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Football’s world governing body, FIFA, has provisionally suspended Executive Committee members Amos Adamu of Nigeria and Tahiti’s Reynald Temarii as it investigates allegations of World Cup vote-selling by the duo.

FIFA announced this yesterday at a press conference following a meeting of its ethics committee, chaired by former Switzerland striker Claudio Sulser.
Four other FIFA officials were also provisionally suspended from taking part in any football-related activity. They are Slim Aloulou, Amadou Diakite, Ahongalu Fusimalohi and Ismael Bhamjee.
Besides Sulser, other FIFA officials present at the press conference to announce the suspensions were Jerome Valcke, the world body’s secretary general and Nicolas Maingot, its director of communications. The conference had started two hours later than advertised, without explanation for the delay.
“The decision to provisionally suspend these officials is fully justified and should not be put in question,” said Sulser.
“The evidence that has been presented to us today has led us to take this provisional measure, as we considered that the conditions were definitely met to take this decision and we deem that it is crucial to protect the integrity of the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup bidding process.
“We are determined to have zero tolerance for any breach of the code of ethics.”
Sulser added that two national football bodies, albeit unnamed, were also being investigated in connection with the scandal.
Addressing the media after the suspension, FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, said it was a sad day for football especially after having recorded success in what people thought could not be possible with the World Cup in Africa. But he dismissed claims that FIFA is corrupt by saying the immediate reaction of the body to the scandal showed its seriousness on zero tolerance for corruption.
He urged the media to trust FIFA and promised he would continue to do everything to protect the reputation of the game as the president. Blatter also played down the magnitude of the scandal by saying just as we have good players, there also bad players.
The suspended officials now have between now and the middle of November, when the ethics committee will meet again to take a final decision ahead of the World Cup vote on December 2, to prepare their defence.
Investigations to continue
In the meantime, FIFA will investigate the circumstances leading to the suspensions, and presumably, related matters surrounding alleged voting arrangements between bidding nations and parties seeking to influence the bidding process.
Valcke said the vote to decide the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will still go ahead as planned on December 2, but added that if Adamu and Temarii are eventually found guilty then both of them will not be part of the voting process.
Five countries are vying for the right to stage the 2022 World Cup, namely Australia, Japan, Qatar, South Korea and the United States, while there are four bid groups for the 2018 World Cup.
They are England, Russia, as well as joint bids by the Netherlands and Belgium, along with another joint bid by the Iberian pair of Portugal and Spain.
EFCC trouble for Adamu
Reprieve may however be a long way off for Adamu as Nigeria’s Anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is at the moment probing the one-time Director General of the National Sports Commission.
Reporters from British newspaper, the Sunday Times, posing as lobbyists for a consortium of American companies that wanted to help bring the World Cup back to the United States, filmed Adamu asking for money to fund the construction of four artificial football pitches in Nigeria.
No money exchanged hands but Adamu requested for the sum of £500,000, and in the opinion of the EFCC, that is enough reason to commence investigations on the embattled FIFA official.
“We have already commenced our own investigations mostly as a result of the fact that he was filmed demanding for money to construct football pitches in the country,” EFCC spokesman Femi Babafemi said.
However, Babafemi declined to confirm whether the agency will arrest Adamu upon his return to the country.
“That will depend on the outcome of our own investigation and that of FIFA,” he said.

Officials of The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Enugu have taken over the
investigation of corruption charges levelled against the Nigeria
Premier League chairman, Davidson Owumi.

Mr. Owumi, who was
flown into Enugu Thursday, after initially been questioned in Abuja by
officials of the anti-graft body, is accused of misappropriating funds
while he was the chief executive officer of Enugu Rangers International
Football Club between 2002 and 2006. He was succeeded by Ray Nnaji, who
is believed to have sent the petition currently been acted on by the
EFCC.

Speaking to
NEXTSports on the latest development, Femi Babafemi, spokesman for
EFCC, revealed that the League boss is still in their custody and might
remain there, depending on the findings of the officials.

“Our men are
currently questioning him on the petitions we received that he used
fictitious companies to award contracts and also corruptly enriched
himself while in office. For now, he is still in our custody. But I
cannot say if he would have to remain with us,” he said.

Owumi defence

Though attempts at
getting across to Mr. Owumi proved abortive yesterday, the NPL boss was
on to a sports programme on City FM 105.1 Lagos, where he dismissed the
petitions against him. According to him, his record speaks well of him.

