2Slick
12-12-2006, 22:36
Blackburn Rovers FC and AS Nancy-Lorraine will do battle for top spot in Group E as Mark Hughes's side seek a first victory against French opposition.
• Blackburn secured their place in the knockout phase on Matchday 3 after following up wins against Wisła Kraków and FC Basel 1893 with a 0-0 draw at Feyenoord. They cannot finish lower than second in the group, while a win would guarantee them top spot.
• Nancy sealed their progress on Matchday 4 with a 3-0 win at home against Feyenoord. They won their Group E opener 2-1 against Wisła then drew 2-2 at Basel. Having scored more goals than Blackburn, a draw at Ewood Park would win them the group.
• The side finishing top of the section is guaranteed a tie against one of the third-placed finishers from another group in the draw for the Round of 32 on 15 December, while each pool runner-up will meet one of the third-placed finishers from the UEFA Champions League.
• The two sides have never met in European competition.
• Blackburn manager Mark Hughes has faced French opposition once as a Manchester United FC player en route to winning the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1991. United drew 1-1 at home against Montpellier Hérault SC before sealing a semi-final spot with a 2-0 win in France.
• Nancy stars Frédéric Biancalani and Benjamin Gavanon have both played for English clubs. Defender Biancalani spent part of the 2001/02 season at Walsall FC while midfielder Gavanon was loaned to Nottingham Forest FC by Olympique de Marseille in 2002/03 but never played a league game.
• Blackburn forward Shabani Nonda, who was born in Burundi but is a national of DR Congo, spent seven seasons in French football, representing Stade Rennais FC for two seasons and AS Monaco FC for five. He is currently on loan at Blackburn from AS Roma, who he joined from Monaco in the summer of 2005.
• Blackburn have played two games against French opponents, having been drawn against Olympique Lyonnais in the UEFA Cup first round in 1998/99. They lost 1-0 at Ewood Park and then drew 2-2 in France.
• Thus they are yet to secure a win or a draw against French opponents on home soil.
• Nancy have never come up against English opponents in European competition.
• French and English sides have met on two occasions in Europe this season with Liverpool FC playing FC Girondins de Bordeaux home and away in the UEFA Champions League. The Premiership has the upper hand so far with the Reds winning 1-0 in Bordeaux and 3-0 at Anfield.
• Feyenoord play Wisła in Matchday 5's other Group E game.
http://www.uefa.com/Competitions/UEFACup/FixturesResults/Round=2365/match=85063/index.html
• Blackburn secured their place in the knockout phase on Matchday 3 after following up wins against Wisła Kraków and FC Basel 1893 with a 0-0 draw at Feyenoord. They cannot finish lower than second in the group, while a win would guarantee them top spot.
• Nancy sealed their progress on Matchday 4 with a 3-0 win at home against Feyenoord. They won their Group E opener 2-1 against Wisła then drew 2-2 at Basel. Having scored more goals than Blackburn, a draw at Ewood Park would win them the group.
• The side finishing top of the section is guaranteed a tie against one of the third-placed finishers from another group in the draw for the Round of 32 on 15 December, while each pool runner-up will meet one of the third-placed finishers from the UEFA Champions League.
• The two sides have never met in European competition.
• Blackburn manager Mark Hughes has faced French opposition once as a Manchester United FC player en route to winning the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1991. United drew 1-1 at home against Montpellier Hérault SC before sealing a semi-final spot with a 2-0 win in France.
• Nancy stars Frédéric Biancalani and Benjamin Gavanon have both played for English clubs. Defender Biancalani spent part of the 2001/02 season at Walsall FC while midfielder Gavanon was loaned to Nottingham Forest FC by Olympique de Marseille in 2002/03 but never played a league game.
• Blackburn forward Shabani Nonda, who was born in Burundi but is a national of DR Congo, spent seven seasons in French football, representing Stade Rennais FC for two seasons and AS Monaco FC for five. He is currently on loan at Blackburn from AS Roma, who he joined from Monaco in the summer of 2005.
• Blackburn have played two games against French opponents, having been drawn against Olympique Lyonnais in the UEFA Cup first round in 1998/99. They lost 1-0 at Ewood Park and then drew 2-2 in France.
• Thus they are yet to secure a win or a draw against French opponents on home soil.
• Nancy have never come up against English opponents in European competition.
• French and English sides have met on two occasions in Europe this season with Liverpool FC playing FC Girondins de Bordeaux home and away in the UEFA Champions League. The Premiership has the upper hand so far with the Reds winning 1-0 in Bordeaux and 3-0 at Anfield.
• Feyenoord play Wisła in Matchday 5's other Group E game.
http://www.uefa.com/Competitions/UEFACup/FixturesResults/Round=2365/match=85063/index.html