It's Europa League Thursday

It's Thursday so it's UEFA Europa League time and the first of of two legs with a place in the group stage for the winners:

(all times CET)
19:15 Rapid Vienna v Aston Villa (Friedel)
19:30 Steaua Bucharest v St. Patricks Athletic (Guy)
20:30 Lech Poznan v Club Brugge (Jeffrey)
21:00 Everton (Howard) v Sigma Olomouc
21:00 Fulham (Dempsey) v Amkar Perm
21:00 Stabaek (Diskerud) v Valencia

In addition, NAC Breda, with ex Nats skipper Earnie Stewart techinical director, host Villareal

*Brad Friedel should start for Villa with Brad Guzan on the bench in the Austrian capital. Villa took the UEFA Cup seriously last season until Martin O'Neill surprisingly fielded weakened elevens in the Round of 32 and saw his side eliminated by CSKA Moscow
*Ryan Guy should start again for St Pats but his team face an uphill task away to Romania's top team. Should Steaua triumph, 'We are the Champions' will not ring out over the PA system as homophobic owner George Becali has banned Queen from the playlist.
*An even bigger ask is Mikkel Diskerud (above)'s Stabaek taking on Valencia, David Villa et al. London bookies rate the Norwegians at 10/3, with a 4-0 home win 100/1.
*Jared Jeffrey is unlikely to make his Club Brugge debut on his team's trip to Poland.
*Everton, rock bottom of the EPL, are eager to bounce back after their 1-6 Goodison drubbing by Arsenal on Saturday but wantaway defender Joleon Lescott has been dropped; Olomouc sit 8th in the Czech league but trounced Aberdeen 8-1 overall in the last round.
*Fulham cruised past FK Vetra 6-0 in the last round to face Amkar Perm. Europe's easternmost club take their name from the chemicals produced in the city. They finished fourth in Russia last year but are struggling this campaign. New arrival Damien Duff could feature; Roy Hodgson hinted the Irishman could play in the hole play behind strikers Johnson and Zamora, as opposed to his usual wing berth.
* Departure lounger Freddy Adu is uneligible for Benfica's 20:45 clash at home to Vorskla Poltava .

*Frank Simek was an unused sub as Sheffield Wednesday lost 0-1 at Newcastle in the Championship on Wednesday night. The Owls are in 16th spot.

-Sean O'Conor