Finnish clubs find form in Europe

Things have started brightly for Finnish clubs on the European stage with Tampere United looking to emulate HJK Helsinki and become only the second club from the country to grace the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Levski defeated
Having eased past Sammarinese outfit S.S. Murata in the first qualifying round, Veikkausliiga leaders Tampere caught the eye with an impressive 1-0 victory against PFC Levski Sofia last Tuesday. Tomi Petrescu scored the only goal at the Ratina Stadium but coach Ari Hjelm is playing down dreams of a historic triumph in Sofia on Tuesday. "A Finnish club has beaten a club which played in the Champions League group stage last season," he said. "That is certainly something, no matter what happens in the second leg.

'Confident'
"We have now played three matches in Champions League qualifying so far and won all of them. It's a positive thing for us and the whole Finnish football." It would be even more positive should Tampere hold on to their aggregate lead when they travel to Sofia, and after learning that their opponents in the next stage would be either FC Astana or Rosenborg BK, Hjelm is in high spirits, saying: "We are definitely looking for the third qualifying round and I'm confident ahead of the second leg."

Lunch date
HJK are the only Finnish club to reach the UEFA Champions League group stage – in 1998/99 – and though now in the UEFA Cup, they are once again blazing a small trail. All three Veikkausliiga representatives successfully negotiated the first qualifying round, with HJK beating FC Etzella 3-0 on aggregate to set up a meeting with Aalborg BK. The Danish representatives beat FC Honka on away goals in the UEFA Intertoto Cup last month and HJK coach Keith Armstrong is hoping for some insider knowledge, saying: "I suppose I will have to invite [Honka coach] Mika Lehkosuo to lunch".

Blackburn test
FC Haka are also now up against Danish opponents in the form of FC Midtjylland, while Myllykosken Pallo–47 will have to go farther afield after being paired with Blackburn Rovers FC. "Blackburn are probably the toughest opponents we could have got," said coach Ilkka Mäkelä. "It's always a real pleasure to play against really big clubs though." If Finnish clubs continue how they have started in Europe this season, they may not have to wait long before that is commonplace.