Match Previews

Punal (r)(mid) suspended, as is Nekounam (r)(mid), spelling trouble for the central midfield... Valdo (r)(mid) and Milosevic (r)(att) fully fit... Soldado (k)(att) and Cuellar (r)(def) miss last Liga match through suspension but are fit and ready for this tie... Changes from the weekend likely... Josetxo (sp)(def) injured... Several likely starters on bookings... Osasuna managed a 0-0 draw with a misfiring Sevilla side at the weekend, but will need to play with more guile to leave this tough tie in Germany with a decent result for the return leg. Osasuna have never made it this far in the UEFA Cup and, having never played Bayer, this is a real journey into the unknown. Thankfully, they have a relatively strong squad available to make the trip to Germany, and may play a rather defensively-minded 4-4-2, albeit one with a strong attack. Ahead of the impressive Ricardo (r) in goal, Izquierdo (sp) is set to replace Javier Flano (r) at rightback, while Cuellar (r) has come back into the side alongside regulars Cruchaga (r) and Corrales (k), who had a good game against Sevilla, on the left. Erice, the reserve player called up in the absence of the Punal (r) and the all-important yet sadly injured Nekounam (r), is set to be benched, with Miguel Flano (r), normally a defender, moving up into central midfield to add some defensive steel alongside Raul Garcia (r). The brilliant Juanfran (r) - the sole true dangerman for Osasuna against Sevilla - is set to line up on the left, with Juanlu (sp), superb against Rangers in the last European round, left out entirely. The recovering Valdo (r), influential before his injury but with little time to assert himself on his Sunday comeback, on the right. Speaking of comebacks, Milosevic (r), a vastly experienced European campaigner with 39 games and 7 goals, has returned to the side after injury and may start up front with Soldado (k), back from suspension; Webo (r) may thus be on the bench after a rather uninspiring performance against Sevilla, albeit one where he was a lone forward operating in difficult circumstances. Osasuna are unbeaten in three European away games.