champions league

Dazzling duo raise the stakes

2010-03-26T23:47:00.000-07:00

The UEFA Champions League quarter-final draw threw up sequels to two recent finals but it is the exploits of Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney that should really set pulses racing.

The UEFA Champions League quarter-final lineup rekindles happy memories for FC Barcelona and Manchester United FC as they come up against rivals from two of their most famous triumphs.
Holders Barcelona meet Arsenal FC in a rematch of their 2006 final victory while United take on FC Bayern München, so reviving that dramatic 1999 Camp Nou success. It is the exploits of current players, though, that should set pulses racing as Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney blaze a trail across Europe.
Messi, who missed the 2006 final through injury, has been in phenomenal form for the Blaugrana, his two goals in the 4-0 rout of VfB Stuttgart sandwiched by a pair of Liga hat-tricks. Arsenal, too, are hitting form when it matters most with their captain Cesc Fàbregas out to impress against the club with whom he began his career.
Fàbregas and Messi played together at youth level and who makes the greater impact on 31 March and 6 April could determine which club advances. Another intriguing sub-plot will see long-time Arsenal favourite Thierry Henry face his former team for the first time in London, when two of the continent's most free-flowing forces collide.After knocking five past FC Porto in their round of 16 second leg, Arsenal are the competition's 17-goal top scorers, with United one behind. Like Messi, Rooney has registered 32 goals so far this term with four in the UEFA Champions League, all against AC Milan.
If United are an ominous prospect for Bayern, the Bundesliga outfit can at least feel they have already exorcised the demons of 1999, having knocked out United in 2000/01 en route to claiming their last European title. They have match-winners of their own as Arjen Robben proved with his breathtaking strike at ACF Fiorentina, and winger Franck Ribéry should be available after injury.French eyes, though, will be on 'le quart de finale 100% français' as Olympique Lyonnais host FC Girondins de Bordeaux. While Laurent Blanc's Bordeaux are one of the season's surprise packages, Lyon achieved one of the biggest upsets in eliminating Real Madrid CF. Les Gones will hope to repeat the feat as these domestic rivals vie to become the first French semi-finalists since AS Monaco FC in 2003/04. Ligue 1 champions Bordeaux, though, are the form team having won seven straight UEFA Champions League games, and they boast the meanest defence with three goals conceded.
For the first time since 1998/99, six nations are represented in the last eight, with PFC CSKA Moskva entering uncharted territory as Russia's first quarter-finalists of the UEFA Champions League era. Tests do not get much tougher than against an FC Internazionale Milano side high on confidence after scalping Chelsea FC.
José Mourinho rose to the challenge against his old club, but the real target is to emulate legendary Inter coach Helenio Herrera and lift the trophy for the first time in 45 years.

via uefa.com

Thigh injury robs Inter of Milito

2009-10-05T04:20:00.000-07:00

FC Internazionale Milano have been dealt a blow with the news that striker Diego Milito could be sidelined for at least a month because of a thigh strain suffered in the Nerazzurri's 2-1 victory against Udinese Calcio on Saturday.

The 30-year-old was replaced by Mario Balotelli 25 minutes into the Serie A fixture at San Siro and scans on Sunday revealed the player has a "first degree strain in his right thigh". Milito, who has scored five goals in seven league appearances this term, is thus a major doubt for Inter's UEFA Champions League Group F encounter with FC Dynamo Kyiv on 20 October. Lucio was also substituted with a similar problem but the club's medical staff revealed the centre-back has only strained the adductor muscle in his thigh, meaning the Brazilian is likely to recover in time for the visit of the Ukrainian side.

via uefa.com

Pjanić steps up to fill Juninho void

2009-09-26T04:43:00.000-07:00

Juninho Pernambucano left some big shoes to fill when he departed Olympique Lyonnais in the summer having won seven Ligue 1 titles in eight years, but in 19-year-old Miralem Pjanić the French club may have found the ideal replacement.
Pjanić scored the only goal in Lyon's Group E opener against ACF Fiorentina last Wednesday and also made a telling contribution in the previous round when his free-kick broke the deadlock against RSC Anderlecht, paving the way for a comfortable 5-1 first-leg win.

Of course I'm happy to have scored and played a decisive part. I am playing more now, but it is only thanks to the team that I can make the difference. I have tried to do so since the beginning of the season, and it has worked well up to now.

Pjanić watches his words carefully when he speaks to the press, but on the pitch everything he does comes naturally. Against Fiorentina he was quickest to react on 78 minutes when Sébastien Frey could only parry Kim Källström's strike and stole in to fire in the rebound. Then again, Pjanić is used to doing things quickly on the football field. After the war had driven his family from Tuzla, they settled in Luxemburg and Miralem joined FC Metz.
Aged 14 he made an immediate impression at youth level and by 2007/08 had established himself in the first team. He made 27 appearances that season and caught the eye for his control on the ball, set-pieces and knack for delivering when it mattered most. Enough certainly for Lyon to think that paying €7.5m for his services in June 2008 was a sound investment. That is exactly what it has proven to be. Pjanić started just five league games in his first season at the Stade de Gerland – not unusual for an 18-year-old – but having found his feet he has thrived since being handed Juninho's old No8 shirt.

via uefa.com

Ibrahimović to Barça, Eto'o to Inter

2009-07-28T00:38:00.000-07:00

FC Barcelona have signed Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimović from FC Internazionale Milano with fellow forward Samuel Eto'o plus midfielder Aleksandr Hleb going in the other direction and the UEFA Champions League holders also paying the Italian side €46m.
Ibrahimović, 27, has signed a five-year contract with Barcelona, while the 28-year-old Eto'o also agreed a deal until 2014 at Inter, with Hleb on loan until the end of the season. Signed by Inter from Juventus in 2006, Ibrahimović won Serie A in all his seasons in Milan and the former Malmö FF forward was last season's top scorer in the league with 25 goals. That took his tally with the Nerazzurri to 57 in 88 top-flight games, and he has struck 21 times in 58 appearances for Sweden.
Ibrahimović said:

Every player wants to come to Barça but not everybody can. It's hard to express how I feel at the moment; I'm the happiest man in the world. There are winners in every facet of this team and I want to learn from everybody here.

While Ibrahimović was unable to end Inter's 44-year wait to win the European Champions Clubs' Cup during his time in Milan, Eto'o has helped Barcelona lift the trophy twice, scoring in the 2006 and 2009 final wins against Arsenal FC and Manchester United FC respectively. The former Real Madrid CF player joined Barça from RCD Mallorca in 2004 and has won three Liga titles at Camp Nou and struck 130 goals in 200 appearances.
Eto'o also aided Cameroon to two African Cup of Nations titles and 2000 Olympic gold. He is expected to play alongside Diego Milito at Inter, newly signed from Genoa CFC.
Eto'o said:

I'm extremely happy to join Inter. I'm here to work hard and win the Champions League. I want to thank Inter president Massimo Moratti. He is a person with a great heart.

Belarus midfielder Hleb, meanwhile, moved to Barcelona in 2008 after three seasons with Arsenal FC. The 28-year-old former FC BATE Borisov and VfB Stuttgart player is under contract at Barcelona until 2012 and appeared 35 times in their treble-winning campaign. Inter have the option to make the deal permanent next summer for €10m.

via uefa.com

Barça invest in Palmeiras prodigy

2009-07-24T08:25:00.000-07:00

UEFA Champions League winners FC Barcelona have agreed to sign Keirrison from Brazilian side SE Palmeiras for a fee which could rise to €16m, with the striker likely to be loaned out for the coming season.
The 20-year-old will sign a five-year contract at the Spanish and European champions on Friday provided he passes medical tests. Keirrison started his career at Coritiba FC, helping the club win promotion to the Brazilian top division and finishing 2008 as the league's joint top scorer with 20 goals in 31 appearances. He joined Palmeiras in January and has scored five league goals in six starts for the Sao Paulo side. Barça, who have also added Brazilian full-back Maxwell to their ranks, will begin this season's UEFA Champions League in the group stage.

via uefa.com

Group-stage hopefuls face fate

2009-07-21T01:56:00.000-07:00

The prospect of a meeting with Olympiacos CFP will keep ŠK Slovan Bratislava and NK Zrinjski on their toes, with shocks in the offing as the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round concludes.

Bosnian champions Zrinjski celebrated their first home win in UEFA Champions League qualifying last week, with Krešimir Kordić scoring the only goal in their win against Slovan. However, the Slovakian side have home advantage as the tie concludes on Tuesday, and will be eager to win through and earn a meeting with Greek titleholders Olympiacos, one of three sides who will join the existing Champions Path hopefuls in the next round.

The situation will be even more tense at the Ljudski vrt Stadium in Slovenia where NK Maribor host FC WIT Georgia after a 0-0 draw in the first leg, with the eventual winners meeting FC Zürich in the next phase of the competition. Things are a little easier for Moldova's FC Sheriff, who won 1-0 at FC International Turku last week and need only avoid defeat to link up with SK Slavia Praha in the next round.

The five former group-stage contenders on duty in the second qualifying round – FC BATE Borisov, PFC Levski Sofia, FC København, FK Partizan and Maccabi Haifa FC – all won comfortably last week and can be reasonably confident of progressing, but the same cannot be said of Austria's FC Salzburg or Wisła Kraków of Poland.

Austrian champions Salzburg drew 1-1 at home against Ireland's Bohemian FC last week and can expect a tough ride in Dublin. It took an added-time goal, meanwhile, for Wisła to snatch a similar scoreline at home against FC Levadia Tallinn, and – like Salzburg – they now need an away win or a high-scoring draw on Wednesday to forge on in the competition.

Guardiola salutes his treble winners

2009-05-27T23:03:00.000-07:00

Josep Guardiola could barely contain his delight as he was applauded both in and out of the news conference that followed FC Barcelona's 2-0 defeat of Manchester United FC in the UEFA Champions League final:

We're not the best team in Barça history but we've had the best season.
I'm leaving straight away tomorrow – I can't do anything to top this ... We're very happy, delirious. We're aware that we've done something magnificent. I'd like to congratulate the whole club and the fans. We're not the best team in Barça history but we've had the best season. We've won three trophies but it's also about how we've won them. As a player it was great to win this trophy for the first time. Now we have three which isn't as many as other clubs but we're getting closer to a select group of mythical teams. I've said many times that we're fortunate to have the legacy of Johan Cruyff and Charlie Rexach. They were the fathers and we've followed them.
At the beginning of the game we didn't expect Manchester United to press so high. They caused us problems and we have to admit they had a great chance to score from Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick [in the second minute]. We scored with our first chance and then tried to move the ball inside. In the semi-final last year we noticed Messi had problems with Evra so we decided to move Leo from out wide to have one more player in midfield. He's the best right now and has written his name on the Ballon d'Or. Messi has a real talent and will never hide – when the going gets tough he really gets going.
I have to process my emotions now as we've done something wonderful. We're not a tall side and have defended without a few regular players but we attacked and defended well against the best team in the world. Give me a few days to rest and then I'll tell you how I'm going to tackle next year. I just want to play well and be back here again. You can play badly and still win, but if you are daring and attack you have a better chance of winning – there's nothing more dangerous than not taking a risk. You can enjoy a victory but with time you enjoy it even more. Tomorrow we will celebrate with Catalonia.

via uefa.com

Xavi Hernández celebrates rome 2009

2009-05-27T22:50:00.000-07:00

Xavi Hernández was left to reflect on a "wonderful" feeling after inspiring FC Barcelona to victory in the UEFA Champions League final with yet another midfield masterclass.

The 29-year-old crowned a memorable 12 months in Rome by setting up Barça's second goal for Lionel Messi in the 2-0 win against Manchester United FC and was selected as the man of the match by the UEFA Technical Study Group, yet another personal accolade for the midfielder who was also named the player of the tournament at UEFA EURO 2008™:

I'm very happy, especially for the team and for my personal prize – we're very content. This is historic, for Barcelona and the squad.

Xavi, one of seven homegrown players in the Catalan club's starting lineup produced by the famed academy at La Masia, encapsulates the club's philosophy and has no doubts the Blaugrana's family spirit had been a crucial factor:

I feel very comfortable; I've said for a long time that it is wonderful with these team-mates around me. We worked hard and pressured United by attacking so they wouldn't feel comfortable. Apart for the first ten minutes, we dominated most of the game.

That has been the story of Barça's season, with 42 of their 61 matches ending in victory and the Spanish Liga and Copa del Rey titles already secured – although Xavi has no doubts which trophy means the most, saying simply:

This one, it's clear. It's the club's third European Cup and without doubt this is the best title. I don't know, I'll leave that for other people to say. I can only say it's a privilege to be considered in that debate. I don't know if we are the best team, but this treble is historic so we have to enjoy it.

via uefa.com

Xavi willing to play waiting game

2009-04-27T23:07:00.000-07:00

As far as Xavi Hernández is concerned, the template for FC Barcelona to overcome Chelsea FC and reach the UEFA Champions League final is to replicate the whirlwind first half the Catalan side produced in defeating FC Bayern München in the previous round.

On that day Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry mounted a four-goal onslaught in the opening 43 minutes of the first leg which, effectively, ensured Barça's presence in the last four. But even if that is the dream route to follow at the Camp Nou against Guus Hiddink's side, Xavi believes Chelsea are a much tougher prospect and that the decisive moments of the tie will come in London.

It would be a huge advantage, in fact it would be a bit of a dream, if we could hit four goals against Chelsea like we did that night. What we can repeat, however, is the level of play and the intensity with which we attacked Bayern. My opinion remains that we are not likely to finish the tie in the first leg – the match at Stamford Bridge will be decisive. Look what happened when Chelsea won at Anfield. Despite that victory they had to fight to stay alive in the second leg and what I feel is important is that we now have enough experience to play this cleverly over the two legs of the tie.
Chelsea do have the tremendous physical power and competitive spirit which everyone talks about but they are also now managed by a fine Dutch coach and I think it's important to point out that they have top-class footballers in the side. Lampard and Drogba stand out but there's also the experience of John Terry – he and Essien are among the best in the world in their positions. I admire Terry and have a great deal of respect for him. In fact I well remember how his aerial ability knocked us out of the competition four years ago.
I don't accept that the Premier League is the best in the world, in fact I'd say that in technical and tactical terms our league is superior. I know that a great deal was made of how Liverpool eliminated Real Madrid but one game doesn't prove anything conclusively. Barça are not in this semi-final by chance and we've defeated good sides like Bayern and Olympique Lyonnais to get here. We are ready for this test.

via uefa.com

United fired up for Dragons' visit

2009-04-07T07:52:00.000-07:00

Manchester United FC may have only 48 hours' recovery time between the visit of Aston Villa FC and their quarter-final first leg against FC Porto but Sir Alex Ferguson believes his European champions will enter Tuesday's tie re-energised by Sunday's events at Old Trafford.
When Italian debutant Federico Macheda struck three minutes into added time to secure a thrilling 3-2 comeback win, he not only sent United back to the Premier League summit, but also restored hitherto flagging levels of belief. "You have to say that winning goal has just galvanised the club," said Sir Alex, who went on to describe it as a "defining moment" in their campaign.
From staring a third successive defeat in the face with eleven minutes remaining, United were celebrating the kind of victory that has become the Old Trafford trademark under the Scot.

We survived some hairy moments but when it went to 2-1 then you saw Manchester United, the risk came out, everyone started playing with abandon. We are sending some of our supporters into cardiac treatment, including the manager, but it is fantastic to watch.

Sir Alex, who said man-of-the-moment Macheda can expect a place on the bench, hopes the return of Wayne Rooney, suspended on Sunday together with Paul Scholes and Nemanja Vidić, will provide extra impetus along with Cristiano Ronaldo's return to scoring form, although Dimitar Berbatov misses out with an ankle injury. "Our team will now hopefully start going into overdrive," said the 67-year-old. He must hope this goes for his suddenly fragile defence too. United have conceded eight goals in the last three domestic outings and even if Vidić returns and Rio Ferdinand shrugs off a groin problem, they cannot afford to repeat recent wobbles against opponents who have registered two goals in each of their last three European away games.
Moreover, the Portuguese champions secured an eighth successive league away win on Saturday in beating Vitória SC 3-1, and their coach, Jesualdo Ferreira, arrived promising an attacking outlook.

English teams play with speed and high intensity at home but we must not lose our identity. We have an attacking spirit, we are not going to change and we will play to win. We want a victory above all but to score a goal will be important.

Porto eliminated United when these sides met in the 2003/04 Round of 16, their 1-1 draw at Old Trafford securing a 3-2 aggregate success. It was the only time they have avoided defeat on eleven previous visits to England but Ferreira, who could start with a front three of Hulk, Lisandro and Cristián Rodríguez, is determined his charges rise to the occasion: "We are top of our league and want to show what we can do." Sir Alex is certainly not underestimating opponents who finished ahead of Arsenal FC in the group stage, despite losing 4-0 in London.

