Standard set for switches
Monday, December 6, 2004
Article summary
Group B: R. Standard de Liège have two players suspended for the visit of Athletic Club Bilbao next week.
Article body
Standard
Philippe Léonard and Juan Ramon Curbelo picked up costly bookings in Standard's draw against Besiktas JK last week and will miss the Group B meeting with Athletic on Matchday 5. Standard need to win to progress and geared up with a 3-0 domestic victory against fellow UEFA Cup side KSK Beveren at the weekend. Karel Geraerts, Jorge Wiston and Sambegou Bangoura scored the goals for the side, who were without Oguchi Onyewu (calf).
Athletic
Athletic's only away wins this season have come in the Copa Del Rey and although Ernesto Valverde's side need only a draw next week to book their place in the last 32, confidence was hit by a sixth successive away defeat in the Primera División, going down 2-0 at the hands of Sevilla FC. Javi González is still out recovering from knee surgery.
Besiktas
Victory against Parma FC next week would carry Besiktas through, although a point would suffice if Athletic win in Belgium. Tümer Metin and Ahmed Hassan scored in a 2-1 win against Istanbulspor AS which lifted Vicente del Bosque's side up to sixth in the Turkish Superleague despite the absences of John Carew (ankle), Kaan Dobra (foot) and Ronaldo Guiaro (broken arm). Ali Günes will miss the trip to Italy after picking up his third successive booking last week.
Parma
Two AC Milan goals in the last eight minutes cost Parma FC a precious Serie A victory on Saturday. Alberto Gilardino had put Parma ahead but the Rossoneri pinched all three points late on to leave Parma third from bottom. Silvio Baldini was without several important players in midfield as Vincenzo Grella, Marco Marchionni and Domenico Morfeo all missed the match with muscle strains and remain doubtful for next week's UEFA Cup match.
Steaua
Despite the absence of injured trio Tiberiu Curt, Florentin Dumitru and Sorin Paraschiv, Romanian league leaders Steaua coasted to domestic victory against FC Apulum Alba Iulia. Andrei Cristea and Adrian Neaga scored the goals in a 2-0 triumph, which was soured by coach Walter Zenga's dismissal from the dugout for criticising the match official.
