Egaleo look to finish on positive note

This Group E match features two teams who already know their own destiny. Villarreal CF are through to the next phase of the UEFA Cup, while Egaleo FC, in their first season in UEFA club competitions, bow out after a courageous inaugural season.

Maiden meeting
With Villarreal in only their second season of UEFA club competitions, neither club has met a club from their opponent’s country. Villarreal’s course is now open for them to emulate last season’s performance when they reached the semi-final as qualifiers from the UEFA Intertoto Cup. Their route this season is similar. They have reached the draw for the knockout stages after another long journey – the game against Egaleo is their 14th of the campaign already.

Egaleo encouraged
Egaleo will be encouraged to secure their first victory in Group E after gaining their first point in their previous game in a 2-2 draw with S.S. Lazio, a result which also eliminated the Italian club. If there is a formguide to this game, it could be that Villarreal also drew with Lazio earlier in the group stage with a 1-1 scoreline back in October. This meeting between a Spanish and a Greek team might enable both teams to finish 2004 with a flourish.

State of play: Group E
Middlesbrough FC, FK Partizan and Villarreal CF have all qualified, and only the final standings remain to be decided. Leaders Middlesbrough host Partizan, while Villarreal, level on five points with the Belgrade side, are at home to Egaleo FC, who like S.S. Lazio are already out.