The first thing Cristiano said to me when we had the draw is 'this is a difficult game'. We have watched them and they are a difficult side. Physically they are very strong, and Hulk up front is a very good player.

via uefa.com

Klose prognosis is bitter blow to Bayern

2009-03-19T04:02:00.000-07:00

FC Bayern München will go into both legs of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final next month without striker Miroslav Klose who has been ruled out for at least six weeks after ankle surgery.
The 30-year-old had the operation in Switzerland today after injuring his right ankle during Bayern's Bundesliga win at VfL Bochum 1848 on Saturday. It was reported initially that he faced a two-week lay-off, but in fact he could be sidelined for as long as two months. Although the surgery has been declared a success, the Germany centre-forward will miss Bayern's quarter-final matches – on 7/8 and 14/15 April – as well as the first leg of any semi-final, scheduled for 28/29 April.
Bayern coach Jürgen Klinsmann said it was a "bitter diagnosis and a severe blow" to lose the club's leading scorer, with Klose having hit ten league goals and seven in the UEFA Champions League this season. The attacker also sits out Germany's forthcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Wales. Bayern, second in the Bundesliga and into the last eight of Europe's élite club competition after putting 12 goals past Sporting Clube de Portugal, were already deprived of Luca Toni, Franck Ribéry, Tim Borowski and Hamit Altıntop for the Bochum game.
Klose was injured after half an hour at the Ruhrstadion when he caught his foot in a divot in the pitch. "We wish him all the best and hope he'll be back soon," added Klinsmann. The Bavarian team will find out their quarter-final opponents when the draw is made at UEFA headquarters on Friday.

via uefa.com

Chelsea let Cudicini move to Tottenham

2009-01-27T08:58:00.000-08:00

Chelsea FC have allowed reserve goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini to join English Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur FC on a free transfer, after taking time to thank the Italian "for his years of service and wish him well".
The 35-year-old was Chelsea's second-longest serving player behind John Terry, having joined the club from ASD Castel di Sangro Calcio in 1999 when the London side were still coached by fellow Italian Gianluca Vialli. Chelsea's 2002 Player of the Year was initially back-up for Ed de Goey, but became first choice for several years prior to Petr Čech's arrival at Stamford Bridge in 2004. He leaves the club after making 142 Premier League appearances, with a Chelsea statement reading:

The club would like to take this opportunity to thank Carlo for his years of service and wish him well.

via uefa.com

Podolski promises Bayern a leaving present

2009-01-20T07:54:00.000-08:00

Lukas Podolski told uefa.com "the best way to say goodbye to Bayern and their fans would be to help win the German title, the German Cup and even the Champions League" as he reflected on his summer return to FC Köln.

Tough spell
The German international has concluded a deal in which he will rejoin Köln in the summer after failing to find his feet at FC Bayern München since his signing in 2006. The Polish-born 'Poldi', 23, thus has just six more months to run on his contract with the Bundesliga champions, but told uefa.com that he was determined to leave the club with something to remember him by.

I always set high goals for myself. There was no sense in me staying beyond the summer because I didn't really get a chance to play at Bayern. One match or a half is not enough for a player to get into his best form and maintain it.

Coming home

However, despite that frustration, he will leave Munich with fond memories.

I won a German title and every German player dreams about that. Bayern gave me the chance to do that and I will not forget it although, I repeat, I am not a player who will accept a place on the bench. Never. I waited, hoping something would change, but it didn't. That is why I took this decision. Now, I feel relieved. The whole of European football has been speculating about my future and I was tired of it. So, I am really glad it is over. Now, I am focusing on high goals with Bayern and then, in the summer, I am coming home.

Fan campaign
Podolski joined Köln a boy in 1995, and started his professional career there, with 46 goals in 81 league games between 2003 and 2006. He received offers from several other clubs in recent months, but was determined to rejoin the 'Billy Goats'. His return to Cologne is the end of a long process of negotiations between the two clubs, and also the conclusion of a long fan campaign.

They tried to collect money for my transfer, they organised parties and even recorded a song encouraging my return. I also had very good talks with Köln officials. They didn't just say: 'Poldi, we spent all our money on you so we will not sign anyone else.' It was the opposite. They promised me they will buy other important players as the club does not want to be involved in relegation battles. In two or three years we will be ready to fight for bigger goals.

via uefa.com

Chelsea lose Cole for the season

2009-01-20T07:51:00.001-08:00

Reconstructive surgery
Cole ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament during Chelsea's FA Cup replay win at Southend United FC in midweek and on Saturday had successful reconstructive surgery. Chelsea have confirmed his absence for the remainder of the campaign.

Scolari 'disappointed'
Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari said: "I am very sad for Joe to have suffered this injury and I am disappointed to have lost a very important player for me and the club at such a vital moment in the competition. However, I believe that with his spirit, Joe will come back to Chelsea even better than before." Cole had made 20 appearances in all competitions this term, scoring three goals. The London club sit third in the Premier League and will play Juventus in the UEFA Champions League first knockout round on 25 February and 10 March.

via uefa.com

Villarreal lose Llorente to thigh strain

2008-11-17T07:42:00.000-08:00

Villarreal CF's leading scorer Joseba Llorente will play no part in the Spanish club's two remaining fixtures in UEFA Champions League Group E as he needs around a month to recover from a tear in his right thigh.

Great start
The striker – who will celebrate his 29th birthday on 24 November – was replaced by Guille Franco during the second half of the 2-2 draw away to Málaga CF on Sunday. Club doctor Juan Albors confirmed the injury this afternoon, having spent the morning examining the player. Llorente has enjoyed an excellent start to his career at El Madrigal after joining on a four-year contract from Real Valladolid CF in the summer, scoring six times in eleven Liga games including the second at La Rosaleda.

Eguren cleared
The former Real Sociedad de Fútbol forward has also made his mark in the UEFA Champions League, registering a hat-trick against Aalborg BK on Matchday 3, but will play no part in Villarreal's concluding games against Manchester United FC a week tomorrow and Celtic FC away on 10 December. The Yellow Submarine need just a point to reach the knockout stages. Meanwhile, midfield player Sebastián Eguren received the all-clear from doctors at an Andalusian hospital last night after the Uruguayan was carried off on a stretcher in the 72nd minute with a head injury following a clash with Málaga defender Hélder Rosario.

via uefa.com

Deco doubtful for Schalke opener

2008-03-24T01:32:00.000-07:00

Deco is rated a major doubt for FC Barcelona's UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg against FC Schalke 04 after suffering a pulled thigh muscle.

The Portuguese international midfielder has not played a competitive game since appearing in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League first knockout round tie against Celtic CF on 4 March, and has now been signed off for 15 days with a sore muscle in his right thigh. It is touch and go whether the 30-year-old will be fit in time for the first leg against Schalke in Gelsenkirchen on 1 April, but he should be fit for the return eight days later. Deco has played in 15 league games this season, scoring once, and four more in the UEFA Champions League.

M. United vs Lyon preview

2008-03-04T11:28:00.000-08:00

Old Trafford has long been one of European football's most redoubtable fortresses and Sir Alex Ferguson believes home advantage will prove telling when Manchester United FC conclude their first knockout round tie against French champions Olympique Lyonnais on Tuesday.
Carlos Tévez's 87th-minute equaliser in the sides' 1-1 draw at the Stade de Gerland leaves United favourites to reach the last eight and their record of nine successive European home wins provides extra cause for confidence.
Sir Alex said:

Our home record in European football has been very good for a long time. The atmosphere at Old Trafford on a European night helps.
Lyon will come knowing they have to get a goal. He [Karim Benzema] is a very strong boy, he reminds me a little bit of [Zinédine] Zidane – physique wise and possibly pace wise too. He is a natural centre-forward.

United have not lost to continental opposition at this venue since AC Milan prevailed at this stage of the 2004/05 campaign – and a victory over Lyon would see the English champions equal Juventus's record of ten consecutive home wins in the UEFA Champions League, established between 1996 and 1998. Yet while Lyon went down 2-1 on their only previous trip here in 2004, Sir Alex is wary of the attacking potential of a visiting team beaten just once in their last seven away fixtures in the competition.
Having played wide left in Lyon's last two matches, Benzema will be happy to revert to a central striking role with Fred – scorer of the only goal against LOSC Lille Métropole on Saturday – dropping to the bench.
Lyon coach Alain Perrin believes Benzema capable of playing a decisive part in a contest where, by his own admission, the balance now rests with United:

He has the ability to make the difference on his own, to create opportunities even when space is restricted. We are out as things stand, so we have to attack. Their positioning is excellent and they are very experienced with players like [Rio] Ferdinand and [Nemanja] Vidić in the centre, who are good at winning their individual battles.

With Ryan Giggs struggling with a calf problem, winger Nani should start and maintain his record as United's only ever-present in Europe this term. A goalless draw would be enough for United but Sir Alex, whose charges beat Fulham FC 3-0 on Saturday, promised "attacking football" and his programme notes dwelled on the influence of striker Tévez. The Argentinian is just one of the star forwards that a Lyon rearguard missing the suspended Anthony Réveillère yet featuring the fit-again Cris – fresh from his first appearance since August – will have to watch closely. "He has a knack of rising to the occasion," said the Scot, drawing comparisons with Eric Cantona.
via uefa.com

Milan vs Arsenal preview

2008-03-04T11:23:00.000-08:00

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti cut a relaxed figure before the make-or-break first knockout round visit of Arsenal FC as he revealed that the return of his leading lights offered plenty of cause for optimism.
By their standards the Rossoneri have struggled in Serie A this term. On Saturday, Massimo Oddo's equaliser against S.S. Lazio gave Milan a fifth draw in six matches, leaving them 18 points behind leaders FC Internazionale Milano and four adrift of fourth-placed ACF Fiorentina – with qualification for next season's UEFA Champions League in the balance. However, if Carlo Ancelotti's side have a split personality, the pros outweigh the cons. Last year, for example, a disappointing league campaign was more than tempered by a seventh European Champion Clubs' Cup success.
Ancelotti said:

It is difficult to explain why we play better in the Champions League other than to say that this competition has always meant something extra special to this club. We've been through a sticky patch over recent games. We've had to get by without a number of players, but the fact most of them are back and have worked really well in training gives me the belief that they'll give another great performance.
It is not by chance that we've always done well at home when we've had to. We always manage to play with the right attitude in these knockout situations. Nil-nil is a result which needs to be managed intelligently – we must call on all our skill and experience, we mustn't rush anything. In all our previous successes we managed to control the match. Patience is the key.

Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta, Andrea Pirlo, Kaká and Filippo Inzaghi are all expected to start after being rested against Lazio, although Clarence Seedorf, who strained a hamstring in the first half of that match, may join Emerson (shin), Marek Jankulovski (knee), Dida (back) and Ronaldo (knee) on the sidelines. Milan won all three group-stage games at the Giuseppe Meazza in the autumn, and knockout-stage victories here against Celtic FC, FC Bayern München and Manchester United FC last term have heartened Ancelotti.
Arsenal may also look to bide their time as they know an away goal could suffice to see them through. As with Milan, the Gunners' domestic form has stuttered slightly, with draws against Birmingham City FC and Aston Villa FC, while injuries have deprived them of Eduardo (leg), Tomáš Rosický (hamstring) and Kolo Touré (calf). However, Abou Diaby is fit again and Robin van Persie has travelled with the squad to give the Premier League leaders what Arsène Wenger described as a "psychological edge".
Arsene Wenger said:

We are highly focused, team spirit is very high and we believe we can do it. This is a young team we have, but the foundations were laid two years ago when we went to the Santiago Bernabéu, to Juventus and we played [FC] Barcelona. These are the sort of matches that every player wants to play, and I believe what counts is to know that your side has the necessary quality to win these games. I am confident these players have the qualities to win.

via uefa.com

Cris closes in on Lyon return

2008-02-28T09:39:00.000-08:00

Olympique Lyonnais captain Cris will discover this weekend if he has a chance of facing Manchester United FC in the UEFA Champions League first knockout round second leg on Tuesday.
The 30-year-old Brazilian international centre-back has not played for the French champions since tearing ligaments in his right knee against Toulouse FC in August but, having appeared for the reserves last week, may return to action against LOSC Lille Métropole on Saturday:

One thing is obvious – if he does not play against Lille this weekend, I cannot pick him against United. I must talk to him to know [how he is], but he's aware that he's just coming back.

via uefa.com

Eduardo recovering after surgery

2008-02-24T20:48:00.000-08:00

Arsenal FC striker Eduardo da Silva is recovering from surgery in a London hospital after suffering a severe break to his left leg and ankle during Saturday's Premier League draw at Birmingham City FC which will keep him out for the rest of the season and Croatia's UEFA EURO 2008 challenge.
The match was stopped for nearly ten minutes as the Brazilian-born Eduardo was treated on the field before being carried off on a stretcher. Birmingham defender Martin Taylor was given a straight red card for his third-minute challenge on the forward.
Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, said:

The tackle was horrendous. I've seen some bad ones before but you are not always punished with a broken leg. The minimum is that the season is over and we're scared it is much longer. He is a fantastic guy and to see him in such pain and the shape of his leg was very difficult to take for our players.

Eduardo was taken to hospital in Birmingham where he was diagnosed with compound fractures of the tibia and fibula, and medical staff at the ground were also reported to be shocked at the seriousness of the injury.
Born in Rio de Janeiro on 25 February 1983, Eduardo moved to Croatia aged 15 to join NK Dinamo Zagreb as an apprentice. After obtaining Croatian citizenship, he made his international debut against the Republic of Ireland in 2004 and is one of a number of Brazilians playing for other national sides. Eduardo, who joined Arsenal last July, was looking forward to playing for Croatia at this summer's UEFA European Championship. With ten goals overall, he was the second top scorer in qualifying for the finals in Austria and Switzerland.
via uefa.com

Cerltic vs Barcelona preview

2008-02-20T09:18:00.001-08:00

FC Barcelona playmaker Deco is looking forward to renewing acquaintances with Celtic FC on Wednesday. The Portuguese international has fond memories of the Glasgow club dating back to a steamy 2003 night in Seville when he helped José Mourinho's FC Porto edge out the Scottish side 3-2 after extra time to win the UEFA Cup.
Sixteen monCeltic are a team I likeths later, following a move to Camp Nou, Deco scored his first goal in Barcelona colours in a 3-1 victory at Celtic – still the only home defeat suffered by the Hoops in the UEFA Champions League. Little wonder, then, that the 30-year-old is in a positive mood ahead of this first knockout round first leg.

Deco said:

Celtic are a team I like. I have very good memories of the UEFA Cup final and my first Barcelona goal, so I'm very much looking forward to these two games. I have very good memories of the UEFA Cup final and my first Barcelona goal, so I'm very much looking forward to these two games. They need to take more risks because they are playing at home. This Celtic team is just as strong as the two previous teams I played against, but there is no Henrik Larsson now and he was a very good player for them.
We have come to win and we need to have a confident defence in order for us to control the ball. Celtic are a direct team and they will play until the final whistle to get a result. They also have very strong support which makes it easier for them to play at home. We know it will be tough but we're confident of getting a result.

via uefa.com

Liverpool vs Internazionale preview

2008-02-19T09:06:00.000-08:00

Rafael Benítez has called upon Liverpool FC's supporters to rally the team through these tough times as they prepare to meet FC Internazionale Milano in the UEFA Champions League first knockout round at Anfield on Tuesday.
Europe represents the only realistic hope of Liverpool – 19 points off the pace in fifth place in the Premier League – winning silverware this season after they were beaten 2-1 in the FA Cup by lower-league Barnsley FC on Saturday. However, manager Benítez draws strength from the club's famous anthem as he seeks to turn around a disappointing campaign, saying:

We know they [the fans] must be behind the team because they always are. When you have a legend that says You'll Never Walk Alone, that means something.
The players have confidence and know that this is now another competition, so we will try to win this game and I am sure we can do it. We must win because we have to change what's happening. Inter don't have too many weaknesses so it will be difficult to find them, but we have some ideas and we will try to use the quality we have in our own squad.

A late substitute against Barnsley, captain Steven Gerrard will return along with rested goalkeeper Pepe Reina while Fernando Torres is expected to shake off a hamstring strain. Fellow striker Andriy Voronin (knee) and defender Daniel Agger (metatarsal) remain out, however.
Italian champions Inter defeated AS Livorno Calcio 2-0 on Saturday to stretch their unbeaten run to 29 games in all competitions since losing 1-0 to Fenerbahçe SK on Matchday 1 – and their lead atop Serie A to eleven points.
Coach Roberto Mancini said:

Even though we are winning on the home front, it's still not enough. We want to improve, and to succeed in the Champions League is a huge goal for absolutely everyone. We are aware there is still a long way to go but that's certainly our aim. This stadium [Anfield] is part of the history of football, so it would be absolutely fantastic to come here and win. I suppose it is true to say that Liverpool are not playing particularly well in the league at the moment, but that means they have to give everything in the Champions League, so that might actually make it more dangerous for us. We are going to have to be very attentive and very careful. We have a great deal of respect for Liverpool and we know the next couple of games are going to be very tough. To play well here, in this kind of match and in this kind of stadium ... if we were to win, it would be a truly prestigious victory.

Key striker Zlatan Ibrahimović and Nicolás Burdisso are available again after suspension – the defender having served a six-match ban – although midfielder César is suspended and Luis Antonio Jiménez injured. In midfield, Patrick Vieira lacks match fitness but could play along with Luís Figo. The Portuguese made his comeback as a substitute against Livorno after fracturing his fibula in November.

via uefa.com

First knockout round

2008-02-19T08:53:00.000-08:00

Uefa Champions League starts today. Here are the matches for today and tomorrow and the date for the second leg:

Match		First leg	Second leg
Shalke 04	Porto	1-0	05/03
Roma	Real Madrid	2-1	05/03
Olympiacos	Chelsea	0-0	05/03
Liverpool	Internazionale	2-0	11/03
Celtic	Barcelona	20/02	04/03
Lyon	Man. United	20/02	04/03
Fenerbahçe	Sevilla	20/02	04/03
Arsenal	Milan	20/02	04/03

Update 1

Deco determined to learn from mistakes

2008-02-18T09:40:00.000-08:00

Deco was talking to Julio Gomes Filho:

I am delighted to return to UEFA Champions League action after missing four games in the group stage because of injuries. I am completely fit again after my injury, although it has been difficult to regain my rhythm and match sharpness. This is my fourth season at Barcelona, and in the last three years we have faced British sides in the first knockout round. We lost to Chelsea in 2005, beat them in 2006, and lost to Liverpool last season.
We should learn our lesson from that defeat. These ties are decided over two games, not one. We took too many chances in the first leg against Liverpool because we were playing at home, and forgot we could still win away. Having lost 2-1, though, things became very difficult. The first result has always a huge influence on the second game. We can't make the same mistakes this time against Celtic. We played them in 2004/05 and we were the first team to beat them in Glasgow in a Champions League match.
We've played Rangers twice this season, so we're pretty used to the Scottish style. They are aggressive, fight for every ball, and put pressure on you by getting a lot of crosses into the box. Celtic supporters are the best in Europe alongside Liverpool fans. They are really noisy and you end up listening to them. Once a game starts, footballers tend to ignore the noise. But it helps a lot to motivate their team. What they do is marvellous.
We have been criticised for a lack of goals, but I think there is no need to worry. We've been creating chances. That's the important thing. We need to be more clinical with our chances, but it is a matter of time. It is also a factor that we've never had all our forwards available. There is always someone injured or away. Now Samuel Eto'o is back, Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry are fine, and Ronaldinho is regaining his form.
The Champions League is our big dream. It would be fantastic to win it again. But I'm not ruling out catching Real Madrid in the league either. Although it's not in our hands any more, I think we can win more games than them and fight for our third title in four years. It is difficult, but far from impossible. Beyond the job with Barcelona, my other objective this year is to win UEFA EURO 2008 with Portugal. We recently lost to Italy in a friendly in Switzerland, which shows how difficult the tournament will be. One of the things we have to improve is to be more alert during games. We've been conceding silly goals and we have to avoid doing that on the big stage.

via uefa.com

Oleguer injury leaves Barça short

2008-02-10T20:46:00.000-08:00

FC Barcelona have announced that defender Oleguer Presas is likely to be sidelined for the next six weeks after breaking a bone in his hand.
The 28-year-old started Saturday's game at Sevilla FC having missed the last two months with a calf injury. Oleguer played the full 90 minutes but was taken to hospital after the match where an x-ray confirmed he had fractured the third finger on his left hand. The injury leaves Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard short at right-back as both captain Carles Puyol (thigh) and Gianluca Zambrotta (calf) are also out, although the Italy defender is expected back for next weekend's game against Real Zaragoza. Oleguer, who has played ten league games this term, is likely to miss both legs against Celtic FC in the UEFA Champions League first knockout round.

