Middlesbrough in buoyant mood

Middlesbrough FC go into their UEFA Cup Group E encounter against Villarreal CF buoyed by victory over Liverpool FC, while their opponents suffered a second straight defeat.

Middlesbrough 
Middlesbrough's excellent run of form continued with a 2-0 home win against Liverpool on Saturday. Chris Riggott and Boudewijn Zenden were on target - the latter for the fifth time in six games - as Steve McClaren's side avenged their recent 2-0 defeat by the Merseysiders in the English League Cup and moved into fourth spot. Ugo Ehiogu was sidelined by a calf problem, but could be on the bench at Villarreal on Thursday.

Villarreal
Juan Pablo Sorín made his debut and midfielder Josico returned to the lineup but neither could prevent the team from losing for the second match running, against RC Deportivo La Coruña. Villarreal are now 13th in the Spanish standings and will face Real Betis Balompié next weekend without Rodolfo Arruabarrena after his 71st-minute dismissal. Roger García and Javier Calleja are still sidelined with knee injuries.

Partizan
FK Partizan needed an 86th-minute winner from Nenad Brnovic to edge a five-goal thriller against high-flying FK Zeta and remain top of Serbia and Montenegro's First Federal League. Defenders Dragoljub Jeremic and Milivoje Cirkovic were absent along with goalkeeper Ivica Kralj, and all three men were missed as Partizan surrendered a two-goal lead in the second half. Pierre Boya and Saša Ilic were on target before the visitors launched a comeback. Kralj is expected to return for the trip to Rome to face S.S. Lazio on Thursday.

Lazio
Angelo Peruzzi, Fabio Liverani, Emanuele Filippini and Roberto Muzzi all came back from injury yet the Rome club still lost 2-1 at Cagliari Calcio in the Coppa Italia third round. Coach Domenico Caso rested strikers Simone Inzaghi and Tommaso Rocchi, with Muzzi and Paolo Di Canio leading the line and it was the former West Ham United FC forward who set up Antonio Filippini's equaliser. But after visiting defender Leonardo Talamonti received his marching orders, Cagliari secured a first-leg lead seven minutes from time.

Egaleo
Egaleo FC remain unbeaten in Greece's Alpha Ethniki but their inability to score again hindered their progress as they had to settle for a goalless draw at home to fellow UEFA Cup contenders Panionios NFC and moved fourth. Stephane Demol's side have registered just five goals in eight league games and they received a further blow to their striking options with confirmation that Günter Friesenbichler will be out for three months as he requires an operation on a haematoma.