Nino Bule in UEFA Cup action for HNK Hajduk Split
Haka and Hajduk go head to head
The 2003/04 UEFA Cup campaign gets under way on Tuesday evening with three qualifying round ties.
Valletta FC captain Gilbert Agius
Three ties
The night's three first-leg games see Finland's FC Haka take on Croatia'sHNK Hajduk Split, Switzerland's Neuchâtel Xamax FC travel to Malta's Valletta FC. Tuesday's action will be followed by another fixture on Wednesday, when FK Ventspils of Latvia take on Poland's Wisla Plock, and no fewer than 37 ties on Thursday.
Finnish contenders
Haka qualified for the competition as winners of the 2002 Finnish Cup, winning 4-1 in the final against FC Lahti. They finished third in the Veikkausliiga last season, but are currently in pole position with 15 games gone in the 2003 campaign, a full seven points clear of champions HJK Helsinki.
Major shock
Hajduk are in the UEFA Cup by virtue of finishing as runners-up to NK Dinamo Zagreb in last season's Croatian championship. However, Hajduk's preparations were not helped by a 4-1 home defeat against newly promoted NK Inker at the weekend.
Happy accident
Valletta were third in last season's Maltese table, behind champions Sliema Wanderers FC and Birkirkara FC. With Birkirkara beating Sliema in the cup final, the way was open for Valletta to take the UEFA Cup place usually allotted to the league runners-up. 'Our utmost'
"It will be a very difficult match against our Swiss counterparts," said Valletta captain Gilbert Agius. "This is the 14th consecutive year that Valletta have played in Europe - something to be proud of. We have got quite a young inexperienced side, but we will be doing our utmost to get a positive result."
Sarajevo calling
Of the sides contesting the evening's third tie, Sarajevo finished third in last season's Bosnia-Herzegovnian table, but with the league's top two, FK Leotar and NK Zeljeznicar, also meeting in the domestic cup final, they were gifted the UEFA Cup slot designated to the league runners-up.
Source: http://www.uefa.com/competitions/UEFACup/news/Kind=1/newsId=89519.html