Gattuso doubtful for Arsenal tie

2008-02-03T20:54:00.000-08:00

AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso is almost certain to miss the first leg of the holders' UEFA Champions League first knockout round tie with Arsenal FC because of the thigh problem he sustained against Reggina Calcio on Wednesday.
Gattuso, an ever present for Milan in the group stage before Christmas, was ruled out for between three and four weeks after undergoing tests on his injured right thigh on Friday. The Italian international is unlikely to be fit for the first leg against Arsenal in London on 20 February but could be back in time for the return in Milan on 4 March. Gattuso's injury means he will also Italy's friendly game against Portugal next week.

Manucho making waves in Ghana

2008-01-28T08:22:00.000-08:00

Manucho may be pushing for a place in the UEFA Champions League with Manchester United FC after scoring two more goals for Angola at the African Cup of Nations.
The 24-year-old, who will join United on a three-year contract from local side Petro Atlético Luanda this month subject to a successful work permit application, scored twice as his side came from behind to beat fancied Senegal 3-1 on Sunday to cap a battling performance which left Angola needing just a point to reach the knockout rounds.
Angola coach Luís Oliveira Gonçalves said:

The biggest team does not always win the big battles. We won and we won well. He is a tall, agile and quick forward and through contacts that Carlos [Queiroz, United's assistant manager] has, he was brought to our attention around six months ago.

Manucho headed a fine equaliser at the far post after 50 minutes and then forced in another during a goalmouth scramble in the 67th, having already opened his account by registering in the opening 1-1 draw against 2010 FIFA World Cup hosts South Africa. That brilliant diving header confirmed what Sir Alex Ferguson saw in him during a successful trial at Old Trafford.
United face Olympique Lyonnais in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 on 20 February and 4 March, playing the second leg at home. They may register a maximum of three new players for use in the tournament, provided they are eligible.
via uefa.com

Madrid face anxious wait on Pepe

2008-01-22T10:02:00.000-08:00

Pepe is a doubt for the first leg of Real Madrid CF's UEFA Champions League first knockout round tie with AS Roma next month after suffering more injury woe.
The 24-year-old defender was substituted eleven minutes into Sunday's derby victory against Club Atlético de Madrid at the Vicente Calderón after sustaining a knock to his right calf. Medical tests yesterday confirmed the summer signing from FC Porto will be sidelined for three to four weeks, meaning his chances of recovering for the first leg in Rome on 19 February are in the balance.
It is the second setback for Pepe this season after a thigh injury sustained in training back in August delayed the Brazil-born Portuguese international's Madrid debut until November. The Primera División leaders welcome Roma to the Santiago Bernabéu for the return leg on 5 March.

via uefa.com

Anderson's season over at Lyon

2008-01-20T02:40:00.000-08:00

Olympique Lyonnais defender Anderson is to undergo surgery on his right knee, ruling the Brazilian out of the remainder of the campaign.
The 27-year-old had a scan on Friday which revealed damage to cruciate knee ligaments. Anderson sustained the injury against Le Mans UC 72 in the French League Cup two days before, but went on to complete the match which Lyon lost 1-0.
Anderson was signed last summer from SL Benfica to cover for compatriot Cris, who suffered a similar injury in August. Cris only resumed training this week and is expected to return to action next month, possibly in time for the UEFA Champions League first knockout round first leg against Manchester United FC at the Stade de Gerland on 20 February. Anderson, capped once by Brazil, is the fourth player from the French champions to require a knee operation this term after Grégory Coupet, Cris and Patrick Müller.

Rabiola back at Porto

2008-01-17T08:22:00.000-08:00

FC Porto have recalled midfielder Rabiola from a loan spell at Vitória SC as they plan for a UEFA Champions League first knockout round tie against FC Schalke 04.
The 18-year-old officially left the Guimaraes side to sign for Porto at the end of last season but was allowed to stay at Vitória to continue his development. He has scored one goal in four Portuguese Liga games this term, prompting Porto to take him to the Estádio do Dragão. Rabiola attended his first training session with the club today. Porto meet Schalke in Gelsenkirchen on 19 February before hosting the return leg on 5 March.

Agger ruled out by injury recurrence

2008-01-14T10:10:00.000-08:00

Liverpool FC centre-back Daniel Agger has suffered a recurrence of his metatarsal injury and faces at least several more weeks on the sidelines.
The Danish international, 23, had been due to make his comeback in a reserve-team game last week, only for the match to be cancelled. However, any return will now have to wait until next month at the earliest after Liverpool revealed that the defender, sidelined since breaking a bone in his right foot in mid-September, has suffered a setback.
Reds manager Rafael Benítez said:

We've had some bad news in that Agger has the same problem again. He was training and ready to play, but yesterday he felt something so we need to go back and start from the beginning. He is going to see different surgeons and then we will be able to analyse the situation.

Agger, who has made only five Premier League appearances this season, must now be rated doubtful for Liverpool's UEFA Champions League first knockout round tie against FC Internazionale Milano. The Merseysiders entertain the Serie A leaders on 19 February before travelling to Milan on 11 March. Agger was named Denmark's Footballer of the Year for 2007 earlier this month.

Chelsea capture striker Anelka

2008-01-11T08:42:00.000-08:00

Much-travelled France striker Nicolas Anelka has joined Chelsea FC on a four-and-a-half year contract from Bolton Wanderers FC in a deal valued at €20m.
Chelsea were keen to sign a forward in the transfer window, with Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou on African Cup of Nations duty and Andriy Shevchenko injured. In Anelka, they have bought one with a proven track record in the Premier League, not least this season where his tally of ten goals is bettered only by Cristiano Ronaldo and Emmanuel Adebayor. The 28-year-old is making his eighth move since leaving Paris Saint-Germain FC for Arsenal FC in 1997, a journey that has taken in Real Madrid CF, Liverpool FC, Manchester City FC and Fenerbahçe SK, from where he switched to Bolton in 2006.
Although Anelka featured in Bolton's UEFA Cup campaign, helping them reach the Round of 32, Chelsea have the option of adding one player who has played in another European competition this season to their UEFA Champions League squad in time for their first knockout round encounter with Olympiacos CFP.
With this last move Anelka is the most expensive player, the clubs were he played paid in time $15m.

Lyon ready to recruit Delgado

2008-01-08T08:47:00.000-08:00

With defensive midfielder Fábio Santos spending the next six months on loan at São Paulo FC for family reasons, and striker Fred reportedly bound for Paris Saint-Germain FC, Olympique Lyonnais expect to make Argentinian forward César Delgado their first signing of the transfer window this week.
Santos, a 27-year-old Brazilian, arrived in a €4m switch from Cruzeiro EC a year ago and has appeared in eight Ligue 1 matches this season, scoring once, against RC Lens in September. Lyon official Bernard Lacombe said:

It's very tough for him to leave us now. He's disappointed to go because he's enjoyed some superb moments with the team and fans.

The departure of the South American, and likely exit of countryman Fred, together with the awarding of a Portuguese passport to captain Cris, means Lyon are poised to have three free slots for non-EU players. One of those will be filled by Delgado, who is due to join this week from CD Cruz Azul in Mexico after the clubs reached an agreement for the 26-year-old's transfer. Lyon meet Manchester United FC in the UEFA Champions League first knockout round next month.

via uefa.com

Crespo coming on strong at Sevilla

2008-01-04T01:24:00.000-08:00

Sevilla FC defender José Ángel Crespo has signed his first professional contract, binding the 20-year-old to the Andalusian club until June 2011.
Having started the season playing for Sevilla's reserve team, Crespo was promoted to the senior selection. He made his first league appearance at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium in a 2-0 win against Real Madrid CF on 3 November, only to be taken off with a fractured jawbone which saw him sidelined for a month. The Spanish Under-21 international has made six league appearances this season and made his UEFA Champions League debut in the 3-1 win against Arsenal FC on 27 November. Sevilla meet Fenerbahçe SK in the first knockout round when the UEFA Champions League resumes in February.

Cooper completes Liverpool move

2007-12-30T02:37:00.000-08:00

Liverpool FC have signed 16-year-old winger Alex Cooper from Scottish lower-league side Ross County FC. The teenager, son of the former Aberdeen FC defender Neale Cooper, moves to Anfield in a €150,000 transfer, having agreed a contract until 2011.
His father, a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup winner with Aberdeen in 1983, said:

He could have gone to one or two other clubs but loved the way he was treated by Liverpool when he was there.

The English team will face FC Internazionale Milano in the UEFA Champions League first knockout round in February and March.

Van der Sar extends United stay

2007-12-23T02:48:00.000-08:00

Manchester United FC goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has agreed a new 12-month contract that will keep him at Old Trafford next season.
The former AFC Ajax and Juventus goalkeeper joined United from Fulham FC in June 2005 and helped United regain the Premier League title last season but, although the 37-year-old recently announced plans to retire from international football after playing for the Netherlands at UEFA EURO 2008™, he is evidently keen to prolong his club career until at least summer 2009. United are lying second in the English top flight and face Olympique Lyonnais in the first knockout round of the UEFA Champions League.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said:

Van der Sar has signed a new contract for another year. We are pleased with that because his consistency and experience has been a great help to this club. I am sure he (Van der Sar) will want to be No1 and I am sure Ben Foster will give him a good challenge.

Olympiacos snap up Sisič

2007-12-20T10:39:00.000-08:00

UEFA Champions League contenders Olympiacos CFP have signed Slovenian midfielder Mirnes Sisič from Levadiakos FC in their first activity of the winter transfer window.
The 26-year-old has agreed a three-and-a-half year contract with the reigning Greek champions. Sisič will cost Olympiacos a reported fee of €500,000 and is due to join the squad on 3 January.
Sisič returned to Levadiakos in the close season after a loan spell with Iraklis FC and has scored two goals in nine Greek Super League matches this term. The former Larissa FC player will add depth to an Olympiacos midfield lineup missing anchorman Cristián Raúl Ledesma for the next month due to a hamstring injury.

Draws loom for knockout rounds

2007-12-17T09:58:00.000-08:00

The draws for the knockout rounds of the 2007/08 UEFA club competitions will take place on Friday at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
The pairings for the first knockout round of the UEFA Champions League will kick off proceedings at 12.00CET. The eight group winners will be drawn against the eight runners-up, with the second-placed sides playing first-leg ties at home. Teams from the same association cannot face each other at this stage, and neither can those who qualified from the same group. UEFA General Secretary David Taylor and UEFA Head of Club Competitions Michele Centenaro will conduct that draw, and those for the UEFA Cup an hour later.
The Round of 32 of the latter tournament will see the winners of one group play the third-placed side from another, whereas teams entering the UEFA Cup from the UEFA Champions League will take on group runners-up. The group winners and runners-up will play their second legs at home. While there is country protection at that stage, the draw for the Round of 16, to follow directly afterwards, is open.
Media representatives wishing to attend the draws have to apply via email to accreditations@uefa.ch before 12.00CET on Thursday. A sound system will be installed for ENG crews but no extra facilities such as telephone or ISDN lines will be available inside the draw hall and there are no special facilities for radio stations or websites. Due to interference problems, it is recommended that sound engineers do not use the following frequencies while in the House of European Football: 783.875 MHz, 786.125 MHz, 782.250 MHz, 782.875 MHz, 784.625 MHz, 785.250 MHz, 792.500 MHz, 794.875 MHz. Both draws will be transmitted live on uefa.com and Eurosport.

Javi Navarro on road to recovery

2007-12-15T07:59:00.000-08:00

Sevilla FC captain Javi Navarro has been given the go-ahead to prepare for a first-team comeback in three months' time after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on a long-term knee injury.
Navarro had the operation to verify the extent of the problems in his right knee which have prevented him from playing this season. The procedure, which took place on Thursday night, has been declared a success: although it revealed the location of the discomfort that Navarro is feeling in his kneecap and also some cartilage damage, further surgery will not be needed.
The 33-year-old Spanish international centre-back can therefore begin plotting a return to Sevilla's first team. His last act as captain was to lift the Spanish Cup in June after he also collected the UEFA Cup trophy for a second time following the defeat of RCD Espanyol in Glasgow last May. When eventually he does get back to action, Navarro will hope that his Sevilla side remain in UEFA Champions League contention. They qualified for the first knockout round, to be played on 19/20 February and 4/5 March, by winning Group H.

Arsenal vs Steaua preview

2007-12-12T09:12:00.000-08:00

Arsenal FC manager Arsène Wenger has challenged his side to prove they are "a big team" by reacting to recent setbacks with a strong performance in their final UEFA Champions League Group H game against FC Steaua Bucureşti.

Beaten for the first time in 28 matches by Sevilla FC on Matchday 5, the Gunners have also faltered on the home front, drawing with Newcastle United FC before relinquishing an eight-month undefeated domestic record at Middlesbrough FC on Sunday. The Premier League pacesetters lacked spark without injured quartet Cesc Fabregas, Aleksandr Hleb, Robin van Persie and Mathieu Flamini at the Riverside Stadium, yet Wenger is confident his side can make a swift return to winning ways.
Wenger said:

We lost a game, we have not been good and now we want to respond. What we have built in the last six months has not disappeared because of one game. We feel this is the start of an era, the start of something big. If you want to be a big team – and we feel we are – you have to respond to a defeat. It's a slight advantage to play your second game [in the first knockout round] at home. But two years ago we came second, played Real Madrid [CF] and Juventus, and went to the final. Last year we finished top and lost to PSV Eindhoven.

With one eye on Sunday's meeting with Chelsea FC, Wenger will rest several established players and offer youngsters like Armand Traoré, Denilson and Nicklas Bendtner more playing time, as well as recalling experienced goalkeeper Jens Lehmann. "He has had a fantastic attitude," Wenger said of the German who has not played since August. "He's a super professional and an example for everybody." Van Persie and Abou Diaby could also feature after injury.
Bottom of the group with a solitary point, Steaua have only pride to play for, and their coach Marius Lăcătuş expects a difficult evening:

Arsenal may play a weakened team but they'll still have eleven top-class technical players on the pitch. I just want my players to give a good account of Steaua. If we play well and lose because our opponents were better then I will not be disappointed. We're slowly improving and a good result in London will give us the confidence we need to take back to Romania.

Roma vs Man. U preview

2007-12-12T09:07:00.000-08:00

Rome is at a standstill. A lorry drivers' strike has sparked general panic among motorists, who have spent most of the day clogging up the highways and byways of the Eternal City queuing for fast-diminishing supplies of petrol. But if there is alarm on the streets there are no visible signs of disquiet at the Trigoria training ground, where AS Roma coach Luciano Spalletti rests safe in the knowledge that his side are already through to the UEFA Champions League first knockout round ahead of the visit of Manchester United FC.
A 4-1 success against FC Dynamo Kyiv two weeks ago secured Roma's qualification from Group F as runners-up behind Wednesday's opponents United, who themselves clinched first place on the same evening thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo's added-time winner in the 2-1 defeat of Sporting Clube de Portugal. Their progress assured, both teams will likely rotate their squads with United – visitors to Liverpool FC on Sunday – expected to give Danny Simpson, Jonny Evans, Gerard Piqué and Chris Eagles further experience on the European stage.
Yet while Roma's Spalletti may have promised to return Sir Alex Ferguson's Matchday 2 hospitality by "sharing a good bottle of Chianti after the match", he is prepared to take his charity only so far.
Spalletti said:

If we aren't up for a match like this, against one of the best sides in the world when under no pressure, then we are not a top-quality team. It's the best situation a player can ask for – there is nothing to fear because there is nothing to lose.

Spalletti will have to do without suspended defender Marco Cassetti and the injured Simone Perrotta (groin), while Matteo Ferrari, Antunes and Mauro Esposito are all hopeful of starting places.
Roma slipped five points behind Serie A leaders FC Internazionale Milano after Sunday's 1-1 draw at AS Livorno Calcio, Diego Tristán cancelling out Daniele De Rossi's early header. Conversely, United – who, like Roma, are second in their domestic standings – moved to within a point of Premier League leaders Arsenal FC following a 4-1 win against Derby County FC. Although Sir Alex has left Ryan Giggs, Ronaldo and Wes Brown at home ahead of the weekend trip to Anfield, Spalletti predicts "a tough contest".
Sir Alex said:

Manchester United will be 100 per cent committed. That's always our demand whether we're playing our young players or old ones.

