Spain, France and Italy Fight for National Pride in UEFA Cup
March 2, 1999 - 0:0
PARIS Spain, France and Italy are fighting for the reputation of their countries as tommorow's UEFA Cup quarterfinals herald the resumption of European football's club competitions this year. Italy's Parma, Spain's Celta Vigo and French clubs Marseille, Bordeaux and Lyon are also still in with a chance for their domestic league titles, though Italy's Bologna and Roma and Atletico Madrid of Spain are languishing in midtable.
Celta Vigo travel to Marseille in arguably the match of the round with Vigo's injured Frenchman Claude Makalele making the trip to his former club. However Makalele only has a 50 percent chance of playing having picked up a groin injury. Vigo keeper Richard Dutuel, who used to deputize to Bernard Lama at Paris Saint Germain, will have his family in the crowd for the Stade Velodrome clash.
Dutuel believed Vigo were the underdogs. He said: Marseille are the favorites as they have more experience in Europe and more financial backing. But we have done really well so far this season and have the advantage of playing away first. However Vigo beat two former European Cup winners in England's Liverpool and Aston Villa in previous rounds to prove that previous success and money is no certain formula for success.
Vigo are currently in fourth place in Spain with ex-Valencia player Valery Karpin of Russia, compatriot Alexander Mostovoi and Brazil's 1994 World Cup winner Mazinho forming a formidable midfield unit with nine-goal striker Juan Sanchez excelling up front. The players brought in by the club in the last couple of years have made for a fabulous squad which is now baring fruit, said Dutuel. The whole town has been gripped by our success, which, unlike Barcelona and Real Madrid, doesn't happen every year.
Marseille will need some cheer after being knocked out of both domestic cups by Lens though they do lead in the league by a point from Bordeaux. Christophe Dugarry is set to play despite having nine stitches in a head wound following a clash in their match against Strasbourg on Thursday. Florian Maurice, who had an injured right ankle problem, is also set to start up front alongside Dugarry. Marseille Coach Rolland Courbis, who watched Vigo's 0-0 draw at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, tipped Vigo as favorites to go through.
The Vigo team I saw, without six first team regulars, is as good as the Marseille of last autumn. But it's superior to the Marseille of the last few weeks and we'll have to play extremely well in both legs to go through. Bordeaux have a tough draw against Parma though Bordeaux's strikers Sylvain Wiltord and Lilian Laslandes, with 31 league goals between them this season, will trouble Parma's defense.
Bordeaux have problems in defense though with left back Victor Torres Mestre out with a right hamstring injury from their goalless draw against Nantes on Thursday. Romain Ferrier, who replaced Mestre in the first half against Nantes, is set to replace him. Skipper Michel Pavon is also doubtful with a knee problem but coach Elie Baup is spoilt for choice for a replacement, with Francois Grenet, Holland's Kiki Musampa, Ivan Vukomanovic of Yugoslavia and Bruno da Rocha possible starters in midfield.
Spanish striker Ivan will not be eligible for selection though as he has already played in the competition this season for Real Betis. Troubled Atletico Madrid, who still had still not replaced sacked Arrigo Sacchi by Sunday, are at home to Roma. Former Argentina coach Daniel Passarella and Aston Villa boss John Gregory have both been touted as possible replacements for Sacchi, with Gregory, according to England's Sunday Mirror, set to be officially approached next week.
Of the three French clubs, Lyon have perhaps the easiest draw on paper against Bologna, who were thrashed 5-0 at Piacenza on Saturday. Lyon have doubts over the appearance of right thigh victim Steed Malbranque who clashed with Paris Saint Germain defender Alaim Goma on Thursday. Right back Patrice Carteron, who missed the Paris Saint Germain game with flu, is set to play.
