Olimpico Stadium, Rome 21/10/2004 21:00:00 (Local Time)

UEFA Cup Group E, Matchday 1

S.S. Lazio v Villarreal CF

MATCH OFFICIALS Referee Michael Weiner (GER) Assistant Referee Markus Scheibel (GER) Assistant Referee Olaf Blumenstein (GER) Fourth Referee Stefan Trautmann (GER) UEFA Delegate Bernard Carrel (SUI) Referee Observer Muhittin Bosat (TUR) Reporter Francesco Corda (ITA)

MATCH BACKGROUND Though Italian and Spanish clubs have met on a regular basis in UEFA club competitions since 1955, it is the first time that both S.S. Lazio and Villarreal CF have met each other.

Vast experience A Spanish club provided the opposition for Lazio’s finest achievement, when, coached by Sven-Göran Eriksson, they won the last UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1998/99 with a 2-1 win over RCD Mallorca at Villa Park. This will be the 12th game between Lazio and Spanish clubs in UEFA club competitions and Lazio have four wins, five defeats and two draws from the previous matches. The 2003/04 winners have made a resolute start to this season’s campaign with two 3-0 wins over Ukrainian club FC Metalurh Donetsk to reach the group stage.

Strong impression Villarreal made a strong impression in last season’s UEFA Cup, reaching the semi-finals before losing to the eventual winners Valencia CF 1-0 on aggregate with only a Mista penalty separating the sides. On their way to the latter stages, Villarreal met AS Roma in the fourth round winning 3-2 on aggregate after Sonny Anderson won the tie with a goal in a 2-1 defeat at the .

Intertoto success The Spanish club, who are in only their fifth season in , are another club to prove the value of the UEFA Intertoto Cup. Having reached the semi-final last season via the Intertoto Cup, Villarreal entered again this season, and again qualified. They built on this success with a 5-1 aggregate win over Hammarby in the first round and will look to improve on last season’s semi-final place.

DOMESTIC FORMGUIDE S.S. Lazio

18/10: The top seeds in the UEFA Cup, S.S. Lazio play last season's semi-finalists Villarreal CF. The Biancocelesti have not enjoyed much fortune at home this season, and lost again on Sunday, Matteo Brighi scoring the only goal for ten-man AC Chievo Verona to leave Lazio eleventh in . limped off with a suspected muscle injury on the hour and is a doubt for Thursday. Definitely missing is goalkeeper , Matteo Sereni will replace the veteran shot-stopper.

07/10: Considering the summer upheaval at S.S. Lazio, their start to the season has been more than creditable. , , , Claudio López and were all sold, with nine players arriving on transfer deadline day. Nonetheless, new coach , a former Lazio player with no Serie A coaching experience, has lifted the squad, while veteran Paolo Di Canio, back at the club 14 years after leaving for Juventus FC, is proving a passionate inspiration to his younger team-mates.

The Rome side have lost only one of five Serie A games, at home against champions AC Milan, and have taken seven points from three away matches. No surprise then that Ukrainian outfit FC Metalurh Donetsk were ousted 6-0 on aggregate in the UEFA Cup first round. Brazilian winger César is recovering from a thigh problem and should return to action in three weeks. Striker is also sidelined with a muscle injury, and goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi will miss the start of the group stage after a knee operation.

Villarreal CF

18/10: It was a tale of two strikers for Villarreal this weekend. Brazilian Sonny Anderson was sold to Al Rayyan of Qatar, while Uruguay's Diego Forlán scored in the 1-1 draw at RCD Mallorca. Unfortunately for coach Manuel Pellegrini, the latter will not be available for Thursday either as he is ineligible. Another worry for Pellegrini is his team's league form, which has yielded one win from seven games. Hopes of an improvement could be hindered by the absences of defender Rodolfo Arruabarrena (hamstring), winger Javier Calleja (knee) and striker Antonio Guayre (leg).

07/10: Having begun the season early by claiming the UEFA Intertoto Cup for the second year running, it has since been a difficult campaign for Villarreal. Villarreal won the Intertoto Cup the hard way, overcoming the likes of FC Spartak Moskva and Hamburger SV before a penalty shoot-out victory against compatriots Club Atlético de Madrid. But they then failed to win any of their first five Primera División fixtures - including a 1-0 defeat by Atlético in late September - before finally beating Real Zaragoza 2-0 last weekend, moving Luis Pellegrini's side up to 12th place. A lengthy injury list has not helped Villarreal's cause, but having comfortably seen off Hammarby in the UEFA Cup first round, the casualty room is gradually emptying. Playmaker Roger García appears to have shaken off a knee complaint, while Javier Calleja and strikers Sonny Anderson and Xisco are back in training. Although defender Juan Manuel Peña picked up a knee injury against Zaragoza, Pelligrini should be able to count on a full squad.

