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Thursdays Soccer – By Chris.

UEFA Cup games - first legs.

Aberdeen   -   Bayern Munich        8.50  -  1.45
The Scottish side are not enjoying the best of times lately, letting in goals freely and  mostly firing blanks in return. They have only scored three goals in their last 6 games. They are injury ravaged with five players definitely on the sidelines. There is some good news for Aberdeen, Considine, Z Diamond, D Mackie and B Nichols will be fit to play.

UEFA Cup favourites Bayern have travelled without five of their regulars. No Ribery, Van Bommel, Sagnol, O Kahn nor Van Buyten. Sagnol, Kahn and Van Bommel played at the weekend, when Bayern drew 1-1- with Werder. Toni of all people missed a penalty. C Lell will replace Sagnol, Ottl will cover for Van Bommel and M Rensing will play in goal.  L Toni and M Klose up front.  Surely Bayern should be too strong for this rather mediocre Aberdeen side (1.45). 

Aberdeen 2 Bayern Munich 2

Benfica   -   Nurnberg       1.67   -   5.50
Benfica are second in the Portugese league with 9-7-2 after eighteen rounds. Porto are miles ahead and if Benfica want some silverware this season the UEFA Cup is their best chance. Out injured are N Gomes and Maxi Pereira but both Katsouranis and Petit have returned to training. Makulula is now a Benfica player and I expect him to start up front tomorrow together with Cardozo or Mantorras.

Nurnberg have just sacked their coach. They are 16th in the German league with 4-3-11 and something had to be done. Offensive weapons Misimovic and Mintal will be missing for this cup game. Jan Koller and Abardonado are playing for Nurnberg these days. Survival in the Bundesliga is of course the number one priority for the club, with or without new coach. Home win for Benfica (1.67).

Benfica 1 Nurnberg 0

Bolton   -   Atletico Madrid         2.95   -   2.50
Only four fit Atletico defenders but they are top quality. Perea, Pablo Ibanez, Pernia and A Lopez will play in the Atletico defence vs. Bolton and hopefully none of them will get injured during the 90 minutes. Also Eller has recovered, so now they are five. Jurado is fit to play again but Raul and Luis Garcia are suspended  for this match. The fantastic duo Aguero and Forlan will play up front.

Bolton have no game this coming weekend and consequently coach Megson will select a much stronger squad than he usually picks for the UEFA Cup. Unfortunately not all of his recent signings are allowed to play, Steinsson, Cohen and Rasiak are ineligible, but both G Cahill and M Taylor are allowed to play. Campo will be available again.

A Madrid are one of  my favourites to win the UEFA Cup this season and with their outstanding strikers Aguero and Forlan from the start at the Reebok Stadium I do no think that A Madrid will lose this match. X2 then!

Bolton 1 Atletico Madrid 0

Zurich   -   Hamburg         3.60   -   2.20
Zurich are enduring a poor run of form. Three losses in their last four games and they are now 10-6-4 on the third place in the Swiss league. They have lost their striker Raphael to Hertha and instead they have signed a couple of players from the Swedish league. One of them, D Djuric will probably be one of the Zurich strikers tomorrow, joined by Alphonse. I am not impressed. Key player is their Tunisian midfielder Chikhaoui.

Hamburg drew with Leverkusen at the weekend, the same Leverkusen that won 5-0 at Zurich prior to the Christmas break. Hamburg seldom lose football games these days and I am convinced that they will not lose this match either. Both Atouba and Zidan are back from the African Cup, with Atouba recalled to the starting line up right away. Olic and Guerrero will go forward supported by the two internationals, Van der Vaart and Trochowsky. Decent odds on the away win (2.20).

Zurich 1 Hamburg 3

Rosenborg   -   Fiorentina      3.45   -   2.25
It is February now and I do not think that even this experienced Rosenborg side can do much about that. I call Rosenborg experienced because they have played so many big games on this international level in the last few years, with some success one must add. Training, training and playing a couple of friendlies is the reality for the Rosenborg players during this winter break. Important midfielder Tettey is out of this match and on his position veteran R Strand will come in. I reckon that another veteran, S Iversen will start up front together with Kone. Same as before.

Mutu will return for Fiorentina, but Liverani remains sidelined. Likely starters are the two Danes M Jörgensen and Kroldrup (used to the climate if nothing else) Donadel, Pazzini and Gobbi. I have major problems with these "winter break teams" like Rosenborg and I am prepared to back Fiorentina tomorrow (2.25). 

Rosenborg 0 Fiorentina 1

Slavia Prague   -    Tottenham        4.33   -   1.91
Slavia ended their domestic season on the 8th of December at the top of the Czech league (10-5-1). Since then they have sold their best striker Vlcek to Anderlecht and Svec has left for Heerenveen. New Slavia players are Strihavka, M Jarolim and J Cerny among others.

Ramos, the Tottenham boss, is after UEFA Cup glory and he will send out his best possible side for this match. Zokora is back in contention, but M Dawson and A Hutton will no be involved. Ledley King will be assessed. I can only see the away win result (1.91).

Slavia Prague 1 Tottenham 2

Chris.