20-10-2010 20:45 Schalke 04 - Hapoel Tel Aviv

Resurrecting Their Campaign

Much was expected of Schalke after their massive summer signings but their poor start to the season in all competitions has forced them to play catch-up. At the moment the Royal Blues are third from bottom in the German Bundesliga, having picked up just five points from eight matches.

However, things have looked slightly better on the continental front as Felix Magath’s side have collected three points from a possible six in the Champions League. Defeat to Olympique Lyonnais in France on Matchday One was expected given their abysmal run of form in the league and was to a reasonable extent acceptable too as they were playing away from home; but on Matchday Two Schalke got the better of Benfica at home, winning 2-0.

Nevertheless, Schalke cannot be overly confident of a win against Israeli champions Hapoel Tel Aviv on Wednesday evening especially as since their defeat of Benfica they have failed to win either of their two league fixtures. Ivan Rakitic knows the significance of a win at the Veltins-Arena but is also wary of the task at hand.

"We've watched Hapoel on video and we've talked about them at length but also know some of their players quite well because Croatia played in Israel in a European qualifier recently,'' said the Croatia international. “A lot of the Hapoel players are in the national team and so I was able to identify a few strengths and weaknesses.''

Getting Off The Mark

Hapoel Tel Aviv are the least favourites of the four sides to go through to the second round from Group B and, as expected, have lost both their matches in the Champions League.

Placed at the bottom of the group having conceded five goals already, the Israeli champions will have to get something against Schalke in Germany to maintain any realistic chance of finishing in the top two. However, Hapoel will be encouraged by their weekend performance in the league as they defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv 1-0 in the derby.

Hapoel’s key player on Wednesday evening will be the highly rated striker Itay Shechter, who realises that they need to try to win and explains, "Playing well won't be enough. The time has come to take at least one point, if not three, in this competition.”

He added, "Schalke are an elite club with a big budget so a draw or a win would be good for us.
"The derby was the most important game for the club, a match that the fans waited for the entire season. I'm happy that we brought them pride and we maintained our dominance of the city. We are going to a match that is like the icing on the cake.''

TEAM NEWS

Schalke

Joel Matip has recovered from a bout of malaria and played at the weekend against Stuttgart while the previously injured Mario Gavranovic was only a substitute. Ivan Rakitic and Jefferson Farfan are fit to play but Levan Kenia, Tim Hoogland and Christian Pander are out.

Hapoel Tel Aviv

Avihay Yadin is doubtful for Wednesday evening’s game after suffering an ankle injury at the weekend. Mahran Lala is out after having undergone surgery on ruptured knee ligaments.

Prediction

Hapoel will be desperate for anything in Germany and so will be Schalke, who are in depressing form. The Israelis do have a chance but Schalke should just about edge them in the end.

Schalke 04 2-1 Hapoel

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20-10-2010 20:45 Manchester Utd. - Bursaspor

Fergie's Conundrum

The explosive stories over Wayne Rooney's desire to leave Manchester United mean that Sir Alex Ferguson's team selection will be anticipated with baited breath at Old Trafford.

Rooney made a spectacular debut for United against Turkish opposition when he scored a hat-trick in a 6-2 win over Fenerbahce in 2004 but may well find himself on the bench, as he was for the 2-2 draw with West Brom on Saturday.

United will head into the game with caution, despite topping Group C with four points while Wednesday night's visitors are yet to get off the mark. Ferguson's side have made an unconvincing start themselves to their European challenge this season but recorded a vital 1-0 victory at closest rivals Valencia last time out thanks to a sweet strike from Javier Hernandez.

The Red Devils suffered their first home defeat in European competition for four years last season against Turkish opposition when they were beaten 1-0 by Besiktas.

The Only Way Is Up

Bursaspor will take heart from United's uninspiring goalless draw with Rangers last time they played a Champions League match at Old Trafford, but it would take quite a turnaround in their fortunes for the Turkish champions to become challengers in the group.

