Werder Bremen vs. Sampdoria - Champions League Play-Off, First Leg Preview
Sampdoria go into the match tonight against Werder Bremen knowing that no Italian side has ever won at Bremen’s home, the dreaded Weserstadion. In addition to that, the Italian side’s last involvement in Europe was in 1992, when they won the Champions League, the then European Cup. Bremen, on the other hand, have regularly been featuring in the European competition, and even though they have recently lost star playmaker Mesut Ozil, the Germans are definitely the favorites.
Domenico Di Carlo, the Sampdoria coach, will be happy with a draw, considering the fact that this is the first leg and the second leg would take place in Italy - which has been less unlucky for the Italians. Even if the Italian side is going into the match aiming for a draw, it will make things interesting because they will try and equalize if they end up conceding a goal. This opens up the possibility of an extremely entertaining and unpredictable match, where either side could claim a win.
Both sides are in similar positions after losing essential personnel: Bremen a player and Sampdoria, their coach. As mentioned earlier, Werder Bremen lost Ozil to Real Madrid. Ozil caught the eye of top European clubs during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where he was one of the best players of the tournament. Bremen received offers from the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid, all of which they rejected at first.
However, the German youngster made it clear that he had every intention of leaving in the summer, and with only one year remaining on his contract, Bremen Coach Thomas Schaaf agreed to let him go, releasing a statement in which he stated that he supported Ozil’s decision to leave and wished him luck for the future. Schaaf will now be determined to prove that Bremen are not a one-man team and can manage fine without the German international.
Luigi Delneri, the former Sampdoria coach, abandoned his side for the more alluring Juventus. This was a big blow for the club, who had made significant progress since his arrival, and credited him for most of their success. However, Delneri left the Italian side with the chance of Champions League football provided they perform well, starting by beating Werder Bremen in their European campaign’s first match. New coach Di Carlo must ensure his side maintain their good form and secure at least a draw tonight.
With Ozil no longer present, Marko Marin is the player to watch for Werder Bremen in tonight’s match. The 21 year old is a winger, who possesses the quality of being able to play on either flank. His speed and flexibility make him a difficult opponent to deal with. His strategy is to beat the defenders with his skill and quick feet, and create chances for his teammates.
In addition to that, the German youngster is not goal shy; his accurate free kicks can only correctly be called thunderbolts, which often end up at the back of the net. His only apparent weakness is his physical strength, or lack thereof. The youngster is of a small build and rival opponents will make the most of that when they come up against him.
For Sampdoria, the main focus will be on the strikers Cassano and Pazzini. However, the two will be useless without the services of Daniele Mannini, who performs the role of the provider. The 26-year old usually plays on the left flank of central midfield, but has a habit of going forward. The Italian midfielder had personal problems that he dealt with, a drug problem which earned him a one year ban from football, but he is now back and eager to impress.
Possible Starting Line-Ups:
Werder Bermen: [4-4-2] Tim Wiese; Sebastian Prodl, Per Mertesacker, Petri Pasanen, Sebastian Boenisch; Philipp Bargfrede, Torsten Fings , Aaron Hunt, Marko Marin, Hugo Almedia, Claudio Pizarro.
Sampdoria: [4-4-2] Gianluca Curci; Marius Stankevicius, Stefano Lucchini, Daniele Gastaldello, Reto Ziegler, Franco Semioli, Fernando Tissone, Angelo Palombo, Daneiele Mannini, Antonip Cassano, Giam.
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