CL Preview: Inter - Anorthosis Famagusta

After a disappointing 1-1 draw at home against Werder Bremen on the second matchday of the Champions League, Inter were joined on top of Group B by Cypriot minnows Anorthosis Famagusta, who beat Greek giants Panathinaikos 3-1 that same night.

However, they now face Anorthosis in a double header, which presents Jose Mourinho’s side with the perfect chance to take charge of this group, from which they could qualify with two victories against the Cypriots. Still, that will not be an easy task, as Anorthosis have been one of the biggest surprises so far in the Champions League, having survived three qualifying rounds in the summer and already holding Werder to a goalless draw away from home on the first matchday.

On the other hand, Inter are probably one of the most confident teams in Europe at the moment, following their spectacular 4-0 victory on Sunday night away to Roma. This win allowed them to take a solitary lead in the Serie A table, and postpone Roma’s Scudetto hopes indefinitely, as they now sit 9 points below them.

At the moment, with Juventus also going through a crisis, the only team that looks capable of making it an exciting Scudetto race is the Milan side of Ronaldinho, Kaká, Andriy Shevchenko, and a number of other big stars. Nevertheless, Carlo Ancelotti’s side still need to show they can maintain the same performance level in every match they play, doing well against the small teams too, which they haven’t managed to do for the last three years.

In that sense, Milan are completely opposite to Inter, who rarely have problems in the lesser games, but frequently struggle in do-or-die matches, except perhaps when they are playing against Roma. It should not be forgotten that the Nerazzurri’s only defeat of the season so far has come against Milan, who remain a European powerhouse.

Still, that was their only real disappointment in this early part of the season, which has seen them continue from where they left off the last couple of years. Inter have by now gotten used to the taste of victory in Serie A, and although another Scudetto triumph would see them tie with their city rivals Milan in the number of domestic title victories at 17, it is the Champions League where Inter really have to show they are one of the top teams not just in Italy, but in Europe as well.

Mourinho certainly seems to be right man to end the Nerazzurri’s agonising 43-year wait for a victory in Europe’s biggest club competition. He has the courage of his convictions, and will not be influenced by anything or anyone, as he showed also in the match against Roma, in which he again played with his favored 4-3-3 formation and the inexperienced Victor Obinna supporting Zlatan Ibrahimovic in attack. The Nigerian repayed the coach’s trust with the 4th goal, as Inter ran rampant at the Stadio Olimpico.

The Rome stadium has proven to be a lucky ground for Inter in recent seasons, as they have won all three of their most recent league games against Roma there. That’s one more reason for the Inter faithful to hope Mourinho’s side make it to the Champions League final this season, as it will be held at the Stadio Olimpico for the first time since 1996. That year, it was also an Italian team who triumphed, as Juventus beat Ajax on penalties to claim their second European Cup/Champions League.

It seems that every Champions League season has its own Cinderella story of an underdog that comes good, and this time it’s the turn of Anorthosis Famagusta, the first Cypriot team to make it into Europe’s premier football competition.

No doubt some people at Inter were giggling inside when they saw Anorthosis would be one of their opponents in the group stage, but after two matchdays it has become clear they are a team that must be taken seriously. They had already impressed by making it past three qualifying ties against Pyunik, Rapid Wien, and Olympiakos, before earning 4 points in their first two matches against Werder Bremen and Panathinaikos.

They are also unbeaten in the Cypriot league (though that is perhaps less unsurprising, since they won it last season), which they lead with 13 points from their first five games. Last weekend, they wasted a huge chance to make it five wins out of five by missing a penalty in injury time of their home match against AEP Pephos, who sit near the bottom of the table. Still, coach Temuri Ketsbaia claimed that the result was no less than his team deserved, as he felt they did not play to their usual standards.

Perhaps some of the players were already thinking about the match against Inter, which is of course a hugely prestigious opponent for them, and the chance of a lifetime to make a lasting impression. Following their impressive performances against Werder and Panathinaikos, their confidence will undoubtedly be high, and they probably can’t wait to go on the pitch to face the star-studded Italian champions.

Although a defeat at San Siro wouldn’t be a disgrace for them, they will at least hope to keep the match alive until the end, and boost their confidence even more ahead of the home game against the Nerazzurri, which is in two weeks’ time. As was also shown recently by the national team against the Azzurri in the World Cup qualifiers, at home Cypriot teams are becoming capable of getting a result against anyone.

19/10 (Serie A): Roma-Inter 0-4

04/10 (Serie A): Inter-Bologna 2-1

01/10 (Champions League): Inter-Werder Bremen 1-1

28/09 (Serie A): Milan-Inter 1-0

24/09 (Serie A): Inter-Lecce 1-0

18/10 (Cypriot league): Anorthosis Famagusta-AEP Paphos 0-0

01/10 (Champions League): Anorthosis Famagusta-Panathinaikos 3-1

29/09 (Cypriot league): AEL-Anorthosis Famagusta 0-2

22/09 (Cypriot league): Anorthosis Famagusta-Achna 2-1

16/09 (Champions League): Werder Bremen-Anorthosis Famagusta 0-0

Luis Figo (foot), Maxwell (thigh), Luis Jimenez (thigh), and Patrick Vieira (thigh) are out due to injury. Marco Materazzi and Adriano may be welcomed back after being snubbed for the big match against Roma. Surprisingly, Mourinho announced on Tuesday’s press conference that veteran keeper Francesco Toldo will get a rare starting place in this match.

Possible formation (4-3-3): Toldo; Maicon, Cordoba, Materazzi, Chivu; Zanetti, Cambiasso, Stankovic; Ibrahimovic, Adriano, Mancini.

Ioannis Skopelitis (ankle), Stefanos Voskarides (foot), and Georgos Theodotou (back) are out injured.

Possible formation (4-5-1): Begaj; Katsavakis, Dellas, Leiwakabessy, Constantinou; Dobrasinovic, Laban, Costa, Savio, Nikolaou; Sosin.

With his two fine goals against Roma last weekend, ‘Ibra’ hit back at his critics who say he is not a big game player. While he had already proved he can score in the most important games a number of times in previous seasons, such as in derbies and the title-deciding match away to Parma, it’s true that the Champions League has always been the Swede’s Achilles’ heel.

He has never managed to score an above-average amount of goals in the competition, and he knows he needs to do exactly that if he wants to be a contender for the Ballon D’Or, or at least lead his team to the final with great performances. Unlike last year, this time he has been included in the nominees list, but with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Fernando Torres also in the race, it’s unlikely he will get his hands on the most prestigious individual award in football come December.

The experienced Greek international defender will be expected to marshal his team’s defence against Inter’s attacks, which are likely to come thick and fast at San Siro. The tall center back has a wealth of experience on international level, having been crowned European Champion with Greece in 2004, and earning a move to Roma in 2002. It is especially his Serie A experience which could prove invaluable for Anorthosis in this match, in which Dellas will come up against many familiar opponents.

After a smashing victory like the one against Roma last weekend, it would be easy for complacency to kick in for a match like this, but you can bet Mourinho will manage to keep his side’s concentration high. According to Dejan Stankovic, the coach has already been telling the players that this is the most important match of the season. While that may be stretching it, it’s true that a win for Inter would give them an excellent chance of finishing first in this group, and thus probably avoiding a big-name opponent in the last 16.

With underestimation on Inter’s part not likely to be a factor in this match, it should be a straightforward victory for Mourinho’s men.