Sevilla bow to severe weather

An unseasonable thunderstorm gave Sevilla FC extra rest at the weekend while UEFA Cup opponents FC Schalke 04 drew a vital Bundesliga game. The two sides resume hostilities in Spain on Thursday, with neither having managed to break the deadlock in their semi-final first leg.

Sevilla FC P-P FC Barcelona

Juande Ramos's team were due to take on Primera División leaders Barcelona at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán stadium on Sunday night, but a torrential downpour left the pitch waterlogged and forced the referee to call off the match having made four pitch inspections. "There was no other possible decision," said Sevilla president José María del Nido. "We couldn't get the water off the sides of the pitch." The game will have to be rescheduled, but with both clubs hoping to have qualified for European finals by the weekend, that may prove a difficult task. "I hope it will be tough for us to find a date for this fixture, because that would mean we will have reached our finals," Del Nido added.

Having secured a stalemate in Gelsenkirchen, Sevilla will expect to capitalise on that result on home soil. Striker Frédéric Kanouté (thigh) and defender Ivica Dragutinović (knee) remain doubtful for the return having both missed last week's tie. The Andalusian outfit also hope that Daniel can shake off an ankle problem and David Castedo will recover from fatigue in time to play.

Werder Bremen 0-0 FC Schalke 04

Without a Bundesliga win in six attempts, Sunday's scoreless draw at Bremen was a severe blow to Schalke's UEFA Champions League qualifying hopes. Schalke remain in fourth position in Germany's top flight, six points behind their third-placed opponents. Their attentions now turn to the UEFA Cup, as midfielder Fabian Ernst said: "We have to concentrate fully on Sevilla. We should finish the season in a decent position, but I don't think it will be the top three."

With defender Mladen Krštajić sidelined against Bremen due to a ligament injury - and suspended for the Sevilla game - coach Mirko Slomka opted to replace him with Uruguayan Darío Rodríguez. Kevin Kuranyi and Lincoln returned to the starting lineup in place of the banned Gerald Asamoah and Søren Larsen, who received a well-deserved rest. Injuries ruled out Marco van Hoogdalem, Tomasz Wałdoch and Christian Pander, the former two players with hip and ankle problems, while Pander was hurt in the warm-up. "Both sides had chances and I think it was a fair result," said Slomka.