“The record is
there for all to see. We achieved what we achieved that time with the
leanest of allocations from the state government. The record after I
resigned is also there for all to see. Even with better funding, Ray
could not achieve anything as my successor,” Mr. Owumi told Sports
Flight.

The former Enugu Rangers chief executive officer said his invitation by the anti-graft agency was a routine invitation.

“Normally, if a mad
man on the streets writes a petition against someone, the EFCC must
respond and invite the person to come and give your own side of the
story,” he said.

Meanwhile, the
Nigeria Premier League season, originally meant to begin this weekend,
has been put off again. The shift, according to NPL officials, was
based on the dissolution of the all committees of the Nigeria Football
Federation (NFF), and not the arrest of its boss. The dissolution thus
affects the referees’ appointment committee, which is responsible for
the placement of match officials for Premier League games.

Incidentally, plans to pay the debt of N3.8 million to affected
referees of the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) on Thursday by the
Nigeria Premier League (NPL) failed to take place due to the absence of
the referees’ body leadership.

The Governor of Edo
State, Adams Oshiomhole, on Wednesday, commissioned the FIFA-standard
2-Star turf of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, in Benin City.

Present at the
commissioning were former members of Nigeria’s senior national football
team, the Super Eagles, including Daniel Amokachi and Austin Okocha.
Oshiomhole had noted at the inception of his administration the pitch
and other facilities at the stadium were dilapidated and given their
condition could not attract international matches. “Stakeholders,
football administrators and players were unanimous that we needed to
have a completely new pitch,” he said. “This new pitch is not only
beautiful; it is user-friendly and minimizes the potentials of injuries
to footballers.” The governor restated the commitment of his
administration to the revival of sports and football in the state. “Our
performance in sports has long been a heritage of Edo State, we have
produced sporting administrators and legends,” he said. He appealed to
the private sector to assist the state government in its quest to
restore the lost sports glory of the state.

Showering praise

Speaking on behalf
of the players, Amokachi said: “We know who you are and what you are
doing in Edo State. When I landed at the airport this morning, I saw
the massive road development you are working on. This turf is another
testimony of what you are doing. I pray God to grant you the strength
to conclude the good works you are doing.” Okocha also described
Oshiomhole as “an active governor with a vision and a mission.”

Earlier, the Edo State Commissioner for Sports, Anita Evbuomwan,
said the construction of the pitch is one of the most important
developments in the state, stressing the determination of the
Oshiomhole’s administration to develop sporting infrastructure for the
use of professional and amateur sportsmen and women. The high point of
the ceremony were two novelty matches. The first was between the
executive arm of government, captained by Oshiomhole versus the State
House of Assembly, captained by Bright Omokhodion; while the second
involved former Eagles and Bendel Insurance FC.

After scoring one
of the two goals in the first leg encounter between Nigeria’s Flying
Eagles and the Mauritius U-20 team, Stanley Okoro, popularly known as
“little Messi”, has promised to score more goals when both teams clash
this weekend in the second leg encounter at the Abuja National Stadium.

“I am confident I
am going to score against them again, we are ready for them and we have
actually been training hard for this match,” the Almeria of Spain
player said.

The Flying Eagles
currently have a 2-0 advantage going into the match and would need to
avoid conceding three un-replied goals to guarantee a spot at the Libya
2011 Africa Youth Championships.

In the team’s last
tune up match against Premier League side, Niger Tornadoes played on
Tuesday, the John Obuh led side defeated the Minna based team by 1-0 to
maintain their 100% record in the friendly matches.

Already the
Mauritius U-20, which breezed into the country Wednesday night, are
beaming with confidence with the promise to still give the Flying
Eagles some fight for the available ticket though admitting it would be
a mountain to climb in Abuja this weekend.

Not yet uhuru

Despite having the
advantage, the Flying Eagles coach, John Obuh, is not resting on his
oars as he posited that a match is not won before it is played.

He said even though they won the first leg by two clear goals, the game was not as easy as it seemed.

“We suffered a lot
in the first leg and only our superior individual quality carried us to
safety. The Mauritians worked very hard and displayed a surprisingly
hard appreciation of the game. Besides they will be playing under no
pressure at all because no one expects them to get anything out of this
game so if we underrate them, we are going to be punished,” he said.