Barcelona vs Stuttgart preview

2007-12-12T09:02:00.000-08:00

Matchday 6 brings one of the more unusual fixtures FC Barcelona have faced in their prestigious UEFA Champions League history – with the Spanish side certain to top Group E regardless of the result against a VfB Stuttgart team who will finish bottom even with a victory at Camp Nou.
Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard will watch from the stands having been sent from the touchline during the 2-2 draw at Olympique Lyonnais on Matchday 5, leaving his assistant Johan Neeskens in charge. The latter Dutchman is confident the game will be as competitive as ever, never mind the group situation, saying:

I know German sides very well and they don't know how to treat a competitive game like a friendly. One example I recall is when at [AFC] Ajax we organised a testimonial match for the end of Johan Cruyff's wonderful career. [FC] Bayern München were the guests and they took it in such a friendly spirit that they won 8-0!
Our intention is to rest Víctor Valdés and Lionel Messi while ensuring valuable time for returning players like Deco and Samuel Eto'o. Hopefully the lack of pressure will lead to a wonderful open game, which is rare because our opponents so often come to defend at Camp Nou. This is a chance for me to assess my players and how they react to a particular challenge. Of course it is disappointing to arrive at Camp Nou with no competitive value to the game, but I'll expect to see my team show pride, enthusiasm and commitment.
I guess most of them want the kudos of playing at Camp Nou, but I'll look each of them in the eye and know which of them is telling me a little lie and who is fit. I'll pick a team to go out and play with some joy because this is, after all, a great chance to take on the best footballing side in Europe.

With Deco having returned to the Barcelona lineup as a substitute in Sunday's 2-1 Primera División win against RC Deportivo La Coruña after six weeks out with a thigh problem, and with Samuel Eto'o having played just twice this term due to a similar injury, Neeskens believes both players will take another step on the road to full fitness against Stuttgart.
Veh is deprived of Mario Gómez because of a chest infection and, with Cacau tearing shoulder ligaments in Saturday's 3-1 Bundesliga defeat of VfL Wolfsburg, his only striking options are Ewerthon and Ciprian Marica. Andreas Beck is also absent with a knee injury while Serdar Tasci (tonsillitis) and Sami Khedira (thigh) are both struggling – even so, Veh has already decided how he will select his team.

Real Madrid vs Lazio report

2007-12-11T21:01:00.000-08:00

Real Madrid CF advanced to the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League as Group C winners following a comfortable 3-1 victory against S.S. Lazio at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Bernd Schuster admitted his team were "up for this one" before the match and Madrid proved as good as their coach's word with first-half goals from Julio Baptista, Raúl González and Robinho making the game safe before Goran Pandev pulled one back for Lazio with ten minutes remaining.
The Rome side needed to win to have any chance of progressing and their coach Delio Rossi appeared to have instilled sufficient belief in his players who matched Madrid in terms of possession and confidence on the ball in the early stages. Tommaso Rocchi would surely have done better in the opening moments if slightly better placed when looking to collect a pass from Gaby Mudingayi inside the Madrid area. After eight minutes Rocchi then fed Pandev who struck high and wide of Iker Casillas from eight metres.
With the away fans in full voice, Raúl sounded a warning when his header from a Wesley Sneijder corner struck the upright and Madrid's opener was not long in coming. It arrived on 13 minutes when the in-form Baptista, selected ahead of Guti, received a short pass from Robinho out wide. He paced along the edge of the area and struck a gliding shot that flew wide of Marco Ballotta and into the corner of the goal. Just two minutes later Lazio's hopes of reaching the knockout phase were all but ended when Raúl outjumped Cristián Ledesma to head in his all-time competition-leading 59th UEFA Champions League goal.
The home crowd were roaring their approval for what they thought was another Raúl goal after 21 minutes but their attention was soon diverted to the raised flag of the referee's assistant. A poor Mahamadou Diarra backheader which went straight to Pandev then gave Lazio the chance to reduce the gap but the Macedonian striker's shot hit the side-netting. Apart from that scare Madrid were coasting and they made it 3-0 when Robinho played a one-two with Ruud van Nistelrooy before having the easiest of tasks to poke in from close range.
The second half began with both sides dropping the pace a little. Madrid introduced Arjen Robben and Guti with Robinho and Sneijder making way. Robben fired a shot at goal which Ballotta did well to save before, on 67 minutes, Madrid launched a fine counter-attacking move which almost ended with Van Nistelrooy converting from close range.
Defeat left Lazio bottom of the section and brought their European season to an end, but they made sure they gave their vociferous travelling support at least a goal to celebrate with ten minutes to go. Rocchi's curling pass towards the far post was followed all the way by Pandev who stretched to deflect the ball into the net. Lazio might have had a second in the closing moments but Casillas saved Rocchi's penalty and Roberto Baronio's follow-up as Madrid finished the night as they had begun it – on a high.

via uefa.com

Semin appointed at Dynamo Kyiv

2007-12-09T06:14:00.000-08:00

Former Russia coach Yuri Semin will take over at the helm of FC Dynamo Kyiv when the players return from their winter break on 8 January.
Semin was unveiled by club president Igor Surkis at a press conference following Dynamo's 3-0 win against SC Tavriya Simferopol that took them into the Ukraine Cup semi-finals, recovering from a two-goal first-leg deficit. The new coach, who guided FC Lokomotiv Moskva to the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup semi-finals in 1999, has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal.
The 60-year-old Semin played for FC Spartak Moskva, Lokomotiv Moskva, FC Dinamo Moskva, FC Kuban Krasnodar and FC Kairat Almaty before switching to a coaching role in 1983 when he took charge of FC Pamir Dushanbe. During his spell as Loko's boss between 1983 and 2005, he won the league title twice and claimed the Russian Cup four times. He then took the helm of Russia's national side but failed to reach the 2006 FIFA World Cup, finishing third in their qualifying group.
Taking over a team third in the league at the winter break, Semin's first fixture when the competition resumes will be at leaders FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk on 1 March, as they attempt to close a four-point gap. Semin will be Dynamo's fourth coach this season after Anatoliy Demyanenko, József Szabó and caretaker Oleh Luzhny, who will continue on the bench when Dynamo play their final UEFA Champions League Group F fixture away to Sporting Clube de Portugal on Wednesday, with their hopes of progress in Europe already dashed.
Dynamo defender Goran Gavrančić said:

I am a professional and I have to play under any coach. The most important thing is to have stability and to win games.

Milan vs Celtic preview

2007-12-04T09:33:00.000-08:00

His side may be low on numbers and struggling to keep clean sheets away from home, but Gordon Strachan insists San Siro holds no fear for Celtic FC ahead of their UEFA Champions League decider at AC Milan.
After Jiří Jarošík and Massimo Donati scored in the dying seconds of each half to overturn Brandão's fourth-minute opener and earn Celtic a 2-1 win against FC Shakhtar Donetsk last week, qualification is in the hands of Strachan's team. The Scottish champions are second in Group D, meaning a draw with the Rossoneri would suffice to see them through to the knockout stage for the second successive year.
Strachan said:

I really don't know how to play for a draw. You've got to play for a win and if you get a draw you accept it. Our attitude's always the same: go and play football; go and enjoy it; try and win. There's no scientific formula for football.
If I knew what the formula [for the defensive record] was, I would change it. It's always hard playing in Europe at the best of times and now we're facing the European champions. It's another challenge but I've got no worries about this group eventually getting it right away from home in big games.
It's made it easy for us to understand what it takes to come here. The San Siro's not a scary place, it's the players that make it scary, but now my players feel they enjoy playing against the very best.

If Celtic are to join the exclusive list of 16 clubs left in Europe's élite tournament, however, they must overcome a series of difficulties, including an injury quota that accounts for John Kennedy (knee), Lee Naylor (calf), Shunsuke Nakamura (knee), Jean-Joël Doumbé (heel) and Mark Wilson (knee).
They also have yet to win in seven visits to Italy, or record a defensive shutout on their travels in any competition for more than 14 months.
Celtic came close to getting it right in their biggest match of last season when they held the eventual European champions to two 0-0 draws in the Round of 16 before falling to Kaká's extra-time winner at San Siro. Yet that experience has served them well, not least on Matchday 2 when the Glasgow team defeated Milan 2-1 on home soil, Scott McDonald's 89th-minute strike following goals for either side by Stephen McManus (61) and Kaká (68).
Like Celtic were held 1-1 at Heart of Midlothian FC on Saturday, Milan drew 0-0 with Juventus, continuing their season-long run without a home victory in Serie A, where they occupy eighth place. So ahead of their appearance in the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan next week, coach Carlo Ancelotti wants a morale-boosting result – which would cap his charges' successful campaign by sealing group supremacy.
Carlo Ancelotti said:

I'm going to field the best team available. We're not thinking about Tokyo. We aim to win the group and I'm not planning to change too much.

Shakhtar vs Benfica preview

2007-12-04T09:25:00.000-08:00

They may be forced to wait on the result at San Siro to see if they progress, but coach Mircea Lucescu says his FC Shakhtar Donetsk side must keep their focus as they face an SL Benfica team vying for a UEFA Cup place.
Shakhtar began their UEFA Champions League Group D campaign with back-to-back victories, yet a subsequent run of three defeats means they go into Matchday 6 needing to win and hope that already-qualified AC Milan beat Celtic FC. Should they fail to reach the knockout rounds, Shakhtar will look back with some regret. The Ukrainian Premier League outfit were holding Milan until midway through the second half in their last home game before eventually losing 3-0; and last week a last-gasp Massimo Donati strike denied them a share of the spoils at Celtic.
Lucescu said:

Our biggest problem is that we tend to lose concentration at the key moments; when we conceded in the dying seconds in the Celtic match proves that. But I hope that will change and we will have luck on our side in the future. It is vital to maintain focus right until the very last seconds because even the slightest mistake can mean conceding a goal.
We have no absentees. Dmytro Chygrynskiy, Zvonimir Vukić and Brandão had minor problems but all of them should be fit to play.
We have to win but let's not forget that Benfica have the same goal. They produced top-class football in both games against Celtic and in their home tie with Milan. Benfica have improved and have gained some confidence.

They shipped none in Lisbon on 3 October when Jadson's goal earned Shakhtar the points, and a repeat outcome would ensure a UEFA Cup Round of 32 berth at the least.
Lucescu only has eyes for the UEFA Champions League, however, and having cancelled their weekend fixture against FC Zorya Luhansk, his side have benefited from a well-earned rest.
The Portuguese club require victory to snatch third position in the section and although they suffered their first Liga defeat of the season at the weekend to FC Porto, Lucescu believes the "loss will make Benfica angrier and give them extra motivation". It is a view echoed by his counterpart José Antonio Camacho, who said:

The Porto result has not affected the condition of our team. It is not a tragedy. We will take to the field focusing only on Shakhtar and getting the right result. We will be ready to show the best we have got to give.
We will only settle for a win in Donetsk because that is our only chance of continuing in European competition this term. The key to success will be doing what we failed to do at home against Shakhtar – taking our opportunities.

Camacho will be without the suspended Augustin Binya while Fábio Coentrão (knee) and Cristián Rodríguez (thigh) are injured. Nélson is also doubtful as he struggles with a thigh problem yet the Benfica coach insists there will be no excuses.

Kaká's year capped by Ballon d'Or

2007-12-02T07:08:00.000-08:00

AC Milan's attacking midfielder Kaká has been voted the European Footballer of the Year, collecting the Ballon d'Or live on French television on Sunday morning.
The Brazilian international told free-to-air channel TV TF1:

This award crowns an outstanding year for me. I thank God for this prize, which is the biggest any player can win, and also my wife and my parents. But to get a trophy like this, you also need to have a winning team around you, that's essential – so I'm grateful to Milan and to Brazil.

The 25-year-old helped Milan win the UEFA Champions League last season, scoring a campaign-best ten goals for the Italian club en route to their final victory against Liverpool FC in Athens.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti said:

This is fully deserved. Not just for his game but also for his image. He is a great person.

The former São Paulo FC player also scored Milan's third goal in their 3-1 defeat of Sevilla FC in the UEFA Super Cup match in August. He claimed 444 points in the vote for the award, with Cristiano Ronaldo (277) and Lionel Messi (255) the next best nominees. The Ballon d'Or, which in 2006 went to Italy's Fabio Cannavaro, was this year decided by a worldwide representation of 96 journalists, rather than by the previous poll of European football journalists.
The European Footballer of the Year competition continues to be organised by France Football magazine, which inaugurated the award in 1956. Completing the list of this year's top players were: Didier Drogba, Andrea Pirlo, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Cesc Fabregas, Robinho, Francesco Totti, Frédéric Kanouté, Ronaldinho, Steven Gerrard, Juan Román Riquelme, Daniel Alves, Filippo Inzaghi, Franck Ribéry, Paolo Maldini, Gianluigi Buffon, Petr Čech, Gennaro Gattuso, Thierry Henry, and Clarence Seedorf.

Champions League changes agreed

2007-12-01T01:35:00.000-08:00

Between 2009 and 2012, some 22 teams will qualify directly for the UEFA Champions League group stage instead of 16, and the UEFA Champions League final will be played on a Saturday, under format changes agreed by the UEFA Executive Committee at its meeting in Lucerne, Switzerland, on Friday.

Group stage unchanged
There will be no changes to the main part of European club football's most prestigious competition, which will continue to feature 32 teams split into eight groups of four in the group stage, followed by the knockout phase. The eight sides that finish in third place in their groups will move into the knockout phase of the UEFA Cup – which also has an amended format.

Access list
However, the UEFA Champions League access list between 2009 and 2012 will change accordingly: 22 teams go through directly to the group stage instead of 16. The six additional clubs will be the third-placed sides from the associations ranked between 1 and 3 in the ranking list, and the champions of countries ranked from 10 to 12.

Qualifying routes
Ten teams will qualify through a double qualifying route – one is reserved for the champions of the associations ranked from 13 to 53, with the exception of Liechtenstein. Five clubs will qualify via this route. The other path is reserved for the non-champions of associations rated between 1 and 15.

Saturday final
The final from 2009/10 will be played on a Saturday, in the same week of the year as now, kicking off at 20.45CET. Matches in the first knockout round, featuring 16 clubs, will be split over four weeks instead of two, using dates reserved for UEFA club competitions in February and March. The third qualifying round will be marketed centrally by UEFA.

UEFA President Michel Platini said:

We are all of the opinion that this is a great competition which provides a considerable spectacle. The Executive Committee has unanimously adopted one of three proposals. I wanted more democracy in the access list, and the Executive Committee has understood this message. I think that the decision which has been taken, in particular to spread the first knockout round over four weeks, is good for football, because it gives an added value to these matches.

It is also hoped that playing the UEFA Champions League final on a Saturday will give families, especially children, the chance to see the game.

via uefa.com

Celtic and Shakhtar eager to pounce

2007-12-01T01:29:00.000-08:00

With AC Milan competing in the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan between 7 and 16 December, Group D of the UEFA Champions League concludes early with the European champions having the least to play for.
As they take on Celtic FC at home on Tuesday, Milan are already certain of a place in the last 16, but their guests should keep them on their toes as they continue their quest for a first UEFA Champions League away win. The Scottish title-holders have played 15 away ties in the competition's group stage and beyond, losing 14 and drawing one, but require a point at the San Siro to be sure of qualifying.
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, FC Shakhtar Donetsk are still dreaming of a first appearance in the first knockout round as they encounter SL Benfica. With Shakhtar third in the section, three points behind Celtic, a victory for Mircea Lucescu's side, coupled with a defeat for Gordon Strachan's team, would be Shakhtar's passport to the last 16 – they have a better head-to-head record in their games against the Glasgow club.
To lose, however, would be a disaster for Shakhtar. Already out of UEFA Champions League contention, José Antonio Camacho's Benfica would leapfrog their Ukrainian opponents, whom they trail by two points, and take a place in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup. The remaining 14 Matchday 6 ties – in UEFA Champions League Groups A, B, C, E, F, G and H – will be played on 11/12 December.

via uefa.com

Standings

2007-11-29T09:08:00.000-08:00

Group A	Points
Porto FC	8
Olympique de Marseille	7
Liverpool FC	7
Beşiktaş JK (Tur)	6

Group B	Points
Chelsea FC	11
Rosenborg BK	7
Shalke 04 FC	5
Valencia CF	4

Group C	Points
Real Madrid CF	8
Olympiacos CFP	8
Werder Bremen	6
S.S.Lazio	5

Group D	Points
AC Milan	10
Celtic FC	9
FC Shakhtar Donetsk	6
SL Benfica	4

Group E	Points
Barcelona FC	11
Rangers FC	7
Olympique Lyonnais	7
VfB Stuttgart	3

Group F	Points
Manchester United	15
AS Roma	10
Sporting Clube de Portugal	4
FC Dynamo Kyiv	0

Group G	Points
FC Internazionale Milano	12
Fenerbahçe SK	8
PSV Eindhoven	7
PFC CSKA Moskva	1

Group H	Points
Sevilla	12
Arsenal	10
SK Slavia Praha	5
FC Steaua Bucuresti	1

Celtic vs Shaktar preview

2007-11-28T08:58:00.000-08:00

"Listen and learn." That is Gordon Strachan's message to his players as Celtic FC prepare for a potentially decisive UEFA Champions League encounter with FC Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday.
After going down 2-0 to the Ukrainian club in their opening fixture, the Scottish title-holders have clawed their way back into Group D contention with home victories against holders AC Milan and SL Benfica either side of a late loss in Lisbon. But it is clear the manager remains troubled by the manner of that reverse on Matchday 1, when two defensive errors inside the first eight minutes prevented Celtic from making a positive start in the section.
Strachan said:

You listen and learn. You hope not to lose an early goal, play common sense football and try not to give the other team an advantage right away. That's what we'll try to do and we'll let the game flow after that. I'm sure it will be an exciting game.
Shakhtar are a fantastic side. They're all good players and have a number of individuals who are capable of turning a game with one flash of brilliance along with a few others who are happy to do the hard work.
We're positive because we're playing well. We're scoring goals and looking like a threat most of the time, so that's where the positivity comes from.

