Auxerre aim to cure travel sickness

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.

AFC Ajax v AJ Auxerre
After securing a berth in the UEFA Cup Round of 32 with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against FC Bayern München in the UEFA Champions League, Ajax ended the year with wins against SBV Vitesse and FC Groningen. Belgian striker Wesley Sonck moved to VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach during the winter break, while Tom Soetaers and Thomas Vermaelen departed for KRC Genk and RKC Waalwijk respectively. With the loss of two strikers, Ronald Koeman brought in Angelos Charisteas from Werder Bremen, although the Greek international is not eligible to play in the UEFA Cup.

Ajax lifted the Total Cup in South Africa in January before returning to Eredivisie action with a 2-0 victory at FC Utrecht. The Dutch champions have since lost form, drawing with ADO Den Haag and losing to FC Twente, while they required an 88th-minute strike from Nourdin Boukhari to steal a win against NAC Breda on Sunday. The victory came at a price, however, as Hans Vonk picked up a thigh injury and joins fellow goalkeeper Bogdan Lobont on the sidelines. The Ajax physiotherapist has had a busy few weeks with Johnny Heitinga, Wesley Sneijder, Zdenek Grygera and Tomáš Galásek missing the NAC match. All are doubtful for the encounter with Auxerre.

Registered players: None
Players out: Tom Soetaers, Thomas Vermaelen, Wesley Sonck

Bonaventure Kalou, Kanga Akalé and Benjani Mwaruwari have been in form of late, scoring ten times in Auxerre's last seven Ligue 1 matches. Kalou got both goals in the 2-0 win at Rangers FC that secured second place in UEFA Cup Group F and a berth in the last 32, and was on target again three days later as Auxerre overcame OGC Nice 4-3. Benjani also scored two and René Bolf another with all the goals coming in a 17-minute spell either side of half-time.

Guy Roux's side continue to struggle away from home, however, and have lost at Stade Rennais FC and FC Metz since the winter break. Their form at the Stade Abbé-Deschamps is much better and, after victories against FC Sochaux-Montbéliard and SC Bastia, Benjani and Kalou scored as Auxerre twice came from behind against AS Saint-Etienne on 5 February to maintain their unbeaten home Ligue 1 record. On Saturday, Auxerre eliminated fourth division Vannes OC from the last 32 of the French Cup with a 2-0 win. Yann Lachuer, Younes Kaboul and Johan Radet are all out with knee injuries.

Registered players: Damien Dufour, Arnaud Sauvage, Ognadon Akakpo (B list), Irélé Apo (B list).
Players out: None