“If we were able to beat them at their home they can do the same here, so that is why we are not taking anything to chance.”

Nigeria finished third at the last edition of the AYC held in Rwanda
and will be hoping to better the feat if a spot it secured at next
year’s edition

The match between
Hamburg and defending champions, Bayern Munich, will kick off the
European weekend on Friday. It has always been a tight affair between
these two sides in the past four seasons and this one should not be any
different.

The margin of
victory for either has been the odd goal; and on the basis of goals
scored in the current season, it is debatable that there will be
anything different. With 13 and seven goals scored between both sides
in eight matches, Bayern will have to continue to plod on without their
most effective players of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben. Hamburg
stopped the terrific march of Mainz last weekend and moved to fifth in
the standings; and in Ruud Van Nistelrooy, they have a rejuvenated
marksman who is still on top of his game. He will be supported by
Mladen Petric and Eljero Elia. Martin Demechelis, Bayern defender seems
set for the exit door, and Holger Badstuber will continue to pair
Daniel Van Buyten.

Spurs need a come-back victory

Harry Redknapp
needs to lift his side after their 4-3 loss to Inter Milan, and he will
be happy with the return of Rafael Van Der Vaart to the side. Ledley
King is still out and there are fears on when he will make his return.
Gareth Bale gave a master class performance and hit three neat goals
which were not enough for a draw in Italy and a return to familiar
surroundings may help Tottenham get over the first 35 minutes in Italy,
where they fell to four goals. Jermain Defoe is still weeks from a
return to the first team.

Everton on a high

Everton have been
buoyed by the Merseyside win and will be highly wound up for this trip
to West London. Against Liverpool, the midfield led by Mikel Arteta
pressurised Liverpool midfielders high up the pitch and that allowed
the Everton defence to push up and squeeze the space where Fernando
Torres and Steven Gerrard could run into. Yakubu Aiyegbeni had an
excellent outing in attack and seems to be back to his bullying best.
Louis Saha is near to a return from injury that has kept him out since
the beginning of September with Steven Pienaar still out. Marouane
Fellaini, Jack Rodwell and Victor Anichebe all remain on the long-term
injured list.

Wolves set on mission impossible

After a second
match in 42, in which the Blues did not score, it is back to Stamford
Bridge where they have scored 14 goals in four matches. Wolves will be
hard pressed to get a win at the Bridge but have scored on all their
away trips except one – last weekend’s 2-0 loss to Wigan. The major
highlight will be if one goal will be enough to get a win or a point.
Stephen Hunt looks like getting a debut on the left with Matthew Jarvis
shifted to the right and these two will cause the Chelsea defence some
problems with their pace and trickery. Jose Bosingwa could start in
place of Paulo Ferreira and Didier Drogba should make a return to the
front line to help his team get goals as they have scored just two
goals in their last three Premiership matches.

The alleged
involvement of Amos Adamu, a FIFA Executive Committee member and former
Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC) in cash for
vote scandal, has been described as shocking and disturbing.

Adamu and Reynald
Temarii, President of Oceania Confederation both members of FIFA’s
24-man executive committee, scheduled to vote on December 2 for the
nations hosting the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, were on Wednesday
provisionally suspended by FIFA, the football governing body after
their appearance before the ethics committee of the body. In a
statement signed by Olukayode Thomas, the Special Assistant (Media) to
Ibrahim Bio, Minister of Sports and Chairman of the NSC, the federal
government expressed dismay at the alleged involvement of Adamu in the
saga. In the statement, Thomas noted that while the government awaits
the outcome of the investigation by FIFA into the allegations, it has
again re-emphasized its zero tolerance for corruption at all levels.
“The alleged involvement of Dr Adamu in the cash for vote scandal is
shocking and disturbing and has negative consequences for Nigeria’s
image,” he stated. “The anti-corruption agencies are monitoring the
outcome of the investigation and will act at the appropriate time.”

‘I am innocent’

Meanwhile, Adamu
has stated he was innocent of the allegations against him. In a
statement released yesterday he said: “Allegations were made against me
by a British newspaper on 17th October 2010 which prompted a FIFA
ethics committee meeting yesterday which concluded I should be
provisionally suspended from my FIFA duties. Whilst I wholly refute all
allegations made, I fully support the inquiry since it is important
that these claims are thoroughly investigated. Only by doing this will
FIFA – and the wider football community – be able to trust that its
appointed representatives are beyond reproach. I have yet to present my
position to those investigating this matter; however I am confident
that my actions, the full and true extent of which were not detailed in
the story published, will demonstrate not only my innocence and
integrity, but also my commitment to football and to FIFA. Since
investigations are not yet complete, it would be inappropriate for me
to comment further and I will not do so until FIFA’s final conclusion
is made public.”

