The absence of the Uefa Champions League means the Uefa Europa League will enjoy top billing this week and match day five will see a host of teams bidding to join the six already through to the round of 32.
Sporting Lisbon, RSC Anderlecht, PSV Eindhoven, Legia Warszawa, FC Twente and Athletic Bilbao are already through to the next phase of the competition – but 24 games split over November 30 and December 1 means there is still much to be decided.
Tottenham entertain Group A leaders PAOK FC at White Hart Lane level on seven points with Rubin Kazan and off the back of an impressive run in the Premier League which has seen them go 10 games unbeaten.
The north Londoners secured a draw in Greece in the reverse fixture and will be desperate to get back on track after a 1-0 reverse against Russian outfit Rubin last time out.
Stoke City emerged from a run of just two wins from seven games in all competitions with victory against rock-bottom Blackburn in the Premier League on Saturday and have never lost at home in Europe.
The Potters on Thursday entertain FC Dynamo Kyiv, who have yet to win in 10 visits to England, and have scored just twice on English soil.
Fulham travel to the Netherlands, also on Thursday, for a match which sees former Twente player and Cottagers manager Martin Jol return to Enschede in Group K. Co Adriaanse’s men are the group stage’s 12-goal top scorers, but have never beaten an English team in 12 attempts.
Birmingham have lost just once in 13 games in all competitions and have only lost once in Europe so far this season – against Sporting Braga.
Blues are one of three teams on seven points in Group H and on Wednesday travel to Portugal hoping to inflict a third straight defeat in all competitions on Os Arcebispos.
Celtic face an acid test of their Group I credentials on Wednesday when they entertain leaders Atletico Madrid.
The Scottish side’s only defeat in the Europa League so far this season came against the La Liga outfit and they could go top of the section with a win.
The rejuvenated Hoops made it five straight wins following the 5-0 thrashing of St Mirren in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League at Celtic Park on Saturday, but Los Colchoneros have emerged from a dreadful October to lose just twice in six games in all competitions.
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