Brøndby buoyant for opener

Commanding victory
The Danish club will receive their Israeli visitors on a high after a 4-0 win against ÅGF Arhus on Sunday, which coach Michael Laudrup described as "possibly our best game so far this season". It has left Brøndby six points behind FC København in the Danish title race, but for now the focus is firmly on European matters.

Retov out
Laudrup has lost midfielder Martin Retov to a thigh injury, having already been resigned to being without defenders Thomas Rytter and Daniel Agger, along with forward Morten Skoubo. On a positive note, midfielder Stefan Scmhimdt and forward Ruben Bagger are fit again after injury.

Luzon present
As well as a delighted home crowd in Copenhagen, the win against Arhus was watched by Maccabi coach Guy Luzon. He had travelled to Denmark ahead of his players and would have been impressed by what he saw, as well as being mindful of the fact his own charges lost 2-0 on Saturday at Hapoel Nazareth FC.

Dobrovin recovering
Luzon has had injury concerns as well. While midfielder Salim Toema is expected back in training soon after a broken leg, he is some way off a return. The coach will also be without the services of Russian striker Stanislav Dobrovin, back in light training but still feeling the effects of his foot injury.

Ganon hopeful
Maccabi full-back Kobi Ganon is well aware that few may give his side a chance, not least because their Group B campaign began last month with a 2-1 home defeat by US Citta di Palermo. The defender said: "We are travelling to this match on the back of a defeat but we will do everything to collect our first points."