CL matchday 2: Inter Mailand - Werder Bremen (1.10.08 8:45 PM CET) [R]

["Eisenfuß" Eilts]

http://www.seatwave.com/FileStore/VENUE/IMAGE/000381_1_stadio-san-siro.jpg


Stadium: Guiseppe Meazza (San Siro, capacity: 82.955)

Referee: Lubos Michel (Slowakia)
Linesmen: Balko (Slowakia), Csabay (Slowakia)

Predicted lines-up (kicker):
Inter Mailand
------------------------Julio Cesar--------------
---Maicon-----Cordoba--Materazzi-----Chivu---
------J. Zanetti----Muntari----Cambiasso------
--Ricardo Quaresma------------------Mancini--
-----------------------Ibrahimovic---------------
Coach: Mourinho

Werder Bremen
-------------------------Wiese-------------------
--C. Fritz----Mertesacker--Naldo----Pasanen--
------------------------Baumann-----------------
-------------Frings-----------------Özil-----------
-------------------------Diego--------------------
-------------Rosenberg--------Pizarro-----------
Coach: Schaaf

[squidward123]

It's actually called the san siro when Milan play and guiseppe meazza when inter play.

[hackespitze123]

Inter lost the important Derby against Milan yesterday, that's why they'll be extra motivated to win on Wednesday. The CL is top priority for them anyway, that's the most important reason why they hired Mourinho in first place, and sacked Mancini who managed to win the Scudetto twice (in addition the Scudetto Inter won due to the Serie A scandal).

The team is full of top class players, one of the very best squads in European club football, with a new manager at the helm who is one of the most successful managers of the last few years. Their start in the new season was good (especially if you compare it to the other Seria A big guns), but not spectacular. The defeat against Milan was the first of the season so far, after 5 matchdays.

Knowing Mourinho, Inter most likely will play some 'pragmatic' football, even at home. They'll be very compact and stable defensively, but this doesn't mean that they'll play defensively. With Quaresma and Mancini on the wide positions, it's very likely that they'll try to break through the flanks and feed Ibrahimovic in the centre. However, Cambiasso's dangerous runs from the deep are important for their game to work also. Zanetti is their 'engine' who never seems to tire.

For us, the game plan has to be to stabilise the centre, and prevent Cambiasso from joining the attack, just like Milan did yesterday. Our fullbacks are either not in form, or not strong enough defensively, that's a problem against top class wingers like Quaresma. It's crucial not to start Boenisch in this match, Pasanen is a good choice. Replacing Fritz with Prödl would make sense even. However, as long as we can force them to put the crosses in early, and not break through, our tall defenders shouldn't have too many problems handling Ibrahimovic.

Özil and Diego need to keep their central midfielders busy, Baumann and Frings need to be very disciplined. We simply have to be clever in this match, try to win the ball in the midfield as soon as possible and hit them on the break. As we have proven repeatedly over the years, we are not just a very good attacking side that dominates matches, we can be very effective on the counter also (the Bayern match last week being the prime example), and that's exactly what our game plan should be.
Pizarro is exactly the type of striker you need in matches like these, his experience and guile are invaluable, especially since we won't have much space. Rosenberg needs to keep their defenders busy with his runs. And we need to be efficient, just like in the Bayern and Hoffenheim matches, since we likely won't get many chances.

I'd b glad if we can achieve a draw, that would be a very good result. It's going to be very difficult though, Inter under Mourinho are one of the favourites this season.

[squidward123]

I remember fritz shutting down ronaldinho completely 2 years ago in the CL in the match at the weser.

[hackespitze123]

Yes, but that was Fritz in normal / top form, not the Fritz of today who has been out of form for months unfortunately.

[Equilibrium]

Their midfield was crap last game. Zanneti looked lost even though he kept running like a headless chicken. Cambiasso was great and will probably own Diego on a few occasions, he was the only player to disposses Kaka or Ronnie basically. Quaresma was absolute crap that game, it seems Mourinho is telling him to play safe rather than let him roam. If you let Quaresma roam and play the free role, you will see the best of him. If Mourinho doesn't allow him, he could play like crap again.

Stankovic should be fit and could very well start over Quaresma due to his last poor performance. Mancini was great in the beginning of the game then faded, though he has been a good goal source this season for Inter and seems to have a good understanding already with Ibrahimovic even though he just signed this season.

Anyways, if Inter play the same team they will most likely lose. I doubt they will though, Stankovic, Cruz or Adriano could be the players that did not start in the last game. Also Cruz is known for scoring in important games, it's like his drug. Since it's a 4-3-3, Mourinho will definitely need to shake up their crap midfield. It was too defensive with Zanneti, Cambiasso and Viera. It would be a good idea for him to put a DM who can go up like Cambiasso, a CM who can attack and defend and a very attacking midfielder.

Tough game, but I can see you guys tieing this game which is a good possibility. It's not impossible to beat them either, especially if he puts a wacky line-up like last game.

[willy_svw]

I´d choose Vranjes over Baumann by the way.

[cro werder]

I´d choose Vranjes over Baumann by the way.

Me too , he had one great pass to Ozil against Hoffenheim which lead to 5-4 and I think he is in better shape than Baumann . But no matter what we should play match of the season and win in Milan .

SVW forever!!!!!!!

["Eisenfuß" Eilts]

Werder squad in Mailand (18 players):
Wiese, Vander, Boenisch, Pasanen, Naldo, Baumann, Vranjes, Fritz, Rosenberg, Diego, Özil, Hunt, Prödl, Sanogo, Jensen, Frings, Pizarro, Mertesacker

[Daniel88]

Bremen will win 4:2. :D:D Today I'm a Bremen fan! Only today.:p

[WinniWerder]

Bremen will win 4:2. :D:D Today I'm a Bremen fan! Only today.:p
Diamonds are forever.

[WinniWerder]

Under 2 hours from kick off...here we go! I'm on a sick day and thank-you air-bourne contagions. It doesn't mean I get to watch the match, though; it means I'm not far from the ticker. I'll try the radio, no TV. It looks like you need to register for WerderTV, has anyone tried it and does it take a week to register? Thankyou to whomever linked to that highlight package of the Hoffenheim game. Righteous stuff! Glad to be here with you all for a continuation of the goals for kids program it feels great to be a kid - now gimme some goooooooalz! 34:00 Villareal 0 v 0 Celtic, Rossi just missed an open net over the top.

[Dead Fingers]

Good luck today guys!

[WinniWerder]

Update Vill 1 v 0 Cel, Senna is a hero in the 67th min. Running all over the central midfield like a wildcat and takes the free kick for himself, showing his teammates what to do with the ball given the opportunity.

[Borussia]

Good luck, I'm gonna keep my fingers crossed even more than usual tonight! ;)

[WinniWerder]

Uefa site has Proedl in and Fritz out, so does Werder-online.de.

["Eisenfuß" Eilts]

Wiese-Prödl,Merte,Naldo,Pasanen-Baumann, Frings,Özil,Diego-Rosenberg,Pizzarro

[WinniWerder]

Dutch patricide, Dirk Kyut scores in min.4 Liv 1 v 0 PSV.

[WinniWerder]

Ins Mailänder Guiseppe-Meazza-Stadion haben sich nur rund 30.000 Zuschauer verirrt. Die Bremer-Anhänger sind deutlich zu hören. Hey, I can cut and paste from Werder's ticker, that can get me in a whole lotta hot water :rolleyes:.

[WinniWerder]

Holy...three Milan corners already! 10 min. gone