Crunch Time for EPL Sides in UEFA Cup

After last weeks dismal UEFA Cup performances by English sides, the country will be hoping at least one team can fight back this week, and make it through to the quarter finals.

Spurs were possibly the worst of the lot last week as they crashed to a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven. That result has left them with a mountain to climb at the Philips Stadium on Wednesday night.

Earlier reports of the game being postponed due to a strike by Dutch police have been rejected and the game is due to go ahead as sceduled. This will please Spurs who are coming into game off the back of a 4-0 win over West Ham United at the weekend.

The odds are stacked against Tottenham after having conceded an away goal to PSV and will more than likely have to score twice to go through in this tie. But on their day, Spurs are more than capable of winning this one!

Everton have an equally high mountain to climb this week. They clash with Fiorentina on Wednesday night already two goals down from the first leg, knowing if Fiorentina score then they're out!

Everton struggled in Florence and Everton manager, David Moyes, but described it as an off night. They will however need a serious ON night, if they are to turn this tie around. Fiorentina are pushing (like Everton) for Champions League spot and as we saw from the first leg, are a quality side.

Captain Phil Neville has been playing up Evertons chances this week, but it's probably more to do with getting bums on seats than an actual belief

It looks like Everton have already let it slip too far and the EPL will probably have their full attention come Thursday morning.

The only English side to do themselves any justice in the UEFA Cup first leg was Bolton Wanderers who let slip a 1-0 lead, to draw 1-1 with Sporting Lisbon of Portugal.

Bolton disposed of Atletico Madrid in the last round, thanks to a hard fought 0-0 draw in the Spanish capital. The Trotters will need and even greater result in Lisbon however, as they must score, if they are to avoid exiting the tournament.

Reports coming from the Reebok suggest boss Gary Megson will take an understrength Bolton side to Portugal, in order to rest key players for the EPL run in and relegation battle.

Kevin Davies has come out in support of this decision. The striker says he's more than willing to sacrifies his place in the UEFA Cup to help Bolton fight for EPL survival.

So if England lose all three teams on Wednesday night it will be up to Glasgow Rangers to restore some pride in British football. The Scots travel to Germany on Thursday to close out their tie with Werder Bremen.

Rangers are 2-0 up from the first leg and will be looking to hold on for a place in the quarters. The gers were impressive at Ibrox but it will be a different match in Bremen with the Germans looking for the 3 goals they need.

Rangers will be looking to snatch an away goal and are likely to sit back and try and absorb the pressure.

In other ties, Benfica travel to Getafe in a bid to overturn their poor 2-1 home loss last week.

Zenit St Petersburg have it all to do at home to Marseille, but thanks to their late away goal in France, they will only need a 2-0 win to progress.

The remaining two ties will result in German quarter finalists. Bayern Munich are already through thanks to a humiliating 5-0 win over Anderlecht in Belgium.

Bayer Leverkusen travel to local rivals Hamburg with a 1-0 lead from the first leg, but are far from sure of a place in the last 8. European games between teams from the same country are often unpredictable and you would have to be fan to bet on this one.

I'm looking forward to some great football this week, so tune in on Wednesday and Thursday to follow the action.