Espanyol eager for goal rush

RCD Espanyol hope to rediscover their scoring touch when Maccabi Haifa FC visit Barcelona for the second leg of their UEFA Cup Round of 16 tie.

'No option but to score'
Ernesto Valverde's side had hit 20 goals in eight games in the competition prior to last week's stalemate in Israel and Walter Pandiani, who has contributed eight of those strikes, is determined to make amends on home soil on Thursday. "We have no other option but to score," said the Uruguayan forward. "Maccabi Haifa are the toughest opponents we've faced but we have 90 minutes to win the tie and qualify for quarter-finals."

Valverde optimistic
Espanyol, UEFA Cup runners-up in 1988, have raised hopes of a return to the final this season. They have won all four home matches and despite recording a third successive domestic draw last weekend – 1-1 at Real Racing Club Santander - coach Valverde is optimistic. "It's an important game and the only thing that is useful to us is a victory."

Domestic woes
Maccabi travelled to Spain on the back of another deflating result in the Ligat Ha'Al on Sunday. Their 4-1 reverse at Beitar Jerusalem FC was their sixth in nine domestic outings in 2007, yet they will equal against Espanyol the Israeli record for most games played in a continental campaign. Thursday's second leg at the Estadio Olímpico de Montjuic will be their 12th – and now they aim to match Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC's feat of appearing in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals in 2001/02.

Davidovich prediction
Although they have lost only one of four UEFA Cup away fixtures this term, goalkeeper Nir Dadovich is "expecting to be busy". Maccabi fans will hope he can repeat the heroics he produced in their goalless draw at Valencia CF on his last trip to Spain in November 2003, but the Israeli international said: "I don't think I am the most important player, there are eleven players on the pitch and we will all have to work hard. Espanyol are a top-class team but we've proved in the past that we can do good things in Europe."

Suspensions
Davidovich will be desperate to avoid a similar follow-up to that previous clean sheet against Spanish opposition - Valencia won the return 4-0 – yet it does not help Maccabi that coach Roni Levy must manage without Congolese midfielder Alain Masudi, out of favour following a breach of club discipline before the first leg, and the suspended Dirceu Xavir and Abas Suan. With domestic results disappointing, Levy is also enduring a difficult period in his personal life following the death of his brother-in-law in a car accident.

Home help
Espanyol officials are attempting to attract a big crowd with a two-for-one offer for season-ticket holders and Valverde - who has Moisés Hurtado and Francisco Rufete available after league bans - believes their backing will help his players. "The crowd will be with us because it's a chance to progress to the quarter-finals and extend our unbeaten record in Europe."