Bucharest awaits dynamite derby

The Romanian capital will be home to a UEFA Cup semi-finalist after AFC Rapid Bucuresti were paired with FC Steaua Bucuresti in today's quarter-final draw.

Lucescu rueful
However, Rapid coach Razvan Lucescu was not entirely delighted about the draw, which sees Romanian clubs paired together in Europe for the first time. "I would rather have played Steaua in the final and it's a pity that we will not both be able to qualify," he said. "But for Romanian football it's very good that we have been guaranteed a team in the semi-finals."

'It's a pity'
Steaua captain Mirel Radoi felt similarly sorry that the two Romanian sides - who drew 0-0 in their only league meeting to date this season - would not be meeting in the final in Eindhoven on 10 May. "It's a pity that it will not end that way," he said. "I hope that the team which qualifies after these two matches gets to the final. And of course I hope that team will be Steaua."

Semi-final task
The winners of the all-Bucharest tie will play the winners of the game between FC Basel 1893 and Middlesbrough FC in the semi-finals, something which Lucescu saw as a major incentive. "Whoever qualifies will have an easier semi-final than the teams in the other half of the draw," he said.

Unfamiliar home
With Steaua playing their home games at the unfamiliar Lia Manoliu stadium while their Ghencea stadium is refurbished, Rapid striker Mugurel Buga was feeling confident. "We have an advantage over Steaua because they will also be playing their home matches away," said the prolific scorer.

Moldovan confident
The experienced Viorel Moldovan was feeling confident about his side's prospects despite the unusual draw. "This is the first time that something like this has happened in Romanian football," he said. "They will be two life-or-death matches, but I am sure that we will qualify."

Marathon campaign
Rapid are the only side left in the competition who started their campaign in the first qualifying round of the tournament back in July 2005. Lucescu's side have already played 14 2005/06 UEFA Cup games, scoring in every one of them to rack up a total of 27 goals - nine of which were scored by Buga.

Past glories
Romanian champions Steaua, meanwhile, are looking to reach their third major final having won the 1985/86 European Champion Clubs' Cup and lost in the final of the 1988/89 edition. They had reached the semi-finals of the same competition the previous season and are having their best-ever season in the UEFA Cup.

Important dates
Rapid will play host to Steaua in the home leg on 30 March with the second leg due to kick off at the Lia Manoliu stadium on 6 April.