Strachan confirmed he is hopeful goalkeeper Artur Boruc and midfielder Paul Hartley will be available after the pair missed Saturday's 3-0 stroll against Aberdeen FC with respective toe and virus complaints. However, he was less forthcoming on counterpart Mircea Lucescu's assertion that Celtic are "lucky" to be still vying for a place in the knockout rounds.
Shakhtar arrived in Glasgow without the suspended Fernandinho but midfielder Nery Castillo is back in his coach's thoughts after apologising to his team-mates for missing a penalty in Saturday's 1-1 home draw with FC Naftovyk-Ukrnafta Okhtyrka. Lucescu, whose charges still top Ukraine's Premier League by a point, identified Scott McDonald, Aiden McGeady and Scott Brown as the key players for the hosts and is looking to avenge a 1-0 defeat at Celtic Park three years ago.
On the other side, Lucescu said:

We played very well and were unlucky to lose that match. But I have other experiences of Glasgow when Galatasaray [AS] drew 0-0 with Rangers [FC in 2000] and I also remember playing with Romania when we drew 1-1 at Hampden Park in 1981. Celtic are very strong at home with the crowd behind them, yet we hope to have opportunities on the counterattack to get the result we want.

Benfica vs Milan preview

2007-11-28T08:52:00.000-08:00

SL Benfica coach José Antonio Camacho is refusing to write off his side's chances of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds ahead of Wednesday's meeting with Group D leaders AC Milan.
"We're going out to win, and we'll do the same in the next match," insisted the Spaniard. After three defeats in their opening four games, Benfica could certainly do with a victory to maintain their hopes of bettering last season's exit at this stage. They trail both third-placed Celtic FC and FC Shakhtar Donetsk, in second, by three points, and depending on the result between those two clubs in Glasgow, a draw in Lisbon may also sustain Benfica aspirations of progress.
In contrast to their Group D status, the Eagles are flying high domestically – the second-placed team are unbeaten in the Portuguese Liga for more than a year and have won their last five matches.
Camacho said:

Morale is high at the moment. We are on a good run. Milan are a team of the moment. We are an improving team, a team of the future. There's a great difference between the sides. But we will try to play our best. We're not going out there with a negative mentality, thinking it's going to be difficult.

Camacho's counterpart Carlo Ancelotti, meanwhile, has been quick to move away from suggestions that the tie holds more importance for Benfica than for the visitors. Indeed, the Rossoneri know a win at the Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica will seal their passage to the knockout phase regardless of results elsewhere:

It's important for both teams. Of course we want to win in order to go through. So we have the second leg of the next round in Milan.

Ancelotti, who played for Milan in the 1990 European Champion Clubs' Cup final when they beat Benfica 1-0, also refutes talk of a crisis caused by his charges' patchy domestic form – they are placed ninth in Serie A:

I don't think there is one. We've won our last two away games, in Donetsk and against Cagliari [Calcio]. Their team are very different from in that first game," he said, pointing out that the younger players in the Benfica ranks are turning them into a force to be reckoned with. "They have a very promising young squad.

Lazio vs Olympiacos preview

2007-11-28T08:43:00.000-08:00

For a team with a decent European record in recent years, S.S. Lazio have only once progressed past the UEFA Champions League group stage. That could be put right on Wednesday, however, when they meet Olympiacos CFP and home coach Delio Rossi believes success would be proof of how far Lazio have come in his three years in charge.

These sides are dead level on five points in Group C, having drawn 1-1 in Athens on Matchday 1. Should either prevail in Rome, they would be through with a match to spare provided leaders Real Madrid CF avoid defeat at bottom club Werder Bremen.
Rosi said:

Qualification is very important in showing how much we have grown over the last three years. We are growing stronger all the time and reaching the last 16 would reflect how far we have come. That's more important to me than any personal achievement. We have never gone missing in the most important games, we've played well. We play strongly and with intensity and that will be vital.
The main thing is to play with a strong heart and a cool head. Every supporter has been dealing with this in his own way, and it is not for me to tell them how to react. But we hope to see many of them here as their backing is important.

Rossi has injury concerns ahead of the game, with defender Lorenzo De Silvestri not expected to play after returning from Italy Under-21 duty with a bruised left knee, while midfielder Massimo Mutarelli is also out. Lazio needed a late Luciano Zauri equaliser when they last faced Olympiacos, yet Rossi has confidence in his team.
A 1-0 weekend success against Parma FC ended a three-match losing streak in Serie A, although Lazio had won their previous fixture against Bremen 19 days earlier. The reason for the gap was the accidental shooting of Lazio fan Gabriele Sandri on 11 November, and Sunday's victory was dedicated to his memory.
Olympiacos themselves expect to have 8,000 fans behind them in the Stadio Olimpico, and coach Panagiotis Lemonis has promised a positive approach against opponents who have already held Real Madrid CF 2-2 and beaten Bremen here.
Lemonis said:

They are a good Italian team and showed that against Real Madrid. They are well-organised defensively, but we expect them to come at us straight away and attack. A draw would not be a bad result for us, yet it would be dangerous to play for a draw.

Thigh injuries deprive the visitors of defenders Didier Domi and Júlio César, and midfielder Marko Né has a knee problem. Cristián Raúl Ledesma sat out Saturday's lacklustre 1-0 Super League win against GAS Veria but should return for the Lazio contest. The Greek champions gained an inaugural UEFA Champions League away victory at the 32rd attempt at Bremen on Matchday 2. A second success would take them through to the knockout rounds for the first time in nine seasons.

Bremen vs Real Madrid preview

2007-11-28T08:17:00.000-08:00

Perhaps the only positive Werder Bremen can draw from this year's UEFA Champions League is that they are still in contention – and coach Thomas Schaaf is determined not to let their chances evaporate for good when Real Madrid CF come looking for a knockout-stage berth on Wednesday.
Rooted to the bottom of Group C on three points, the Bundesliga outfit are desperate for maximum points against the same opponents who beat them 2-1 in Madrid on Matchday 1. Failure to win might not necessarily prove terminal, but Schaaf wants to avoid that gamble:

We're motivated to win this match because we all want to reach the next round. It's great to come up against the top teams and we're totally concentrated. I hope we're able to find solutions on the pitch because everything has to go right for you when you play Real. We've had some very good results in the Bundesliga and we just need to translate that into Europe. We should be able to because our team have the quality.
We have several players who can take on Diego's role and I hope we choose the right one.

Three defeats in four Matchdays suggest little has gone right for Bremen so far in Europe, yet the northerners go into the game on a hot streak of domestic form. Saturday's 2-0 success at FC Energie Cottbus was their sixth win from seven league outings – keeping them within a point of leaders FC Bayern München – and they also boast the strongest home record.
How much quality they boast without influential playmaker Diego remains to be seen, however, as the gifted Brazilian is suspended after being sent off against S.S. Lazio.
In the opposition camp, the Spanish champions travel without Gabriel Heinze, Wesley Sneijder (both knee), Royston Drenthe and Roberto Soldado (both flu) but the good news is that Fabio Cannavaro is poised to make his 50th UEFA Champions League appearance. The centre-back has recovered from the knock he received in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Real Murcia CF and should partner Pepe, as Madrid target the point that would guarantee them a last-16 berth.
Bernd Schuster's men lead both their European group and the Primera División, yet the Murcia result prompted questions about their away form – and historically they have won only once in 21 visits to Germany:

I have no idea why that is, but I promise we have the right mental attitude to win this game. As for Murcia, we often lack rhythm after an international break. We want to put that match behind us and look forward. And, personally, I'd like to get a good result because I've never done too well here in the past. I usually got hammered, in fact.

Valencia vs Schalke preview

2007-11-28T08:07:00.000-08:00

It is the moment of truth for Valencia CF, the critical juncture when their chances of reaching the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds will either remain alive for another two weeks or wither and die against an FC Schalke 04 side also hopeful of emerging from Group B intact.
Determined to stay positive even though the odds are stacked against them, Ronald Koeman insists his team will qualify. And the Valencia coach struck an equally forthright note when he revealed that Santiago Cañizares will retain his place in goal, thus dashing Timo Hildebrand's dream of facing his fellow countrymen.
The Spanish international was at fault when Valencia lost 1-0 at Real Racing Club Santander on Sunday, a fifth league defeat of the season which leaves them in sixth place in the Primera División. Yet on the eve of this crucial UEFA Champions League fixture, Koeman was quick to say:

Cañizares will play. We cannot change the team every week. I have talked to him and he knows he made a mistake. We have to win our last two matches [Valencia finish their campaign at Chelsea on 11 December]. But all we are thinking about at the moment is beating Schalke. If we can do that, then we can start thinking about the next match.
On Sunday we did not play so well in the first half, but in the second things were coming together much better. Nevertheless there is still a lot of hard work to do.

Pressed to explain why he prefers the Spaniard to Hildebrand, Koeman declined the opening. He was more forthcoming about the task ahead of Los Che who lie bottom of the section having taken just three points from their four games. Those points all came on Matchday 1 at Schalke but the return match finds the German challengers one point better off than their hosts.
Matchday 4 was a depressing experience for Koeman and his charges as his first European game in charge ended in a shock 2-0 home loss to Rosenborg. Since then Valencia have tasted victory and defeat in their two Primera División outings, though the Dutchman has detected improvements in his side.
Schalke are buoyed by Saturday's 3-2 Bundesliga triumph at Hannover 96 – and the scoring return after injury of two-goal Kevin Kuranyi. They know they will be asked to do a lot of defending at Mestalla, but believe if they can prove efficient on the counterattack and score first then the advantage will be theirs.
coach Mirko Slomka said:

We have come to Valencia to win and there is a lot of motivation for us. It is very important for Valencia to win but it is also very important for us that we win.

Rosenborg vs Chelsa preview

2007-11-28T07:59:00.000-08:00

Rosenborg BK coach Trond Henriksen is hoping for a repeat of the performances that brought a pair of surprise victories against Valencia CF when his side take on Group B leaders Chelsea FC at Lerkendal on Wednesday.

Rosenborg are just a point behind the English team and will go top of the section should they win on home soil, a scenario that looked highly unlikely when they lost 2-0 to FC Schalke 04 at the same arena on Matchday 2:

We aim to take control of the game just as we did against Valencia. When we're at home we always go for maximum points. We are proud of what we have achieved so far in the UEFA Champions League. But now we are hungry for more and want to do even better.
Roar is just back from injury while Fredrik Stoor has been brilliant for us in recent weeks. Steffen is in great shape and that is important for us.

There are several reasons why the Norwegian club can approach this Matchday 5 encounter with confidence, not least the 1-1 draw at Chelsea with which they opened their campaign. Rosenborg are also unbeaten at home against English opposition, having overcome Blackburn Rovers FC during the 1995/96 season before drawing with Arsenal FC in September 2004. The heavy snowfall in Trondheim over the last couple of days may also be a factor in their favour. In October 1997 Chelsea lost to Tromsø IL in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in similar conditions to those anticipated.
Chelsea will seal pole position in Group B with victory and coach Avram Grant is expecting nothing less:

Rosenborg are second because they deserve to be. We know we're up against a good team but we want to win every game. The most important thing is to go through to the next stage. It was not a good night for us. The stadium was half full and the supporters were booing us.

Goalkeeper Petr Čech and centre-back Ricardo Carvalho are still injured, yet captain John Terry returned for Saturday's 2-0 away success against Derby County FC, and with striker Didier Drogba available again, Grant is confident of getting the result his side require:

Obviously we've had a lot of injuries lately and that has not been easy for us. But this is the life of football, we have a big squad and we are well-prepared for the match.

Liverpool vs Porto preview

2007-11-28T07:49:00.000-08:00

If Rafael Benítez is a man who thrives on pressure, he will surely be in his element when Liverpool FC take on FC Porto in a crucial UEFA Champions League match at Anfield on Wednesday.
The game has been billed as must-win for Liverpool, but Benítez was keen to stress that even a point against Porto might be enough to eventually see the five-time champions through to the last 16:

We must not lose. This may be something that people have not considered, but if we draw and then beat [Olympique de] Marseille and Beşiktaş [JK] also beat Marseille [on Wednesday], maybe we can also qualify. It's really important to win but it's more important not to make mistakes. I am sure we will win and we will play well. There have been no distractions ... we have only been thinking about Porto and nothing else. The most important thing for my club and our supporters is the game.
We are unbeaten [in the Premier League] and in the last game we played really well. We were passing the ball and playing pretty football, so everything is much better now and we will try to keep the momentum going

Benítez has seen his position as manager become the subject of media speculation following an alleged fall-out with the club's American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, concerning his ability to sign new players. However, the Spaniard neatly sidestepped every question regarding his future as he kept his focus on tackling the Portuguese Liga leaders.
A tournament-record 8-0 victory against Beşiktaş on Matchday 4 enhanced Liverpool's qualification prospects and started a sequence of three successive wins which culminated in Saturday's 3-0 triumph at Newcastle United FC which left the Reds in fifth place in England.
Group A leaders Porto will qualify for the knockout stage if they win, although a point against Liverpool could also suffice provided Marseille avoid defeat at Beşiktaş. Porto moved to the summit by overcoming Marseille 2-1 in their last European outing and they are also unbeaten in the Liga. A 2-0 home victory over Vitória FC on Sunday kept them four points clear of SL Benfica at the top, and coach Jesualdo Ferreira is in positive mood:

It's true that a draw could serve Porto's interests but we are not thinking like that, that was never the idea. If we play at the highest levels we are capable of, then we will know if a draw is enough to get us through.
We are not going to try to change our tactics but Liverpool have a different method and I will decide which of my players are best suited to playing as well and as openly as I want them to, and also with great intensity. Liverpool have a solid and balanced team and they have a tradition of attacking very quickly. They have great strength in depth.

Beşiktaş vs Marselle preview

2007-11-28T07:39:00.000-08:00

Having to beat Olympique de Marseille to keep alive their UEFA Champions League challenge would be tough enough for Beşiktaş JK, were they not coming off the heaviest defeat in the competition's history.
The 8-0 reverse at Liverpool FC on Matchday 4 seriously dented the Turkish team's hopes as well as their pride – while Marseille fell from first place with a 2-1 loss at FC Porto, so a win in Istanbul will not necessarily secure the French club's progress with a game to spare. Marseille do at least look confident though, with their Ligue 1 form boosted by victories over Olympique Lyonnais and FC Metz either side of the international break.
Not that home coach Ertuğrul Sağlam has given up on Group A's bottom team:

We still have a chance in the group. If we can take three points, our hopes will stay alive until our last game at Porto. All of us are very conscious about the importance of the Marseille game. We have to take our quality on to the pitch on Wednesday.
Under the management of Gerets, who I respect and like very much, they have discarded some star players and put them on the bench. It's Gerets' choice and, I have to admit, they still have a respectable squad. I believe in my players but they have to play to their potential because we have to win.

Sağlam is without injured defenders Serdar Kurtuluş, Lamine Diatta, Gökhan Zan and İbrahim Kaş, in addition to winger Mehmet Yozgatlı – yet still ended a three-match winless run in the Turkish Süper Lig with Saturday's 1-0 triumph at Gençlerbirligi Oftasspor. The coach also knows all about Marseille boss Erik Gerets from their encounters over the last two seasons when they were in charge of Kayserispor and Galatasaray AS respectively.
Marseille's coach, Gerets, meanwhile, is dreaming of taking the French club past the group stage for the first time since the heady days of their tournament victory in 1992/93:

If we win, we will probably qualify for the next round. We want to finish the group in front of Liverpool and in order to do so, we have to get a good result in Istanbul. Just like Fenerbahçe [SK] and Galatasaray, Beşiktaş are a strong team," the Belgian said. "But more important is how we concentrate and perform.

Midfielder Lorik Cana is fit again after knee trouble and the captain is optimistic that team spirit can see OM through in the fervent Istanbul atmosphere:

We know Beşiktaş want a victory to keep their hopes alive but we can count on each other very much. We have a strong team, although that obviously doesn't mean we will win every game.

Steaua vs Slavia preview

2007-11-27T10:05:00.000-08:00

FC Steaua Bucureşti must arrest an alarming run of home results in the UEFA Champions League if they are to record the victory they need against SK Slavia Praha to maintain aspirations of European football in the new year.
he Romanian champions are yet to collect a point in Group H and sit four behind their Czech visitors with two rounds to play – largely because Slavia won the corresponding fixture 2-1 in Prague on Matchday 1. Steaua have since changed both their coach, Marius Lăcătuş replacing Massimo Pedrazzini, and their fortunes, Saturday's 1-0 derby defeat of FC Dinamo 1948 Bucureşti lifting them up to fifth in Liga 1.
Lăcătuş said:

You can imagine that morale would have been much lower had we not beaten Dinamo. We're now full of confidence and I believe if we play the same way against Slavia as we did against Dinamo, we will win. This is a really important match and we have to continue our run of positive results. We haven't struggled massively in this competition but it's difficult to win matches at this level. We've always given our best but have always had tough opponents. The bigger clubs have the squads to cope with playing every three days – this is the main difference.

Winning domestically and winning in Europe do not go hand in hand, however, and Steaua last tasted a group-stage victory in the Romanian capital on 16 October 1996, 1-0 against Widzew Łódź of Poland, when Lăcătuş was wearing the No7 shirt.
The coach will select "only players who are 100 per cent fit" on Tuesday, so winger Bănel Nicoliţă misses his first European match of the season after damaging his right ankle on his return from another injury on Saturday. Victoraş Iacob is also doubtful after hurting his back in training last week.
Lăcătuş says Slavia will not lack self-belief either, the Czechs having held Arsenal FC last time out, although Friday's home draw with SK Sigma Olomouc was their third such result in four top-flight fixtures. A similar outcome in Bucharest is all they require to reach the UEFA Cup as Group H's third-placed team, yet coach Karel Jarolím is determined to push for victory while there remains a possibility of making the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League. "I would rather win and qualify for the UEFA Cup that way," he said. "If we win we can still dream of qualification; if we draw we cannot."
Jarolím hopes Arsenal will do his side a favour at Sevilla FC in the other game – the Spanish club are five points ahead of his team – but knows Slavia must also deliver in Romania. "Steaua's most dangerous player is Nicolae Dică but I thought Adrian Neaga played very well against Dinamo," he said. "Steaua are very strong from set-pieces. We were prepared for this when they came to Prague, but that remains their main threat." Two of Slavia's men most likely, midfielder Vladimír Šmicer (knee) and forward Stanislav Vlček (thigh), have not travelled due to injuries sustained in domestic action on Friday.

