By John Bagratuni Dec 1, 2009, 9:48 GMT
Hamburg - SV Hamburg host Rapid Vienna on Wednesday in the Europa League, hoping to advance to the knockout stages of the tournament which culminates in the 2010 final in their home stadium.
Hamburg face a huge injury list, but striker Mladen Petric has recovered from a foot injury and will at least take his place on the subs' bench.
The Croatian is welcomed back with open arms by Hamburg, who after a great start into the Bundesliga season are winless in their last six league matches.
'Maybe I can give the team a boost by returning,' said Petric.
Hamburg are also on a revenge mission against Rapid, who humbled them 3-0 in Austria in a group C opener.
Hamburg lie second in group C with seven points behind leaders Hapoel Tel Aviv (nine) and want to clinch a place in the round of 32 on Wednesday because they face a trip to Tel Aviv in the final round in a fortnight.
'We have it in our own hands to avoid it (a final day showdown in Israel for a place in the knockout stages),' said captain David Jarolim.
Rapid have four points and Glasgow Celtic, who host Hapoel on Wednesday, two.
Hamburg's northern German rivals Werder Bremen, the 2009 UEFA Cup finalists, are already through from Group L, where Spanish side Athletic Bilbao hope to claim the other berth by not losing at bottom side Austria Vienna on Thursday.
Joaquin Caparros' team will make the trip in good heart after Sunday's 4-1 win in Almeria. They have picked up 10 points in their last four games, but are without injury victims Gaizka Toquero, Ion Velez, Aitor Ocio, Inaki Munoz and Iban Zubiaurre in Austria.
Valencia host French side Lille in a Group B table-topper which they need to win, with Lille on seven points and Valencia and Italy's CFC Genoa on six each. Genoa are at bottom side Slavia Prague.
'From the first minute we knew that this was going to be a difficult group ... We depend on ourselves but everything depends on beating Lille,' Valencia goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya said.
The third Spanish side, Villarreal, are third in group G with six points ahead of their trip to bottom side levski Sofia, while runaway leaders Salzburg (12) can clinch their place in the next round if they don't lose at home against Italy's Lazio.
Only UEFA Cup champions Shakhtar Donetsk, Turkey's Galatasaray and Werder Bremen have so far clinched their place in the knockout stages from the 12 groups.
The English duo of Everton and Fulham fights for survival, with Fulham third in group E ahead of Thursday's game at CSKA Sofia, with leaders Basel at second-placed Roma in the other game.
'We'll have a go Thursday night and if we do get a chance against Basel (in the final group game), we'll try and take it. (But) if we don't, not many of us will be crying our eyes out,' said manager Roy Hodgson, who is confronted with a long injury list.
Everton lie second in group I behind Benfica Lisbon and need to win at AEK Athens, also to boost morale at home in a poor Premier League season.
'We go into Europe determined to make things right. If we get a victory in Athens it will be a real morale boost for the team ahead of next weekend's game with Spurs,' said midfielder Steven Pienaar.
Other teams well-positioned to qualify include Sporting and Benfica Lisbon, PSV Eindhoven, RSC Anderlecht, Ajax Amsterdam and Fenerbahce Istanbul.
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