Bolton

UEFA Cup Preview

By Mike Martin ⋅ October 10, 2007 ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

Group A: AZ Alkmaar, Zenit St. Petersburg, Everton, Nürnberg, Larissa

Everton scraped past Ukrainian minnows Metalist Kharkiv to qualify but should make it through a modest group. They face the Russians at home - never a bad thing - but will need to have assured progress before their tough final match at Alkmaar. The Dutch have not started well in the Eredivisie, but Zenit are competing for the Russian title and could cause problems at Goodison Park. Larissa were flattered by beating Blackburn Rovers and Nürnberg are the German Cup runners-up.

Group B: Panathinaikos, Lokomotiv Moscow, Atlético Madrid, Copenhagen, Aberdeen

A message to Aberdeen supporters; enjoy it while it lasts. Like Everton, they avoid a long trip to Russia, but trips to the Greek and Spanish capitals will likely prove fruitless. Two home wins are imperative; their venture to the Vicente Calderón is little more than a day out. Atlético Madrid scraped through the InterToto Cup to qualify for European football for the first time in what seems like an age but have a very strong squad including Forlán, Luis García, Maniche, Simão, Reyes, Maxi Rodríguez and Agüero. Good look Dons. Should be a scrap between the Danes and Panathinaikos for third place.

Group C: Villarreal, AEK Athens, Fiorentina, Mladá Boleslav, Elfsborg

The easiest group to predict on the face of it, but beware the disasters that have befallen Ajax, Real Zaragoza, Blackburn Rovers and Sampdoria already. The Italians have easy home matches against Mladá Boleslav and Elfsborg, but will be up against it at Villarreal and AEK. They are doing well in Serie A and should have enough to get through with the ever-impressive Villarreal and the sturdy Greeks.

Group D: Basel, Hamburg, Rennes, Dinamo Zagreb, Brann

A group that seemingly makes a mockery of UEFA seeding system. Dinamo Zagreb were outstanding in Amsterdam in knocking out Ajax (who had won the first leg in Croatia) and boast an outstanding captain in Luka Modric. Hamburg have a talisman in Rafael van der Vaart but not a lot else so Rennes, going well in the French league, will fancy their chances. Basel have a competent side but are always the bridesmaid.

Group E: Bayer Leverkusen, Sparta Prague, Spartak Moscow, Toulouse, Zürich

Toulouse’s punishment for their pathetic display at Anfield is a place in the toughest group in the tournament. Leverkusen were humiliated in the quarter finals last season, losing 3-0 at home to Osasuna, but Sparta Prague and Spartak Moscow will give little away. Spartak Moscow have the Germans at home which should make them group favourites; they have a squad bursting with internationals and something a bit special in Ukrainian midfielder Maksym Kalynychenko, who took Saudi Arabia apart in the World Cup.

Group F: Bayern Munich, Bolton Wanderers, Sporting Braga, Red Star Belgrade, Aris Thessonaliki

A glamorous draw for Bolton, including a trip to the Allianz Arena in Munich and the Crvena Zvezda stadium in Belgrade, which makes two home wins the key to progressing to the knock-out stages. Bad league form and an unconvincing display against weak opponents in the first round do not bode well, but in Nicolas Anelka they have someone with the ability to do something special. Braga play in a cave and have the best chance of taking something off Bayern, whom they host midway through the group. As for the Germans - Klose, Toni, Ribéry, Hamit Altintop, Podolski, Schweinsteiger - will they take seriously a tournament that they should be embarrassed to be in?

Group G: Anderlecht, Tottenham Hotspur, Getafe, Hapoel Tel Aviv, Aalborg Boldspilklub

Tottenham finish with Anderlecht away, but if they haven’t already qualified by then they barely deserve to progress. Getafe have gone downhill fast and have not yet won in La Liga, a trip to Tel Aviv shouldn’t be as tricky as it sounds as they are only Israel’s fourth best team and AaB at home should be three points wrapped up with a pink ribbon. The Belgians showed little resistance against Liverpool or Chelsea in the Champions League two season ago, but have a good mix of youth and experience, with Belgian internationals Jelle van Damme, Mbo Mpenza, Bart Goor and keeper Silvio Proto among the ranks.

Group H: Bordeaux, Austria Vienna, Galatasaray, Panionios, Helsingborgs

Mmm. Doesn’t exactly whet your appetite for European football, does it? Galatasaray are the glamour name in the group, although Bordeaux are top seeds after last season’s brief flirtation with the Champions League. The Ali Sami Yes stadium in Istanbul is not a pleasant place to visit, with one of the most vocal, partizan home crowds in Europe. As for Austria Vienna, Panionios and Helsingborgs, take your pick. The Autumnal Henrik Larsson is still dangerous, and could help the Sweden bely their status as the lowest ranked team left in the competition.

So, who will end up at the City of Manchester Stadium on Wednesday 14th May? Difficult to say as we don’t know who will drop out of the Champions League - although there could be a big casualty or two with Werder Bremen, Liverpool and Lyon making poor starts. Bayern Munich and Atlético Madrid are the obvious choices. They have true strength in depth but Bayern may not take the tournament that seriously - you can bet they won’t be in it next year - and Atlético Madrid are as erratic and inconsistent as ever. Tottenham Hotspur and Everton have a sporting chance for England, while clubs like Galatasaray, Fiorentina, Villarreal, Spartak Moscow, Bayer Leverkusen and Dinamo Zagreb will fare well if they can turn their home stadia into fortresses.

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