AaB awaken as Deportivo arrive

Aalborg BK will emerge from a lengthy winter hibernation on Wednesday to begin their UEFA Cup campaign as they welcome an upbeat and in form RC Deportivo La Coruña to Denmark for the first leg of their Round of 32 tie.

Long lay-off
The Danish champions have not played a competitive fixture since their 2-2 draw at Manchester United FC in their final UEFA Champions League Group E fixture on 10 December. With the Superligaen not scheduled to start again until 1 March, new AaB coach Magnus Pehrsson will be hoping his team has not lost the momentum built during a 12-match unbeaten run under caretaker coach Allan Kuhn before Christmas.

Olfers out
Pehrsson, who officially succeeded Kuhn on 1 January, will be without defender Steve Olfers for his first match in continental competition, while midfielder Kasper Risgård and forward Jeppe Curth have been nursing knee injuries and are not fully fit. The wintry weather may prove an ally for AaB, who secured a 2-2 home draw against Villarreal CF in November, with snow and sub-zero temperatures forecast for the game. Deportivo, though, arrive in Denmark boasting a three-match unbeaten run in the Liga, which has taken them to within three points of fourth place.

'Creating chances'
"We're creating a lot of chances at the moment and putting some nice moves together on the pitch," acknowledged veteran playmaker Juan Carlos Valerón. "That will help us grow in confidence." Deportivo are missing Manuel Pablo García and Riki with muscle strains, Rodolfo Bodipo due to a thigh tear and Andres Guardado through a calf injury, and whatever the result can take hope from their only previous UEFA Cup meeting with AaB. The Spanish side, playing in their debut European tie, lost 1-0 in Denmark but won the second leg 5-0 with a Bebeto hat-trick.