Parma wary of Jørgensen threat

Parma AC will be hoping that the UEFA Cup tie with Brøndby IF on Thursday does not give them further cause to curse the Jørgensen footballing family.

Rapid recovery
Mads Jørgensen, younger brother of Udinese Calcio star Martin, has made a quicker-than-expected recovery from a knee injury and is threatening to inflict more damage on the Italian side who face an uphill task in the third round return with the first game ending 1-1.

Storming comeback
Last weekend the elder Jørgensen scored a second-half winner for Roy Hodgson's side to complete a 3-2 victory and a storming comeback after Udinese had trailed to a twin Marco di Vaio strike within the first three minutes.

Three losses
It was Parma's third loss in three games and increases the difficulties surrounding new coach Daniel Passarella who saw his team lose to Serie B side Messina in the Coppa Italia last week, though it was Parma who went through on aggregate.

Senior players' support
The former Argentina and Uruguay national coach was appointed only a month ago. He says he does not expect the third round tie to be a make-or-break occasion for his managerial reign and he is receiving support from senior players who insist they are to blame for the slump in fortunes.

Fighting recovery
Brøndby, the Danish league leaders, made a fighting recovery themselves at the weekend with Jørgensen earning a draw against Lyngby FC that keeps them seven points clear of FC København. It will interest Parma to know that Krister Nordin - the Brøndby player of the year who converted a 91st-minute penalty in the first game to earn a draw - missed from the spot.     

Huge interest
There is huge spectator interest in the clash in Copenhagen and Brøndby are putting in another 2,370 seats to meet the demand and establish a new attendance record at the Brøndby stadium of 20,370.