26.08. (Thu) 20:45 Juventus - Sturm

Not Yet Relaxed

Juventus are still working at fine tuning their squad before the start of the Serie A season this weekend, with rumours still abound as to who may or may not be joining the Turin outfit before the close of the transfer window next Tuesday. Yet for 90 minutes of Thursday evening that will all take a back seat as they aim to close out their Europa League fixture against Sturm Graz.

A stoppage time goal from Amauri at the UPC-Arena has done much to ensure Juve’s continuing presence in the competition as it would take the Austrians to score twice without reply for the Italians to slip out. Times have been tough on the field for the Nerazzurri in recent times, but not so tough that such a result wouldn’t register as a shock of seismic proportions.

“We suffered,” coach Luigi Delneri confessed to his club’s official website after the first leg. “We can do better. The team must forget the past. We are still not playing in a serene manner. After their equaliser we were a bit shaken. We must eliminate this in order to see the Juve I want.”

The Bianconeri were playing their first competitive game under Delneri, but already he has set the bar with regards to the level of performance he expects from his players. Ahead of Sunday’s clash against Bari, he will want to see his players gel further and improve their match fitness, not to mention record a morale boosting victory.

Little Hope

With Juventus just preparing to kick-off their new campaign, Sturm Graz are already in full swing, having played four Austrian Bundesliga fixtures. Their start has been rather inauspicious, with two wins and a draw record from their opening fixtures, leaving them sixth in the table, albeit measuring up against several sides who have played a match more.

The Graz side may make the short hop over the Alps on Thursday, but they’ve got a massive mountain of their own to climb once they reach the field. Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, Franco Foda’s outfit, who qualified for the competition by virtue of their Swiss Cup win last season, will likely have to win by two clear goals to earn outright progression.

Dinamo Tbilisi have been eliminated by the Austrians 3-1 on aggregate but Juve pose a very different and very much tougher challenge. Gordon Schildenfeld’s first leg goal seemed to have earned them a late tie, which would have given die Schwoazn an outside chance of an upset, but Amauri’s late winner seems to have poured cold water on those.

Graz are not a side totally bereft of a European pedigree. They have competed in the Champions League and have even progressed by the first group stage, but those exploits were over a decade ago and it is now a very different side gracing the UPC-Arena on a weekly basis. An away win over Galatasaray in this competition last term does provide some foundation for hope.

TEAM NEWS

Juventus

There are a handful of selection problems for Luigi Delneri to cope with on the eve of this game, and these are added to by a suspension for Claudio Marchisio.

Gianluigi Buffon remains injured, and Vincenzo Iaquinta is out too.

Probable Starting XI: Storari; Motta, Bonucci, Chiellini, De Ceglie; Lanzafame, Sissoko, Marchisio, Pepe; Diego; Amauri
 
Sturm Graz

The visiting side haven’t registered any fresh injury or suspension problems following the first leg. Mario Kienzl remains a long-term problem.

Their side is unlikely to be altered a great deal after a battling showing in Austria.

Probable Starting XI: Gratzei; Strandfest, Schildenfeld, Feldhofer, Purcher; Weber; Holzl, Bukva, Muratovic; Kienast, Szabics

Prediction

Juventus 2-0 Sturm Graz

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24.08. (Tue) 20:45 Sampdoria - Werder

Correct The Mistakes

Sampdoria will have to complete a memorable comeback if they are to progress to the Champions League group stage, having been dispatched comfortably 3-1 by Werder Bremen in their first leg meeting in Germany.

Giampaolo Pazzini may just have wrestled Samp back in with a chance of coming out on top as he struck in stoppage time during the first leg to give the Italians a precious away goal that means they need only win 2-0 on Tuesday evening to book their place amongst Europe’s best.

“Losing 3-1 is better than losing 3-0,” the scorer told Tuttosport after the fixture. “From the field, I cannot understand how we could concede three goals. It's a shame - it could have been a better result for us.

“I hope that at least my goal is a positive signal. We will now try to correct our mistakes and I hope that we will try to make it up at the Marassi.”

With little competitive football under their belts this season – Serie A will only begin on Sunday for the Doriani – Tuesday’s encounter is sure to be a colossal test of resolve and fitness as much as anything else for Domenico Di Carlo’s transitional outfit.

