SWITCHED TO MADRID
SEVILLA Spain - OSASUNA Spain - 2: 0 (1: 0)
Goals: 1: 0 - Luis Fabiano (37), 2: 0 - Renato (53).
SEVILLA: Palop, Javi Navarro, Daniel Alves, Adriano (Duda, 27), Poulsen, Luis Fabiano (Kerzhakov, 73), Renato (Osio, 88), Canute, Escudé, Puerta, Marty.
OSASUNA: Ricardo, Iskerdo (Munoz, 83), Cuellar, Raul Garcia, Kruchaga, Punial (Valdo, 61), Juanfran Torres (Delporte, 71), Webo, David Lopez, Corrales, Nekunam.
Warnings: Duda (76), Cuellar (82), Nekunam (85), Escudé (87), Munoz (87).
May 3 Seville, "Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan."
Judge: Graham Poll (England).
The first match is 0: 1.
Having drawn a rhombus in the middle line, the coach of Sevilla Juande Ramos partially masked the attacking mood on the game. Only the personnel filling of the left edge betrayed him, where two attacking midfielders immediately fit: Adriano and Puerta. However, Ramos’s plan did not become a great revelation - during the season, in connection with the injury of the last defender David, this couple had to act together on the edge.
In the first half, the anxiety of the goalkeeper of the “Osasuna” Ricardo was provoked either by the non-trivial moves of Kanute or by the creative boldness of Renato, who this time was located a little closer to the attack. Excitement at the guest gate grew with every minute, but led to a successful outcome only at the end of the half. Luis Fabiano, having received a verified throw from his half, won the horse wrestling at Kruchagi, wiped the ball from Cuellar with Iskerdo and equalized in the sum of two meetings.
The planned threat to the Pamplons came from the left flank, moreover, even after the forced departure of Adriano. Duda, who replaced him, a player in the organizational warehouse, in the second half became the main entertainer in the hosts' attack. Appearing in the “Seville” only on the days of major holidays, the ex-player of “Malaga” now and then takes over the game. This time, in particular, he took on the implementation of almost all "standards" and once even seriously strained Ricardo.
Mentor of Osasuna Jose Angel Siganda deliberately primitized the team’s game ahead and seemed to be absolutely sure of the ability of the sponsored not to miss. Having stoically survived the goal of Luis Fabiano, Siganda went to reconfigure the players during the break.
However, the first dangerous moment created by the Pamplona team in the debut of the second half led to disastrous consequences for them. The end of the fast-paced retaliatory attack of the Sevilians was the branded flank transfer of Daniel Alves to compatriot Renato, and that second goal eliminated the possibility of overtime.
The missed ball, however, did not correct the Osasuna task at all. Siganda's team still had to score at least once to reach the final. Attacking weakness of the guests forced Siganda to release on the field not quite healthy Delport, as well as the pupil of “Real” Waldo.
The output of the Pamplona jokers bore fruit - the work of Andres Palop significantly increased. However, Juande Ramos promptly responded to the swing of the initiative pendulum. Having thrown Alexander Kerzhakov into battle, the Sevilla coach pushed the game away from his goal. And he did not need more. The hosts calmly brought the match to victory and guaranteed themselves an excellent mood before a trip to Madrid, for the key duel with Real Madrid from the point of view of the fight for the championship.
THAT FALLS WHO RIDES AT ALL
WERDER Germany - ESPANIOL Spain - 1: 2 (1: 0)
Goals: 1: 0 - Ugu Almeida (4), 1: 1 - Koro (50), 1: 2 - Lacrus (60).
WERDER: Reincke, Pasanen, Naldo, Diego, Klose, Hunt, Ovomoyela (Schindler, 46), Jensen (Wome, 70), Frings (Baumann, 75), Hugo Almeida, Schulz.
ESPANIOL: Gorka, David Garcia, Lacrus, Sabaleta (Martinez, 65), Luis Garcia, Riera (Rufete, 71), Ito, Torrejon, Corot, Harke, Tamudo (Julian, 79).
Warnings: Klose (2), Sabaleta (28), Almeida (45 + 2), Corot (51), Luis Garcia (90 + 2).
