Past glories spur OB onward

A terrific 2-2 UEFA Cup first round first-leg draw at Hertha BSC Berlin has revived memories of Odense BK's win against Real Madrid CF back in 1994.

Madrid memories
Denmark's third-biggest city is anticipating an exciting night as OB look to forge their way into the UEFA Cup group stage at Hertha's expense, evoking the glory of December 1994 when a 2-0 victory at the Santiago Bernabéu earned OB a 4-3 aggregate success against Madrid in the third round of the same competition.

Bisgaard winner
Having knocked out 1. FC Kaiserslautern in the previous round - no small feat in itself - goalkeeper Lars Høgh's heroics helped defy Madrid on home soil with midfielder Morten Bisgaard scoring what proved to be the winning goal. Now in England with Derby County FC, the 32-year-old remembers the occasion well.

'The Miracle'
"We had a great coach, Kim Brink, who is now general manager at the club," Bisgaard told uefa.com. "He and his assistant Viggo Jensen were a great pair. They really gave us belief. We were going to play against Michael Laudrup, who for everybody in Denmark was the big hero, and all the other great players at Real Madrid but we went about it with no fear and really gave them a hard game. Madrid never thought they would lose that tie. They call it the Miracle in Madrid - it has to be one of OB's best nights.

Fantastic welcome
"It was fanstastic!" Bisgaard added of the return to Odense following their second-leg triumph. "We arrived late at night at the airport and there were still I don't know how many fans there to welcome us. There was a buzz around the city."

European confidence
Current OB coach Bruce Rioch is hoping there will be a similar buzz ahead of tonight's encounter, not least as he sees Europe as his side's best opportunity to shine. "I don't think it is realistic to expect other teams to threaten [FC] København and Brøndby [IF]'s status as the teams who decide the [Danish] title between them year after year - not in the short term anyway."

Answerphone message
His charges are certainly not lacking in belief as they prepare for the return match at Fionia Park. Goalkeeper Arek Onyszko shows no doubt in his abilities, with even his answering machine message oozing confidence: "You have phoned the best goalkeeper in Denmark - please leave a message!"

Positive omen
Whether that cocksure stance will be enough to dispose of Hertha is another matter, but Bisgaard senses a chance for OB. "German teams are sometimes good for Danish teams - I don't know why, but sometimes in the past we seem to have had success against them," he said. "OB have to do well at home. They haven't won the tie. It is going to be difficult, but they have a good team."