Sevilla vs Arsenal preview

2007-11-27T09:49:00.000-08:00

Sevilla FC may be enduring a difficult season in Spanish football but the visit of Arsenal FC on Matchday 5 gives them the opportunity to put their UEFA Champions League destiny into their own hands.
Having started their maiden group-stage campaign with a 3-0 loss to Arsène Wenger's team in London, the tantalising fact is that Sevilla can now win Group H outright with a home victory and then a result to equal Arsenal's when the section concludes on 12 December. Coach Manuel Jiménez makes his home debut in the competition, having succeeded the Tottenham Hotspur FC-bound Juande Ramos and taken charge of the 2-0 win at FC Steaua Bucureşti.
Despite suffering their seventh Primera División defeat of the season on Saturday, 2-1 at home to RCD Mallorca, Jiménez welcomes the visit of the in-form Gunners:

There is no better match right now than hosting Arsenal, despite them possibly being the best team in Europe if you combine their domestic and Champions League form. This is a chance to show what Sevilla are made of. There's no point moaning about the ups and downs we've suffered this term – that's no excuse. The very name Arsenal is a motivation and an inspiration. No matter how difficult an opponent they are, I'm sure Arsène Wenger also knows how difficult we can make it for any team visiting the Ramón Sanchéz-Pizjuán. It's important for us to win this group and that is in our hands now. We will not play conservatively but we will try to play with intelligence. Arsenal are a terrific product of many years' hard work – but we've beaten Real Madrid [CF] and Valencia [CF] already this season which speaks for itself. Finishing first gives you a small but worthwhile advantage in the knockout draw. People thought I was crazy to trust this group of players but now we are one of the teams that can win the Champions League. There are between six and ten sides with that potential and I consider Sevilla one of them.

Jiménez welcomes back Brazilian international Daniel Alves after a domestic suspension while strikers Frédéric Kanouté, who scored his seventh goal of the campaign at the weekend, and Luis Fabiano are 100 per cent fit having been sidelined by a calf injury and fatigue respectively.
Arsenal have a good recent record in Spain, having remained unbeaten in their last three visits to the country. In addition they are yet to concede a Group H goal (they have scored eleven) – a key statistic for a Sevilla team seeking victory to guarantee progress to the knockout stage. And Wenger, despite the significant absences of captain William Gallas – scorer of the opening goal in Saturday's 2-0 Premier League defeat of Wigan Athletic FC – and Emmanuel Adebayor (both rested), Gaël Clichy (thigh) and Robin van Persie (long term), wants to win the match and the pool.

Inter vs Fenerbahçe preview

2007-11-27T09:34:00.000-08:00

Roberto Mancini says his FC Internazionale Milano side must keep close tabs on Fenerbahçe SK's Brazilian contingent if they are to get the win that will guarantee a place in the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds.
Inter suffered an opening-night shock when Deivid struck the only goal in Istanbul to inflict a Matchday 1 defeat on the Italian champions, and Mancini argues that if his team are to avoid similar disappointment on Tuesday, they will need to be wary of the threat posed by the visitors:
Mancini said:

Fenerbahçe are a really well-drilled side. They play with great rhythm and have many Brazilians who are extremely skilful and good at keeping the ball. Alex makes them tick and passes the ball around nicely, Roberto Carlos and Gökçek Vederson combine well down the left, and Deivid is an obvious threat after scoring against us last time. We need to be aware of these players and press them hard. We have to take the initiative and be physically strong against them. It's no fluke that they are second in the group. They are a good side. We want to win on Tuesday to wrap up qualification but it won't be easy.

Mancini's worries about Alex appear well-founded given that the South American returned from injury to score a hat-trick in Fenerbahçe's 4-2 win against Ankaraspor AS at the weekend. With Deivid and Lugano also back from suspension after sitting out the 2-0 home victory over PSV Eindhoven on Matchday 4, the Süper Lig team – who are just a point behind Group G leaders Inter – have cause to be confident of gaining the result that would seal a first qualification for the Round of 16.
Fenerbahçe coach Zico:

The main thing is not to make any mistakes or to leave space for Inter. If you give great players space, they punish you. However, we don't know how to play on the counterattack. We don't sit and watch – we are always looking to go forward and score. We've beaten them once and hopefully will do so again.

The Brazilian tactician remains hopeful that Gökhan Gönül will recover from an ankle knock while midfielder Deniz Barış (back) will be replaced by Stephen Appiah, who has recently overcome a long-term knee problem. Mateja Kežman (knee) also misses out.
For all his concerns, Mancini, 43 on Tuesday, will be anticipating a home win given his side's exemplary form. Inter top Group G after consecutive victories against PSV and PFC CSKA Moskva (twice) – the third success being a rousing comeback from two goals down. The Nerazzurri also lead Serie A by three points and kept their title defence on course on Saturday with a 2-1 triumph over Atalanta BC.
Mancini rested Zlatan Ibrahimović and Maxwell despite injuries to Patrick Vieira, Luís Figo, Hernán Crespo and Dejan Stanković. The Serbia midfielder is expected to be fit, however, and Crespo is likely to make the bench. "I wish Roberto well," concluded Zico. "But I'm hoping we poop his birthday party."

Man U vs Sporting preview

2007-11-27T09:28:00.000-08:00

Manchester United FC may be already assured of a place in the last 16 but manager Sir Alex Ferguson stressed they will not be short on motivation going into their home match against a Sporting Clube de Portugal side fighting to stay alive in the UEFA Champions League.
Sir Alex is eager that United secure a fifth straight win in order to ensure themselves top spot in Group F.

I think the incentives are huge for us. Obviously if we win, we win the group and therefore we can look forward to being seeded for February's knockout stage.

While the United manager's concern is a favourable draw in the next round, survival is the goal for Sporting. Paulo Bento's charges lie third in the section, three points behind AS Roma, and will have to settle for their "second objective" of a UEFA Cup place unless they can better the result the Italian team achieve away to FC Dynamo Kyiv.
Bento, only too aware that the UEFA Cup is a more realistic aim. Sporting's recent dip in form – Saturday's 1-1 draw at Leixões SC was their fourth match without victory – does not augur well although Bento dismissed talk of a crisis of confidence:

We will play in the Theatre of Dreams but we will play with reality, taking into account our circumstances. There is no ideal moment to play a team with the quality of Manchester United. We will try to achieve our first goal and if not, our second. If I was a player, I would take the opportunity to enjoy it to the full. The stadium, the atmosphere, these things don't come along so often. In recent years Sporting have not played so many times at this level.

That said, nobody would begrudge a show of nerves from Sporting's 19-year-old goalkeeper Rui Patrício, who is poised for his UEFA Champions League debut having made his first appearance of 2007/08 against Leixões. Further upfield, Bento may choose to field Liedson as a lone striker, although another option might be to partner him with Milan Purović, a goalscoring substitute against Leixões.
For United, Sir Alex said he will not play "too many of our younger players" but the trio of goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak, Darren Fletcher and John O'Shea should start and he hinted in his programme notes that 19-year-old defender Jonny Evans could also feature. With Cristiano Ronaldo – who scored the only goal when the teams met in Lisbon on Matchday 1 – back after missing the 1-0 defeat at Bolton Wanderers FC, United's lineup will also include two Sporting old boys in the winger and Nani. Sir Alex added that he is "delighted" with Nani's efforts since his summer arrival from Lisbon:

We're very pleased with Nani's performance since he came. For a young boy, he has settled in very well and he is showing almost every week an improvement.

Dynamo Kyiv vs Roma preview

2007-11-27T09:24:00.000-08:00

Luciano Spalletti insists that his AS Roma side will not be underestimating FC Dynamo Kyiv when the two teams meet on Tuesday.
Dynamo, still point-less in Group F, cannot reach the knockout rounds of the UEFA Champions League whereas second-placed Roma are close to booking their ticket. Spalletti, though, believes the form book will count for nothing in Kiev:

We have to secure our progress to the next round while Dynamo have nothing to lose. They will have no fear and no nerves. We will face motivated players determined to show their best. They won their recent league matches against [FC] Shakhtar Donetsk and [FC] Arsenal Kyiv and are fighting for their title, so there is no reason to underestimate them.

Roma will qualify for the tournament's spring stage if they better the result achieved by third-placed Sporting Clube de Portugal against Manchester United FC at Old Trafford. Spalletti, however, is without key personnel at the NSC Olympiyskiy Stadium through injury, including captain Francesco Totti, Philippe Mexes, Alberto Aquilani and Simone Perrotta while Taddei is doubtful. With the Giallorossi just three points off the top of Serie A following Saturday's 1-0 win at Genoa CFC, Spalletti is nonetheless confident that their fine run of results can continue:

It is down to the coach to make sure the absence of players is not felt, because a coach rarely has a full squad at his disposal anyway.

With snow forecast in Ukraine, Dynamo will hope to catch Roma cold. After four successive Group F defeats, they must win to have any chance of clinching third place and a UEFA Cup berth. They are already on their third coach of a difficult campaign and an injury crisis has not made caretaker boss Oleh Luzhny's job any easier. He replaced József Szabó earlier this month, before the 4-0 Matchday 4 defeat at Manchester United. A pair of Premier League wins have since raised morale, yet they have come at a price.
Defensive midfielder Carlos Corrêa was injured in Saturday's 1-0 victory at Arsenal Kyiv and faces a late fitness test, with Ayila Yussuf likely to deputise. Striker Kleber is out with a knee problem, joining defenders Rodrigo and Pape Diakhate and goalkeeper Olexandr Shovkovskiy on the sidelines. The No1, who damaged an ankle on international duty, will be replaced by 20-year-old Olexandr Rybka. Goran Gavrančić and Vladyslav Vaschuk should start in central defence with Andriy Nesmachniy being deployed on the left.

Lyon vs Barcelona preview

2007-11-27T09:18:00.000-08:00

Olympique Lyonnais coach Alain Perrin believes his players will show their true colours against FC Barcelona at Stade de Gerland on Tuesday after being outplayed by the Catalan giants in their opening Group E fixture.
Lyon suffered their heaviest-ever UEFA Champions League defeat at the Camp Nou, slumping to a 3-0 loss that was in keeping with the uncertain start they had made under Perrin. Rangers FC replicated that scoreline before the French title-holders rediscovered their form, surging to the top of Ligue 1 and clawing their way into contention in Group E with back-to-back victories over VfB Stuttgart.
Club captain Cris and goalkeeper Grégory Coupet are still sidelined, yet confidence has returned to the Lyon ranks, and Perrin is predicting a much-improved performance:

There was a difference in class between Barcelona and Lyon in September," the former Olympique de Marseille coach said. "I don't think that's the case any more. This is an opportunity to find out how much progress we've made since then. We know that Barcelona will be dangerous because they have so much attacking potential but we're better prepared this time.

One of the keys to Lyon's revival has been the electric form of Karim Benzema, but Ligue 1's eleven-goal leading scorer could miss out after sustaining a thigh injury in Saturday's 2-0 triumph at Stade Rennais FC. "If the game was today [Monday], Karim wouldn't be ready," said Perrin, who rates the teenager's chances of playing at "30 or 40 per cent". Should Benzema fail to recover, Fred will lead the line in the continued absence of Milan Baroš (groin), while fit-again midfielder Jérémy Toulalan is expected back at the expense of Fábio Santos and Mathieu Bodmer could continue at centre-half after impressing against Rennes.
On the other side, Barcelona also have attacking concerns, with Thierry Henry missing the trip to his homeland after injuring his back and groin in the 3-0 weekend success over RC Recreativo de Huelva, and Samuel Eto'o not yet fully fit. Bojan Krkić, 17, is being tipped to make his first UEFA Champions League start up front alongside Lionel Messi, while coach Frank Rijkaard has hinted that Ronaldinho will be recalled for his 50th European appearance after sitting out the Recreativo win through fatigue:

He seems better. We'll see how he is in the final training session but his form looks good. a difficult fixture against a talented team. It will be much harder than the first match because Lyon are at home this time and they're also in better shape. I wouldn't say we're in worse condition, however. If anything, we're stronger because the atmosphere in our dressing room has improved. Our away form in Spain hasn't been perfect but the only way to correct that is by winning. We'll try to play our usual football and hopefully by the end of the evening we'll be through to the knockout stage.

Veh demands final flurry from Stuttgart

2007-11-27T09:12:00.000-08:00

Their European campaign may effectively be over but VfB Stuttgart coach Armin Veh is determined that his resurgent team "show the real VfB" against a Rangers FC side whose hopes of finishing in the top two in Group E are still burning bright.
With Mercedes, Porsche and Bosch all based in Stuttgart, words like 'efficiency' and 'performance' are at the heart of the city's lexicon, yet during a torrid start to the season their football team displayed little of either. Things have improved markedly in recent weeks, however, and a run of four wins from four Bundesliga outings has revived a title defence that had almost flatlined a month ago. The turnaround may have come too late to salvage his still point-less side's UEFA Champions League aspirations but that has not numbed Veh's hunger. Of the Rangers game, he said:

We are obliged to win for ourselves, our fans and our group rivals Lyon. We will try everything to win and to collect points for our country: victory is important to me as a patriot.
My team will be motivated. It is, after all, a Champions League match and the stadium is sold out. We have to put on a show. I am really annoyed we were so poor at the start of the campaign. Now we will show the real VfB.

There have been glimpses of the above during the last month of Bundesliga action – witness Saturday's fourth successive victory, 4-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt, yet that came at a cost as Mario Gómez was forced off with a rib injury that leaves him doubtful for Tuesday.
Gómez would be a big loss. The 22-year-old Germany striker has scored ten of Stuttgart's 23 goals in the Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League this term, including one in Glasgow on Matchday 1 as the Scottish club were forced to come from behind to earn a 2-1 win:
Rangers manager Walter Smith said:

They showed at Ibrox that they are a very determined team. I said after that game that they are German champions and will get back to last season's form at some point – I think that now they have. We're a transforming team so it would be a terrific performance by us if we managed to get through. I'm expecting a tough game but we'll set out to do what we have in other matches.

Smith's own charges are not yet in top gear, despite beating Falkirk FC 3-1 at the weekend. They seem to save their best for the UEFA Champions League, however, and victories over Stuttgart and Lyon, as well as a home draw with FC Barcelona, means they control their own destiny. Indeed, a success at the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion would take Rangers through if third-placed Lyon lost Tuesday's other Group E fixture – more than surpassing pre-season expectations for Smith.

Steaua determined to make their point

2007-11-26T09:48:00.000-08:00

Nicolae Dică and Dorin Goian are keen to ignore transfer rumours as FC Steaua Bucureşti attempt to avoid the "shame" of finishing their Group H campaign without a single point.

Czech contenders SK Slavia Praha travel to Bucharest on Tuesday aiming to repeat their 2-1 success against Steaua on Matchday 1 – and with the hosts unable to reach the last 16, talk in the Romanian capital has already turned to the destiny of their top players. Dică, in particular, has attracted attention with rumours of a move to Portugal for the 27-year-old striker.
Indeed, a Portuguese newspaper even quoted him as having agreed a switch to SL Benfica. Dică, Steaua's top scorer in last season's UEFA Champions League but still barren in Group H, said:

I don't know about any interview. I have not spoken to anybody, not in Romania or from any other country. I have four more years on my contract with Steaua and I am going to respect that.
We have four matches left in the league this year, plus a Romanian Cup tie and two UEFA Champions League games. We will see what happens in the winter break. If I leave, it will have to be a good deal for me, for Steaua and for the club that buys me.
We have to win. It would be a shame not to win any points in the Champions League this season.

A victory would also give Steaua hope of overtaking Slavia, tenants of third place with four points, in the race for the UEFA Cup slot.
Defender Goian, 26, is also being tipped to leave Steaua, but like Dică, he prefers to concentrate on the task in hand:

As long as I am a Steaua player, I will do my duty and we'll see what happens afterwards. We have to overcome the hurdle of having no points. If we win, we can hope to draw in London against Arsenal [FC] and so clinch a UEFA Cup place.

via uefa.com

Kanouté calm as Arsenal come calling

2007-11-26T09:43:00.000-08:00

Sevilla FC's Frédéric Kanouté has any number of reasons to relish the challenge of Matchday 5 as in-form Arsenal FC visit southern Spain.
Not only did the striker play for two of Arsenal's London rivals, West Ham United FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC, he can also expect a battle of wits against a defender for whom he has the highest respect – Kolo Touré. Indeed, Kanouté and Touré will face another intense encounter when their countries, Mali and Ivory Coast, meet in the Africa Cup of Nations in January.
For now, though, Kanouté will settle for Sevilla showing a more competitive side to their football than in the 3-0 Matchday 1 reverse at Arsenal Stadium – or this weekend's 2-1 Primera División home defeat by RCD Mallorca:

I'm not the kind of man who dwells on the past, so my head is already clear of what happened in London. All I expect is that we give a much better reflection of ourselves in this match than we did against Mallorca. Games such as the one against Arsenal, a crucial UEFA Champions League match, are the kind of tests I revel in. More than that, I believe Sevilla have a good record of showing that the bigger the test, the better the performance we provide.
I consider Kolo [Touré] one of the best in the business, quick and full of quality. It's also a test in that his country and mine are pretty fierce rivals, but right now the African part of the contest can be overlooked. Our aim must be to subject Arsenal to the kind of pressure we have put on Real Madrid [CF] and Valencia [CF] this season. From my Tottenham days I know that playing Arsenal is hard work, but if we stop them using the ball the way they want, then we have the quality to get what we need from the match.

A victory over the group leaders would guarantee second-placed Sevilla a knockout-stage berth, but a draw or a defeat could lead to a nervous final-day task at SK Slavia Praha. The Czech team travel to FC Steaua Bucureşti on Tuesday.

via uefa.com

Totti's injury woes continue

2007-11-25T06:27:00.000-08:00

AS Roma captain Francesco Totti is a major doubt for the UEFA Champions League visit to FC Dynamo Kyiv next Tuesday after suffering a recurrence of the foot problem that has sidelined him for the last month.
Totti lasted just 15 minutes of his return to first-team training yesterday before taking a knock on the same foot he had injured in the 2-1 win over Sporting Clube de Portugal on 23 October. Although x-rays after the initial injury showed no fractures in his right foot, the player was in too much pain to train today and will definitely miss Saturday's Serie A game at Genoa CFC.
Roma coach Luciano Spalletti said:

This morning Francesco arrived with the intention of training but he felt pain as soon as he put on his boot, so did not train at all and will not play against Genoa. I don't know when he will be able to play.