They have lost their last six European games without scoring a goal and have not scored in any of their five away matches in Europe.

Bursaspor are in good form domestically, topping the league in Turkey with 20 points from eight games, but Ertugrul Saglam's side have lost both of their Champions League fixtures. They were thrashed 4-0 at home in their opener against Valencia and then lost 1-0 at Rangers.

TEAM NEWS

Manchester United

Sir Alex Ferguson faces a dilemma over who to play in midfield after Ryan Giggs picked up a hamstring injury in the 2-2 draw with West Brom on Saturday.

Midfielder Owen Hargreaves is not ready to make his long-awaited comeback from knee problems after picking up a calf injury while Ji-Sung Park is unlikely to play because of a knee problem.

Ecuadorian winger Antonio Valencia is still four months away from returning from a broken ankle.

Possible starting XI: Van der Sar; Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Fletcher, Carrick, Scholes, Nani; Berbatov, Rooney.

Bursaspor

Winger Volkan Sen is expected to return to the Bursaspor side as they seek their first points of their Champions League campaign at Old Trafford.

The Turkey international was dropped for the match against Karabukspor at the weekend as punishment for travelling to the United States without permission.

Possible starting XI: Ivankov; Tandogan, Erdogan, Stepanov, Vederson; Volkan Sen, Ergic, Insua, Batalla, Ipek; Yildrim.

Prediction

It is almost impossible to predict what will happen at Old Trafford at the moment but United's experience in the Champions Leaugue and their far superior quality should come through for a comfortable victory.

Man Utd. 3-0 Bursaspor

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20-10-2010 20:45 Barcelona - FC Kobenhavn

Confident Mood

After two rounds of fixtures, Group D doesn’t have the complexion many felt it might. Barcelona lie second in the standings, boasting an acceptable four points, but it is Danish champions Copenhagen who are making the running presently, commanding two victories from two attempts. If the Danes are to maintain their lead at the top of the section, it will take an almighty effort in the Catalan capital on Wednesday.

Barca have shown signs of fragility at home this season. Already they have lost to unfancied Hercules, and they were held to a draw by Mallorca prior to the international break. For 45 minutes of Sunday’s clash against Valencia, the Blaugrana looked deeply unsteady, but they were imperious in the second period, rallying from a goal down to claim a 2-1 success.

“We’re happy and it gives us confidence for the upcoming matches,” Andres Iniesta declared to the media after the fixture.

Meanwhile, coach Pep Guardiola has explained his belief that fatigue isn’t a physical phenomenon but a mental one. He praised his team for their resilience after the Valencia clash on Saturday, picking out Iniesta for special praise due to the number of successive games the Spain international has played.

Barcelona will again have to rouse themselves for Wednesday’s clash, as Copenhagen have already proven themselves not to be a force underestimated.

In Terrific Form
 
It’s been a case of so far, so good for Copenhagen in the Champions League, as they have done enough to pick up maximum points after two fixtures. Rubin Kazan were beaten by a Dame N’Doye header on the opening evening of action, and this was followed up by a highly impressive 2-0 success away to Panathinaikos, setting the Danes up nicely for qualification.

Travelling in the Champions League has previously proven to be a problematic experience for Copenhagen. During the 2003-04 season, they slumped in all three of their away games, losing by an aggregate of 7-1. Even in the qualifying stages they struggled away from home, going down against Rosenborg 2-1 and stifling BATE Borisov to a scoreless draw. Camp Nou will therefore be a highly intimidating venue, despite their recent Greek success.

At home on Sunday, Stale Solbakken’s side received a huge boost of confidence as they smashed Odense 5-0, partly on the back of a hat-trick from Cesar Santin, whose work was done for the day after little more than the hour mark.

With 10 wins from their opening 12 fixtures, it’s already looking that Copenhagen are the champions elect of their homeland, but though they are not in the habit of losing, picking up even a point in midweek would have to be considered a major achievement against one of the world’s best club sides.

