Real Zaragoza V FC Utrecht
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La Romareda Stadium, Zaragoza 21/10/2004 20:45:00 (Local Time) UEFA Cup Group C, Matchday 1 Real Zaragoza v FC Utrecht MATCH OFFICIALS Referee Peter Sippel (GER) Assistant Referee Volker Wezel (GER) Assistant Referee Roland Greth (GER) Fourth Referee Hermann Albrecht (GER) UEFA Delegate Dusan Maravic (YUG) Referee Observer Walter Clarke (NIR) Reporter Javier Bielsa (ESP) MATCH BACKGROUND The 2003/04 domestic cup winners of Spain and the Netherlands meet for the first time in UEFA club competitions when Real Zaragoza host FC Utrecht on the opening matchday of the 2004/05 UEFA Cup group stage. Fourth encounter The match will be the fourth time that Zaragoza have been in opposition against clubs from the Netherlands. In the 1986/87 Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final Zaragoza lost the home leg to AFC Ajax 3-2, and 3-0 at Amsterdam, as Ajax went on to win the competition. Then in the 1994/95 season, Zaragoza met two Dutch clubs. They played Feyenoord in the quarter-finals of the Cup Winners’ Cup and, after Henrik Larsson had scored the only goal for the home side at Rotterdam, Zaragoza eventually won 2-1 on aggregate, and went on to win the tournament with Nayim’s spectacular shot in the 2-1 win against Arsenal FC. Super Cup defeat As Cup Winners’ Cup holders, Zaragoza then met UEFA Champions League winners AFC Ajax in the UEFA Super Cup, played over two legs in Februray 1996. The teams drew 1-1 at La Romareda, but Ajax proved too strong in the return leg with a 4-0 win after Danny Blind had notched a couple of late penalties. Limited experience Utrecht have only previously met one Spanish club, when in the 1991/92 UEFA Cup second round, Real Madrid CF proved too strong with a 3-1 win at Utrecht, followed a 1-0 home win. Anxious moments Both clubs had to survive major scares to reach the group stage. Zaragoza won their first round, first leg game against SK Sigma Olomouc 1-0, but were 2-0 down in the return leg before staging a fine recovery with three goals in the last 12 minutes to secure a 4-2 aggregate win. Utrecht waltzed through the first leg with a 4-0 win over Djurgårdens IF, but the Swedish champions won the return leg 3-0, as Utrecht were forced to hang on in the final minutes. DOMESTIC FORMGUIDE Real Zaragoza 18/10: Real Zaragoza's meeting with FC Utrecht at La Romareda promises goals. Zaragoza's seven league matches so far have delivered 28 of them - 13 for Víctor Muñoz's men at home, including Sunday's 2-1 triumph against Real Sociedad de Fútbol. That result lifted the northern Spanish club into seventh place, level on points with Club Atlético de Madrid in fourth. For the visit of Utrecht, Muñoz misses defender Luis Cuartero because of broken ribs. Goalkeeper César Laínez, meanwhile, is not quite fit enough despite recovering from knee surgery. 07/10: After a promising start in the Primera División, Real Zaragoza slipped down to ninth place as a result of their 2-0 defeat by Villarreal CF at the start of October. Zaragoza - who began the domestic season by winning the Spanish Super Cup against Valencia CF - opened their seventh UEFA Cup campaign by beating SK Sigma Olomouc in both legs of their 4-2 aggregate win. However, they will likely be missing captain Luis Carlos Cuartero until November after he fractured three ribs during a league game against Levante UD and are also without their regular goalkeeper. Luis García has been deputising for first-choice keeper César Láinez, who underwent an operation to remove a blood clot from his right knee in mid-September - though medical staff are confident that he will be back for the start of the UEFA Cup group stage when FC Utrecht visit on 21 October. FC Utrecht 18/10: Utrecht were surprising 3-0 losers at lowly FC Groningen on Sunday, ending their run of four straight league victories. Dutch international Dave van den Bergh was absent with a hamstring problem but could be fit to face Zaragoza, while Belgian international Stéphane Tanghe played despite a broken hand. 07/10: The Dutch Cup holders have had a fine start to the season - and provided plenty of excitement in the first round of this competition. Having overcome Djurgårdens IF 4-0 at home in the first leg, they conceded a goal within three minutes of the return in Sweden. When Tobias Hysén scored