02-12-2010 19:00 Borussia D. - Karpaty

Terrific Start

Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund have enjoyed an electric start to the season domestically, but they’re not presently on the pace in the Europa League. With two matches left all is not lost, though Juergen Klopp’s men badly need to pick up three points on Thursday against Karpaty Lviv if they are to progress to the last 32.

The Bundesliga campaign is quickly approaching its halfway stage, yet BVB are now clear favourites to lift the title. Leading closest rivals by Mainz by seven points, they also command a formidable 11 point advantage over Bayer Leverkusen, not to mention a 14 point cushion back to pre-season title favourites Bayern Munich.

At the weekend, the men from the Ruhr Valley set down another marker as they annihilated bottom club Borussia Moenchengladbach 4-1. The hosts were not fazed by Marco Reus’ opening goal just before the interval, and by the time half-time rolled around Neven Subotic had shot them level. Shinji Kagawa pushed BVB ahead, before a couple of late strikes from Kevin Grosskreutz and Lucas Barrios added gloss to the score.

“I feel more relief than unbridled joy,” Klopp confessed to the media after the game, doubtless focussing on the importance of keeping their solid advantage domestically as opposed to the forthcoming Europa League encounter against Karpaty – the only side they’ve managed to beat in the group stage this season.

A home defeat against Sevilla was followed by a tie against Paris Saint-Germain, and on the back of these two disappointing results at the Signal Iduna Park, better must be attained on Thursday.

Whitewashed So Far

Ukrainian outfit Karpaty were styled as the pool’s whipping boys prior to the start of the competition, and fate has dictated that they would live up to their billing, losing all four matches to date. But the Lviv side have been competitive, and Borussia have been well warned to take their challenge seriously.

Back in Matchday 1, they came close to causing a huge sensation when they hosted the Bundesliga club. In a thrilling game Oleh Kononov’s side had turned around a 2-0 deficit to lead 3-2 with only three minutes of normal time remaining. Not only would Karpaty fail to hold their lead, they failed to even earn a draw as goals from Lucas Barrios and Mario Goetze sunk the shell-shocked hosts.

Though Karpaty’s domestic campaign hasn’t suffered greatly as a result of that set-back – they presently lie in fifth spot, the position they finished last term – their European adventure has not recovered. Three defeats have followed, one against Paris Saint-Germain and two against Sevilla, and in those matches the Ukrainians haven’t so much as scored.

There will be a strong desire in the visiting unit not to finish the group stage as a team whitewashed, so the remaining two games will be played all out. Going to Germany and earning even a point seems just a little beyond Karpaty at present though.

TEAM NEWS 

Borussia Dortmund

Lucas Barrios leads a not insignificant list of injury problems that also includes Patrick Owomoyela, Sebastian Kehl and Mohamed Zidan. Shinji Kagawa will have to prove his fitness prior to kick-off.

Karpaty Lviv

Mykhaylo Kopolovets, William Batista, Oleh Holodyuk and Sergei Zenjov are out with injury problems.

Prediction

  Borussia 3-1 Karpaty Lviv

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02-12-2010 19:00 Paris Saint Germain - Sevilla

Promise

The Europa League group stage is getting to the business end of matters, and Group J is set to provide one of the most dramatic finishes. Paris Saint-Germain and Sevilla are stationed second and first respectively going into Thursday’s clash at the Parc des Princes, but with Borussia Dortmund lying in wait only a few points back, nothing is yet decided.

Les Parisiens are to some extent the surprise package in the group. Though still a big name on the continent, PSG are some way short of the side who were once rated as the best side in Europe during the 1990s by UEFA’s coefficient system. Indeed, it is quite some gauge as to how far their star has fallen that they are simply to be happy to be in the running for the French title.

PSG were only minutes away from being top of the standings at the weekend. They seemed headed for three points when Guillaume Hoarau slotted away a penalty against Olympique Lyonnais to put them 2-1 up against 10 men, but a quite horrendous goalkeeping error from Apoula Edel presented the hosts with the leveller.

“With three minutes to go it looked like we had the match won, so the first feeling is one of frustration at not holding on,” Antoine Kombouare said, according to Ligue 1’s official website. “Edel’s blunder cost us the win, but I’m really proud of my players for the character they showed in coming from behind in the first place. Even at 2-2, Stephane Sessegnon had a great chance to win it for us. That said, we are a tough team, and we stuck together tonight, which is promising for the future.”