Lyon's Swiss striker Marco Grassi serves the second of his four-match suspension after being sent off against FC Brugge in the previous round. However it would not not have been certain Lyon Coach Bernard Lacombe would have picked Grassi with the current top form of Cameroon's Joseph-Desire job, who on Sunday extended his contract by two years till June 2003. Tuesday UEFA Cup Quarterfinals, First Leg Atletico Madrid (Spa) v Roma (Ita) Bordeaux (Fra) v Parma (Ita) Bologna (Ita) v Lyon (Fra) Marseille (Fra) v Celta Vigo (Spa) (AFP)
Celta Vigo travel to Marseille in arguably the match of the round with Vigo's injured Frenchman Claude Makalele making the trip to his former club. However Makalele only has a 50 percent chance of playing having picked up a groin injury. Vigo keeper Richard Dutuel, who used to deputize to Bernard Lama at Paris Saint Germain, will have his family in the crowd for the Stade Velodrome clash.
Dutuel believed Vigo were the underdogs. He said: Marseille are the favorites as they have more experience in Europe and more financial backing. But we have done really well so far this season and have the advantage of playing away first. However Vigo beat two former European Cup winners in England's Liverpool and Aston Villa in previous rounds to prove that previous success and money is no certain formula for success.
Vigo are currently in fourth place in Spain with ex-Valencia player Valery Karpin of Russia, compatriot Alexander Mostovoi and Brazil's 1994 World Cup winner Mazinho forming a formidable midfield unit with nine-goal striker Juan Sanchez excelling up front. The players brought in by the club in the last couple of years have made for a fabulous squad which is now baring fruit, said Dutuel. The whole town has been gripped by our success, which, unlike Barcelona and Real Madrid, doesn't happen every year.
Marseille will need some cheer after being knocked out of both domestic cups by Lens though they do lead in the league by a point from Bordeaux. Christophe Dugarry is set to play despite having nine stitches in a head wound following a clash in their match against Strasbourg on Thursday. Florian Maurice, who had an injured right ankle problem, is also set to start up front alongside Dugarry. Marseille Coach Rolland Courbis, who watched Vigo's 0-0 draw at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, tipped Vigo as favorites to go through.
The Vigo team I saw, without six first team regulars, is as good as the Marseille of last autumn. But it's superior to the Marseille of the last few weeks and we'll have to play extremely well in both legs to go through. Bordeaux have a tough draw against Parma though Bordeaux's strikers Sylvain Wiltord and Lilian Laslandes, with 31 league goals between them this season, will trouble Parma's defense.
Bordeaux have problems in defense though with left back Victor Torres Mestre out with a right hamstring injury from their goalless draw against Nantes on Thursday. Romain Ferrier, who replaced Mestre in the first half against Nantes, is set to replace him. Skipper Michel Pavon is also doubtful with a knee problem but coach Elie Baup is spoilt for choice for a replacement, with Francois Grenet, Holland's Kiki Musampa, Ivan Vukomanovic of Yugoslavia and Bruno da Rocha possible starters in midfield.
Spanish striker Ivan will not be eligible for selection though as he has already played in the competition this season for Real Betis. Troubled Atletico Madrid, who still had still not replaced sacked Arrigo Sacchi by Sunday, are at home to Roma. Former Argentina coach Daniel Passarella and Aston Villa boss John Gregory have both been touted as possible replacements for Sacchi, with Gregory, according to England's Sunday Mirror, set to be officially approached next week.
Of the three French clubs, Lyon have perhaps the easiest draw on paper against Bologna, who were thrashed 5-0 at Piacenza on Saturday. Lyon have doubts over the appearance of right thigh victim Steed Malbranque who clashed with Paris Saint Germain defender Alaim Goma on Thursday. Right back Patrice Carteron, who missed the Paris Saint Germain game with flu, is set to play.
Lyon's Swiss striker Marco Grassi serves the second of his four-match suspension after being sent off against FC Brugge in the previous round. However it would not not have been certain Lyon Coach Bernard Lacombe would have picked Grassi with the current top form of Cameroon's Joseph-Desire job, who on Sunday extended his contract by two years till June 2003. Tuesday UEFA Cup Quarterfinals, First Leg Atletico Madrid (Spa) v Roma (Ita) Bordeaux (Fra) v Parma (Ita) Bologna (Ita) v Lyon (Fra) Marseille (Fra) v Celta Vigo (Spa) (AFP)