Still On Their Toes

Werder Bremen, on the other hand, have already got their domestic campaign underway, having played matches in both the DFB Pokal and the Bundesliga. Opening their campaign against minnows Ahlen away from home proved a relatively simple task for Thomas Schaaf’s side as they marched to a 4-0 success, though that was followed up by a crushing 4-1 loss to Hoffenheim at the weekend.

Saturday’s match will have to be quickly shaken from WB’s system if they are to enjoy a comfortable progression in Italy, though they are always a side capable of conceding a high number of goals.

Sandwiching their two domestic affairs is their fine 3-1 success over Samp. A stunning strike from Clemens Fritz got Werder on the road to victory, and once Claudio Pizarro had struck after Torsten Frings had converted a penalty for which Stefano Lucchini had foolishly see red for committing, it was simply a matter of how many for the Germans, which is why Pazzini’s late strike will irk Schaaf so much.

The coach nevertheless tried to put a positive spin on the affair, stating: “We knew beforehand that Pazzini is good in the air but we have earned an excellent result,” he was quoted by the Weser-kurier.de as having said. “But perhaps this result keeps us aware, so we must stay focused in the second leg.

“Everyone in the team now wanted to prove what they are capable of. This made me very happy.”

Having already flexed their muscles once, they will have to do so again as Samp are a side capable of breathtaking offensive football.

TEAM NEWS

Sampdoria

Pietro Accardi returned to training on Sunday and could be used in the squad in midweek, though there is less encouraging news over the fitness of Andrea Poli and Jonathan Rossini, who continue to follow a specific training program.

Stefano Lucchini is of course banned after his first leg indiscretion.

Probable Starting XI: Curci; Volta, Stankevicius, Gastaldello, Ziegler; Mannini, Tissone, Palombo, Semioli; Cassano; Pazzini

Werder Bremen

Once again Naldo sits out, so Sebastian Proedl, who got the nod over Sebastian Boenisch last weekend, will likely continue.

There are no other serious worries for the visiting side, though back-up forward Hugo Almeida is not expected to play any role in this game due to injury.

Probable Starting XI: Wiese; Fritz, Mertesacker, Proedl, Pasanen; Frings, Bargfrede, Borowski, Marin; Hunt, Pizarro 

Prediction

Sampdoria are not known for being an especially conservative side at the best of times, so needing to score two goals it’s likely that they’ll adopt an attacking stance. Domenico Di Carlo will be aware of the importance of not conceding, but given the deficit he will have to trust to luck somewhat. The German side have built themselves a platform that should ensure qualification, but there are sure to be a few thrills on Tuesday night.

Sampdoria 2-1 Werder Bremen

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24.08. (Tue) 20:45 Anderlecht - Partizan

Big Times Are Drawing Near

Belgian giants Anderlecht last featured in the group stage of the Champions League in 2006-2007 and after a three-year wait are on the threshold of the qualifying for Europe's most prestigious club competition. They will certainly be more optimistic than their opponents as they drew 2-2 away from home in the first-leg.

Guillaume Gillet gave Anderlecht a 54th minute lead in Belgrade but Cleo and a Jan Lecjaks own goal made it 2-1 in favour of the Serbian club. However, minutes later Roland Juhasz restored parity to give the Belgians two away goals.

A 0-0 draw at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium in Brussels on Tuesday evening will be enough for Ariel Jacobs' side to go through. However, they will have to be careful not to concede an early goal as Partizan will be looking to attack from the off.

An Uphill Battle
Conceding one goal to the opposition while playing at home in a European tie is bad enough, shipping in two is a disaster. Partizan could have redeemed themselves for going 1-0 behind last week to Anderlecht when they scored twice but eventually they had to settle for a 2-2 draw.

The Serbian giants are in a disadvantageous position. The draw also brought an end to their record of four successive wins in the competition, meaning that Partizan will now have to regain momentum if they aspire to overhaul the 2-2 draw from the first-leg.

However, the last time Partizan featured in an away game in Europe was against HJK Helsinki in the third round qualifier and won that match 2-1. They also defeated Pyunik 1-0 in Armenia and these results will increase their confidence ahead of their trip to Belgium.

Prediction

Anderlecht 0-0 Partizan 

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24.08. (Tue) 20:45 Sheriff - Basel

History In The Making

FC Sheriff might be trailing 1-0 from the first-leg in this Champions League play-off tie but they are far from out of contention for a place in the group stage of Europe's most prestigious club competition. The defeat came in Switzerland and given that it was a narrow one, Andrei Sasnitski's side will still be confident.