Enjoying a good deal of success on all fronts, PSG won’t want their autumn momentum to be stifled by an exit from European competition that would be undeserved going by the first four matches they’ve played.

Stepping Backwards

Sevilla may have a relatively new coach in the form of Gregorio Manzano, but many of the same problems that they experienced under Antonio Alvarez and Manolo Jimenez remain. Los Nervionenses may go out with a more attack-focussed line-up, but that hasn’t stopped them from registering some wild results, including a 3-1 home defeat against Getafe at the weekend.

“This is a step backwards in our aspirations of finishing in the top four, and it is clear that we must try to improve,” Manzano told the media after the weekend loss. “In football, at times you can play nice to win, but at others you must learn to keep a scoreline of 1-0.”

The coach spoke of a “nervousness” in his side’s play, while central defender Martin Caceres was a little more up front about the performance, stating that his side had been “embarrassed” by los Azulones.

For the most part, Manzano has at least managed to get his side playing positively in Europe. Indeed, his first game in charge was a tremendous 1-0 away win against Borussia Dortmund, whom they will again face in a fortnight, setting the pace that was continued with two wins over Karpaty Lviv. Now Sevilla lead Group J, and a win in Paris would carry them through with top billing.

Los Nervionenses certainly won’t be taking the challenge of les Rouge et Bleu lightly. They were beaten by the French club at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in Matchday 1 due to a late strike from Nene, but after winning their two previous away games 1-0, they should have a good degree of confidence.


TEAM NEWS

PSG

There are a handful on injuries in the PSG ranks. Jean-Eudes Maurice is the only player definitely sidelined, but there are worries over the fitness of Siaka Tiene and Mevlut Erding.

Mamadou Sakho and Clement Chantome should both return after missing out at the weekend due to suspensions.

Sevilla

Gregorio Manzano still has a lengthy list of injury problems. Jesus Navas and Luis Fabiano are the two most notable absentees, but Tiberio Guarente, Ivica Dragutinovic, Federico Fazio, Lautaro Acosta and Javi Varas are all missing too.

Prediction
PSG 1-1 Sevilla

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02-12-2010 19:00 Utrecht - Napoli

Dutch Dreams Hang In The Balance

Utrecht were not expected to make much inroad in Group K and were considered an outside bet. So far the Dutch side haven't failed to meet expectations on that front and with three points from four games they are at the bottom of the group.

Hopes of qualification to the knockout stage of the Europa League have been reduced to a chimera but a chimera nevertheless, which means that Ton du Chatinier's side can still make it through. For that, of course, the Utreg need to win both their matches, starting with a win over Napoli at the Stadion Galgenwaard tonight.

Winning is easier said than done as Utrecht have yet to register a victory in the competition and have conceded more goals than they have scored. Moreover, they lost to Heracles Almelo in the Dutch Eredivisie at the weekend, although playing at home tonight will inject them with a healthy dose of confidence.

Winning Is The Only Choice

Napoli may be one of the most entertaining sides to watch in Europe but the Partenopei have been far from impressive so far this season in the Europa League. With just three points from four matches, Walter Mazzarri's side are two points behind behind second-placed Steaua Bucharest and five behind leaders Liverpool.

Like Utrecht, Napoli have yet to register a win in the competition and need to win their remaining two matches to ascertain their passage to the last 32. A draw will eliminate them as well as Utrecht should Steaua beat Liverpool in Romania in the other match in the group.

Interestingly, Napoli too lost at the weekend, going down 3-1 to Udinese to slip to fourth in Serie A, six points behind leaders Milan. However, coach Mazzarri hopes to bounce back tonight.

"We will do everything possible to qualify for the next round," said the Napoli tactician. "We know it's difficult to beat Utrecht away from home but nevertheless, we are confident. We will need to be focused from start to finish and take our chances.

TEAM NEWS

Utrecht

Ricky Wolfswinkel will be the main striker for the home side, who could initially line up in a 4-4-2 formation.

Napoli

Mazzarri is likely to deploy a 3-4-2-1 system that will have Lavezzi as the lone striker upfront with Cavani and Hamsik playing just behind him.

Prediction

Napoli have been disappointing in Europe this campaign and are under pressure to win tonight. Their away form doesn't inspire much confidence and the match is likely to end in a draw.