PLAYERS PROFILES S.S. Lazio

GOALKEEPERS No Name Nat. DOB Profile 1 Angelo Peruzzi ITA 16.02.70 Injury prone…won UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup and 3 Scudetto’s in 9 seasons at Juventus FC…joined S.S. Lazio in 2000 from FC Internazionale Milano...back in squad for UEFA EURO 2004™, won 27 caps...passed 400 Serie A games. 15 Fabrizio Casazza ITA 16.09.70 Signed from UC Sampdoria in summer 2003…played for nine clubs but only 14 Serie A games for Venezia Calcio in 1999-2000. 33 Matteo Sereni ITA 11.02.75 Arrived in 2003 from after one season in the Premiership with Ipswich Town FC…played in both legs of 2004 Italian Cup final win v Juventus FC…over 100 Serie A games. DEFENDERS No Name Nat. DoB Profile 5 ITA 29.03.73 Joined on loan from Parma FC in summer 2004…previously on loan at US Lecce…one of few to have played for AS Roma and S.S. Lazio. 8 ITA 20.01.78 Taken over at left back from Giuseppe Favalli, who spent 12 years with S.S. Lazio…from Atalanta BC youth teams, joined Lazio in 2003…5 caps with Atalanta just after 2002 FIFA World Cup. 22 ITA International full-back, played at UEFA EURO 2004™, has 16 caps and played in recent 4-3 win v Belarus in October…joined club in 2002 from Hellas-Verona FC. 23 ITA 16.04.72 12th consecutive season with the club…joined from Brescia Calcio in 1993…won 1999 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, and 2000 Scudetto…8 caps, and played at UEFA EURO 2000™. 24 Fernando Couto POR 02.08.69 1st Portuguese player to 100 caps…won league titles in Portugal (FC Porto), Spain (FC Barcelona) and (S.S. Lazio)…7th season with club.. won UEFA Cup (Parma FC) and UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup (Barcelona & Lazio). 25 Anthony Seric CRO 15.01.79 Born at Sydney (Australia)…made name with NHK Hajduk Split…moved to Brescia Calcio, then Parma FC…2nd season on loan at S.S. Lazio…11 caps. MIDFIELDERS No Name Nat. DoB Profile 6 Ousmane Dabo FRA 08.02.77 Signed with Zauri from Atalanta BC in 2003…standby for France at UEFA EURO 2004™…first of 3 caps in 2003 Confederations Cup. 7 ITA 03.07.73 Joined with his twin from US Città di Palermo in summer 2004 after helping them win promotion to Serie A…played 5 seasons in A with Brescia Calcio. 10 César BRA 24.10.72 Brazilian winger with fine skills…former coach moved him from left back to left wing when he joined in 2001…serious knee injury last season. 14 Emanuele Filippini ITA 03.07.73 Joined with his twin from US Città di Palermo in summer 2004 after helping them win promotion to Serie A…Was at Parma FC for 18 months, the only time he has not played alongside his brother. 16 Giuliano Giannichedda ITA 21.09.74 Joined S.S. Lazio in 2001 from with fellow international Stefano Fiore…3 caps for Italy in 1999 when at Udinese…over 230 Serie A games. 20 Fabio Liverani ITA 29.04.76 1st black player to play for Italy when capped v South Africa in April 2001…Serie A debut in 2000 with AC Perugia, moved to S.S. Lazio in 2001.

FORWARDS No Name Nat. DoB Profile 9 Paulo Di Canio ITA 09.07.68 Returned to his first club from Charlton Athletic FC in summer 2004…started career with S.S. Lazio 19 years ago and also played for Juventus FC, SSC Napoli, AC Milan, Celtic FC, Sheffield Wednesday FC and West Ham United FC….200 Serie A games. 11 ITA 21.09.71 Joined S.S. Lazio in 2003 after 73 Serie A goals with AS Roma, & Udinese Calcio…goals dried up last season with just one in 22 league games. 18 ITA 19.09.77 Signed from Empoli FC in summer 2004…had scored 17 Serie A goals in two seasons for a struggling club…can play down either flank. 19 Goran Pandev MKD 27.07.83 Young Macedonian international (4 caps), who was signed from relegated Ancona Calcio in summer 2004…has 3yr contract at S.S. Lazio after showing much promise at Ancona. 21 Simone Inzaghi ITA 05.05.76 6th season at S.S. Lazio…younger brother of …never played at full season in Rome due to injuries…scored 4 goals to equal UEFA Champions League record v in 2000…international striker. 41 Roberto Delgado ESP 07.05.86 Promoted from the youth team to the senior side by former coach Roberto Mancini last season and played 4 Serie A games…one for the future. HEAD COACH Name Nat. DoB Profile Mimmo Caso ITA 09.05.54 Taken over from Roberto Mancini who moved to FC Internazionale Milano in summer 2004…youth team coach at S.S. Lazio from 1992-97 and from 2003…lost job at Foggia Calcio, AC Chievo Verona and Pistoiese when they were in .

