30.09.2010. UEFA - Europe League preview (English teams)

FC Utrecht v Liverpool

• FC Utrecht have never met an English side, though one of their predecessors, DOS, played against Sheffield Wednesday and West Brom, losing three times and drawing once.
• Liverpool lost their first-ever game against a Dutch side in 1966, but are unbeaten in 11 meetings with them since, winning the last five.
• FC Utrecht have lost five of their last six games in European competition.
• The Reds have drawn none of their last 11 matches in Europe, winning seven and losing four.
• Liverpool have lost their last three European matches away from home (not including qualifiers).
• In all competitions, the Reds have won just three of their last 13 away games, one at Burnley and two in Europa League qualifying.
• Liverpool were one of only five teams not to find a team-mate with a single cross or corner in the first round of Europa League games this season.
• Utrecht have won their three games at home in the Dutch league this season, but lost the four on the road.
• The Dutch side are on a run of eight consecutive home wins in all competitions.
• Having netted five goals in Europa League matches (including qualifiers), David Ngog is the joint-top scoring Premier League player in all competitions this season (seven).

Manchester City v Juventus

• City have never lost at home in 23 matches in European competition (excl. qualifiers) against non-English sides, and have won their last four.
• The Citizens have won their two previous matches at home to Italian opponents: beating Juventus 1-0 in 1976 and AC Milan 3-0 in 1978.
• Roberto Mancini's men have kept seven clean sheets in their 10 matches in all competitions this season.
• Mancini won just one of his five home meetings with Juve as a manager in Serie A.
• Juventus have won none of their last nine matches in England in European competition, losing eight, including the 4-1 defeat at Fulham last season.
• Juve won their two Europa League qualifiers away from home, though aside from that have lost seven of their last nine competitive matches on the road in all competitions.
• Carlos Tevez is the only City player to have scored more than once this season (four goals in all competitions).
• City made more successful passes than any team in the opening round of Europa League matches (465).
• The Citizens were also the only side not to concede a single shot on target.
• No player created more chances (6) or had more shots on target (4) than Alessandro Del Piero in the opening round of matches.

* PLEASE NOTE ALL FACTS EXCLUDE QUALIFYING GAMES UNLESS STATED

Read More

Tiket 29.09.2010.

Rubin - Barselona	2	1.63
Inter - Verder	1	1.64
Rendžers - Bursaspor	0-2	1.68
Panatinaikos - FK Kopenhagen	0-2	1.63
Soccer		7.96

Read More

29.09. (Wed) 20:45 Inter - Werder

Regaining Momentum
Italian and European champions Inter sit joint-top of the Serie A table but are coming off a 1-0 loss to rivals Roma on Saturday. The Nerazzurri failed to win their opening game in the Champions League as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Dutch champions FC Twente and will be looking for a win against Werder Bremen to boost their morale.

Inter will be confident of progressing to the last-16 as Group A winners and their job will be easier if they can secure all nine points at home. The Beneamata didn't lose a single game in the Champions League last season at San Siro and to accomplish their European feat again they will have to maintain that record.

However, Inter have problems of their own as under Benitez they haven't looked as reassuring and defensively sound as they were under Jose Mourinho.

Nevertheless, club legend Sandro Mazzola is confident that Inter can win it again this year and exclusively told Goal.com, "Can Inter defender their Champions League crown? Yes, they have the team to be able to do it. I think they will get through the group and then we have to see what conditions they arrive in in February, but I am sure they can do it. It will be tough though."


Work Needs To Be Done

Werder Bremen qualified for the Champions League proper amidst enthralling circumstances as they defeated Sampdoria over two legs in the play-offs.

The German Bundesliga side needed some second half heroics again in their opening game of the group stage as they fell behind by two goals before storming back to salvage a 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur.

Werder will now travel to Milan with hope and ambition. A win against Inter will not be easy but given the problems that the Italians are embroiled in at the moment the Germans will fancy their chances.

The 3-2 win against Hamburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday will have certainly given them more confidence as midfielder Marko Marin enthuses, "It is always difficult playing against a side like Inter, but the victory against Hamburg has given us confidence. We are taking on Inter, at the Meazza, and we will try our best to get a result."