Utrecht 1-1 Napoli

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02-12-2010 19:00 Steaua - Liverpool

Consistency Needed

Steaua have been consistently inconsistent in recent months, as they have been unable to put together a run long enough to have a significant impact on their campaign. Just as something appears to be blooming, they have allowed themselves to be nipped in the bud.

Their last five games showcase the sort of inconsistency they have had, as a goalless draw against local rivals Rapid Bucharest was followed by a domestic cup game against the same side, but away from home. This resulted in a narrow 1-0 victory for Steaua.

But before their supporters could begin to relax, a loss to Gaz Metan Medias was in the offing. An expected victory over 14th placed Targu Mures followed, and their most recent game was a 2-2 draw at home to CFR Cluj.

They are currently placed sixth in their domestic league, the Liga 1, but a 10 point gap with the league leaders at the halfway point in their season means that a title victory looks unlikely. Still, another Europa League run could be on the cards if they can shake off the stuttering stop-start nature of their form and go on an elongated positive run instead.

In Europe’s second-tier competition itself, Steaua began with a difficult 4-1 loss to Liverpool at Anfield, before drawing with Napoli and away at Utrecht. But in all fairness, the result against the Italian club must have felt like a loss, as Marius Lacatus’ men surrendered a three-goal lead to tamely fall prey to a strong comeback from Napoli. Still, they made up for it with a victory at home to Utrecht, and now host group leaders Liverpool in a tie they will want to get something out of.

Winds Of Change

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has admitted that he will ring in the changes in light of the game against Aston Villa during the weekend.

The focus on Villa is due to the mediocre performance in the Premier League, which is reflected in an anonymous mid-table position at the moment. Sitting in 10th place sandwiched between newly promoted Blackpool and Newcastle United may not have been the idea that the Reds supporters may have had in their minds, but the competitive nature of the league means that fortunes can change quickly.

It wasn’t long ago, when the Merseysiders travelled to London and took the lead against Tottenham, which prompted thoughts of what could be. But then they got dragged down again as a resurgent Spurs side managed to level matters before scoring the winner deep into stoppage time.

Still, the performance was there, and they will have to build on that performance with the right result against Steaua to regain the confidence that was lost in London - since a victory and qualification into the knockout round with a game to spare would be a much-needed morale booster for Hodgson’s men.

However, the former Fulham boss has chosen to field a weakned side, partly due to injuries and partly of his own volition. Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard are out through injury, while Daniel Agger is still unavailable for selection. And in addition to this, Hodgson has chosen to leave Fernando Torres out of the squad, to give the Spaniard some rest before the clash against Gerard Houllier’s men.

With Danny Wilson and Martin Kelly set to start, the captaincy is likely to go to Pepe Reina or Sotirios Kyrgiakos by the manager’s own admission.

But all said and done, even the relatively weakened team certainly has more quality than their opponents, which is likely to be enough reason for the manager not to second guess his decision of concentrating more on the weekend game than the task at hand.

TEAM NEWS

Steaua Bucharest

Home advantage means that coach Marius Lacatus is likely to field a good attacking line-up for the day, with vice-captain Bogdan Stancu and the prolific Greek goal scorer Pantelis Kapetanos leading the line.

Despite being at the receiving end of a 4-1 result at Anfield, a positive style of football is likely to be the order of the day.

Possible starting XI: Tatarusanu; Bonfim, Alves, Galamaz, Latovlevici; Nicolita, Tanase, Gardos, Szekely; Stancu, Kapetnos.

Liverpool

Jamie Carragher (shoulder) is out for three months, while skipper Steven Gerrard (hamstring) still needs more time to return from injury. Daniel Agger (calf) is also unavailable for the trip to Romania, while Jay Spearing (ankle) is also sidelined.

Roy Hodgson has decided to rest Fernando Torres for this one, with the weekend tie against Aston Villa in mind, with youngster Dani Pacheco expected to come into the fold.

The gaffer will also start with Martin Kelly and Danny Wilson, to give the young Reds some more experience while they in turn are given a chance to stake a claim for a place in the first-team.

Possible starting XI: Reina; Kelly, Kyrgiakos , Wilson, Aurelio; Babel, Shelvey, Poulsen, Jovanovic; Cole; Pacheco.

Prediction

  Steaua 1-1 Liverpool

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