Göteborg confident of Swiss success

IFK Göteborg will travel to Switzerland in confident mood next Wednesday despite FC Basel 1893 gaining the upper hand in their UEFA Champions League second qualifying round tie with a 1-1 draw in Sweden.

IFK upbeat
Benjamin Huggel opened the scoring for the Swiss champions on 26 minutes, but the lead was short-lived as Thomas Olsson brought the hosts level six minutes later. The result leaves the tie evenly poised although Göteborg believe they have nothing to fear at St. Jakob-Park. "It's a shame they managed to score," IFK defender Ragnar Sigurdsson said. "It was really their only clear-cut chance, and I think we were the stronger team. We'll beat them in Switzerland."

'No problems'
Sigurdsson added: "Our scouts spoke at length about their striker Eren Derdiyok, but Mattias Bjärsmyr and I had no problems handling him. They didn't create anything from open play. There were a few set-pieces they might have scored from, yet we can go there in positive mood." Göteborg had opportunities to win the game, notably late on when 16-year-old substitute Nicklas Bärkroth fired wide. "It was a perfect pass from Pontus Wernblom, but I blasted it wide," Bärkroth said. "It was poor. However, I think we'll win in Switzerland. We're good enough."

'First step'
IFK's most experienced player, Niclas Alexandersson, who appeared in the UEFA Champions League in 1996/97, is cautiously optimistic. "It's not an ideal result, but the match is alive and if we play at our top level down there we are in with a really good chance," the 36-year-old said. According to the visitors' Swedish midfielder Behrang Safari, Basel are also pleased with the half-time scoreline. "A 1-0 win would have been better, but we're really strong at home and we will attack," he said. "I think we'll be too strong for Göteborg." Basel coach Christian Gross added: "We have taken the first step. It was a small one, but one in the right direction. It was a difficult game, as expected, and I am happy with the result."