Removal: Klose (19, second warning).
May 3 Bremen, Weserstadion.
Judge: Bertrand Layek (France)
The first match - 0: 3.
The need to play three goals prompted the head coach of the “Bremen” Thomas Schaaf to release in the starting lineup of the trio of forwards Ugu Almeida - Klose - Hunt. The calculation was, apparently, that each distinguished at least once.
However, only the Portuguese scored. Having fled from the Barcelona defenders healthy, Almeida turned Diego's pass into an assist and gave Bremen hope.
However, excessive agility played a cruel joke with the owners. Miro Klose so zealously started the game that already in the 2nd minute he received a warning for being rude to Harke. The 29-year-old striker did not let up, and in the 20th minute he was forced to leave the field - the second “mustard plaster" Klose deserved an absolutely inappropriate simulation. The number of forwards in Bremen has become familiar.
Compensating for the loss of Klose, Schaaf threw Kevin Schindler, the 18-year-old attacking midfielder, into the battle, sacrificing his right-back defender Ovomoyela. However, Espanyol not only skillfully restrained the onslaught, but also benefited from it efficiently. Even in the absence of de la Peña, which damaged the calf muscle, Ernesto Valverde's team did not lose self-sufficiency and confidence.
First, Ferran Korominas, or just Koro, took advantage of Reinke’s ridiculous mistake and equalized, and after 10 minutes, right-back Lacruses with an accurate header made both teams relax.
What Schaaf hoped for, then releasing the left-back Wome and the defendant Baumann, is known, perhaps, only to him alone.
DO NOT BORN TO THE FINAL
Meeting on Sunday in Seville, the rivals in the finals are unlikely to have time to miss one another until May 16. However, projecting the game of the championship of Spain to the upcoming match in Glasgow is not too correct. Espanyol is comfortably located in the middle of the table and has long thrown all its forces into promotion in the UEFA Cup. He only in the first half depicted adequate resistance to Seville, losing in the end 1: 3. In the absence of personnel capacities similar to those in Seville, Valverde cannot demand that the players perform identical calculations in two tournaments. The bet on the European Cup in such a situation is understandable and understandable. Perhaps for Espanyol it will turn into a trump card in the final.
The Andalusians and Catalans are similar in one - both teams have a wide range of attackers. Goal of Luis Fabiano “Osasune”, apparently, guarantees the Brazilian a place in the starting lineup at “Hampden Park” in the neighborhood of Frederic Canute. However, depending on the course of the meeting, Juande Ramos will be able to turn to the services of Kerzhakov, and, possibly, Chevanton.
In turn, Valverde also has a wide selection of forwards: this is the idol of the Montjuic stadium Raul Tamudo, and the best UEFA Cup sniper Walter Pandiani, and the Real Madrid pupil Luis Garcia, who scored no less than 10 goals in the fourth season, and finally , young Ferran Corot, distinguished himself in the second leg with the Werder Bremen. And the duel of the best snipers of two tournaments: the UEFA Cup - Walter Pandiani and examples - Frederic Canute promises to be the highlight of the final.
The key to the Catalans will be on the day of the finals of the “alpha and omega” team - Ivan de la Peña. Due to damage to the calf muscle, Little Buddha missed the return match with Werder Bremen. But the game in Glasgow will probably fit in maximum combat readiness.
The significance of de la Peña for Espanyol is reasonable to compare with the weight of Enzo Maresci in last year's Seville. However, the Italian, who became the MVP of the UEFA Cup 2006 Final, has now turned into a strong reservist. The summer arrival of the Danes Poulsen provoked a reconstruction in the center of Seville midfield. The conductor’s wand migrated into the hands of the Brazilian Renato and the results of the current season justify this move of Ramos.
By the way, Espanyol never won the European Cups and only once, in 1988, climbed them so far. But then in the two-match final dispute, he lost in the penalty shootout to Bayer Leverkusen. The opportunity to play in Europe next season will be presented to the wards of Valverde only if they win at Hampden Park.
At the same time, Sevilla is surely eager to start in the 2007/08 Champions League with the rank of two-time UEFA Cup holder.