Hopefuls enjoy mixed fortunes

Dnipro
The Ukrainian side secured their place in the first knockout round by winning their first three games in the section, but lost 2-1 at Zaragoza last time out. Dnipro prevailed 1-0 at FC Obolon Kyiv on 5 December and lie in sixth place in the Ukrainian Premier League heading into the winter break, with their 15 games having yielded 23 points, 16 fewer than leaders FC Shakhtar Donetsk.

Zaragoza
The Spanish team were held to a 2-2 Primera División draw at CA Osasuna on Sunday. Richard Morales put the hosts ahead on four minutes but Zaragoza replied with two goals from Óscar González on 14 and 64 minutes only for Patxi Puñal's penalty to deny them a first away success of the season. Goalkeeper César Laínez remains out with a knee injury.

Club Brugge
Club Brugge's lead in the Belgian First Division was cut to four points following defeat at second-placed RSC Anderlecht. Nastja Ceh gave the visitors the lead midway through the first half, but goals from Yves Vanderhaeghe and Nenad Jestrovic turned the match in Anderlecht's favour. Aside from midfield pair Serhiy Serebrennikov and Vincent Provoost, Club Brugge were at full strength, but striker Boško Balaban sustained a knee injury and is a serious doubt for the home game with Zaragoza.

Austria
Günter Kronsteiner's men dropped to second place in the Austrian Bundesliga as they ended the first part of the season with a 2-1 defeat at SV Mattersburg. Although Ernst Dospel had struck an equaliser, it was not enough to earn a point. Austria, currently fourth in Group C, travel to Utrecht on Matchday 5 but were again without Joseph Didulica, Florian Metz, Fernando Troyansky, Vladimír Janocko, Michael Wagner and Krzysztof Ratajczyk against Mattersburg.

Utrecht
Utrecht, who have lost all three matches in the section, were missing striker Michael Mols and defender Tim Cornelisse for the goalless draw at Willem II that left the club in seventh position in the Eredivisie. Forward Hans van de Haar sat out the game having injured a hamstring in training, while captain Jean-Paul de Jong is out for three weeks with a groin problem.