Villarreal CF

GOALKEEPERS No Name Nat. DoB Profile 1 Javier López Vallejo ESP 25.09.75 Former first choice keeper until Reina’s arrival…Liga debut in 1994 for CA Osasuna, but next 5 years in Div 2…joined Villarreal CF in 1999 and No 1 until 2002. 25 José Manuel Reina ESP 31.08.82 Joined from FC Barcelona in summer 2002, and has become first choice…U21 international who was in FC Barcelona B team in 1999 and first team for 2 seasons 2000-02…father played 5 times for Spain in goal. DEFENDERS No Name Nat. DoB Profile 2 Gonzalo Rodríguez ARG 10.04.84 Joined in summer 2004 from San Lorenzo, where he had 2 seasons in their first team…2 full caps in 2004. 3 Rodolfo Arruabarrena ARG 20.07.75 Eight seasons with Boca Juniors from 1992, he joined Villarreal CF in 2000…5th cap at Wembley in 2000…won three seasonal titles with Boca Juniors. 16 Quique Álvarez ESP 20.07.75 5th season at the club…former FC Barcelona defender who played once for their 1st team in La Liga in 1995, otherwise 5 seasons in B team…130 Liga games for Villarreal CF. 17 Javi Venta ESP 13.12.75 Signed from releagted CD Tenerife in 2002…released by Real Oviedo in 1996, he spent 6 seasons in the lower divisions…4th season in La Liga. 22 Juan Manuel Peña BOL 17.01.73 250 Liga games in 9 seaons with Real Valladolid until their 2004 relegation, switched to Villarreal CF last summer…75 caps…former national team captain. 24 Armando Sá POR 16.09.75 Portuguese defender, born in Mozambique….1st season with club, joined from SL Benfica…3 seasons at Benfica after 2 seasons with Rio Ave FC and one with SC Braga.

MIDFIELDERS No Name Nat. DoB Profile 6 ESP 06.01.75 3rd season with Villarreal CF, formerly played for Allbacete Balompié (1995-1998) and UD (1998- 2002)…nearing 150 Liga games. 8 Juan Román Riquelme ARG 24.06.78 Surplus to requirements at FC Barcelona under Frank Rijkaard…10 caps…followed the Maradona road from Argentinos Juniors to Boca Juniors to Barcelona…star of WorldU20 Cup win in 1997. 14 Hector Font ESP 15.06.84 From Villarreal CF…first team debut in June 2003, spent last season at Div 2 club Ciudad de Murcia…now back in Villarreal first team squad. 19 Marcos Senna BRA 17.07.76 Only 24 games in first two seasons at club…Brazilian who played for Corinthians from 1999-2001..after 5 clubs in Brazil, decided to try European football. 21 Sebastián Battaglia ARG 03.11.80 2nd season with Villarreal CF…played for Boca Juniors from 1997-2003 where he won 3 full caps and 3 seasonal titles. 26 César Arzo ESP 21.01.86 Another local young midfielder from Villarreal CF…two seasons in the B team, made first team debut in June 2003. 27 José María Cases ESP 23.11.86 From the B team, made league debut in June 2003. FORWARDS No Name Nat. DoB Profile 7 Antonio Guayre ESP 23.04.80 Born at Las Palmas, played for the local club…now 4th season with Villarreal CF…winger...former U21 international. 23 José Mari Romero ESP 10.12.78 2nd season at club, former Sevilla FC, Club Atlético de Madrid, and AC Milan forward, who has yet to reach the 10 goals in a season mark…4 caps for Spain…Liga debut in March 1997. 32 Xisco ESP 26.06.86 Was out on loan last season helping CD Numancia into La Liga…club first team debut in Feb 2003…from the B team. HEAD COACH Name Nat. DoB Profile Manuel Pellegrini CHI 16.09.53 1st season at Villarreal CF…won 3 seasonal Argentine titles as coach of San Lorenzo and River Plate since 2000…had earlier coached 4 clubs in Chile and one club in Ecuador.

