Hamburg strikers find scoring touch

Viking FK

Viking coach Roy Hodgson's hopes of giving his side a run-out were dashed after a scheduled practice match against Danish side FC Nordsjælland was cancelled because of a waterlogged pitch. "We have struggled to find any decent opponents and that will be a drawback," said Hodgson, whose side have not played since 30 October. "A lack of match practice could hamper Scandinavian sides at this time of year."

Viking have enjoyed more positive news on the injury front, however, with goalkeeper Anthony Basso (back) likely to recover in time for Thursday's game. Ronny Deila (back) and Sandro Grande (leg) are doubtful but could also start, although Peter Kovacs (cruciate ligament) and Fredric Lundqvist (heel) are both definitely out.

FC Slovan Liberec 3-3 SK Slavia Praha

Slavia twice trailed by two goals but salvaged a point away to Czech First Division leaders Slovan on Saturday. Slovenian goalkeeper Aleksander Šeliga replaced the suspended Matúš Kozáčik, but was beaten after just 12 minutes when he spilled Pavel Koštal's cross and Jan Holenda fired into the empty net. Slovakian international Filip Hološko made it two with a cool finish in the 20th minute. Tomáš Hrdlička reduced the deficit on the half-hour, but Zbyněk Pospěch restored the two-goal lead after a mix-up in the Slavia defence.

Just after the interval Tomáš Pešir pulled one back with his first goal of the season, before Pavel Fořt rescued a point with a deflected shot in the dying minutes. "I regret the individual blunders that led to two goals," said Slavia coach Karel Jarolím. "We put our opponents under pressure in the second half, created more chances and were able to draw level in the end."

AS Monaco FC 1-0 AS Saint-Etienne

Monaco's seventh Ligue 1 win of the season took them into sixth place in the French top flight. In a well-balanced game in the Principality - on the day Prince Albert II was officially enthroned - the home side snatched the points nine minutes into the second period as Emmanuel Adebayor provided the opportunity for summer signing Camel Meriem to settle the contest at the Stade Louis II.

Monaco's Brazilian full-back Maicon limped off after 27 minutes having injured his leg in a challenge with Herita Ilunga and is doubtful for Thursday's visit of Hamburg. Definitely absent for the game against the German side are goalkeeper Flavio Roma (groin), Gerard López (achilles) and Sébastien Squillaci (thigh) while coach Francesco Guidolin has 15 stitches in his forearm having fallen off his bicycle a few days ago. Defender Patrice Evra remained upbeat, however, saying: "It's been a long time since I felt this strongly about us as a team. Every guy knows what he has to do on the pitch and is doing it well. Should we keep working in this direction we can soon aim high."

Hamburger SV 2-0 MSV Duisburg

Sergej Barbarez and Benjamin Lauth both ended personal scoring droughts as Hamburg comfortably beat Duisburg on Sunday to keep pace with Bundesliga leaders FC Bayern München. Barbarez gave the home side the lead six minutes before half-time with his first goal in over 400 minutes, and Lauth soon doubled the advantage with his first goal of the season. It marked a welcome return to action for Dutch playmaker Rafael van der Vaart, who returned to the side after serving a three-match suspension.

"I'm happy for the strikers because they haven't been on target lately, but I knew they would come through it," said Hamburg coach Thomas Doll, who is still without the injured Guy Demel (ankle) and Bastian Reinhardt (thigh). "I am also delighted with the rest of the team because it was an excellent all-round performance."

PFC CSKA Sofia 7-0 PFC Rodopa Smolian

Champions CSKA scored seven goals for the second time in five Bulgarian Premier League matches in demolishing Smolian at the Bulgarska Armia stadium, having defeated PFC Beroe Stara Zagora by the same scoreline on 15 October. Hristo Yanev, CSKA's top scorer last season with 22 league goals, finally opened his account for the current campaign with two first-half penalties, while Stoyko Sakaliev and Guillaume Dah Zadi both scored twice and captain Emil Gargorov also put found the net in a match that preserved CSKA's four-point lead in the standings. The other good news for CSKA was the return of defender Valentin Iliev, who has recovered from a thigh injury and played the whole 90 minutes after three weeks out.

"After such a result I have nothing to say but to thank the players for their commitment," said coach Miodrag Jesic, who is still without the influential Mourad Hdiouad due to a thigh injury, although the Moroccan international midfielder may recover for the final UEFA Cup group game with Monaco on 15 December. "We've scored seven goals and could have had many more."