Tuesday, August 17, 2010

| by

0

Tiket 17.08.2010.

Rosenborg - FC Kobenhavn            0-2 
Zenit - Auxerre                                    1
Sparta Praha - MSK Zilina               0-2
Young Boys - Tottenham Hotspur  3+
______________________________
Betfair                                          8.87

| by

0

17.08. (Tue) 18:30 Zenit - Auxerre

Good Touch

Zenit St. Petersburg have enjoyed a tremendous start to their RPL campaign and will expect to maintain such form into Europe on Tuesday evening when they meet Ligue 1’s third placed side from 2009-10, Auxerre.

On paper the Russians will start as heavy favourites. Already well into their stride domestically, they have played over half of their campaign and have yet to lose. With 16 of their 30 matches gone, Luciano Spalletti’s side have firmly established themselves as the dominant force in Russia, claiming 12 victories thus far in league play to open a seven point advantage over CSKA.

At the weekend Zenit somewhat tamely limped to a 1-1 draw against Dynamo Moscow, with their Italian coach choosing to blood new faces Sergei Semak and Bruno Alves, who are both available for the midweek encounter. It was ultimately Danko Lazovic who spared Zenit’s blushes as he levelled matter after Kevin Kuranyi had threatened to give the Police an unlikely victory.

Saturday’s encounter wasn’t ideal preparation for Zenit, who didn’t play the previous week due to an order from the government who were concern that the heavy smog engulfing Moscow posed a health hazard for their encounter against Spartak.

Indeed, two of Zenit’s last four games have come in European competition against Romanian hopefuls Unirea Urziceni, who were rather tepidly dismissed 1-0 on aggregate. A more powerful performance is needed against AJA if they are to really worry Europe’s best, but don’t count against just that.

Worst Draw

Auxerre have made a mediocre start to their domestic season and were quick to make their feelings about being paired against Zenit known after the draw.

“Zenit St. Petersburg is the worst draw we could have had,” declared the coach to the AFP news agency. “It will be very difficult.”

The experienced coach then listed a plethora of reasons as to why AJA will find life just so difficult against their opponents. He cited their good form and the fact that they are halfway through their campaign as vital factor in making the Russians favourites, while he also hinted that his side simply cannot compete with their opponents financially.

AJA have maintained the core of the squad that somehow snuck past Lille into third spot in Le Championnat last term. There have been no major departures from the Stade Abbe-Deschamps, while the only first team arrival has been Anthony Le Tallec, who has joined up from Le Mans.

And there has been something of a hangover from last term in the early weeks of the campaign, especially in defence, where Auxerre are generally so reliable. A 2-2 home draw against Lorient kicked off their season, and that was followed by a disappoint 1-1 tie away against newly promoted Stade Brestois.

If Auxerre, who specialise as a counterattacking side, are to progress to the Champions League proper, they need to raise their level 200 per cent.


TEAM NEWS

Zenit


Probable Starting XI:

Auxerre

Jean Fernandez should have virtually a complete roster of players to select from ahead of this fixture. Alexandre Licata continue to battle ankle problems, however.

Only one position in the squad is really up for grabs, and that is on the right wing. Either Dennis Oliech or Roy Contout could be deployed in that role, though the Kenyan will probably gain the berth.

Probable Starting XI: Sorin; Hengbart, Coulibaly, Mignot, Grichting; Pedretti, N’Dinga; Oliech, Le Tallec, Birsa; Jelen


Prediction
All signs point to a Zenit victory and it’s hard to go against that. If Auxerre can keep this close enough so that they have half a chance in the return leg they’ll probably be happy, and a draw would be a dream result. Luciano Spalletti will want his side to be able to cruise in France, though he will be aware that ideal scenario won’t be easy to create.
Zenit 2-0 AJ Auxerre

| by

0

17.08. (Tue) 20:45 Dynamo Kiev - Ajax

Proud Champions League Record

Ukrainian giants Dynamo Kyiv have played in the group stage of the Champions League for the last four seasons in a row and will attempt to get past the challenge of Ajax in the playoff stage to make it five times in a row. Last season the White-Blues were placed in a tough group that had Rubin Kazan, Barcelona and eventual European champions Inter and couldn't claw their way out of the first round.

Last season's runners-up in the Ukrainian Premier League, Dynamo reached the playoff round in the Champions League with a 6-1 aggregate win against KAA Gent of Belgium in the third qualifying round. It proved to an easy two-legged affair for Valery Gazzayev's side but they should expect a tougher time against Dutch giants and former European champions Ajax.

Dynamo will go into the first-leg as favourites as they have quite a strong home record. The 13-time Ukrainian champions are going great guns in the domestic arena too as they are within touching distance of the top spot after six rounds of matches in the league.



The Sleeping Giants

While Dynamo Kyiv are on the brink of reaching the Champions League proper for the fifth successive season, Ajax have yet to feature in Europe's most premier club competition for five years and have not confronted a Ukrainian side before. The four-time European champions have not won Dutch league since 2004 and have gone astray as far as dominating Europe is concerned.

However, de Godenzonen are now on the brink of qualification for the group stage of this season's Champions League. Manager Martin Jol will perhaps feel a bit relieved that the first leg is away from home in Ukraine and will know only too well that an away goal will be very crucial for the second leg in Amsterdam.

Interestingly, Jol's future at the club is still wrapped up in uncertainty as despite fending off the interest of Premier League club Fulham earlier in the summer, Ajax may now have to keep the former Tottenham Hotspur manager from the clutches of Aston Villa.

Nevertheless, both Jol and his players will be focused on the job at hand and will attempt to get at least a goal in the first-leg. Ajax do have a very strong team and with Luis Suarez available for the first-leg, the Dutch powerhouse will be hopeful.


TEAM NEWS

Dynamo Kyiv

Andriy Shevchenko will again be the key player for Dynamo as his vision and touches will be vital. Quite an attacking side, Dynamo do have to see that they maintain discipline at the back against Ajax.

Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Boyko, Danilo Silva, Betao, Mikhalik; Garmash, Vukojevic, Magrao, Eremenko; Milevskiy, Shevchenko, Yarmolenko

Ajax

Striker Luis Suarez is available for the Champions League playoff game on Tuesday and he will be a massive boost Ajax. No major changes are expected to be made in the lineup by coach Martin Jol.

Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Stekelenburg, Van der Wiel, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Anita; Lindgren, de Jong, de Zeeuw, Emanuelson; Suarez, Sulejmani



Prediction

Dynamo should consider themselves slight favourites but they have to maintain discipline at the back. Ajax scored three times against PAOK away from home in the second-leg of their third qualifying round and have goals in them, and in all likelihood will be able to sneak in a goal.
Dynamo 2-1 Ajax