How the opponents are doing Malatyaspor beat Ankaragücü 1:0 and is now 4th in the Turkish league... Hajduk beat Rijeka 2:1 and is 2nd in the Croatian league after Dinamo Zagreb... Auxerre beat Bastia 4:1 over the weekend and climbed to the 8th spot. Djibril Cissé seems to be in great shape...
The situation at GC I'm starting to see pitch black for GC in this match-up. Gamboa got suspended for 4 games by Uefa due to some comments to the ref in the 2nd leg of the AEK series. That means that Gamboa wouldn't be able to play again until the 3rd round! I would really like to know what he told the ref, 4 suspensions are very hefty. Pascal Castillo will also be suspended for the home leg after he got sent off in Athens. That means that our 2 most experienced defenders will be out on Wednesday. Then there is also the story around Richard Nunez. After Marcel Koller wanted to bench him in the Cup game against YF Juventus, Nunez declared that he won't ever play under Koller again. It seems there has been a conflict between the two for a while now, as Koller was never happy with Nunez's defensive commitment. Nunez was fined by the club for refusing to play on Saturday, and won't be with the team for the Sunday and Monday training. It is very questionable that things can get worked out until Wednesday... Dear winter break, please come soon.
I looks like Basel and Xamax are going to carry the Swiss hopes. Grasshopper seems to have done everything wrong this year. Last year the breaks went their way, and this year things seem to be evening out. I am not worried about Basel, the Xamax-Auxerre match scares me a little.
Things just worse for Grasshoppers. Mitreski and Lichtsteiner are injured and won't be able to play either. Good lord, we're gonna have a U-21 side out there on Wednesday... To add to the misery, there is a huge group of Torica supporters expected (Hajduk's hardcore fans). They will come from everywhere - Germany, Austria, you name it. Looks like it could end up being an away game for GC. About Xamax, I think it's a good thing that they have the away leg first (now let's hope they can get a good result). I'm not too sure Basel will have a walk in the park. The Malatyaspor fans are said to be very fanatical...
Still, the way Basel is playing now, if they can avoid a defeat in the first round, I would put money on them advancing quite a way into the tournament.
*grinds teeth* I sure hope so. The way things are going Basel could be the lone survivor after the 1st round. Looks like they will have to save our ass yet again in the Uefa ranking (just like last year)... Oh how I hate having to support Basel in international games.
Not good news for Basel: Thimothée Atouba is hurt and won't play. Antonio Esposito and Ivan Ergic are also out. The Yakin brothers might both be out as Hakin is still recovering from surgery and Murat is sick with the flu.
Great News! Richard Nunez has apologized to Koller and will probably play today. About 7,000 croatian fans are expected at the Hardturm tonight. I sure hope the GC fans get of their ass and go to the stadium. The team needs us (especially now) As seen over on the France board, Bigsoccer's favorite sockpuppet du jour - Alphonse - has predicted a 10-0 victory for Auxerre. I'm gonna be a bit more conservative with my predictions: Auxerre - Xamax 2:1 (Griffiths sneaks one in) Malatyaspor - Basel 0:1 (a very close one) GC - Hajduk 3:2 (I'm very good at lying to myself)
Christian Gimenez will also be out, but it doesn't matter - Basel still has an excellent team. I wonder if we'll get to see the new Argentinian "wonder" Delagado in this game. Btw, the Yakin brothers seem to be pretty popular in Turkey. The local media was all over them upon arrival: PS: Rob, it's Hakan (unless Hakin is your nick for him)
I always make that mistake. Once a mistake is in your mind, it is pretty tough to overcome it. My predictions: Auxerre-Xamax 1-1 Auxerre will control the flow of the match, but Xamax will score one against the run of play. One away goal will be very important. GC-Hajduk 2-2 Nunez should be good for a goal or two. I think that GC will be under siege for most of the match. Malatyaspor - Basel 1-1 If can get out of this one with a draw or a slim victory, they should roll at St. Jakops park. An away goal will be huge.
HT: Malatyaspor - Basel 0:1 Apparently you can watch the game live on media player on the following link: http://www.showtvnet.com/asx/defaul...?product=showtv Edit: Yes it's on. just watched the 1st half highlights. Murat scored on a superb header. Unfortunately the quality isn't that great...
41' GC Scores!!!!!! Wow. We're doing great with our U21 lineup... Mladen Petric with the goal. He's probably really motivated against a team from Croatia. HT: GC - Hajduk 1:0 HOPP GC!!!
Correction. It seems Livescore screwed up. Swisstxt.ch has Eduardo as the goalscorer... Not that it matters 69' Hakan Yakin with his FCB comeback (in for Rossi)
From livescore.com: 81' Malatyaspor [0 - 2] Basel (Swi) 15' [0 - 1] Hakan Yakin 76' [0 - 2] Murad Yakel If Eduardo scored the first goal, then fhis may be a little off.
Yup, Hakan scored the 2nd one. Watch out Ireland. He's back.. To recap: 0:1 - Murat Yakin 0:2 - Hakan Yakin The turks must be getting pissed getting scalped by Swiss/turkish players.
And now a downer... Hajduk equalized in the 60th minute. C'mon GC! one more... HOPP GC!! FT: Malatyaspor - Basel 0:2 The Auxerre-Xamax game just started. It's getting written coverage at Uefa.com
That is a great result for Basel. Looks like they will be moving on. Xamax is down early. 8' The home side open the scoring with a sensational goal. The pressure in the opening five minutes is intense and it pays off handsomely. Captain Yann Lachuer holds on to possession well on the edge of the box and the ball breaks to Kalou. The playmaker spots Bettoni off his line and conjures up a delicate chip which drifts agonizingly over the top of the shot-stopper and into the net. GC is in added time. Still 1-1.
FT: Auxerre - Xamax 1:0 That early score proved the only goal of the match. Xamax is still in this contest, but an away goal by Auxerre could really put them in a bind.
Xamax is still in the contest. Any idea if Rey will be back for the next leg??? If so, that may prove to be the catylist for victory. I think that they can play the game at La Malidare (sp?) should help out a lot. Home fans in friendly confines. I really am beginning to think that Basel will be able to do a whole lot this year in the UEFA Cup, as long as they have good draws.