TEAM NEWS

Barcelona

Pep Guardiola has a number of injury problems heading into this encounter, with Xavi, who played at the weekend, once again liable to be on the sidelines due to his knee problems. The influential midfielder has been doing recovery work and will face a fitness test. Meanwhile, Carles Puyol has only been training lightly and Gabi Milito will miss two weeks of action due to a thigh strain.

Copenhagen

Morten Nordstrand and Solvi Ottesen are both included in a 21-man squad that travels to Spain, though the former hasn’t played since March and the latter hasn’t featured since the middle of September.

Martin Bergvold remains absent due to a knee injury.

Prediction

Though Copenhagen go into this match higher ranked in Group D than their hosts, it would take a remarkable performance for them to steal even a point away from Camp Nou. They’ve proven themselves to be a decent defensive unit already in this campaign, not conceding in the group stage as yet, but they’ve not come up against a force such as Barcelona. La Blaugrana should ultimately ease to another victory.

Barcelona 3-0 Copenhagen

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Tiket 20-10-2010

Panatinaikos - Rubin	0-2
Rendžers - Valensija	3+
Šalke 04 - Hapoel Tel Aviv	1
Tvente - Verder	3+
Balkan Bet		8.04

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20-10-2010 20:45 Inter - Tottenham Hot.

Benitez Living With Mourinho Hangover
  
Rafael Benitez is enjoying a fairly successful start to life with his new side, with Inter lying in third place after seven games.

However, reports suggest that a number of the squad are unhappy with the Spaniard’s methods, but Benitez no doubt has the edge against Redknapp in Champions League experience and that, along with the home advantage, could well be the difference between the sides.

Samuel Eto’o is in sparkling form, topping the Serie A and Champions League top goal scorer charts but after receiving racial abuse at the weekend to the extent that the league match against Calgari had to be stopped for three minutes, his mental state could be under question.

Even so, the Cameroonian’s predatory instinct will be relied upon more than ever as Inter suffer from a long injury list.

Spurs Get Fighting Spirit Back

The game all Tottenham fans were looking forward to when this season’s Champions League draw was made was the trip to the San Siro to face holders Inter.

It is by far Spurs’ toughest test in the group stage and Harry Redknapp will be relishing the challenge that awaits his players after two impressive performances so far in the competition.

The north London side have enjoyed an air of consistency to their Premier League form in recent weeks after the disappointment of losses to West Ham United and Wigan Athletic, and will be proud of coming from behind to win against Aston Villa and Fulham, and the previous experience of Rafa Benitez's tactical nous will also come in handy.

Unfortunately Redknapp will be without the vastly influential Rafael van der Vaart who misses the game through suspension after receiving a red card against FC Twente last time out.

TEAM NEWS

Inter

Diego Milito, Esteban Cambiasso, Mancini and McDonald Mariga are all definitely ruled out of Wednesday’s game.
Thiago Motta and Jonathan Biabiany are also doubts after suffering knocks against Calgari at the weekend.

Possible starting XI: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Chivu; Zanetti, Sneijder, Stankovic; Chukwuma, Eto'o, Coutinho.

Tottenham

Along with the suspended Rafael van der Vaart, Spurs will also be without captain Ledley King, who came off in the first half against Fulham on Saturday with a groin strain, and long-term absentees Jermain Defoe and Michael Dawson.

Younes Kaboul could return from a knock to fight for a place in central defence with Sebastien Bassong and William Gallas.

Redknapp will no doubt opt for a 4-5-1 formation as his team lines up away from home, and Crouch will be hoping for a starting berth to ruin his former manager Rafa Benitez’s night.

Possible starting XI: Gomes; Hutton, Gallas, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Huddlestone, Palacios, Bale; Modric; Crouch.

Prediction

Spurs will know that they have a chance to come away from the San Siro with a point but I believe the size of the occasion will over-awe some of Tottenham squad, especially if they go behind early.
The absence of van der Vaart is a big miss and it will prove vital come the final whistle.

Inter Milan 3-1 Tottenham

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