It appears highly unlikely that Totti, 31, will be available for the Group F match in Kiev, where Roma can secure their place in the knockout rounds.
This was not the only bad news for Roma ahead of the Serie A trip to Genoa. Midfielders Taddei and Alberto Aquilani are also absent from the squad despite reports earlier in the week that they were ready to return following respective calf and thigh injuries. "We will not take any risks, "Spalletti explained.

via uefa.com

Kuranyi return cheers Schalke

2007-11-21T09:33:00.002-08:00

FC Schalke 04 forward Kevin Kuranyi is "feeling fit and looking forward to getting back on the pitch" after spending almost three weeks on the sidelines with a torn thigh muscle.
The German international did not feature in the goalless UEFA Champions League draw against Chelsea FC a fortnight ago but expects to be fit for next week's Group B trip to Valencia CF. While Kuranyi is also in contention for Saturday's Bundesliga game at Hannover 96, midfield duo Carlos Grossmüller (bruising) and Jermaine Jones (ankle) are both doubtful after sitting out training today. "I am working hard to return as soon as possible," said Jones.

via uefa.com

No stopping record-breaker Zanetti

2007-11-20T11:38:00.000-08:00

FC Internazionale Milano stalwart Javier Zanetti shows no sign of slowing down for club or country after becoming Argentina's most-capped international.
The 34-year-old Zanetti won a record 116th cap for Argentina in Saturday's 3-0 victory over Bolivia in Buenos Aires, surpassing the previous best of defender Roberto Ayala:

I am very proud and happy. It is not easy to achieve something like this and to stay at the top, particularly in a country like Argentina where new talents are always emerging.

With Ayala having retired from national-team football, Zanetti is likely to leave an even greater legacy in terms of appearances. "I have always been proud to play for my country and every time I am called up, I play with the same desire and commitment," said the right-sided defender cum midfielder, who is enjoying a renaissance with Los Albicelestes having been omitted from their 2006 FIFA World Cup squad.
Zanetti's longevity is also notable at Italian champions Internazionale, where the club captain has played 398 Serie A matches, now spanning 13 seasons. Argentina's World Cup qualifying win against Bolivia came courtesy of two goals from out-of-favour Villarreal CF playmaker Juan Román Riquelme and one from Club Atlético de Madrid teenager Agüero.

via uefa.com

Six match ban for Binya

2007-11-19T07:00:00.000-08:00

Benfica midfielder Augustin Binya has been banned for six UEFA matches following his red card for a high challenge on Scott Brown in the Champions League clash with Celtic.
Scotland international Brown avoided injury but claimed Binya had tried to break his leg with the tackle in the 85th minute of the November 6 match at Parkhead, which Celtic won 1-0. UEFA's control and disciplinary body announced their verdict on Friday morning, having deliberated on the case on Thursday.
In a statement on uefa.com, European football's governing body's website, Binya's challenge was described as one which "seriously endangered the physical health of the opposing player".
Benfica can appeal against the decision, however if they are unsuccessful Binya will miss Benfica's remaining Champions League Group D matches against AC Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk.
Benfica will then have to cope without Binya for their next four matches in Europe, which could be in the latter stages of this season's Champions League or UEFA Cup.
The ban will also carry over to future seasons if, as seems likely, Benfica finish bottom of Group D and bow out of Europe for this campaign.
The lunge which resulted in Binya being sent off was condemned this week by Scotland manager Alex McLeish as "an absolutely shocking tackle".
McLeish did not watch the match, as he was in Barcelona ahead of Rangers' Champions League game. However he had been concerned about Brown's fitness when he received a text message from his son detailing the crunching challenge.
After seeing replays of the incident, McLeish was hugely relieved when Brown confirmed he would be available to face Italy tomorrow in Scotland's crucial final Euro 2008 qualifier. The referee who dismissed Binya, Sweden's Martin Hansson, also described the tackle as one of the worst he had seen.
Brown said straight after the match: "He obviously tried to do me as hard as possible." Cameroonian Binya, 24, apologised for the challenge on the day after the match. Benfica seem certain to appeal, and they have three working days in which to respond to the UEFA announcement.
The Portuguese club believe UEFA have tried to make an example of Binya, and communications chief Ricardo Maia told club website www.slbenfica.pt:

This penalty is tough and disproportionate, taking into account the behaviour of the player during and after the game. Binya did not argue with the referee, he was worried about the physical condition of his professional colleague, and later apologised publicly.

via uefa.com

No stopping record-breaker Zanetti

2007-11-19T06:55:00.000-08:00

I am very proud and happy. It is not easy to achieve something like this and to stay at the top, particularly in a country like Argentina where new talents are always emerging.

With Ayala having retired from national-team football, Zanetti is likely to leave an even greater legacy in terms of appearances.

I have always been proud to play for my country and every time I am called up, I play with the same desire and commitment.

said the right-sided defender cum midfielder, who is enjoying a renaissance with Los Albicelestes having been omitted from their 2006 FIFA World Cup squad.
Zanetti's longevity is also notable at Italian champions Internazionale, where the club captain has played 398 Serie A matches, now spanning 13 seasons. Argentina's World Cup qualifying win against Bolivia came courtesy of two goals from out-of-favour Villarreal CF playmaker Juan Román Riquelme and one from Club Atlético de Madrid teenager Agüero.

Schalke strike a deal with Streit

2007-11-15T00:37:00.000-08:00

FC Schalke 04 have made their first recruit for the 2008/09 season after signing midfielder Albert Streit for €1m from German rivals Eintracht Frankfurt.
The UEFA Champions League contenders – who are seventh in the Bundesliga – have agreed a four-year contract with the player, who will move to Gelsenkirchen at the end of the season. Coach Mirko Slomka said:

With his ability to cross the ball and deliver set-pieces, Albert Streit is one of the best providers in the Bundesliga. He is technically strong and can create a lot of pressure going forward.

Streit, who was born in Bucharest and holds both German and Romanian passports, added:

Schalke are a top club with a super stadium and fantastic fans. Making a move to such a club is the next step in my career.

Streit has played Bundesliga football for 1. FC Köln, VfL Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt, scoring eleven times. Schalke are third in UEFA Champions League Group B, three points adrift of second-placed Rosenborg BK as they prepare to play Valencia CF away.

Platini to resurrect cup proposal

2007-11-14T07:42:00.000-08:00

UEFA president Michel Platini remains determined to see domestic cup winners qualify for the Champions League, despite failing to garner enough support for the proposal this week.
Platini was unable to convince Europe's five big football associations of the merits of his plan, which would have seen the FA Cup winners take one of the four spots currently given to the top four in the Barclays Premier League.
He told BBC News:

We can do that in three years. We can come back on that.
The leagues are not in favour because they have to sell their own leagues and if they lost one of the four Champions League teams, they think they would have more problems selling their TV rights.

Platini scrapped the proposal in return for securing a deal where, from 2009, six spots in the competition's group stage are reserved for league champions from the bottom 40 countries in Europe.

My best message is to have six more champions in the Champions League. I hope for you it will be England but at the moment I have nothing to say. You will have to convince me. If there are two or three European countries going to bid, they all have to convince me.
Money is important in football, I can understand that. But I don't want this money to be the boss of football.

via football365.com

New deal lifts Aliyev

2007-11-14T07:39:00.000-08:00

FC Dynamo Kyiv have handed a vote of confidence to homegrown midfielder Olexandr Aliyev by extending the player's contract until the end of 2009.
The move represents a show of faith in Aliyev, who has made only one Ukrainian Premier League appearance this season and none in the UEFA Champions League:

I am staying with Dynamo. I have signed the new deal and am ready to show I am good enough for this team.

Aliyev caught the eye in the Ukraine side that reached the final of the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. In total, he has played eleven league games for Dynamo and eight while on loan at FC Metalurh Zaporizhya.

via uefa.com

Gazzaev's CSKA reign extended

2007-11-14T07:36:00.000-08:00

PFC CSKA Moskva coach Valeri Gazzaev has ended speculation about his future by extending his contract with the club until 2011.
grip on the Russian title this year, Gazzaev has been able to negotiate fresh terms to replace a deal that was due to expire at the close of the 2008 campaign. CSKA won back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006, before falling off the pace in the Premier-Liga this season, finishing third, eight points behind champions FC Zenit St. Petersburg.
Gazzaev took charge of the capital side in 2002 and has helped to secure three league championships and three Russian Cups. Perhaps his crowning glory came in May 2005 when CSKA beat Sporting Clube de Portugal 3-1 to become the first Russian club to lift a European trophy. Gazzaev had made his name when he led unfancied FC Alania Vladikavkaz to their first and only Russian title in 1995. He has also coached FC Dinamo Moskva and Russia's national side.
CSKA can no longer reach the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds after collecting just one point from their opening four matches. They could still pip PSV Eindhoven to third position in Group G, though, to earn a UEFA Cup berth.

via uefa.com

Learning curve too steep for Lovin

2007-11-12T08:37:00.000-08:00

Florin Lovin felt FC Steaua Bucureşti were "too small" for the UEFA Champions League after a brave display and a 2-0 home defeat against Sevilla FC on Wednesday.
Two goals from Brazilian midfielder Renato won the day in Bucharest and left Lovin – deployed as a sweeper – with a gloomy outlook for LIGA I sides in Europe's top club competition.

In five or ten years I don't think there will be any Romanian club capable of competing with teams like Sevilla. We are too small for the UEFA Champions League.
We have only a theoretical chance of finishing third but we have to beat Slavia in our next match because it would be shameful to finish the group without any points.
We lost, but I am not disappointed about the way we played. We have still two matches to play and we have to fancy our chances.

He is making me laugh. In four matches Steaua had just 7 shots on goal, they scored once, and they still think that they have some chances for the third place. They have two more games to play: one at Arsenal (witch beat Slavia with 8-0, and Steaua should pray to lose at a smaller difference) and home with Slavia Praha (where maybe they have a chance because is playing at home and for their prestige they will try to win one game in this group stage) and maybe, why not, they will catch the third place. I doubt it.

Júlio César feels the strain

2007-11-11T20:46:00.000-08:00

The Olympiacos CFP coach Panagiotis Lemonis received some bad news today when central defender Júlio César was ruled out for the rest of the year with the thigh injury sustained against Real Madrid CF on Tuesday.
The Brazilian, who turns 29 later this month, was replaced 74 minutes into the scoreless draw and will now sit out the trip to S.S. Lazio on 28 November and the concluding Group C fixture against Werder Bremen two weeks later. The first match in Rome is particularly important as the clubs are locked together on five points, two ahead of the German challengers and three behind the Spanish champions.
Júlio César's fellow defenders Paraskevas Antzas, Cristián Raúl Ledesma and Didier Domi are all recovering from injuries at present, although there was some cheer today when Raúl Bravo's achilles injury was revealed to be not as serious as first feared. He also went off against his former club Madrid, but will be fit for the trip to the Stadio Olimpico.

via uefa.com

Renato rouses Sevilla in Bucharest

2007-11-07T20:49:00.000-08:00

A goal in each half from Brazilian midfielder Renato moved Sevilla FC to the brink of qualification for the last 16 and left FC Steaua Bucureşti still searching for their first point in Group H.
Steaua withstood some early pressure before Sevilla deservedly took the lead on 25 minutes when Renato tapped in after Robinson Zapata had kept out Christian Poulsen's header. The 28-year-old added his and Sevilla's second on 65 minutes, charging into the penalty area to meet Jesús Navas's cross with a flying header to lift Manuel Jiménez's side to nine points, five clear of third-placed SK Slavia Praha who drew 0-0 with leaders Arsenal FC.
After losing the reverse fixture 2-1 a fortnight ago, Steaua coach Marius Lăcătuş put a focus on defence with Ovidiu Petre and Florin Lovin acting as sweepers, while the creative influence was entrusted to wingers Bănel Nicoliţă and Marius Croitoru. Sevilla, though, looked more likely to score from the start. Tom De Mul had the first sight of goal but dragged his effort wide from the edge of the box on his UEFA Champions League debut. Renato then curled an attempt just wide of the far post after a clever lay-off from Frédéric Kanouté.
The Sevilla striker should have given his team the advantage shortly after when Daniel Alves found him in space in the area, but Kanouté lost his footing and was penalised for handball. The Spanish outfit did not have long to wait to break the deadlock, however. Poulsen was allowed a free header on goal from Navas's corner and, although Zapata parried the initial effort, Renato calmly dispatched the loose ball into the empty net.
Poulsen came close to scoring again when he redirected Navas's miscued volley centimetres wide of the far post as the visitors threatened to take the game beyond the hosts. Steaua finally gave Andrés Palop something to worry about moments before the break when Nicoliţă's diving header skipped past the near post. Yet Kanouté ensured the away side finished the half on a high when he burst through again only to sweep past the upright.

via uefa.com

Kuranyi a doubt, Ferreira out

2007-11-04T03:22:00.000-08:00

The FC Schalke 04 striker Kevin Kuranyi looks like missing Tuesday's UEFA Champions League visit of Chelsea FC due a thigh strain, while the Londoners will travel without Paulo Ferreira after the full-back was ruled out for six weeks with an ankle injury.
Kuranyi took a knock during Friday night’s 1-0 defeat at FC Energie Cottbus and was replaced after 65 minutes. "He pulled the muscle in his thigh. It might even be torn," said Schalke coach Mirko Slomka. Ferreira, meanwhile, strained ankle ligaments during a League Cup victory on Wednesday and did not feature in today's 2-0 win at Wigan Athletic FC.
Manager Avram Grant said:
Paulo Ferreira is not available and will be out for five to six weeks. We are short, but we have a big squad and we have good players to replace him.

via uefa.com

Koeman keen to steady Valencia

2007-11-02T11:15:00.000-07:00

Ronald Koeman says reviving Valencia CF's fortunes is a matter of "finding the right balance" after meeting the press for the first time as the club's coach.
The Dutchman left PSV Eindhoven to join Valencia after the dismissal of Quique Sánchez Flores in the early hours of Monday morning following back-to-back defeats by Rosenborg BK in the UEFA Champions League and Sevilla FC in the Primera División. Wednesday's 5-1 mauling at home to Real Madrid CF only deepened the gloom at the Mestalla Stadium, but the 44-year-old Koeman remains optimistic, saying:

Valencia have good quality players so it's a question of finding the right balance. They have very demanding supporters but football is for the public to enjoy. I am very excited about coaching Valencia and taking the team where it deserves to be. It's all happened very quickly but I had always wanted to come to a big Spanish club," said Koeman. "It has been tough for me and PSV, but I wanted to come to Valencia and here I am. The title race is a long one and we have only played ten games. There are 28 to go and that means lots of points to play for. There are several candidates for the top five or six places and Valencia will be up there.

With stand-in coach Óscar Fernández to lead the Primera División's sixth-placed side for the last time at RCD Mallorca this weekend, Koeman will make his debut at home to Rosenborg in Group B next Tuesday.

via uefa.com

Koeman leaves PSV for Valencia

2007-11-01T11:01:00.000-07:00

Ronald Koeman has been appointed coach of Valencia CF after resigning from PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night.
The 44-year-old has agreed a contract until summer 2010 after a deal was negotiated between the two clubs for his move along with assistant Tonny Bruins Slot, and will be officially unveiled in Spain on Friday. The 78-times capped former Netherlands captain had been committed to PSV until the end of the season. Quique Sánchez Flores was dismissed by Valencia on Monday following back-to-back UEFA Champions League and Primera División defeats.
Koeman told a news conference at the PSV Stadium on Wednesday:

In life you get opportunities, and I grab them, that is how I am. The fact is that the world of football is like that. And I am someone who goes for it.

The erstwhile defender started his career at FC Groningen, transferring to AFC Ajax in 1983 and then to PSV in 1986. He joined FC Barcelona for a golden period between 1989 and 1995 in which his side won the 1992 European Champion Clubs' Cup and four successive Spanish titles, before finishing his playing days with a two-year spell at Feyenoord.
Koeman moved into coaching as an assistant, first with the Netherlands and next with Barcelona, before taking sole command of BV Vitesse in 2000. He switched to Ajax the following season. Four campaigns in Amsterdam preceded a solitary one with SL Benfica before he was installed at PSV in 2006, ending a turbulent season with a title success. There was more championship glory last term, the Eindhoven club's third in a row.
Koeman is the eighth coach to part company with a UEFA Champions League contender since the beginning of the group stage, following the departures of Albert Emon at Olympique de Marseille, Chelsea FC's José Mourinho, Gheorghe Hagi from FC Steaua Bucureşti, Anatoliy Demyanenko at FC Dynamo Kyiv, Sevilla FC's Juande Ramos, Rosenborg BK's Knut Tørum and Valencia's Sánchez Flores. The Mestalla outfit host Trond Henriksen's Rosenborg on 6 November with both teams having changed coach in the fortnight since their first encounter. PSV go to Fenerbahçe SK the next day.

via uefa.com

Greece is the word for LuaLua

2007-10-30T11:10:00.000-07:00

Striker Lomana LuaLua is enjoying a new lease of life in the Greek capital as he targets a place in the UEFA Champions League knockout stage with Olympiacos CFP.
The 26-year-old endured a frustrating final season in the English Premier League, making just eight starts during an injury-hit campaign with Portsmouth FC. Since joining Olympiacos in the summer, however, things have fallen into place on and off the pitch.
The DR Congo international told uefa.com:

It wasn't easy leaving England, where I've spent nearly all my life, but I'm enjoying my time in Greece. I thought I was going to be homesick at times but the lads really welcomed me and so far it's been great. I'm enjoying myself and taking advantage of the situation, I'm learning a lot. I had my problems and injuries and so didn't play much football before I left England. What's important now is to keep on enjoying myself and see what happens. I just want to play football.

