Europa League Play-Off Preview: Werder Bremen – FK Aktobe

Last season’s beaten finalists Werder Bremen take on a completely unknown quantity from Kazakhstan knowing that the potential is there for an almighty upset...

Aug 19, 2009 6:00:19 PM

More On :  Aktobe, Werder Bremen, Claudio Pizarro
Willian slides in on Clemens Fritz during the UEFA Cup final in Istanbul.
Kick-off: Thursday, August 20 2009 (21:00 CET).
Weser Stadion, Bremen

Last Hope

"FC who?" Many fans would be forgiven for asking the question about the side that that has won the last two Kazakhstan Premier League titles, but the potential is there for the European minnows to make a real name for themselves in this Europa League play-off.   
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FC Aktobe are the last remaining representative left from Kazakhstan in European competition following the exits of FC Irtysh Pavlodar and FC Okzhetpes Kokshetau and should they make it past Werder Bremen they would become the first club from the country to make it to the group stage of any European competition.  

The club from the Central Stadium are disappointed to be playing ‘only’ in the Europa League after going very close to making it to the play-offs for the Champions League. Vladimir Mukhanov’s team beat Icelandic outfit FH Hafnarfjordur in the first qualifying round before facing Israeli side Maccabi Haifa.   

The first leg in Kazakhstan produced a goalless draw, and Aktobe then stormed into a 3-0 lead within the first 15 minutes of the second-leg. The Israeli side, however, produced a stunning comeback to knock them out and ‘demote’ them to the Europa League play-offs.   

Aktobe are currently third in the Kazakhstan Premier League, but have three games in hand over first and second placed Lokomotiv Astana and Shakhtar Karaganda respectively. 


Aktobe will want a result to take back for the return-leg

Let’s Try Again  

Werder’s season last year can be divided into two: very disappointing in the Bundesliga, but much better in the Cup competitions.  They triumphed in the DFB Pokal and made it to the final of the UEFA Cup.  On the way to the final in Istanbul, the Green and Whites knocked out Milan, but ultimately fell at the last hurdle going down to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Shakhtar Donetsk.
 
The DFB Pokal success paved the way for European qualification, which wouldn’t have happened based on their league position.  Although the Werder fans will be eyeing a higher league position and Champions League qualification this season, they certainly wouldn’t say no to going one stage further than last year in Europe.   

They have just been boosted by the news that they have finally managed to sign Peruvian striker Claudio Pizarro from Chelsea on a permanent deal.  It is very welcome news for everyone at the club as it was Pizarro, who scored a great many of their goals last season on the way to their two cup final appearances.  

Thomas Schaaf will have warned his side against taking Aktobe lightly and will want to see a professional, businesslike performance in the first-leg at the Weser Stadion on Thursday with a result that will take the pressure off their trip to Kazakhstan for the return game. 

 
Inca-God | Claudio Pizarro is back at Werder

FORM GUIDE  

Werder Bremen

15 Aug Bayern Munich 1-1 Werder Bremen  (Bundesliga)
08 Aug Werder Bremen 2-3 Eintracht Frankfurt  (Bundesliga)
02 Aug Union Berlin 0-5 Werder Bremen  (Bundesliga)
28 Jul Werder Bremen 2-2p Valencia  (Emsland Cup)
26 Jul Alemannia Aachen 3-2 Werder Bremen  (Friendly)  

FK Aktobe

15 Aug FC Atyrau 1-0 FC Aktobe  (Super League)
04 Aug Maccabi Haifa 4-3 FC Aktobe  (Champions League)
28 Jul FC Aktobe 0-0 Maccabi Haifa  (Champions League)
22 Jul FC Aktobe 2-0 FH Hafnarfjordur  (Champions League)
15 Jul FH Hafnarfjordur 4-0 Aktobe  (Champions League)  

TEAM NEWS  

Werder Bremen  

Werder have checked with UEFA and Claudio Pizarro is eligible to play in the match with Aktobe, so could be in line to start.  Markus Rosenberg is injured and Boubacar Sanogo St-Etienne bound, so the Peruvian could partner either Hugo Almeida or Marcelo Moreno.  

Naldo will sit this one out as he bids to be fit for the weekend Bundesliga clash.  

Probable starting XI: Wiese, Fritz, Boenisch, Mertesacker, Pasanen, Frings, Borowski, Oezil, Marin, Pizarro, Almeida.  

FK Aktobe  

Trainer Vladimir Mukhanov will send out his strongest team possible for the biggest game of Aktobe’s history.    

Probable starting XI: Sidelnikov, Chichulin, Smakov, Logvinenko, Kenzhesariev, Mitrofanov, Khairullin, Golovskoy, Lavrik, Strukov, Averchenko  

PLAYERS TO WATCH  

Werder Bremen- Claudio Pizarro

Pizarro could be in for a surprise inclusion against Aktobe and Werder fans would love to see him make a goalscoring return.  The Peruvian hit 26 goals in all competitions last season for Bremen.      

FK Aktobe- Samat Smakov  

None of the Aktobe team are household names outside of Kazakhstan, but keep an eye out for captain Samat Smakov, who wears the number 8.    

PREDICTION  

Werder shouldn’t face too great a problem notching up a first-leg win over FC Aktobe at the Weser Stadion.  The Bundesliga season is only two games old. but the German side should be able to rack up a healthy lead to take to the Central Stadium for the second-leg. 

With Claudio Pizarro’s return just confirmed , the other strikers will want to fill their boots in order to get the nod to partner the Peruvian in the league this season.    

Werder Bremen 4-0 FK Aktobe  

Mathew Burt, Goal.com
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