All not yet lost for Anderlecht

RSC Anderlecht coach Ariël Jacobs is looking for a flying start as his side attempt to cancel out a 3-1 deficit at home against Hamburger SV, noting that "a quick goal can change everything".

Jacobs is well aware of the task his side face, saying simply that their goal is "to score twice without conceding", but hopes his players can get the crowd going at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium with an early strike. "When things go well from the start, the fans will be behind the team completely and you can create a snowball effect," he said. "Nothing is decided yet, although Hamburg have a 70-30 advantage, but a quick goal can change everything."

The right margin of victory would put Anderlecht in Friday's quarter-final draw, a scenario the coach admitted was beyond his hopes at the start of the season. "If we get there, we will have exceeded all expectations, as our goal was to reach to round of 16. The mere fact that we still have a chance to do better is already an excellent thing for the players and the club."

The 56-year-old should be able to call on Mbark Boussoufa and Nemanja Rnić after they recovered from a knee injury and a stomach upset respectively, and while Jan Polák (cruciate) and Marcin Wasilewski (broken leg) remain long-term absentees, there is a chance that Jonathan Legear (ankle), Lucas Biglia (calf) and Olivier Deschacht (knee) could play a part.

Hamburg coach Bruno Labaddia is without Bastian Reinhardt (torn muscle), Romeo Castelen (knee), Tolgay Ali Arslan (ankle) and José Paolo Guerrero (knee surgery), but said: "We have faith in ourselves because we beat a team who have not lost that many matches this season. We know it will be a difficult game, but we have it in us to score a goal away from home."