Former Newcastle United FC forward LuaLua has had a bright beginning with the Greek title-holders. He scored twice on his second Super League appearance, in a 6-2 thumping of OFI Crete FC on 23 September, and also played 90 minutes as Olympiacos claimed their first UEFA Champions League away win at the 32nd attempt, at Werder Bremen on Matchday 2. After the disappointment of last term, when LuaLua netted only twice for Portsmouth, he is just glad to be playing again.

via uefa.com

Steaua hero Lacatus accepts coach role

2007-10-28T12:17:00.000-07:00

FC Steaua Bucureşti will have a new coach at the helm for the visit of Sevilla FC on UEFA Champions League Matchday 4 after Marius Lacatus was unveiled as the successor to Massimo Pedrazzini.
Lacatus has become Steaua's third coach of the season after Pedrazzini stepped aside as the temporary replacement for Gheorghe Hagi, who resigned in September. As the most decorated player in the history of the club - with ten league titles, seven Romanian Cups, three Romanian Supercups, a UEFA Supercup and the European Champion Clubs' Cup to his name - the 43-year-old is a popular figure among Steaua supporters.
Lacatus began his coaching career as assistant at FC National Bucureşti in 2000, before joining the coaching staff of the Panama national side. He subsequently took over at FC Brasov, guiding his hometown club to third place in Liga 1, before spells with FC Otelul Galati and FC Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt. Lacatus was briefly executive president of Steaua but decided to step down in May 2006 to assume a role as coach at FCM UTA Arad.
Lacatus, who will be officially presented on Monday, said:

It has always been my dream to coach Steaua. The club means everything to me. I am happy to have been given this opportunity and I hope to get Steaua back where they belong, at the top of the table.

After 12 Liga 1 matches Steaua are in seventh place with 18 points, while they are yet to register a point after three games in UEFA Champions League Group H.

Koeman wants action

2007-10-26T09:11:00.000-07:00

PSV Eindhoven coach Ronald Koeman has called on UEFA to punish two Fenerbahce players following the fiery Champions League Group G clash on Tuesday.
Koeman watched on as tempers flared during the goalless draw at the Philips Stadion that leaves PSV third in their group with four points from three games.
Fenerbahce's Deivid was dismissed on the night for a lunge on Mike Zonneveld while PSV's Eric Addo was handed a retrospective four-game ban by UEFA on Thursday for spitting at Semih Senturk.
And Koeman is now calling on UEFA to dish out similar treatment to Semih and team-mate Deniz Baris for their parts in the ill-tempered encounter.
Koeman told De Telegraaf:

I am talking about two specific cases: the elbow by Semih Senturk, after which Addo reacted by spitting, and the foul by Deniz Baris, who stood on the upper leg of Jan Kromkamp having already picked up a yellow card.
These are two scandalous actions, which UEFA should also pick up and punish.

Inter and France feel Vieira loss

2007-10-26T09:09:00.000-07:00

FC Internazionale Milano have confirmed that Patrick Vieira is unlikely to play again this year, ruling the France midfielder out of the remainder of the UEFA Champions League group stage and the culmination of Les Bleus' UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying campaign.
The 31-year-old tore a muscle in his right calf at PFC CSKA Moskva on Tuesday and was substituted 17 minutes into the 2-1 success which lifted Inter a point clear at the top of Group G with three matches to play. Scans yesterday confirmed the extent of the injury, and Nerazzurri medical staff estimate Vieira will be out for around two months.
The former Juventus man has played just four competitive matches this term, and will not feature as France look to cement their place in Austria and Switzerland. Raymond Domenech's side top Group B and will advance to the finals with a draw in their final match in Ukraine on 21 November.

via uefa.com

Seedorf strikes sink Shakhtar

2007-10-26T09:06:00.000-07:00

Two goals apiece from Alberto Gilardino and Clarence Seedorf steered AC Milan back on course in UEFA Champions League Group D as they defeated an attack-minded FC Shakhtar Donetsk 4-1 in a thrilling game at San Siro.
The Rossoneri appeared to be cruising when Gilardino scored twice in the first 14 minutes but the holders squandered a host of chances to kill the contest. In a remarkably open encounter, Shakhtar threatened a stirring comeback as Cristiano Lucarelli struck early in the second period. Seedorf had other ideas, though, capping a superb individual display with two magnificent goals to ensure Milan moved top of the section, above Shakhtar courtesy of a favourable head-to-head record.
Buoyed by victories in their opening two matches, Shakhtar made an accomplished start and almost silenced the home fans immediately, Răzvan Raţ fizzing a shot narrowly wide of Zeljko Kalac's post. But the Ukrainian club's neat passing was undermined by a porous defence, and Milan seized a stranglehold. Gilardino showed impressive strength to head Andrea Pirlo's corner beyond goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov on six minutes, and the Italian international repeated the trick eight minutes later. This time, when Seedorf supplied a perfect cross from the left, the forward stooped to nod into the top corner.
Lucarelli might have levelled matters between Gilardino's strikes, the former AS Livorno Calcio favourite heading Darijo Srna's centre back across goal only for Kalac to intervene. The best chances were at the other end, though, and Pyatov twice denied Kaká with his feet after the Brazilian had been sent clear.

via uefa.com

Steaua just short of Sevilla shock

2007-10-24T06:18:00.000-07:00

FC Steaua Bucureşti are rueing what might have been after coming to within sight of a famous UEFA Champions League result at Sevilla FC.
Steaua coach Massimo Pedrazzini had asked his played to believe in their capacity to win and although they fell 2-0 down within 17 minutes and Sevilla played with some superb flair and conviction, the visitors fought back and after Ovidiu Petre pulled one back just past the hour, they came close to getting themselves off the mark in Group H.
Defender Ifeanyi Emeghara said:

We have come away from this defeat feeling that there was very little between our performance and gaining a shock result. The change in the second half performance was pretty dramatic and by the end I think we'd given a much more accurate account of ourselves. There is no doubt that confidence was the key. The second half saw us playing more to our natural style with greater pace and also pushing much higher up the pitch. It's disappointing to lose but now we have to concentrate on the fact that we have improved and there are three matches remaining for us to start scoring some points.

Goalkeeper Robinson Zapata, who had kept the previously rampant Spanish team at bay, added:

The fact that Sevilla scored so early was damaging to us and it took until the second half for us to recover. But I think we are leaving here having learned that the gap between us and Sevilla was not so great after all.

Yeah, sure! The gap could be bigger, but Zapata saved his team for a few times.

Ferguson braced for Barça challenge

2007-10-23T08:44:00.000-07:00

Captain Barry Ferguson insists "no one is unbeatable" as Rangers FC prepare to test their 100 per cent Group E record at home against FC Barcelona.
Having won their opening two games against VfB Stuttgart and Olympique Lyonnais, Rangers have put themselves in a great position and with the added boost of Saturday's 3-0 victory over Celtic FC, Ferguson will not be daunted by Barcelona.
He told for uefa.com:

When the group came out and we were drawn against Barcelona, Lyon and Stuttgart, my friends were texting me saying it was 'the group of death', but I don't look at it that way. If you want to be in the UEFA Champions League, you want to play against the best. Obviously Barcelona are one of the best teams in world football at the moment, but no one is unbeatable as we've seen with the Scotland team in recent matches. Playing against teams like Barcelona is what it's all about as a footballer – going in and enjoying these games and playing against some of the best players in the world.
You try and look at all the negatives and positives in your opponents, but it's hard to find any negatives in that Barcelona side.
They have so many quality players, not to mention great individuals such as Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi. Ronaldinho may not have had the greatest start to the season, but everyone knows what he's capable of and even if he's not playing at his best, they have others of similar quality like Messi who can step in. But as I said, that's why you're in the Champions League – to play against the best.

via uefa.com

Chelsea lose Terry and Cole

2007-10-19T11:17:00.000-07:00

Chelsea FC have been dealt a double injury blow with the news that injured defenders John Terry and Ashley Cole could be out for three and four weeks respectively.
Terry underwent surgery today on the knee problem which prevented him from playing in England's UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers this week, while manager Avram Grant was already without left-back Cole, who suffered an ankle problem in England's 3-0 victory against Estonia on Saturday:

JT had an operation today and will out for two or three weeks. John tried his best to be available for the national team and then in the last moment of the training, he got injured again. We have a big squad and we need to handle this situation.

Terry joins Cole on the sidelines with the left-back expected to be out for a month, leaving the Chelsea manager short at the back as he prepares for Saturday's Premier League match away against Middlesbrough FC. Both players will also miss back-to-back UEFA Champions League ties against FC Schalke 04 next Wednesday and on 6 November and are major doubts for England's crucial UEFA European Championship qualifier at home against Croatia on 21 November. Chelsea welcome Didier Drogba and Mikel John Obi back from suspension against Middlesbrough, but will be without suspended Wayne Bridge. Chelsea are seventh in the Premier League, seven points behind leaders Arsenal FC.

via uefa.com

Beşiktaş coach Sağlam suspended

2007-10-18T09:49:00.000-07:00

Beşiktaş JK coach Ertuğrul Sağlam has been handed a one-match touchline ban by UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Body after being sent off in the UEFA Champions League game against FC Porto in Istanbul on 3 October.
Sağlam was dismissed in the 53rd minute of the Group A fixture on Matchday 2, which Porto won 1-0. The suspension means that the 37-year-old will not be allowed on the bench for next Wednesday's match at home to Liverpool FC. In addition, the Beşiktaş coach will not be permitted to enter the technical area, tunnel or dressing rooms for the game.

via uefa.com

Inter's Suazo gets one-game ban

2007-10-16T07:36:00.000-07:00

The FC Internazionale Milano forward David Suazo has been banned by UEFA for one match following his dismissal in the Italian club's UEFA Champions League fixture against PSV Eindhoven in Milan on 2 October.
Honduran international Suazo was shown the red card in the closing moments of the Group G encounter, and the 28-year-old will miss Inter's next UEFA Champions League outing against PFC CSKA Moskva in Russia on 23 October. The Nerazzurri defeated PSV 2-0, with two goals from Zlatan Ibrahimović securing their first points of the group stage.

via uefa.com

Milan awaiting Uefa explanation

2007-10-15T08:52:00.000-07:00

AC Milan believe there is a good chance UEFA will reduce the two-match ban meted out to their goalkeeper Dida for play-acting after an incident on the pitch with a Celtic fan in their recent Champions League clash.
Milan are awaiting a full explanation of the punishment from UEFA before appealing.The fan who ran onto the field was banned for life by Celtic, but the club was only fined £12,500 for "lack of organisation" and "improper conduct of supporters".
They avoided a stadium ban, and AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani believes that amounts to no punishment for the Bhoys.
Galliani said:

There is a fact that has been forgotten, that of a man entering the pitch, hitting our goalkeeper and not being punished. We will try to have the ban reduced even if we still don't know the motivations behind UEFA's decision.

Should Milan fail to have the ban reduced, Dida would miss the back-to-back Champions League Group D encounters against Shakhtar Donetsk but would be available to play at Benfica on November 28.

via football365.com

Ten Cate takes Chelsea job

2007-10-15T08:48:00.000-07:00

Chelsea FC have announced that Henk ten Cate has joined their coaching staff, with the London club's website saying: "Chelsea can confirm that Henk ten Cate has joined as assistant first-team coach."
Ten Cate arrives at Stamford Bridge after being released by AFC Ajax on Tuesday and he will work alongside manager Avram Grant, who replaced José Mourinho last month. No contract details have been disclosed for the 52-year-old Dutchman.
A versatile forward as a player, Ten Cate has maintained an attacking approach in coaching, enjoying success with several clubs. He took Sparta Rotterdam to the Dutch Cup final in 1996, BV Vitesse to their best finish of third place in 1997/98, and NAC Breda into Europe in 2002/03. If his positive attitude did not reap rewards in Germany with KFC Uerdingen 05, it did ensure MTK Budapest lifted the Hungarian Cup in 2000.

via uefa.com

Milan anger at Dida ban

2007-10-12T08:01:00.000-07:00

AC Milan have described UEFA's decision to hand Celtic a small fine but ban goalkeeper Dida for two Champions League matches as a "disproportionate and illogical" response to last week's Parkhead drama.
Celtic must cough up £12,500 now, with the same sum suspended for two years, after a 27-year-old home supporter ran on to the pitch and gave Dida a cheeky tap following Scott McDonald's winning goal in the 2-1 victory over Milan on October 3.
UEFA's control and disciplinary body found Celtic guilty of charges of "lack of organisation" and "improper conduct of supporters", and the financial penalty was described by Hoops chief executive Peter Lawwell as "proportionate to the incidence in question and a fair outcome".
Celtic could have received a far greater punishment and will not appeal, however Milan have confirmed they will mount a challenge to UEFA's independent control and disciplinary body verdict.
Dida's reaction to being approached by the fan was found to have breached UEFA's "principles of loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship".
AC Milan lawyer Leandro Cantamessa said:

The impact of the sentence is disproportionate and illogical. I have no issue with Celtic but I am only trying to establish a sense of proportion - one is the event, the other is only the effect of the event. In this decision, logic and balance are lacking. There is the technical (possibility) of a second level of justice - we can get witnesses, develop arguments. We will see.

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell was pleased with the outcome, and said: "As a club we feel this penalty is proportionate to the incident in question and a fair outcome."
Unless Milan win their appeal, or unless UEFA themselves contest the independent disciplinary body's decision, as they can, Dida will miss the Italian club's Champions League games against Shakhtar Donetsk.

via football365.com

Double injury blow for Schalke

2007-10-10T20:54:00.000-07:00

FC Schalke 04's Georgian international midfielder Levan Kobiashvili could miss three UEFA Champions League fixtures after tearing a stomach muscle during training.
The 30-year-old faces around eight weeks out, but no surgery, meaning he will miss the Group B double-header against Chelsea FC and possibly the trip to Valencia CF on 28 November. Defender Gustavo Varela will join Kobiashvili on the sidelines for four weeks due a thigh injury, and will therefore sit out both games against the Londoners. Schalke are second in the section after following up their opening 1-0 loss to Valencia with a 2-0 win at Rosenborg BK.

via uefa.com

Milan expect `light` rap for Dida

2007-10-09T06:40:00.000-07:00

AC Milan's lawyer Leandro Cantamessa believes goalkeeper Dida could receive a "light punishment" from UEFA for his reaction to being struck by a Celtic fan at Parkhead last week.
UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Body will review the actions of both Dida and Milan at a hearing on Thursday and although Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani anticipates the club will avoid sanction by European football's governing body, Cantamessa fears Dida may incur a personal punishment for his antics.
Cantamessa said:

I believe this inquiry is a formality and I don't expect a punishment for Milan, perhaps a light punishment for Dida. You must not forget the emotional situation for the player as he had just conceded a goal and he saw an unknown person come towards him. Let's not forget what happened to Dida in the Milan derby when he was hit by a firework.

The incident came in the aftermath of Scott McDonald's last-minute winner for the Scottish side in the Champions League clash in Glasgow last Wednesday.
The fan, 27-year-old Robert McHendry, made contact with Dida, who briefly gave chase before theatrically collapsing to the ground.
After treatment, the Brazilian was carried off on a stretcher with an ice pack on his face.
Cantamessa also defended the actions of Milan's medical staff, who opted to use a stretcher to remove the goalkeeper from the field.

via uefa.com

Porto to wait on injured Bosingwa

2007-10-08T08:30:00.000-07:00

FC Porto right-back Bosingwa is already a doubt for his club's UEFA Champions League trip to Olympique de Marseille after pulling a thigh muscle.
The 25-year-old injured his right leg during Sunday's 1-0 win at A. Académica de Coimbra – the Portuguese title-holders' seventh successive victory at their start of their Liga campaign. After he limped off in the 33rd minute of the match in Coimbra, the Portuguese international is expected to miss his country's UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers in Azerbaijan and in Kazakhstan over the next ten days.
In addition, there will be a question mark against Bosingwa's availability for Porto's UEFA Champions League game in Marseille on 24 October. Jesualdo Ferreira's men began their Group A challenge with a 1-1 draw with Liverpool FC followed by last week's 1-0 win away to Beşiktaş JK.

via uefa.com

Matchday 2

2007-10-04T09:17:00.000-07:00

These are the results of the matchday 2:

Group	Home	Score	Away
A	Liverpool	0-1	Marseille
A	Beşiktaş	0-1	Porto
B	Valencia	1-2	Chelsea
B	Rosenborg	0-2	Schalke
C	Lazio	2-2	Real Madrid
C	Bremen	1-3	Olympiacos
D	Celtic	2-1	Milan
D	Benfica	0-1	Shakhtar
E	Lyon	0-3	Rangers
E	Stuttgart	0-2	Barcelona
F	Man. United	1-0	Roma
F	Dynamo Kyiv	1-2	Sporting
G	CSKA Moskva	2-2	Fenerbahçe
G	Internationale	2-0	PSV Eindhoven
H	Steaua Bucuresti	0-1	Arsenal
H	Sevilla	4-2	Slavia

Steaua vs Arsenal preview

2007-10-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

Massimo Pedrazzini has called on his FC Steaua Bucureşti players to "put their hearts and souls" into Tuesday's UEFA Champions League fixture against Arsenal FC as he tries to enhance both the club's chances of progress from Group H and his own prospects of being handed the coaching reins permanently.
The 49-year-old Italian was appointed caretaker coach two weeks ago after Gheorghe Hagi stood down after just three months in charge, and he has since overseen a draw and two wins – including Saturday's 1-0 success over SC Vaslui – despite a lack of senior coaching experience. The renaissance will come under severe pressure from opponents who are unbeaten in 18 games since 7 April and who top England's Premier League. Pedrazzini remains unfazed, however.
Steaua coach Massimo Pedrazzini:

Everybody will say we're the underdogs but no matter how tough the opposition, matches always start at 0-0. We have to show self-confidence because we're not just here to make up the numbers. People who achieve big things become a part of football history, and we'll have to put our hearts and souls into the game if we want a victory.

via uefa.com