Title hopefuls meet in Germany

With the UEFA Cup set to resume after its winter break, uefa.com looks at the form of the 32 clubs involved in first-leg ties this week.

TSV Alemannia Aachen v AZ Alkmaar
Since a third-place finish in Group H enabled them to become the only second division side among the last 32 teams in the UEFA Cup, Aachen have been engrossed in their bid to secure promotion to the German Bundesliga. They strengthened their midfield by bringing in Jan Schlaudraff on an 18-month loan from VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach and also paid €600,000 for the signature of Romanian defender Laurentiu-Aurelian Reghecampf from FC Energie Cottbus. Those arrivals were tempered by the loss of the former VfB Stuttgart and Werder Bremen defender Stefan Blank, who stepped up a division to join 1. FC Kaiserslautern for €500,000.

The new arrivals failed to spark Aachen early in 2005, though, as they lost their first competitive match after the winter break 1-0 at Eintracht Frankfurt before slipping to a 2-0 home defeat by LR Ahlen. Aachen finally got their season back on track with a 1-0 win at Karlsruher SC but on Friday they lost 3-2 at home to fellow promotion challengers SpVgg Greuther Fürth and are now six points adrift in fourth place.

Registered players: Jan Schlaudraff, Laurentiu-Aurelian Reghecampf.
Players out: Stefan Blank, Tom Moosmaayer.

Having won Group F, Alkmaar also entered the winter break top of the Eredivisie after beating RBC Roosendaal 2-0. The opening of the transfer window saw the exit of Spanish defender José Fortes Rodriguez to Roosendaal following a disagreement with coach Co Adriaanse, who announced that he will not renew his contract when it expires in the summer. Louis van Gaal, formerly in charge of the Netherlands and FC Barcelona, will take charge next season.

News of Adriaanse's departure appeared to have a detrimental effect on results. In their first game back after the break Alkmaar ended a ten-match winning streak by drawing 1-1 with NEC Nijmegen and then lost 3-1 to Feyenoord in the Dutch Cup, after Barry van Galen was sent off and consequently banned for four domestic matches. Adil Ramzi replaced him and Alkmaar went on to defeat FC Den Bosch (1-0) and SC Heerenveen (3-1). Sunday's match with the leaders PSV Eindhoven ended goalless, keeping Alkmaar second and two points behind their opponents. Ramzi is likely to keep his place in the side, despite Van Galen's return, as Adriaanse tends to stick with a winning team. Juha Reini is still out with a leg injury.

Registered players: Christy Janga, Ron Vlaar (B list), Haris Medunjanin (B list), Jordy van Wijk (B list), Magid Jansen (B list).
Players out: José Fortes Rodriguez, Reinier Robbemond, Miel Mans.