Cold welcome awaits Sevilla

Injuries
"The weather is not necessarily to our advantage. For example, in a [UEFA] Champions League game between [FC] Lokomotiv Moskva and Real Madrid [CF] last season, the cold did not help Lokomotiv," said Petrzela. Zenit have not been helped by injuries either - defender Martin Škrtel will miss out with an ankle problem while Czech international Martin Horák requires a late fitness test.

'They have the advantage'
Sevilla's veteran defender Pablo Alfaro was hopeful the cold would not deter his team from claiming a second successive victory. "Icy temperatures are not going to stop us from taking corners or scoring goals. They have the advantage of playing at home and so all the conditions favour them," he said. Both sides have three points but Sevilla have played one game less.

'Two hundred per cent'
In the other tie, AEK Athens FC coach Fernando Santos has warned his players that nothing less than "200 per cent concentration, passion, will and good organisation" will suffice when bottom-placed AEK host LOSC Lille Métropole.

Capabilities compromise
"Lille's players have been together for many years and are a more closely-knit and experienced group than us," said Santos. "I am fully aware of our capabilities so the only thing I can promise is that we will play to the best of our abilities in order to win."

Finish in sight
Lille, second in Ligue 1, are one of four teams in the section with three points, but have played one match more than AEK, who are still chasing their first points. The French club's coach, Claude Puel, said: "Could we bring back something from Athens? Yes."