Kew relishing Boat battle

AZ defender Kew Jaliens is relishing the prospect of facing George Boateng.

Boro and AZ were drawn in Group D along with Dnipro, Grasshoppers and Litex Lovech and the draw allows Jaliens and Boateng to meet up once again.

Jaliens played for Sparta in 1996, at the same time Boateng was turning out for fellow Rotterdam outfit Feyenoord.

It would appear as if their paths crossed in the past and Jaliens is ready to take on Boateng again.

"I like it, to play against George Boateng," said Jaliens. "I knew him for years from Rotterdam and we are meeting each other as if he is in the Netherlands."

Jaliens feels AZ will have a good chance of toppling Steve McClaren's Boro.

"I am happy with Middlesbrough," said Jaliens. "It is a very good team. However, I think English football suits us, as it is not so defensive.

"If you look at all the opponents, we have a chance to go through.

"We have a good squad, especially now Joris Mathijsen and Martijn Meerdink are back again."