Hitzfeld dismisses negative talk

LONDON, England -- Bayern Munich's French international midfielder Franck Ribery has said that the team's recent form - two wins and four goals in seven games - is causing some concern as the German league leaders prepare to entertain Aris Saloniki in their final UEFA Cup Group F qualifier on Wednesday.

"I am slightly annoyed concerning the club's latest results. Mentally speaking we're not very good," Ribery said.

Bayern, who are more used to playing in the Champions League, have not lost at home in the UEFA Cup for more than a decade and coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has little patience with negative talk about his side.

"We must not get infected by all this crisis talk," he said.

"We have lost just once in 17 matches. If we now win our UEFA Cup tie against Aris, then the first half of the season will have been very, very positive."

Bayern and Aris each have five points, one less than Group F leaders Bolton, who have completed their program.

Sporting Braga have three points and if they beat pointless Red Star by more than one goal and the game in Munich is drawn, Bolton will be out.

While the Lancashire club can only sit and wait, Aberdeen can decide their own fate in Group B.

The Scots will battle it out with FC Copenhagen in a bid to join Panathinaikos and Atletico Madrid in Friday's draw for the knockout stages.

Aberdeen must win Thursday's clash at Pittodrie to join Scottish Premier League rivals Rangers in the last 32.

Rangers are amongst the eight teams seeking compensation for their exit from the Champions League.

In-form Everton have booked their place in the next round but Thursday's opponents AZ Alkmaar need a win to stay in the tournament.

Nuremberg also need three points to qualify when they play bottom club Larissa.

Tottenham are safely through with seven points in Group G leaving Getafe, Anderlecht and Hapoel Tel Aviv to chase the two remaining spots.

Getafe host Anderlecht while Hapoel welcome eliminated Aalborg on Wednesday.

Panionios Athens gave themselves a boost for the decisive Group H clash with French club Bordeaux a domestic league win over city rivals Panathinaikos at the weekend.

"The win against Panathinaikos, one of the best teams in Greece and with a vast European experience, will certainly help us psychologically for the match against Bordeaux," said Panionios' Croatian midfielder Ivica Majstorovic.

"I believe we are 100 percent ready to win and go on to the next round."

Turkish side Galatasaray, the 2000 winners, will join Panionios in a battle for the remaining spot and look to have the easier fixture at home to bottom side Austria Vienna.

Group winners Bordeaux and Helsingborg have both qualified. E-mail to a friend