Austria held on weekend of contrasts

FK Austria Wien's hopes of getting into a goalscoring mood ahead of their vital Group C match against FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk came unstuck when they were held to a goalless draw at the weekend. Elsewhere there was a good win for FC Utrecht but a blow for Real Zaragoza.

Austria
The top game in the Austrian Bundesliga between the two UEFA Cup challengers, Austria and Grazer AK, finished goalless. Austria, who were without Markus Kiesenebner, Didier Dheedene and Sigurd Rushfeldt through injury, twice struck a post in the second half. It was the eighth time in a row that this particular fixture has ended in frustration for the home team but at least it enabled Austria to gain a point on leaders SK Rapid Wien who suffered their second league defeat.

Brugge
Belgium Cup holders Club Brugge KV reached the last 16 of the competition by beating second division side KA Eendracht Aalst 3-0 away. Rune Lange scored twice with Dieter Van Tornhout registering the other. Nastja Ceh and Gert Verheyen were rested while Birger Maertens served the first of a two-match suspension. Goalkeeper Tomislav Butina started on the bench as Stijn Stijnen took his place between the sticks. Marek Spilár is still out with a hamstring problem and Jonathan Blondel remains sidelined by an ankle injury.

Dnipro
Dnipro coach Yevgen Kucherevskyy rested several players as his team drew 2-2 at home to second division opponents FC Neftyanik Akhtyrka to reach the Ukrainian Cup quarter-finals. Olexandr Melashchenko and Olexandr Rykun scored to consolidate a 2-0 first-leg lead. Midfielder Ruslan Rotan and striker Oleh Venhlinskiy suffered thigh strains playing for Ukraine against Turkey and did not feature, although both should be fit to face Austria at home on Thursday. There was, however, a place in goal for Artem Kusliy.

Utrecht
Utrecht moved up to sixth place in the Dutch First Division on Sunday by winning 1-0 at FC Twente. Stéphane Tanghe scored the winner following an assist from Darl Douglas towards the end of the first half. Goalkeeper Joost Terol returned from a thigh muscle injury but started the game on the bench. Striker Hans van de Haar still has one game of a four-match domestic ban to serve.

Zaragoza
Zaragoza's five-match unbeaten home run was ended by RCD Mallorca, who recorded a 1-0 victory at La Romareda. Luis García scored the only goal on 20 minutes. Striker David Villa continues to recover from a hamstring injury but goalkeeper César Láinez and defender Luis Cuartero are back to full fitness. There is no UEFA Cup game for the Spaniards this week.