MADRID, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Wu Lei's Espanyol become the first Spanish side to go into competitive action when they take on Icelandic club Stjarnan in Cornella el Prat on Thursday night.
The Icelandic side have made it through after progressing through an earlier qualifying round, but given the difference in the potential between the Spanish and Icelandic leagues, in theory they should be no match for Espanyol.
Meanwhile the heat of playing in Barcelona at the end of July, where temperatures are around 30 degrees centigrade with high humidity, should also favour the Spanish outfit rather than a rival used to cooler climes.
David Gallego will make his return in the Espanyol dugout after being named as the replacement for 'Rubi', who left the club to coach Betis at the end of the last campaign.
Wu Lei is a slight doubt to start the game after undergoing surgery to cure a longstanding shoulder injury in China two months ago, but should be able to start along with last season's top scorer Borja Iglesias, who has been linked with a move over the summer.
Espanyol ended their pre-season preparations with a 3-1 win over French side Lens, and midfielder Esteban Granero told the press on Tuesday that despite the early start to the season Espanyol go into the game "with physical and tactical guarantees."
The return leg is in Iceland next week and Espanyol will look to seal qualification in the home leg, as well as building up fitness as their possible rivals in the next round. Lucerne or Klaksvik, should prove tougher to beat.