TEAM NEWS
Inter

Striker Diego Milito is doubtful with a thigh injury but has resumed training. Goran Pandev sat out Tuesday's session with a knee problem. Centre-back Walter Samuel didn't train with his team-mates on Tuesday but is likely to regain full fitness to start on Wednesday evening.

Midfielder Thiago Motta and defenders Marco Materazzi and Javier Zanetti have already been ruled out.

Werder Bremen
Both Naldo and Sebastian Boenisch had already succumbed to knee injuries and after Saturday's game against Hamburg Clemens Fritz, Torsten Frings and Claudio Pizarro have joined them on the sidelines. Petri Pasanen has travelled with the squad to Milan but he might not start.

Prediction

Inter will be the favourites to win this match but Werder are a tricky opposition and will do their best to make it tough for the Nerazzurri defenders even with a number of players suffering from injuries. However, Benitez's side have a strong record at home and they will pick up the win.

Inter Milan 2-1 Werder Bremen

Read More

29.09. (Wed) 20:45 Tottenham Hot. - Twente

European night at White Hart Lane
As Tottenham welcome the visit of FC Twente on Wednesday night, it will be a truly special occasion for fans of the club.

For the first time in 48 years, Spurs fans will witness a tie in Europe's elite club competition at their home ground. The last time that a European Cup game took place at north London club’s home was in 1962, when Bill Nicholson’s Spurs were dumped out of the tournament by eventual winners Benfica - after the second leg in London saw the hosts succumb to a 4-3 aggregate.

Fast forward almost half a century, and Spurs have a point from their first game – against Werder Bremen - in a fiercely competitive Group A. With defending champions Inter yet to take on the hosts, a victory at White Hart Lane will likely be required if Harry Redknapp’s charges are to make their way into the last 16.

Tottenham have also been inconsistent with getting the right result in recent times, as they only have one victory – against Wolves – in their last six games in all competitions. And coming off the back of two losses in the form of a League Cup defeat to rivals Arsenal and a Premier League loss to West Ham United, anything less than a win over Twente will have a detrimental effect on the morale of the players.

Dutch champions arrive with confidence

Twente boast a rags to riches story as they have risen from being or the brink of extinction in the early part of the decade to being crowned Dutch champions for the first time in their history last season.

Under the guidance of former England manager Steve McClaren, they rewrote their history books. But the gaffer has since departed to join Wolfsburg while a few of the players moved on to pastures new, but the team isn’t particularly weaker than when compared to last season.

And under the guidance of Michel Preud'homme, they have continued to play a similar kind of football that McClaren used to win the domestic title last season.

It comes based on the principle of having a miserly defence, as they have conceded only three league goals this season – lesser than any other club in the Dutch top-flight.

Twente are also on an unbeaten run in all competitions this season, and even held defending European champions Inter to a 2-2 draw in Enschede on matchday one.

With all this in mind, the travellers will touch down in London with utmost confidence, as they are yet to lose this season.

TEAM NEWS

Tottenham

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has concerning issues as several injuries have decimated his squad - particularly his defence - in recent weeks.

Younes Kaboul (hamstring) remains a doubt, while William Gallas (groin) sustained his injury in a recent training session. In the meantime, Ledley King is also thought to have pulled up with a problem, but could yet feature as reports point towards the player having returned to training.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee) was injured during the League Cup clash with Arsenal and missed the weekend defeat to West Ham United, but could return for this fixture. Michael Dawson (knee) is a long-term absentee, while Jermain Defoe (ankle) also remains sidelined.

Possible starting XI: Cudicini; Hutton, Corluka, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Huddlestone, Modric, Bale; Van der Vaart; Crouch.

Twente

Bart Buysse (ankle) is expected to be out for six weeks, while fellow defender Dwight Tiendalli (leg) is a doubt having picked up a knock against Capelle last week. But otherwise manager Michel Preud'homme should have no problems.

Possible starting XI: Mihaylov; Rosales, Douglas, Wisgerhof, Kuiper; Brama, De Jong, Janssen; Ruiz, Janko, Chadli.

