Athletic suffer as Standard shine

Parma
Alberto Gilardino's sixth goal of the season had given Parma a half-time lead in their match at US Città di Palermo but the Sicilians equalised 16 minutes from time, meaning Silvio Baldini's side remain second from bottom with just eight points from ten games. Colombian midfield player Jorge Bolano missed out with a slight knee injury but could be back for the home match against Reggina Calcio on Wednesday 10 November.

Athletic
Athletic followed up the 3-1 Matchday 2 loss at Besiktas JK with a fifth defeat of the Primera División campaign, 1-0 at Levante UD, a result which left them fourth from bottom of the table. The Basque team spent most of the second half with ten men after Luis Prieto was dismissed and could find no reply to Jesule Barbadilla's 68th-minute goal. Javi González remains sidelined after knee surgery.

Besiktas
Three days after defeating Athletic, the Istanbul outfit had John Carew to thank for their point at ten-man Konyaspor after his injury-time penalty salvaged a 2-2 draw. Tayfun Korkut gave Besiktas an early lead but they failed to build on it and fell behind to two second-half spot-kicks from Zafer Biryo. Striker Daniel Pancu injured his knee and is set to miss the games against Steaua on 25 November and R. Standard de Liège six days later for Bestikas, who are tenth in the Turkish Superleague.

Steaua
Steaua are having no domestic difficulties and after 13 rounds of the Romanian season, top the First Division table ahead of FC National Bucuresti on goal difference. However, they were fortunate to rescue a point from the 7 November fixture at FCM Bacau, needing an injury-time header from substitute Daniel Oprita to claim a 2-2 draw. They trailed twice in the match, with Adrian Neaga's equaliser prefacing Oprita's timely intervention. Steaua were missing defender Tiberiu Curt, a long-term absentee, together with Mirel Radoi, Sorin Ghionea and Florentin Dumitru, who collected knocks in the defeat at Parma.

Standard
Standard had no game on Matchday 2 but return to UEFA Cup action against Parma on 25 November. Standard were the only team from Group B to win on the weekend of 6/7 November, coming from behind twice to beat RAEC Mons 3-2, a result which left them fifth in the Belgian First Division. Trailing 2-1 as they entered the last ten minutes, Oguchi Onyewu, with his second goal of the match, and Michel scored to secure the points. Sérgio Conceição and Juan Ramon Curbelo were suspended while new signing Milan Rapaic was ineligible. Injury-wise, Wamberto (calf) and Sambegon Bangoura (groin) remain sidelined.