Ventspils keen to take on Trapattoni

FK Ventspils are ready for a footballing education when they take on FC Salzburg for a place in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round.

Welsh win
The Latvian champions won through to a glamour tie against their Austrian counterparts, led by former Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni, on away goals last night after a 2-1 home win against The New Saints FC of Wales completed a 4-4 aggregate scoreline. Ventspils were always on top despite a match played in difficult conditions after heavy rainfall and they will certainly have given the 68-year-old Trapattoni something to think about.

'Serious opponent'
The man who will pit his wits against the Italian maestro is Ventspils coach Roman Grygorchuk and he used the prospect of a Salzburg tie to motivate his players to secure a place in the second qualifying round. He said: "We really wanted to win this one and we have gone through despite facing a very serious opponent. It will be very interesting to face Salzburg in the next round because I consider Giovanni Trapattoni to be one of the top five coaches in the world. Those two matches will be a big lesson for us."

Scouting report
Grygorchuk may already be downplaying his team's chances but Trapattoni has been around long enough to know that football does not always favour the favourites. He and assistant coach Thorsten Fink travelled to Wales for the first contest and were clear about the abilities of the Ventspils side, even before headed goals from Jean-Paul Ndeki and Deniss Kacanovs ultimately confirmed it would not be TNS standing in their way. "We definitely have to watch out and be fully concentrated," he said. "However, without being too arrogant we should be able to pass this test."

Ultimate goal
With plenty of investment in the club since a high-profile takeover in April 2005, Salzburg are desperate to reach the UEFA Champions League group stage. Having won through the second qualifying round last season they found themselves up against eventual quarter-finalists Valencia CF. Though they fell short then, they bounced back to win the domestic league and if anyone can inspire them to go one better this season it is Trapattoni. The man who won the 1984/85 European Champion Clubs' Cup and four league titles in four countries will hope his own pupils are up to the test.