Feyenoord threat to Sporting dream

Friday, December 17, 2004

Sporting Clube de Portugal's quest to reach the UEFA Cup final continues against Feyenoord after Friday's draw.

CSKA meet Benfica
Sporting, who won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1963/64, drew 1-1 at Newcastle United FC last night to finish third in Group D. The seven other third-placed teams were joined in the hat by the eight group winners and runners-up. Taking the tally to 32 were the eight sides who finished third in their UEFA Champions League sections, including PFC CSKA Moskva who will play Sporting's city rivals SL Benfica.

Former champions
Along with Feyenoord and Benfica, AFC Ajax and FC Steaua Bucuresti were the only former European Champion Clubs' Cup winners in the draw at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. Ajax will take on AJ Auxerre, while Steaua meet the holders Valencia CF. Ajax's fellow Dutch clubs, AZ Alkmaar and SC Heerenveen, tackle TSV Alemannia Aachen and Newcastle United FC.

Ukrainian challenge
Ukraine was also well represented after FC Dynamo Kyiv and FC Shakhtar Donetsk joined the competition from the Champions League. Dynamo face Villarreal CF, Shakhtar play FC Schalke 04 and Group C winners FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk were pitted against FK Partizan.

Difficult opponents
Three more Spanish sides also drew difficult opponents, not least Sevilla FC who take on Greek champions Panathinaikos FC, and Real Zaragoza who go head-to-head with Fenerbahçe SK, Turkey's top team. Athletic Club Bilbao play FK Austria Wien, whose Austrian rivals Grazer AK play Middlesbrough FC.

High-fliers
The remaining ties see Serie A's sole survivors Parma FC up against German high-fliers VfB Stuttgart, FC, FC Basel 1893 meet LOSC Lille Métropole, and another French side FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, square off against Olympiacos CFP.

Last 16 draw
The format is now two-legged knockout games with the first legs to be played on the 16/17 February and the second legs on 24 February. Final dates, kick-off times and venues will be communicated by 10 January. The draw for the last 16 also took place, with no teams seeded. Match dates are set for 10 and 16/17 March and final dates, venues and kick-off times will be confirmed on 28 February.

2004/05 UEFA Cup Round of 32
1st-leg matches: 16/17 February
2nd-leg matches: 24 February

1. Grazer AK (AUT) v Middlesbrough FC (ENG)

2. SC Heerenveen (NED) v Newcastle United FC (ENG)

3. FC Basel 1893 (SUI) v LOSC Lille Métropole (FRA)

4. Parma FC (ITA) v VfB Stuttgart (GER)

5. Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR) v Feyenoord (NED)

6. TSV Alemannia Aachen (GER) v AZ Alkmaar (NED)

7. FK Austria Wien (AUT) v Athletic Club Bilbao (ESP)

8. FK Partizan (SCG) v FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (UKR)

9. Valencia CF (ESP) v FC Steaua Bucuresti (ROM)

10. AFC Ajax (NED) v AJ Auxerre (FRA)

11. PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS) v SL Benfica (POR)

12. Fenerbahçe SK (TUR) v Real Zaragoza (ESP)

13. Panathinaikos FC (GRE) v Sevilla FC (ESP)

14. FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) v FC Schalke 04 (GER)

15. Olympiacos CFP (GRE) v FC Sochaux-Montbéliard (FRA)

16. FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) v Villarreal CF (ESP)

2004/05 UEFA Cup Round of 16
1st-leg matches: 10 March
2nd-leg matches: 16/17 March

Winners of Match 1 v Winners of Match 5

Winners of Match 13 v Winners of Match 4

Winners of Match 9 v Winners of Match 16

Winners of Match 3 v Winners of Match 10

Winners of Match 15 v Winners of Match 2

Winners of Match 14 v Winners of Match 6

Winners of Match 8 v Winners of Match 11

Winners of Match 7 v Winners of Match 12

Feyenoord threat to Sporting dream

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