The UEFA Cup still lives in the shadow of its big brother the Champions League but this season's competition has thrown up intriguing ties in the last 16.

No fewer than five teams still involved have been European champions, with heavyweights Bayern Munich the favourites to parade the trophy in Manchester in May.


Bundesliga leaders Bayern, who surprisingly failed to qualify for the Champions League, face Anderlecht in Belgium on Thursday in a repeat of two consecutive European Cup quarter-finals in the 1980s.

While Bayern will be hoping to sign off the era of coach Ottmar Hitzfeld with another European trophy, fellow German clubs Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen will also be confident of making progress.

They meet in the first leg in Leverkusen with Hamburg trying to keep alive their hopes of a first European trophy since their memorable 1983 European Cup triumph.


Hamburg are third in the Bundesliga, one place above Leverkusen. Werder Bremen, trailing Bayern by four points, complete a powerful German challenge in the last 16 when they take on Scottish club Rangers.

The other three teams with European Cup crowns all have stern tests. Dutch leaders PSV Eindhoven travel to London to face Tottenham Hotspur whose manager Juande Ramos is looking for a hat-trick of UEFA Cup triumphs.

The former Sevilla boss has made a huge impact at Spurs, sealing the club's first silverware for nine years when they beat Chelsea in the League Cup last week.


However, PSV have plenty of European pedigree, winning the continent's top club prize in 1988, and twice UEFA Cup winners Tottenham must improve on their displays against Slavia Prague in the round of 32 if they are to progress.

The impressive last 16 cast continues with French club Marseille up against Russians Zenit St Petersburg who got past Spain's Villarreal in the last round despite being reduced to nine men. Benfica play Spain's sole survivors Getafe.


Premier League Everton will switch their attention from their domestic battle for Champions League qualification to rejuvenated Italian club Fiorentina.

Everton have won their last seven matches in the UEFA Cup, a club record, although they have not beaten Italian opposition in Europe. Fiorentina will also be buoyant after a 3-2 victory over Juventus at the weekend.

Bolton Wanderers, England's third representative in the last 16, are involved in a desperate relegation battle at home but can take their minds off the grind with a game against Sporting Lisbon.

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