Trio record heartening wins

Standard
Milan Rapaic made his debut as Standard earned an excellent home win against RSC Anderlecht on Wednesday with a Sérgio Conceição free-kick - the 30-year-old's first goal since joining from FC Porto in the summer. The victory moved Dominique D'Onofrio's men into fourth place as they continue to recover from a run of three defeats in eight days at the end of October. Wamberto is still out with calf injury, while another striker, Sambegou Bangoura, is sidelined with a groin strain.

Parma
After collecting their second win of the season against Reggina Calcio on Wednesday, Parma drew 2-2 at home to AC Chievo Verona on Sunday. The Italian club took the lead through an Amauri own goal but Chievo turned the game around with two quick goals. Second-half substitute Domenico Morfeo then rescued a point 13 minutes from the end, by which time Parma had been reduced to ten men following Alessandro Potenza's 71st-minute dismissal.

Steaua
Steaua remain top of the Romanian First Division, though they were not in action at the weekend after their match against FC Apulum Alba Iulia was postponed. However, Steaua's bid to progress past the group stage took a double blow with the news that captain Mirel Radoi and fellow midfielder Florentin Dumitru are unlikely to play again this year. Radoi aggravated ligament damage against Parma on Matchday 2, while Dumitru will undergo knee surgery and is only expected back at the start of 2005, when defender Tiberiu Curt, out since July, should also resume playing.

Besiktas
There were no games in Turkey at the weekend so Group B leaders Besiktas were able to put in some extra training on Saturday. With six players on international duty, Vicente Del Bosque oversaw a senior eleven beating the club's youth team in a practice match as they prepared for next Sunday's fixture against Rizespor. Brazilian defender Ronaldo Guiaro's groin problem is not as serious as anticipated, though Romanian forward Daniel Pancu will be out for two weeks and is likely to skip the trip to Steaua on 25 November.

Athletic
Athletic climbed out of the Primera División relegation zone with a home win against Villarreal CF on Saturday, their second 2-1 victory in a week following Wednesday's triumph at Cultural y Deportivo Leonesa in the Copa del Rey. Ismael Urzaiz scored both goals against Villarreal to take his club total to 99.