Sevilla return to form

AEK Athens FC failed to hit top form as they struggled to a 1-0 win at the weekend, but Sevilla FC were far more impressive as they beat RCD Espanyol by the same scoreline.

AEK
AEK maintained their unbeaten start to the Greek season but coach Fernando Santos conceded his side were lucky to gain a 1-0 victory at Ergotelis FC on Sunday. Konstantinos Katsouranis scored the only goal with a powerful header on 75 minutes. Defender Christos Kontis picked up a bicep injury but will line up against LOSC Lille Métropole on Thursday, however midfield player Ivan Rusev will miss out with a knee problem.

Lille
Lille were held to a second successive 1-1 league draw in the northern derby at RC Lens on Saturday. As against AS Monaco FC the previous weekend, Claude Puel's team went a goal behind before Christophe Landrin again secured a share of the spoils with a 58th-minute equaliser. Lille stay second in Ligue 1. Midfield player Mathieu Chalmé (broken cheekbone) and striker Johan Audel (sprained ankle) remain sidelined.

Zenit
Russia winger Vladimir Bystrov and striker Andrei Andrei Arshavin are back in training with FC Zenit St. Peterburg after recovering from injuries. With the domestic league finishing earlier this month with Zenit in fourth place, competitive action has been limited to the national team, and striker Aleksandr Kerzhakov and goalkeeper Viacheslav Malafeev played in Russia's 4-0 defeat of Estonia in last week's FIFA World Cup qualifier.

Sevilla
Julio Baptista scored his sixth goal of the season as Sevilla ended a run of three games without a win with a 1-0 home victory against Espanyol. Playing alongside Jesuli after a lengthy lay-off with a muscle tear, Baptista scored the only goal with a tap-in on 39 minutes. He later failed from the penalty spot but that miss proved irrelevant as Seville went third in Spain's Primera División.

Aachen
TSV Alemannia Aachen, who will sit out Matchday 3, came from behind to win 2-1 at 2. Bundesliga rivals FC Energie Cottbus on Monday thanks to goals by Alexander Klitzpera and Simon Rolfes. Out injured are Florian Bruns (knee ligament) and Emil Noll (knee). Coach Dieter Hecking fielded Dennis Brinkmann instead of Wilfried Landgraf at right-back, Reiner Plasshenrich returned from a one-match ban and Sergio Pinto played on the right of the attack alongside Erik Meijer and Kai Michalke.