Prediction

Tottenham 2-1 Twente

Read More

29.09. (Wed) 20:45 Hapoel Tel Aviv - Olympique Lyonnais

Defying Expectations
Hapoel Tel Aviv’s Champions League debut ended ultimately in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Benfica in Lisbon, but the Israeli champions did their reputation no harm at all with a competitive performance against os Aguias. Back on home soil, coach Eli Guttman will be aware that at least a point is needed against Olympique Lyonnais to keep their dreams of progression seriously burning.

The Red Demons have started the defence of their domestic title in an inauspicious manner, picking up just four points from their opening four matches and suffering a humbling 4-2 reverse at the hands of Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona at the weekend.

On the continent they have shown a very different face since starting their Champions League campaign in the second qualifying round against Zeljeznicar, who were dispatched 6-0 on aggregate. A fancied Aktobe unit were then edged out 3-2 before Salzburg were surprisingly eliminated in the play-off stage 4-3.

Guttman’s side have been tearing up the formbook in the Champions League thus far, and after losing their only two previous home ties against French opponents, they will have to do exactly the same once more if they are to upset les Gones.

Underachieving
Few teams can match the European pedigree that Olympique Lyonnais boast since the turn of the millennium. Participants in every Champions League group stage since 2000, les Gones hit a high water mark last term when they scrambled their way to the semi-finals of the competition where they were eliminated by Bayern Munich.

Although Schalke were defeated by a Michel Bastos goal to nil at Stade Gerland a fortnight ago, the signs are already that the Rhone Valley club will fail to match that success. Les Gones’ form domestically has been lamentable, and they sit 18th in Ligue 1, having lost their fiercely competitive Derby du Rhone encounter against Saint-Etienne last Saturday.

Opposition in the stands to general manager Claude Puel is growing, with the fans staying behind until after midnight on Saturday for president Jean-Michel Aulas to address them. Additionally, there are reports that the squad is unsettled behind the scenes, with Puel’s man management techniques having been questioned to such an extent that substitute goalkeeper Remy Vercoutre is now charged with creating a good atmosphere in the dressing room.

A greater emphasis is set to be placed on pleasure and fluidity as opposed to Puel’s more traditional values of organisation and defence, though of course there will be no immediate wholesale change.

Anything but three points in Israel will place the coach’s head even more firmly on the chopping block and increase the pressure on stoical president Aulas to make changes.

TEAM NEWS

Hapoel
Mahran Lala is the big injury concern for Hapoel as he is set to miss the entire season due to knee ligament damage. Meanwhile, Eran Zahavi broke his nose on September 11 but hasn’t let that prevent him from taking part in regular action.

Lyon
Hamstring injuries have been a hot topic of conversation around the Rhone Valley, with Cris, Cesar Delgado and Ederson all missing from this fixture due to such problems of varying severity.

Perhaps crucially, ace striker Lisandro Lopez is missing once again due to a thigh problem, while Jean Makoun hasn’t travelled because of a similar ailment.

Prediction

Though Lyon have been struggling for wins, they didn’t play too badly at the weekend and cannot continue to be so luckless in front of goal. Additionally, les Gones command the kind of Champions League experience that is completely alien to Hapoel, so even in front of an intimidating home crowd the French underperformers should be able to best the Red Demons.

Hapoel 1-2 O. Lyon

Read More

29.09. (Wed) 20:45 Rangers - Bursaspor

Rangers looking to make an impact

After managing to hold group favourites Manchester United to a goalless draw at Old Trafford, Walter Smith’s side will be looking to get back to winning ways as they take on Champions League new boys Bursaspor at Ibrox.

Confidence should be high for the SPL champions as they made a dramatic comeback to overcome rivals Aberdeen to go top of the league, coming from two goals down to see themselves past Mark McGhee’s side at Pittodrie.

So the Ibrox faithful will be expecting their side to win comfortably, especially against a side that lost four goals at home to Valencia in their first group game.

The major problem that faces Walter Smith this week is that he will be without influential midfielder Steven Davis, who went off injured in the game at Aberdeen.

