The UEFA Cup starts to get serious this week with six former winners, eight teams on the rebound from the Champions League and a coach looking for an unprecedented third successive triumph all on display.

With the unappetising group phase now out of the way, the competition reverts to its more traditional format for the last 32 with the first legs of the straight knockout ties taking place on Wednesday and Thursday.

Spanish sides have dominated the competition in recent seasons with three triumphs in the last four years, but it is Germany who have the largest representation this season with five clubs still in the running.

Competition favorites and four times European champions Bayern Munich take on Aberdeen in what looks to be a mismatch at Pittodrie with Italy striker Luca Toni aiming to boost his UEFA Cup tally of six goals.

Bayern are riding high in the Bundesliga, three points clear at the top after a 1-1 draw at home to Werder Bremen on Sunday, while the Dons are coming off the back of two hidings at the hands of Celtic and Dundee United.

"It's been nine goals in the last two games - a horrible five days," Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood told the BBC after Sunday's 5-1 defeat at home to Celtic.

Home fans will take heart, however, from one of the club's most famous European successes when they beat Bayern 3-2 at home in the quarter-finals on their way to their triumph in the 1983 Cup Winners' Cup.

Another of the German contingent Bayer Leverkusen travel to Turkey to face Galatasaray on Thursday in a clash between two former winners of the competition, while Werder host Portuguese side Braga.

Two-time winners Tottenham Hotspur make the trip to Slavia Prague on Thursday with manager Juande Ramos bidding to become the first manager to win the UEFA Cup three times in a row.

Ramos, who steered Sevilla to back-to-back victories in the last two editions, will have the advantage of having faced Slavia in this season's Champions League while he was still in charge of the Andalucians.

With holders Sevilla still in the Champions League, 2004 semi-finalists Villarreal will lead the Spanish challenge when they meet Zenit St Petersburg in Russia on Wednesday.

Atletico Madrid, a point behind Villarreal in fourth place in the Primera Liga, travel to Bolton Wanderers having notched up an impressive 2-0 win away to Racing Santander, striker Diego Forlan rediscovering his form in front of goal with a spectacular double.

Another English side Everton will have high hopes of making the last 16 after winning all four of their group matches.

The Merseysiders, who remain in fourth spot after beating Reading 1-0 at home on Saturday, are away to Norwegian champions Brann Bergen in their first leg on Wednesday.

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