Uefa Cup 24/04/2008

[Ajkson]

Uefa Cup Preview: Bayern Munich – Zenit St Petersburg
What: Uefa Cup, Semi-Final, 1st leg
Who: Bayern Munich (1st Bundesliga) v Zenit St Petersburg (10th Russian Premier League)
When: Thursday 24th April, 20:45 (CET)
Where: Allianz Arena, MunichOne Down, Two To Go

Bayern completed the first part of their trophy treble quest on Saturday when winning the German Cup final against Borussia Dortmund at the Olympiastadion with a brace from Luca Toni.

With a ten point lead and the Bundesliga title all but sewn up, the Bavarian’s attention now turns to the Uefa Cup and their two-legged semi final against Russian champions Zenit St. Petersburg.

However, Bayern will have to do without the services of talismanic striker Luca Toni for the first leg of their semi final with Zenit as the Italian is suspended.

The in-form striker has hit eight goals in his last four games, but will miss out due to a booking picked up in the second leg tie against Getafe in Spain (a game in which he scored twice to send Bayern through on the away goals rule).

With Miroslav Klose also a major doubt for the first leg, the major concern for Bayern is where the goals are going to come from with Podolski and Schlaudraff the club’s only fit striking options.

Bayern will be looking to avoid the fate brought upon Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen in the previous round when the Russians raced into a 4-1 first leg lead with some dynamic counter attacking play to put the tie beyond Bayer in the second leg.

Ottmar Hitzfeld’s side will also be looking to give themselves an advntage to take to the second leg, after a poor performance in the first leg against Getafe very nearly cost them their place in the competition in the quarter final.

Following the abysmal year last season and the huge investment in the team during the summer, Bayern set themselves the ambitious target of winning all three trophies this season. Therefore to fall at the semi-final stage in the Uefa Cup would serve as a massive blow to the Bavarians in their quest to return to the summit in German and European football.

One More Surprise In Store?

Last season’s Russian league champions have been the surprise package in this season’s Uefa Cup knocking out the likes of Villarreal, Marseille, and Bayer Leverkusen on the way to the semi final.

Bayern Munich will underestimate them at their peril as they have enough quality players to leave the Allianz Arena with a positive result on Thursday.

Andrei Arshavin is proving that he can become a top midfielder and in Pavel Pogrebnyak they possess the competition’s second top scorer with eight goals (Luca Toni is the top scorer with ten).

Zenit however are struggling in their domestic league and with six games gone this season, find themselves way down in 10th place. Another disappointing draw at the weekend saw them held 1-1 by Saturn.

Coach Dick Advocaat though should have no problems motivating his players to up their game when they take on one of the giants of European football in one of Europe’s finest stadiums. The prospect of causing yet another upset and taking the scalp of the four-times European Cup winners should provide all the motivation that is needed.

FORM GUIDE

Bayern Munich

Match Result Date Championship
Borussia - Bayern Munich 1 - 2 19/04/2008 DFB-POKAL
Eintracht - Bayern Munich 1 - 3 16/04/2008 BUNDESLIGA
Bayern Munich - Borussia 5 - 0 13/04/2008 BUNDESLIGA
Getafe - Bayern Munich 3 - 3 10/04/2008 UEFA CUP
Bayern Munich - VfL Bochum 3 - 1 06/04/2008 BUNDESLIGA
Bayern Munich - Getafe 1 - 1 03/04/2008 UEFA CUP

Zenit

Match Result Date Championship
Saturn Moscow - Zenit 1 - 1 19/04/2008 PREM LEAGUE
Zenit - Krylia Sovetov 1 - 1 13/04/2008 PREM LEAGUE
Zenit - Bayer Leverkusen 0 - 1 10/04/2008 UEFA CUP
Shinnik Yaroslavl - Zenit 2 - 2 06/04/2008 PREM LEAGUE
Bayer Leverkusen - Zenit 1 - 4 03/04/2008 UEFA CUP
Zenit - Rubin Kazan 1 - 3 30/03/2008 PREM LEAGUE

TEAM NEWS

Bayern Munich

Ottmar Hitzfeld has a number of selection problems ahead of Thursday’s first leg at the Allianz Arena. Luca Toni is suspended, while Miroslav Klose has a question mark over his availability having been forced to sit out Tuesday’s training session with an inflammation of the foot.

Lukas Podolski and Jan Schlaudraff therefore are Bayern’s only fully fit strikers. Franck Ribéry was also absent from Tuesday’s training but he is just being rested and should make the team for Thursday.

Midfielder Mark van Bommel broke his nose against Dortmund in the Cup final, but looks set to play through the pain barrier. If he doesn’t play, then Andreas Ottl will come into the midfield to partner Zé Roberto.

Probable starting XI: Kahn, Lell, Lahm, Lucio, Demichelis, van Bommel, Zé Roberto, Schweinsteiger, Ribéry, Schlaudraff, Podolski

Zenit

Impressive full back Aleksandr Anyukov looks set to miss out after suffering a broken toe.

Midfielder Anatoli Tymoschuk was forced to sit out the weekend draw with Saturn Moscow, but is expected to return at the Allianz Arena.

Probable starting XI: Malafeev, Sirl, Shirokov, Krizanac, Hubocan, Tymoschuk, Denisov, Fayzulin, Zyrianov, Arshavin, Pogrebnyak

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Bayern Munich- Franck Ribéry

With Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose both potentially missing from the first leg, Ribéry will have extra responsibility in the final third of the field to create the chances for Podolski and Schlaudraff, who it is fair to say have not had the best of seasons with regards game time.

Zenit- Andrei Arshavin

Arshavin was the player, who caught the eye the most in the first leg against Bayer Leverkusen in what was a very good team performance. He direct, pacy running, passing and creativity were the key to a superb Zenit performance. He is Zenit’s Franck Ribéry equivalent and it will be interesting to see which of them has the greatest influence on the game.

PREDICTION

Although Zenit are potentially a tougher prospect than Getafe, I feel Bayern will take a first leg lead to Russia next week. Without Toni to bag the goals, Ottmar Hitzfeld will be looking to the likes of Podolski, Ribéry and Schweinsteiger to chip in with the goals.

Bayern Munich 2-0 Zenit

[roger-d]

come on,buddy

people can't predict the result of game and you're trying to predict the exact score...

its most risky thing in betting - u beter bet then on result to be ODD or EVEN...

good luck

[ENGLISH]

A very good post, plenty of information, Bayern to win.

[Ledi17]

It´s raining in Munich and I don´t know if this is in favour to Zenit or Bayern Munich.

[ENGLISH]

No need to repeat your words Ledi, The only time a player is effected by the conditions is, extreme heat, as in Malta mid summer, murmansk mid winter.

[Ledi17]

I havent repeated john, i have posted in wrong thread, and this is why i have posted again in this thread. I dont know what to bet for today, is so risky day when it have Uefa Cup. By the way what u think is better to bet today...

[ENGLISH]

My appols,
Aalborg, Young Boys, Leeds.

Bayern, Rangers 1X.

[Ajkson]

my bets 4 this weekend....leeds,watford,west brom,darlington(anderlecht) maybe chelsea to draw. tonight malmo+young boys+ bayern.....sorry that so alte but i just finnished work. good luck mates and all best tonight

[Ajkson]

i have nothing to say...... just i'm sorry.

[ENGLISH]

Looking forward to your post, next week. Ajkson.