Rangers fans will also be fearful about the visit of the Turkish side, as the Scottish giants have only won one out their last nine Champions League games at the Glasgow venue, with last season including painful defeats to both Unirea Urziceni and Sevilla.

Turkish side are an unknown quantity

Bursaspor have made their first appearance in Europe since 1986, other than a series of Intertoto Cup appearances. They made their return to the European arena with a devastating four-goal defeat at home to Valencia.

The Green Crocodiles, as they are nicknamed, will be hoping to pile more misery on Rangers boss Walter Smith after they defeated Smith in the Cup Winners' Cup 36 years ago, when Smith was a central defender a Dundee United side that lost by one goal over two legs against the Turkish side.

Ertugrul Saglam, the coach of Bursaspor, will be looking for a better result than the last time that he took a side to Britain, when his Besiktas side were humiliated by Liverpool, succumbing to an eight goal defeat in the Champions League .

TEAM NEWS

Rangers

Steven Davis is set to miss the clash for the Ibrox men after picking up an injury at the weekend, while summer signing Nikica Jelavic is ineligible. Steven Whittaker is also a doubt for the Scottish champions after also leaving the field injured at the weekend.

Possible starting XI: McGregor; Broadfoot, Weir, Bougherra, Papac; Weiss, McCulloch, Edu, Naismith; Lafferty, Miller.

Bursaspor

The Turkish side will recall experienced trio Dimitar Ivankov, Volkan Sen and Federico Insua, after all three were rested for the side’s one goal victory over Bucaspor on Friday. The only injury worry for Bursaspor is Ivan Ergic, who was rested also on Friday as he has been carrying a hamstring injury.

Possible Starting XI: Ivankov; Vederson, Erdogan, Tandogan, Stepanov; Cimsir, Sen, Batalla, Insua; Yıldırım, Nunez.

Prediction

Rangers 2-0 Bursaspor

Read More

29.09. (Wed) 20:45 Panathinaikos - FC Kobenhavn

Bouncing Back

Panathinaikos thought that they were up for a shock win at Camp Nou in Barcelona a fortnight ago when they took the lead against the 2009 Champions League winners but didn't realise what was going to hit them. Lionel Messi turned on the style and destroyed the Greek champions as the Catalans registered a 5-1 victory - arguably the most impressive on Matchday One.

However, Panathinaikos are doing will in the domestic arena as they are just a point behind leaders and arch-rivals Olympiacos in second place. The Shamrock warmed up to their match against Danish champions Copenhagen on Wednesday evening with a 2-1 win against Panionios at the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium.

Panathinaikos are a tough nut to crack at home and will be under pressure to garner maximum points against Copenhagen.

Going Strong

Danish champions Copenhagen have commenced the 2010-11 campaign very well, both in the domestic front and in Europe. The Lions defeated championship rivals FC Midtjylland at the weekend to go seven points clear of them at the top of the Superliga. Stale Solbakken's side also defeated Rubin Kazan 1-0 on Mtchday One to start their Champions League adventure on a winning note.

Solbakken is hopeful of a win in Greece on Wednesday but realises that it is not going to be easy. "We're managing to play at a consistent high level week after week, and if we can continue the streak we will be hard to beat. There'll come times of crisis but so far we've got enough extra energy for the European matches."

Three seasons back Panathinaikos and Copenhagen met in a UEFA Cup group match. At the time the Greeks won 1-0, thanks to a goal from Dame N'Doye, who is now on the Danish side's roster.



TEAM NEWS

Panathinaikos

Sidney Govou strained his right thigh on Sunday during training and is out of the match. Cedric Kante broke his finger during their domestic game at the weekend and has been ruled out as well.

Nikos Spyropoulos is struggling with a knee problem and Giourkas Seitaridis has problems with his quadriceps. Lazaros Christodoulopoulos has recovered from a foot injury and has started to train but Antonis Petropoulos is out with a groin complain.

Copenhagen

Christian Bolanos has recovered from an ankle problem but Solvi Ottesen is out with a broken arm. Martin Bergvold and Morten Nordstrand are long-term injury concerns.

