Town's UEFA Cup opponents Slovan Liberec have not got a long and proud European history, however they have had some promising results in that short spell in UEFA competition. Spanish sides Real Mallorca and Celta Vigo have both been beaten while they came close to knocking AC Milan out of the Champions' League at the qualifying stage this season.

Against Milan they were defeated on the away goals rule after drawing 2-2, goals from Miroslav Slepicka and David Langer winning the Czech leg 2-1. However Italian sides were at the time still in pre-season so this may have had an effect on their performance.

Although formed in 1958 it took the partition of the old Czechoslovakia before Liberec really become a force and hence enter European competition. In 2000 they played Liverpool and lost the home game 3-2 and the Anfield leg 1-0, although they were hardly unimpressive.

Liberec play at the U Nisy in Liberec which holds 9,090 fans. They were champions of the Czech Republic last season which was a big shock in Czech football. Since then they have lost top striker Jiri Stajner who joined Hannover 96 in Germany.

This season has not gone so well and they are currently third, losing their last game 4-0 away at Viktoria Žižkov. Defensive frailties have been a problem this time around.

Their best players this season have been Ghanaian striker Baffour Gyan and defensive linchpin Miroslav Hole?ák. In midfield David Langer calls the shots while Jan Nezmar has always impressed in Europe with five goals in nine games, one against AC Milan.

In the last round they beat Georgian side Dinamo Tbilisi 4-2 on aggregate with keeper Antonin Kinsky coming under attack from a hail of bottles during the away leg, a game they won 1-0 through a Martin Zboncak goal.

Squad: Kinsky, Zapotocny, Lukas, Holenak, Janu, Papvusek, Polak, Hodur, Tboncak, Slepicka, Gyan, Netmar, Hauzr, Ancic, Slovak, Capek, Blaha and Holusko.

Photo: Action Images

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