Brøndby look to stave off Zvezda threat
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Article summary
Brøndby IF go into the home leg of their quarter-final against Zvezda-2005 amid a rare domestic dip in form while their Russian opponents, who retained their domestic title a while back, are predicting an even tie.
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Domestic stumble
The two-time semi-finalists and knockout regulars may have the edge over their Russian rivals in terms of experience, but in terms of domestic form it is a different story. Danish champions for the last six seasons, Brøndby have begun 2008/09 in unusually stuttering style, their 2-2 draw at SønderjyskE taking their points dropped tally to seven from nine games, and they had to work hard to avoid defeat. With Fortuna Hjørring yet to drop a point, third-placed Brøndby resume their UEFA Women's Cup campaign with an unusual amount of pressure on the home front. "We do not have as strong a squad as in previous seasons," Brøndby midfielder Cathrine Paaske Sørensen told uefa.com.
International duty
Her team are at home in the first leg as they were runners-up in their second qualifying round group behind FCR 2001 Duisburg. By contrast, Zvezda finished above another German side, holders 1. FFC Frankfurt. The only team remaining from the first qualifying round, Zvezda retained their league title some weeks ago but have had little preparation time as they supplied five players each to the Russia and Ukraine squads that won their UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ play-offs last week. Russian quintet Elena Souslova, Valentina Savchenkova, Natalia Barbashina, Olesya Kurochkina and Olga Sergaeva and Ukraine's Alla Lishafai, Nataliya Zinchenko, Nadezhda Baranova, Vera Djatel and Elena Hodyreva only returned to Perm at the weekend.
Brøndby quality
Zvezda's 41-year-old player-assistant coach Hanna Kostraba, who cored the only goal in their second qualifying round wins against Frankfurt and Glasgow City LFC, knows all about Brøndby from a previous UEFA Women's Cup campaign in 2005/06. "Brøndby are a big, high-quality club," she said. "I faced them while playing for LADA Toliatti and we lost 1-0. I think we didn't deserve to lose but Brøndby have improved since then."
Even encounter
Coach Alexander Grigoryan expects a close tie, which will conclude next Thursday in Kazan. "Brøndby are a strong club, one the leaders in European football," he said. "They have never reached the final, but they have never missed the quarter-finals either. I rate their strength as the same as ours. They just play a different style of football. We're also one of Europe's finest teams, so it's 50-50."