Make or break for Italian duo

FC Steaua Bucuresti coach Walter Zenga and his fellow Italian Claudio Ranieri, the Valencia CF coach, are both under mounting pressure as their sides prepare for Thursday's Round of 32 return in the Romanian capital.

Cristea certainty
Steaua's owner, Gigi Becali, has ordered Zenga to start the match with striker Andrei Cristea up front. "If not," said Becali, "Walter Zenga will not be coach any more. But there will not be an 'if' because Cristea will play from the beginning. I think he will score three goals and we will qualify."

Two-goal deficit
However, Steaua face an uphill task against the UEFA Cup holders, needing to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit in order to advance to the last 16. But they will be buoyed by their home record - the Romanian First Division leaders won six straight home matches before the winter break - and Valencia's recent dip in form.

Injury worries
Reigning Spanish champions Valencia, bidding to become the first side to retain the UEFA Cup since Real Madrid CF in 1986, slipped to sixth in the Primera División at the weekend after losing 1-0 to Real Racing Club Santander. Vicente Rodríguez (ankle) and Roberto Ayala (ribs) both sat out the defeat, as did goalkeeper Santiago Cañizares, who continues to play second fiddle to Andrés Palop.

Marchena missing
Valencia will be without suspended defender Carlos Marchena on Thursday and defeat in the tie would increase the speculation surrounding Ranieri's future. "Winning the first leg 2-0 gives us an important advantage but this time the conditions will be very different," said defender Fabio Aurelio. "Steaua are bound to be motivated and start attacking us from the first minute."