Soldiering on

Former Nigeria
international, Emeka Ezeugo, has thrown his weight behind Adamu, the
president of the West African Football Union (WAFU), who was
provisionally suspended along with five others pending the conclusion
of investigations by FIFA after he allegedly demanded for money from a
team of undercover reporters posing as lobbyists for the United States
of America’s World Cup bid. Adamu and the other suspended officials now
have to prepare their defence ahead of the next meeting of FIFA’s
ethics committee which meets in mid-November to take a final decision
on the case ahead of the World Cup vote on December 2. Ezeugo insists
that the former director general of the National Sports Commission
should “soldier on”. “I’m actually surprised about the whole thing,” he
said. “It is quite unfortunate how he got himself into this mess. But
it’s at times like this that you get to know those who care about you.
But irrespective of the suspension hanging on his head at the moment I
don’t think it’s entirely over for him as he hasn’t yet been found
guilty.”

At
full-time in the game against Romania on Saturday, October 9 at the
Parc De Prince, new French coach, Laurent Blanc and his players looked
very relieved to have won 2-0. Les Blues’ revolution under Blanc, who
is referred to as ‘Le Presidente’ had finally started.

Italy, France,
England are some of the football elite that have had to change or tweak
their systems in the past three months on the back of below-par
performances in South Africa. Though Nigeria cannot be grouped with the
above countries – who between them have won six World Cups, Nigeria can
be categorised as an African power.

With two Africa Cup
of Nations Cup trophies, six silver medals and the same number of
bronze medals, the Eagles have always been in or around the podium when
it comes to African football.

But Italy and
France have since moved on from not qualifying for the second round of
the World Cup by appointing new managers in Cesare Prandelli and
Laurent Blanc respectively, while Nigeria is yet to have a substantive
coach, for real planning to change players and systems to start.

In the case of
England, Fabio Capello has given the benefit of the doubt; and he is
using this second chance to bring in new, young and hungrier players
into the squad. But Nigeria is stuck with the same old players, who
have failed to improve their uninspiring performances.

Same old legs, and script

Members of the
football family in Nigeria believe that the Eagles’ last game against
Guinea in Conakry showed the true level of Nigerian football. They
contend that fans have always had an exaggerated image of Nigeria, and
that ‘small’ countries like Guinea are showing that potential is not
enough; planning, hard-work and commitment can and make the difference
between a loss and a win.

Commenting on that match, former national player and now coach of Kwara United, Kadiri Ikhana said:

“Even before this
match was played, I said each of the teams had 50 percent chance of
taking the day. The match itself – looking at the first half, the
Eagles were not so good but in the second half their game improved. We
had more chances of scoring- like 60 to their 40- but we refused to
take them. See how many goals we missed. Guinea on the other hand, took
their only chance and converted it to a goal.”

Many argue that the
outcome of the match was determined by youth, fitness and commitment
and that the Guineans rather than place premium on pedigree were more
concerned with current form. This is believed by many to be the reason
why a youngster like Kevin Constant, who scored the goal against
Nigeria, kept Guinean football greats like Ismael Bangoura and Pascal
Feindouno on the bench.

Not playing to win

“I think we did not
play as we were supposed to. There was not too much fight in the
attack. Only (Obafemi) Martins was moving forward. It was like we were
playing with just two attackers against their four defenders. Obinna
Nsofor is more of an attacker but he was playing in the midfield,” said
former Eagles player, Garba Lawal, who is at a loss about what caused
the lack of commitment.

Some analysts say
these Europe-based players know where their bread is buttered. Their
clubs pay a lot of money to be represented and that cannot be risked on
second rate pitches like the one they played on in Conakry.

“If we take a
mixture of Kano Pillars and Enyimba players they would have represented
us better. What is the makeup of this statement? The players will be
hungrier and more committed to the cause and maybe not necessarily
younger,” said Sola Aiyepeku, a football commentator.

Lawal added that
absence of Osaze Odemwingie, Mikel Obi and Dickson Etuhu in the game
against Guinea is not an excuse for the defeat.