No side from Moldova has ever qualified for the Champions League proper and Sheriff are looking to accomplish that feat. Last year Sheriff reached the play-off round too but lost both the home and the away leg to Greek giants Olympiacos. The Moldovan champions will be desperately hoping that history doesn't repeat itself on Tuesday evening.

Moreover, Sheriff will be missing Aleksandr Erokhin, Vladimir Brankovic and Miral Samardzic through suspension, making life tougher for them in the second-leg.

In The Balance

Swiss champions FC Basel are technically in an advantageous position given that they take a 1-0 lead from the first-leg to Moldova on Tuesday evening, but they should know that Sheriff are capable of an upset in their own backyard. Basel did struggle against Sasnitski's team last week and also failed to convert a late penalty.

Vladislav Stoyanov's penalty save against Benjamin Huggel means that Basel have just a one-goal lead and must be aware right from the start against their hosts. A goal for Sheriff could change the complexion of the tie and demolish Basel's dreams of qualifying for the group stage of the Champions League for the third time.

Basel's encounter with Sheriff last Wednesday was their first against a Moldovan side.

Prediction

Sheriff 1-1 Basel

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23.08. (Mon) 21:00 Manchester City - Liverpool

City Hope To Open Account
'Super Mario' came to Manchester City's rescue on Thursday night in Romania, but there wasn't a single moustachioed, red-dungaree-sporting plumber in sight. It was Mario Balotelli, City's latest big money striker, who came off the bench against Timisoara to save his new team the slight embarrassment of returning to England without a first leg advantage in the Europa League.

It took 72 minutes for Roberto Mancini's side to break the deadlock on Thursday and before that, 90 had passed without a goal at White Hart Lane against Tottenham Hotspur. At this early stage of the season one goal from two games is hardly drought material but, given the money spent by Mancini in the summer, it wont be long before critics are asking questions of the Italian's acquisitions.

Mancini has conceded it could take a few weeks for City's star-studded line-up to gel and become a genuine force to be reckoned with in the Premier League, but the former Inter boss will be hoping to set the wheels in motion with a victory at Eastlands on Monday.

Taking The Rough With The Smooth

It has been a week of ups and downs for Liverpool; on the pitch they carried the momentum of a draw with Arsenal on the opening day into a midweek Europa League meeting with Trabzonspor where they came out on top thanks to a solitary goal from Ryan Babel, though a one-goal lead could prove difficult to hold on to with the notorious Turkish crowd breathing down their necks.

Joe Cole misses the trip to Eastlands and missed a penalty on Thursday night to round off a disappointing week for him, while Chinese businessman Kenny Huang pulled out of a takeover that would have seen the club free of the ownership of Tom Hicks and George Gillett, and Alberto Aquilani will be in Italy on Monday ahead of a loan move to Juventus.

Two players who look likely to stay with the club are Javier Mascherano and Dirk Kuyt, though. Both had been linked with moves to Inter, but manager Roy Hodgson believes the European champions will not move for the pair. It is a massive boost for the Reds, who will be keen to prove the City revolution will not prevent them from returning to the top four, and what better way to do that than with a win on Monday night?

TEAM NEWS

Manchester City
James Milner could make his debut for City after completing his switch from Aston Villa this week, but fellow summer signings Aleksandar Kolarov and Jerome Boateng are injured, while Wayne Bridge is also a doubt.

Mario Balotelli looks likely to recover from the knee problem that saw him limping after his first appearance against Timisoara in midweek and could start.

Possible Starting XI: Hart; Richards, Kolo Toure, Kompany, Zabaleta; Yaya Toure, De Jong; Milner; Tevez, Balotelli, Silva.

Liverpool
Roy Hodgson rested a host of first team players on Thursday, many of whom are likely to return to the starting line-up, including Javier Mascherano, who could return after a calf injury. Daniel Agger, however, is struggling with concussion.

Fernando Torres may also get his first start of the season after appearing as a second half substitute against Arsenal and Trabzonspor. Joe Cole begins a three-game suspension after his red card against the Gunners.

Possible Starting XI: Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio; Mascherano, Poulsen; Kuyt, Gerrard, Jovanovic; Torres.

Prediction

It's time for City to start winning in order to keep the wolves from the door. Their huge outlay means that their scrappy performance at White Hart Lane was seen as a negative. They should be good enough to get past a Liverpool side who travelled badly last season and who threw away two points to Arsenal last week.

Man City 2-1 Liverpool

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