. Since then first-choice goalkeeper Marián Kello has joined Heart of Midlothian FC but the Lithuanian Football Federation allowed Kaunas to postpone their weekend league encounter against FC Vėtra to concentrate on their preparations for Wednesday night and coach José Couceiro is optimistic.

'We have a chance'
The Portuguese specialist, who took on the additional role of Lithuania coach after the win against Rangers, admitted of the first leg: "We were outplayed by our opponents." Still, he added: "We lost 2-0, but at home we have a chance, just like in the return game against Rangers." Central defenders Irmantas Zelmikas and Tomas Kančelskis are back from suspension and injury respectively, while Esteban Javier Dreer and Eduardas Kurskis are competing for Kello's goalkeeping role.

AaB hope
AaB lost both their previous ties in this round to FC Dynamo Kyiv but in the first of those campaigns, in 1995/96, progressed to the group stage due to their opponents' subsequent expulsion. Now they are aiming to return to the competition proper by the conventional route. AaB also had a free weekend, with the only players in action since their 3-0 league loss to Odense BK on 17 August being Denmark Under-21 defender Michael Jakobsen and midfielder Thomas Enevoldsen, who faced Iceland last Wednesday.

Domestic stutter
Despite their high hopes in Europe, AaB have made an indifferent start to the domestic season with four points from five games, and are already considering making signings should they successfully defend their lead in Lithuania. "We are watching the market as well as our own squad, and I cannot rule out the possibility that we will contact a player if we qualify on Wednesday," said sport director Lynge Jakobsen.

Warning
However, they still have to get past Kaunus and AaB chief scout Poul Erik Andreasen, who watched the elimination of Rangers earlier this month, has sent the players a warning. "Kaunas are capable of playing a great attacking game, which we did not see in Aalborg at all," he said. AaB coach Bruce Rioch is expected to deploy a 4-5-1 formation with Polish newcomer Marek Saganowski as the lone forward but with another striker, Jeppe Curth, starting on the wing and on standby to push into attack if needed.