“The likes of Osaze
were not there because they had injuries but even if they were there
the team may not have won. The team is not about anyone person,” he
said. “The way forward for the Eagles is for players to be more
committed. If they play with commitment even if they do not win, we the
people would be able to salute them and say they did their best.”

Officials culpable

Ikhana is not too worried about the loss and he believes the Eagles will qualify for Equatorial Guinea/Gabon 2012 Nations Cup.

“This is a minus
for us but I believe it would gear them up to do better in subsequent
matches. This notwithstanding, I see us qualifying for the Nations’
Cup.”

Former Eagles coach
and defender, Christian Chukwu blamed officials of the team, who are
always afraid of the consequences of a loss.

“The problem we
have is that we are afraid to lose matches, but did we not lose on
Sunday despite inviting 15 Europe-based stars for the match, which
ordinarily the home-based should have formed at least 70 per cent of
the squad?

“If we had paraded
mostly home-based players and we still lost the match, we would have
been happy that at least we are rebuilding our team,” Chukwu said.

“This is the time
to rebuild. This is the time to go in search of talented, young and
desperate home-based players, players who are hungry to prove that they
can play in the Eagles too.

“We are not
rebuilding. We can’t keep using the same players. We are overstretching
them. We need to give the home-based players the chance to prove
themselves. If we don’t play them, we won’t be able to discover new
players for the national team.”

Like Chukwu, many
believe that without a shake-up of the Super Eagles – to allow the
youth, better coaches, and administrators who understand the game plan
take the reigns, football might just end up like some other sports –
where Nigeria reigned supreme on the continent some years ago but is
now playing catch-up.

Michel Platini,
UEFA President said after the 2010 World Cup in South Africa that he
was not surprised at the composition of the first, second and third
placed teams – Spain, Holland and Germany. To Platini, success is not
achieved by coincidence.

“The countries that did well have the most youth competitions and
spend the most on training young players. It is no coincidence they
happened to do well. Investment, competition and training pays off.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arrested Davidson Owumi, Chairman of the Nigeria Premier League board, over allegations of corrupt practices while he was in charge at Rangers International Football Club, Enugu.

Owumi was picked up from the NPL’s board meeting in Abuja and will be taken to Enugu today to respond to a petition filed by Ray Nnaji, a former member of the board of the NPL.

Femi Babafemi, Public Relations Officer of the EFFC, said the inability to get a flight to Enugu led to the delay in taking Owumi there yesterday.

“I can confirm that he was arrested and it is for cases of fraud and award of fictitious contract,” Babafemi said.

When asked if Owumi committed the alleged fraud as chairman of Premier League Club, Rangers International or as a member of the former NPL board headed by Oyuiki Obaseki, Babafemi said: “It cuts across board but more of Rangers because the case is being handled by our Enugu office”.

Not guilty

Initial efforts to get Owumi to comment on the matter were unsuccessful but the NPL Chairman was later quoted by SuperSports.com, a sports news website, to have said he is innocent of the allegations against him.

“I don’t have anything to hide. I am open to any probe. I have heard people say I used money from Enugu Rangers to build my house and I laugh at that because the records are there. Also, I can say I have not got any contract from government or anywhere,” he said.

Foster Chime, the Media Officer of Rangers, said he was surprised by the development noting that the arrest could not have been as a result of Owumi’s activities in Rangers.

“Rangers is owned and run by the Enugu State government and so any issue of misappropriation or foul play should be pointed out by them, which for now has not been done. Even Owumi has left the club for quite a while so I wonder why now,” he said.

However Babefemi said the commission need not wait for the Enugu Sate government before it acts.

According to him, once sufficient information is received on any corrupt practise, the EFFC can swing to action.

More in the net

Owumi’s current travail is the latest instalment in a short tenure pockmarked by controversy since being elected earlier this year.

He joins the list of football officials being investigated by the EFFC. Sani Lulu, former President of the Nigeria Football Federation along with former vice-president, Amanze Uchegbulam; Taiwo Ogunjobi, former head of the federation’s technical committee; and Bolaji Ojo-Oba, its former Secretary General are also answering charges of corruption and abuse of office while they were in charge of the Nigeria FA.

The EFCC has also waded into the cash-for-vote allegations brought against FIFA executive Amos Adamu by setting up a panel to investigate the matter.

