UEFA Cup Previews: Second round, second leg

Red Star Belgrade v Leicester

Captain Matt Elliott is warning Leicester City not to press the panic button when they take on Red Star Belgrade in today's UEFA Cup return clash in Vienna.

The onus will be on City to score if they are to progress after Red Star snatched a priceless away goal in the 11 draw at Filbert Street in the first leg of the first-round match a fortnight ago.

It will be a similar scenario to City's last UEFA Cup campaign three years ago when one goal would have been sufficient after they lost the first leg 2-1 away to Atletico Madrid - but they were then beaten 2-0 at home.

"We know we need a goal; we are mindful of the fact that the onus is on us to score at least one goal at some stage. But if we don't get one early on - or even concede one ourselves - then it is not a matter of panic stations.

"European games tend to go the distance, and there are a lot of twists and turns along the way. What we have got to be very careful about is not conceding two because then it will become very tough."

Elliott insisted the squad are fully focused on trying to topple Red Star despite the blaze of publicity surrounding Stan Collymore's decision to ask for a transfer in the build-up to the game.

He said: "It is disappointing that the situation hasn't worked out for both Stan and the club, but we have got to concentrate on the build-up to the game tomorrow."

Liverpool v Rapid Bucharest

Liverpool chief Gerard Houllier has told Kevin Keegan "Robbie Fowler is ready for England". The injury-jinxed striker will tonight start his first game for Liverpool - a year and a day since he was last in the Anfield club's starting line-up - against Rapid Bucharest.

Keegan names his squad today for the World Cup qualifying showdown with Germany, and Houllier reckons Fowler is ready to boost his country's striking options despite having just one reserve game and 20 minutes on Saturday against Sunderland as his first team action this season.

There is talk that Fowler has already been pencilled in by Keegan, who did much the same thing with the 25-year-old before Euro 2000, risking taking him to the finals despite only just coming back from double ankle surgery.

But if Keegan needed any help to make his mind up, Houllier was quick to offer his guidance as he prepares his side to complete the job they started by winning the first leg 1-0 in Romania a fortnight ago.

Houllier said: "Only Kevin can say whether he's going to be included or not. I feel that Robbie is fit although he needs games under his belt. But in terms of fitness, mental commitment and attitude he is ready."

Liverpool will also have key defender Sami Hyypia back after missing four matches, while Patrik Berger will also be in the squad for the first time since the opening day of the season.

St Gallen v Chelsea

Gianfranco ZOLA claims his conscience is clear over the sacking of Gianluca Vialli. The Chelsea striker, who found himself implicated in the departure of his former manager, insists he did nothing to undermine the authority of his fellow Italian.

Vialli suggested his players forced him out but, as they prepared to defend a one-goal lead against the Swiss champions tonight, Zola said he did not have the power to influence chairman Ken Bates.

Zola said: "My conscience is okay. I tried to do my best for Luca as I did for Ruud Gullit and I'm going to try and do the same for Claudio Ranieri."

Ranieri watched from the stands as a Chelsea team, picked and prepared by coaches Graham Rix and Ray Wilkins, stole a 1-0 lead from the first leg. "St Gallen were like an Italian side, very well organised and good on the counterattack," he says. "A 1-0 lead against St Gallen doesn't mean we are certain to qualify."

Marcel Desailly and Gabrielle Ambrosetti are both nursing hamstring injuries and have not travelled to Switzerland. Dennis Wise, who missed last weekend's 3-3 draw at Manchester United, is in the squad but faces a late fitness check.

Ranieri said: "Dennis has a lion's character. He wants to be available and wants to play but I will make the decision when I've seen him with my own eyes."

Tonight's fixtures (with first leg scores)

Slovan Liberec (Cze) v Norrkoping (Swe) 2-2; Orgryte (Swe) v Rapid Vienna (Aut) 0-3; AEK Athens (Gre) v Vasas Budapest (Hun) 2-2; Brann (Nor) v FC Basel (Swi) 2-3; Ajax Amsterdam (Ned) v Ghent (Bel) 6-0; Burgas (Bul) v Lokomotiv Moscow (Rus) 2-4; Osijek (Cro) v Brondby (Den) 2-1; Genk (Bel) v FC Zurich (Swi) 2-1; Liverpool (Eng) v Rapid Bucharest (Rom) 1-0; Boavista (Por) v Vorskla Poltava (Ukr) 2-1; Inter Milan (Ita) v Ruch Chorzow (Pol) 3-0; Espanyol (Spa) v Olympija Ljubljana (Slo) 1-2; Rijeka (Cro) v Celta Vigo (Spa) 0-0; Betar Jerusalem (Isr) v PAOK Salonika (Gre) 1-3; Red Star Belgrade (Yug) v Leicester (Eng) 1-1; Torpedo Moscow (Rus) v Lausanne (Swi) 2-3; Parma (Ita) v FK Pobeda (Mkd) 2-0; Nantes (Fra) v Krivoi Rog (Ukr) 1-0; Akademisk Boldklub (Den) v Slavia Prague (Cze) 0-3; Gaziantepspor (Tkm) v Alaves (Spa) 0-0; Dynamo Moscou (Rus) v Lillestrom (Nor) 1-3; Werder Bremen (Ger) v Antalyaspor (Tkm) 0-2; MTK Budapest (Hun) v CSKA Sofia (Bul) 2-1; St Gallen (Swi) v Chelsea (Eng) 0-1; APOEL Nicosia (Cyp) v FC Bruges (Bel) 0-2; HJK Helsinki (Fin) v Celtic (Sco) 0-2; Iraklis (Gre) v Gueugnon (Fra) 0-0; Wisla Krakow (Pol) v Real Zaragoza (Spa) 1-4; Fiorentina (Ita) v FK Tyrol (Aut) 1-3; FC Porto (Por) v Partizan Belgrade (Yug) 1-1; Hearts (Sco) v VFB Stuttgart (Ger) 0-1; Maccabi Haifa (Isr) v Vitesse Arnhem (Ned) 0-3; Amica Wronki (Pol) v Alania Vladikavkaz (Rus) 3-0; Herfolge (Den) v AIK Stockholm (Swe) 1-0; Rayo Vallecano (Spa) v Molde (Nor) 1-0; AS Roma (Ita) v Gorica (Slo) 4-1; Benfica (Por) v Halmstad (Swe) 1-2; Dynamo Zagreb (Cro) v Slovan Bratislava (Svk) 3-0; Feyenoord (Ned) v Dunaferr (Hun) 1-0; OFI Crete (Gre) v Napredak Krusevac (Yug) 0-0.

Bohemians manager Roddy Collins has been banned from the touchline and the club's midfielder, Dave Morrison, has been suspended for two games each after their respective dismissals during the recent National League Premier Division game against Shelbourne.

At the latest meeting of the FAI's disciplinary committee Drogheda United's Evan Creedon and Shane Jackson of Shamrock Rovers also received one game suspensions.