Prediction

It promises to be a very interesting match and is difficult to call. Panathinaikos should fancy a win as they have home advantage but Copenhagen are on a great run of form. A single goal is likely to settle the outcome.

Panathinaikos 1-0 Copenhagen

Read More

29.09. (Wed) 18:30 Rubin - Barcelona

Iron Curtain

Rubin Kazan produced one of the shocks of European competition last season when they defeated Barcelona at Camp Nou. Having held the then Champions League title holders in Tatarstan later in the group stage, the Russians have a positive record against the Blaugrana and will be aiming to maintain it when they renew acquaintances with Pep Guardiola’s side on Wednesday.

The two-time defending RPL champions may be presently seeing their crown slowly slip towards Zenit St. Petersburg’s grasp, but they can boast elite level football this season, while the runaway domestic leaders simply have to make do with the Europa League. However, after a surprise loss against Copenhagen a fortnight ago, Rubin will feel that they cannot afford a slip at home against Barca.

Already one of the multicultural hubs of Russia has gone mad for Barcelona, but Cesar Navas, who is a veteran of last season’s efforts against the Catalans, has warned that similar success to last season should not necessarily be expected. “By signing David Villa the club have improved in the summer, as their attack is more dangerous,” he explained to the media.

As a defender, Navas will be particularly interested in Barca’s attacking options. The Ruby, however, have reverted to the strong defensive unit that coach Kurban Berdyev enjoys, having been a little more expansive than usual last term. After frustrating the Catalans with a backs-to-the-wall performance at the Central Stadium last autumn, they are set to try the same trick nearly 12 months on.

Problem Solvers

Just two matches into the new campaign, questions were being posed over Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona side as they succumbed at home 2-0 to Hercules in the Primera Division. It’s something of a measure of the club’s success over the last two years that one defeat, albeit a highly surprising one, could trigger talk of a potential crisis, but it’s also a measure of the stature of the squad how easily such discussion was shrugged off.

Coming off the back of the loss to the newly promoted club, la Blaugrana annihilated Panathinaikos 5-1 in the first round of Champions League fixtures. Having fallen 1-0 behind against the Greeks, the Spanish champions could have been forgiven for wavering but instead they responded to the problem with the kind of dazzling football few teams can produce.

Another awkward moment arrived when Lionel Messi was stretchered off late in the 2-1 success away over Atletico Madrid. Again Barca responded well, defeating Sporting de Gijon at Camp Nou before blowing away Athletic Bilbao 3-1 in the Basque Lands, despite a bog of a pitch hampering their passing brand of football.

Meeting a side who twice frustrated them last season is a challenge that the Catalans will therefore relish, though they will doubtless be pleased to be going to Russia early in the campaign as opposed to towards the middle of winter, when they made the treacherous trip to Kazan last season. Messi may or may not play – he’s at least made the trip – but whichever 11 players Barca field, they will boast quality and a will to win throughout.

TEAM NEWS

Rubin

Cesar Navas missed the opening group stage game against Copenhagen due to a suspension but returns for this fixture.

Roman Sharonov is the sole serious injury problem as Berdyev welcomed back Vitali Kaleshin, Carlos Eduardo and Bebars Natcho to his panel in the 1-0 win over Alania Vladikavkaz at the weekend.

Barcelona

The big news is that Lionel Messi is in Barcelona’s travelling party for the match in Kazan. Several senior figures, most notably Johan Cruyff, have indicated that the Argentine should not be rushed back following an ankle problem, so it’s doubtful that the 23-year-old will actually take to the field.

Eric Abidal is also in the squad, as is Thiago Alcantara, who featured against Athletic Bilbao. Adriano is missing due to injury, however.

Prediction

Barcelona have travelled to Russia on five occasions previously, and have only recorded one victory. They have, however, gone unbeaten in Europe’s most eastern nation. Tipping Barca to lose would certainly be brave, but winning is certainly not a foregone conclusion, especially against such a determined defensive outfit and potentially without a fully powered Lionel Messi. La Blaugrana will be expected to edge this fixture, but a draw would certainly be no disaster for either side.

Rubin 0-1 Barcelona

Read More