The new NPL season is expected to kick off on Saturday after several postponements and it is not clear whether the latest development will have any impact on it.

Nigerian defender Danny Shittu looks set to revive his dwindling football fortune after he agreed to pitch tents with English Championship outfit, Millwall.

Shittu has been a free agent ever since he agreed to leave Premier League side Bolton Wanderers at the end of August.

The 30 year-old was linked with a host of club sides in Europe, most notably clubs from the Scottish Premier League, as well as the Middle East, but has now accepted an offer to join Millwall.

The deal is expected to initially last for three months and Shittu is expected to put pen to paper on Friday at The Den – home ground of the London based club side fondly referred to as the Lions by their fans.

Shittu is also looking forward to playing for the club where he will be reunited with Millwall manager Kenny Jackett, who had previously managed Shittu during his time at Queens Park Rangers.

“This move ticks all the right boxes for me,” Shittu told the club’s official website.

“I’m excited to be coming here and I hope to help Millwall push up the table.

“I know a bit about the club from friends who are supporters and everything I’ve heard has been positive.” Tough task ahead

Shittu will be coming into a Millwall side that is currently occupying the 12th position on the 24-team Championship table after 12 rounds of matches that has seen them winning just four games.

Three teams will be promoted from the Championship to the Premier League at the end of the season but only the top two finishers are guaranteed automatic promotion to the top flight.

The Lions last featured in the English top flight division in the 1989/1990 season and have since then languished in various tiers of the English league.

They however reached the 2004 FA Cup final only to lose to Manchester United. But as United had already qualified for the UEFA Champions League that season, Millwall qualified to play in the UEFA Cup the following season and played in Europe for the first time in their history.

They’ve also reached the FA Cup semi-finals on three separate occasions, in 1900, 1903 and 1937.

A list of notable players who have played for Millwall includes Nigerian-born former England international John Fashanu, Australians Lucas Neill and Tim Cahill, Irishman Tony Cascarino, current Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce, as well as former England international Teddy Sheringham, who was last year inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame.

Liverpool will get their regular break from the domestic troubles when they visit Napoli in the Europa League Thursday while holders Atletico Madrid look for a first group stage win when they host Rosenborg.

Liverpool, who are in the Premier League relegation zone and have been stuck in the middle of an ownership battle, have found some relief in the Europa League where they have won five and drawn one of their six games, including qualifying ties.

They top Group K with four points, although Thursday’s match will be by far their toughest test so far with Napoli fourth in Serie A and Uruguay forward Edinson Cavani in prolific form.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson, who led Fulham to the final last season, has seemed far more comfortable in Europe and is hoping Thursday’s game can provide the springboard for out-of-sorts Spain striker Fernando Torres.

“He was vilified by all and sundry both in this country and Spain during the World Cup,” said Hodgson.

“I think mentally he’s a little bit low about that, I understand that, and the only thing that can pick him up is playing well and scoring some goals.”

“I thought he played well (in a 2-0 defeat) against Everton Sunday and was a constant thorn in their defence. Even at the end when he did set up a goal chance for himself, Tim Howard made a great save.

“If that had gone in, who knows, maybe that would have been the catalyst for him to start believing in himself again.”

Napoli hit back from three goals down to draw 3-3 at Steaua Bucharest in their last outing.

Other fixtures

Atletico have taken only one point from their first two games in Group B and are bottom while Rosenborg, unbeaten in their last 28 Norwegian league matches, have three. Bayer Leverkusen top the group with four points and face a trip to Aris Salonika who have three points.

Atletico expect to have Argentina forward Sergio Aguero back from injury.

Poland’s Lech Poznan, surprise leaders of Group A, hope to continue their impressive run when they visit Manchester City while former European champions Juventus visit Salzburg in the same group.

Several teams have undergone coaching changes recently.

VfB Stuttgart, top of Group H with maximum points but bottom of the Bundesliga, parted with Christian Gross last week and will be playing their second match under Jens Keller when they host Getafe.

Dynamo Kiev visit AZ Alkmaar in Group E looking to bounce back from the shock 2-0 defeat to Moldova’s Sheriff Tiraspol which prompted Valeri Gazzaev to resign at the end of last month. He has been replaced by Oleg Luzhny.

PAOK Salonika coach Pavlos Dermitzakis quit Saturday after only three months in charge and his former assistant Mikos Havos will be in charge for the visit to Villarreal in Group D.