Valencia vying to overcome strife

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.

Valencia CF v FC Steaua Bucuresti
After bouncing back from the disappointment of UEFA Champions League elimination with two wins and a draw against Primera División leaders FC Barcelona, Valencia have endured a disappointing return following the winter break. The UEFA Cup holders began 2005 with a 2-1 win against Levante UD but have since failed to win in five games, dropping 16 points behind Barça and out of the title reckoning. A goalless draw at CA Osasuna was followed with a 3-1 derby defeat by Villarreal CF and high-scoring draws against Basque sides Athletic Club Bilbao (2-2) and Real Sociedad de Fútbol (3-3). On Saturday, Claudio Ranieri's faltering side lost 2-1 to RC Deportivo La Coruña at the Mestalla.

Much of the team's problems seem to lie at the back where without veteran Mauricio Pellegrino, who left to join Liverpool FC in January, and Roberto Ayala, out with bruised ribs, Valencia have conceded ten goals in five games; in their previous 18 fixtures they let in only 13. As well as Ayala, Valencia will be without Miguel Ángel Angulo against Steaua as the forward begins a seven-match suspension imposed following his sending-off against Werder Bremen.

Registered players: Roberto Angel Amarilla Lezcano.
Players out: Mauricio Pellegrino.

Steaua have had a more relaxing time than most since completing their UEFA Cup Group B fixtures with a loss at Club Athletic Bilbao in December. Despite that defeat, the Romanian outfit qualified in second place from the pool and celebrated with a 3-0 league win against FC Apulum Alba Iulia which ensured they entered the winter break with a six-point lead at the Romanian First Division summit. The competition does not restart until 5 March, so Steaua have prepared for Europe with a series of friendlies.

Walter Zenga's team travelled to Cyprus where they earned good wins against Russian second division team FC Luch-Energia Vladivostok, PFC Levski Sofia and FC Thun, drew with FK Crvena Zvezda and lost to FK Zemun. They then headed to Napoli but after defeating Italian amateurs U.S. Angri 1927 could only draw against fellow UEFA Cup challengers Grazer AK and lose to FC Internazionale Milano. The games have given the side time to gel after several players left the club, while midfield player Banel Nicolita and utility player Boris Keca came in. Nicolita could play in Spain as Florian Dumitru is out after knee surgery, while goalkeeper Martin Tudor is doubtful after undergoing a throat operation.

Registered players: Banel Nicolita, Boris Keca, Marius Florian Toma (B list).
Players out: Pompilu Stoica, Valeriu Rachita, Daniel Balan, Nana Falemi, Adrian Pitu.