Djurgården's third goal nine minutes from time, there were hearts in mouths but Utrecht held on to squeak through 4-3 on aggregate. Still, in the Eredivisie, Utrecht have been in convincing form. After losing their first match against NAC Breda, Utrecht held AFC Ajax 1-1 in the Amsterdam ArenA, and then shocked Feyenoord 3-0 in Rotterdam. Then on 3 October, Foeke Booy's side fought back to beat RKC Waalwijk, having trailed 2- 0 with 30 minutes to go. Hans van de Haar scored twice in that match to take his season's tally to six goals and the only negative was a thigh injury to winger Dave van den Bergh, who had to withdraw from the Dutch national squad. PLAYERS PROFILES Real Zaragoza GOALKEEPERS No Name Nat. DoB Profile 1 César Laínez ESP 10.04.77 Born in the city…joined B team in 1993, first team debut on loan at Villarreal CF in 1999, returned to Real Zaragoza in 2000…first choice past 3 seasons. 13 Luis García ESP 23.04.79 Current first choice keeper, signed in summer 2004 from CD Numancia…former Club Atlético de Madrid youth team…1st season in La Liga 30 Jorge Zaparaín ESP 26.04.84 Born in the city…joined B team in 2002…first team debut against FC Barcelona in May 2004. DEFENDERS No Name Nat. DoB Profile 3 Agustín Aranzabal ESP 15.03.73 Signed in summer 2004 after 13 seasons at Real Sociedad de Fútbol…was captain at Real, played 323 Liga games, and won 28 caps…played at FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Football Championship finals. 4 Luis Cuartero ESP 17.08.75 Born in the city…club debut in June 1993…but only 140 Liga games. 5 Alvaro BRA 01.11.77 2nd season at club…played in Brazil for FC São Paulo & Atletico Minas Gerais…joined UD Las Palmas in 2002, but club were relegated in 2002. 6 Gabriel Milito ARG 07.09.80 Failed medical for Real Madrid CF, but outstanding for Real Zaragoza…2nd season with club...normally a defender, but can play midfield...was with Independiente from 1997-2003…5 caps. 12 Delio Toledo PAR 10.02.76 Paraguayan international with 25 caps…3rd season with club…one game for Udinese Calcio in 1999-2000, joined RCD Espanyol in 2000, then played 2 seasons for Colon (Argentina). 27 Capi ESP 02.04.81 Staked a claim for a regular place this season...club debut in May 2004 in 4-4 draw with Sevilla FC…joined the B team in 2002. MIDFIELDERS No Name Nat. DoB Profile 8 Cani ESP 03.08.81 Born in the city, joined B team in 2001…first team debut v FC Barcelona in May 2002…35 Liga games. 14 Leonardo Ponzio ARG 24.01.82 Can play midfield…2 caps at former club Newells Old Boys immediately after 2002 World Cup finals…2nd season at club. 17 Jose Maria Movilla ESP 08.02.75 2nd season with club…former CD Numancia, Málaga CF, and Club Atlético de Madrid midfielder…6th season of La Liga football. 20 David Generelo ESP 11.08.82 Joined the B team in 2000, made first team debut in 2003 in promotion team, played 18 games in La Liga last season. 23 Fernando Sorriano ESP 24.09.79 Born in the city, joined B team in 1997, first team debut in Aug 2003 in La Liga, but played in Div 2 for the club. 26 Alberto Zapater ESP 13.06.85 First season in first team squad, from the youth team. FORWARDS No Name Nat. DoB Profile 7 Luciano Galletti ARG 09.04.80 Right sided midfield or winger…4th season with club, home club was Estudiantes…joined Parma FC in 1999, but loaned to SSC Napoli…5 caps. 9 David Villa ESP 03.12.81 Scored 17 goals in La Liga last season in 1st season for club…joined from Sporting Gijón…scored 39 goals in last 2 seasons in Div 2 with Sporting. 10 Sávio Bortolini BRA 09.01.74 Back in Spain with Real Zaragoza in 2003 after a season with FC Girondins de Bordeaux…played for Real Madrid CF from 1997-2002, wining three UEFA Champions League titles, and La Liga…25 caps, home club was Flamengo from 1993-97. 18 Goran Drulic SBM 12.04.77 4th season at club, joined in 2001 from FK Crvena Zvezda, scoring 16 goals in last of 4 seasons with them,,,4 international caps. 19 Javi Moreno ESP 10.09.74 Signed in summer 2004 from Club Atlético de Madrid…22 Liga goals and 2 goals in UEFA Cup final 2001 for CD Alavés…moved to AC Milan for 2001-02…5 caps. HEAD COACH Name Nat. DoB Profile Victor Muñoz ESP 15.03.57 330 Liga games for Real Zaragoza and FC Barcelona and 60 caps…coached RCD Mallorca, CD Logroñés and UD Lleida when they were in Div 2…coached Villarreal CF in La Liga 2000-03…Cup win in 1st season with Zaragoza in 2004.