Europa League: Rubin Kazan vs. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Twente-c39233 – Preview
Dutch Eredivisie reigning champions, FC Twente Enschede, will get a freezing cold taste of things when they face the Russian outfit, FC Rubin Kazan, in their Europa League Round of 32 double headers first tie at Olimpiyskiy stadion, Luzhniki.
The encounter was set to take place at Tsentralnyi Stadion, but extreme weather conditions forced the Tatars to play the match at Luzhniki’s artificial pitch.
The Tatars claimed the Russian Premier League title last season and qualified for the UEFA Champions League. The Russian side were hoping that they could reach the next stage, as their only major threat in the group was La Liga giants, Barcelona.
However, the Volzhane performance in Europe’s top football competition was below par. Consequently, the Russian side were eliminated from the group stages as they finished third in their group.
The Rubinovye will now look to achieve better results and attain a respectable finish in Europe’s secondary football competition, as their aim to reach in the quarterfinals of Champions League were crushed. They acquired six points in their group stage match
with an overall record of 6 played, 1 win, 3 drawn and 2 lost.
Rubin manager, Kurban Berdyev, was unhappy at the proceedings in the change of the venue. He said, “I hope the leaders of Russian football will draw some conclusions from this story. We need to have a licensed stadium in the south, so that such problems
do not occur in the future. We want to play, but we are opposed to football in unacceptable conditions”.
On the other hand, FC Twente Enschede lifted the Dutch Eredivisie title for the first time in their history under the leadership of Steve McClaren. The Tukkers played in the qualifying round of Champions League last term.
However, they were knocked out from the competition by English Premier League side, Arsenal. The Reds were hoping to achieve better results this time, but their hopes were dented when the Dutch side set was drawn with the likes of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567 Milan and Tottenham
Hotspur.
Dutch Eredivisie outfit finished third in their group by acquiring six points. Consequently, the Tukkers qualified for the Europa League Round of 32. They have an overall record of 6 played, 1 won, 3 drawn, and 2 lost.
The visitors have shown a remarkable recovery in their form that has taken them to second spot in the Dutch Eredivisie and they are neck-to-neck on points with the league leaders, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/PSV-c40281 Eindhoven.
Team tactician, Michel Preud’homme, is hoping that his side can continue their supreme performances and qualify to the next stage of the knock out phase.
Preud’homme said, “Tonight we have trained and experienced the cold. We have heard many stories about the special circumstances, but now we are here, we are ready to play the game”.
Team news
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Rubin-Kazan-c39193
The Tatars’ side have enjoyed the season break. Berdyev have the full squad available for the upcoming match. However, it is expected that http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Aleksandr-Ryazantsev-c4607 will not be playing the match, as the manager will not risk them
on an artificial pitch and sustain injuries.
FC Twente Enschede
The attacking midfielder, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Emir-Bajrami-c12511, sustained a torn Ankle Ligament and he will not be available to represent his side.
Players to watch
The Brazilian international, Carlos http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/TSG-1899-Hoffenheim-c40767.
Twente striker, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Marc-Janko-c23484, will be looking to carry on his impressive run for Eredivisie, as he has scored 14 goals for his side so far.
Prediction
Rubin are a strong side at home, as they lost only once in the Russian Premier league last season while playing in front of their home crowd. Twente are also enjoying good form playing away from their home, but the cold weather will certainly affect their
game. It will be a 2 – 1 win for the home side.
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