Kuranyi strikes boost Stuttgart

Stuttgart
Stuttgart need only draw at home to Dinamo to advance and they approach that match with confidence after beating VfL Bochum 1848 5-2 on Saturday. A Raymond Kalla own goal and a Kevin Kuranyi strike put Stuttgart 2-0 ahead, and though Bochum hit back to draw level, further goals from Aliaksandr Hleb, Silvio Meissner and Kuranyi made sure of victory. Both Fernando Meira and Dirk Heinen missed the match through injury.

Dinamo
Dinamo slipped further off the pace in the Croatian First League on Sunday when they lost 1-0 at home to rivals and leaders HNK Hajduk Split. Coach Ilija Loncarevic opted for the same XI that drew 2-2 with Heerenveen on Matchday 4, with Jasmin Agic taking the captain's armband from Niko Kranjcar, who again started on the substitutes' bench. Kranjcar came on for forward Veldin Karic in the 70th minute and Dario Zahora replaced Ivan Bošnjak in the 89th. Agic will miss the Stuttgart match through suspension.

Heerenveen
Heerenveen are through if they beat Beveren, and they will be looking to make up for a frustrating 2-2 draw away to Willem II. Twice Heerenveen led, thanks to headed goals from Victor Sikora and Klaas Jan Huntelaar off free-kicks from Ugur Yildirim, and twice Willem hit back, their second equaliser coming in the final minute. To compound matters for Heerenveen, Hannu Haarala was sent off for two bookable offences. Sikora and Finnish midfield player Mika Väyrynen returned to the starting lineup, but Stefan Selakovic was rested and started on the bench. Attacking midfield player Arnold Bruggink was missing because of a thigh muscle injury and goalkeeper Boy Waterman has still not recovered from the knee injury that will keep him out until the winter break.

Beveren
Beveren slipped to 15th in the Belgian First Division after losing 3-0 away to fellow UEFA Cup hopefuls R. Standard de Liège on Saturday. Abdoulaye Djiré served the first game of his two-match suspension, second-choice goalkeeper Mark Volders missed out with a calf injury and Constant Kipre is still not match fit as he recovers from a torn calf muscle. Abdoulaye Diawara is out for three months with a broken ankle and torn ligaments. Emmanuel Eboué misses the match with Heerenveen through suspension.

Benfica
Sure of qualifying, Benfica could turn their full attention to Monday's SuperLiga tie at home to Estoril GD Estoril-Praia. Coach Giovanni Trapattoni went into the match with only with 17 available players. Goalkeeper Yannick Quesnel replaced Quim, Ricardo Rocha was suspended and Paulo Almeida joined injury victims Miguel, Petit, Carlitos, Nuno Gomes and Mantorras on the sidelines.