WEBLINKS Competition information • Regulations • Format • History

Group E Egaleo FC UEFA Cup: Club homepage • Standings & Fixtures/Results Official website • Domestic standings • Domestic fixtures/results

S.S. Lazio UEFA Cup: Club homepage • Standings & Fixtures/Results Official website • Domestic standings • Domestic fixtures/results

Middlesbrough FC UEFA Cup: Club homepage • Standings & Fixtures/Results Official website • Domestic standings • Domestic fixtures/results

FK Partizan UEFA Cup: Club homepage • Standings & Fixtures/Results Official website • Domestic standings • Domestic fixtures/results

Villarreal CF UEFA Cup: Club homepage • Standings & Fixtures/Results Official website • Domestic standings • Domestic fixtures/results

REFEREE Michael Weiner (GER) DoB: 21.03.1969

Matches involving teams from the two countries involved in this match Season Date Comp. Stage Match Result 2002 21.07.2002 UIC R3 Torino - Villarreal 2 - 0 2003 06.08.2003 UIC SF Villarreal - Brno 2 - 0

ALL-TIME STATISTICS

Head-to-head record Season Date Comp. Stage Match Result Venue

Overall record S.S. Lazio: PLD: 0, W: 0, D: 0, L: 0, GS: 0, GA: 0 Villarreal CF: PLD: 0, W: 0, D: 0, L: 0, GS: 0, GA: 0

Home teams record versus clubs from the away teams country Season Date Comp. Stage Match Result Venue 1975/76 22.10.1975 UCUP R2 Lazio - Barcelona 0-3 Rome 1975/76 05.11.1975 UCUP R2 Barcelona - Lazio 4-0 Barcelona 1996/97 15.10.1996 UCUP R2 Lazio - Tenerife 1-0 Roma 1996/97 29.10.1996 UCUP R2 Tenerife - Lazio 5-3 Tenerife 1997/98 31.03.1998 UCUP SF Atlético - Lazio 0-1 Madrid 1997/98 14.04.1998 UCUP SF Lazio - Atlético 0-0 Rome 1998/99 19.05.1999 UCWC Final Mallorca - Lazio 1-2 Birmingham 1999/00 05.04.2000 UCL QF Valencia - Lazio 5-2 Valencia 1999/00 18.04.2000 UCL QF Lazio - Valencia 1-0 Rome 2000/01 13.02.2001 UCL GS 2 Real Madrid - Lazio 3-2 Madrid 2000/01 21.02.2001 UCL GS 2 Lazio - Real Madrid 2-2 Rome

Overall record PLD: 11, W: 4, D: 2, L: 5, GS: 14, GA: 23

Away teams record versus clubs from the home teams country Season Date Comp. Stage Match Result Venue 2002/03 21.07.2002 UIC R3 Torino - Villarreal 2-0 2002/03 27.07.2002 UIC R3 Villarreal - Torino 6-3 Villarreal 2003/04 19.07.2003 UIC R3 Villarreal - Brescia 2-0 Villarreal 2003/04 26.07.2003 UIC R3 Brescia - Villarreal 1-1 Brescia 2003/04 11.03.2004 UCUP R4 Villarreal - Roma 2-0 Villarreal 2003/04 25.03.2004 UCUP R4 Roma - Villarreal 2-1 Rome

Overall record PLD: 6, W: 3, D: 1, L: 2, GS: 12, GA: 8

LEGEND Competitions Abbreviations ECCC European Champions Clubs’ Cup A Abandoned EURO UEFA European Football Championship D Matches drawn EUSA European/South American Cup F Final SCUP UEFA Super Cup GA Goals against UCL UEFA Champions League GF Goals for UCUP UEFA Cup GS Group stage UIC UEFA Intertoto Cup GS1 First group-match stage WC FIFA World Cup GS2 Second group-match stage L Matches lost Match information L1 First leg * After extra-time L2 Second leg ** After extra-time and penalty shoot-out P-P Postponed *** Silver goal PLD Played **** Golden goal PTS Points QF Quarter-finals QR Qualifying round R Replay R1 First round R2 Second round R3 Third round R4 Fourth round SF Semi-finals W Matches won

NOTE Statistics pertaining to the UEFA Champions League only commence at the start of the 1992/93 season, whereas statistics pertaining to the European Champion Clubs’ Cup commence at the start of the 1955/56 season and include UEFA Champions League statistics. Other statistics included make reference to the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup (1961/62 to 1998/99), the UEFA Cup (1971/72 to current date), the UEFA Intertoto Cup (1995 to date), the UEFA Super Cup (1973 to date) and the European/South American Cup (1956 to date). No statistics are provided for the Inter-Cities’ Fairs Cup as this competition was not held under UEFA auspices.