QUOTE
CL Preview: Shakhtar Donetsk - Benfica Who: Shakhtar Donetsk (3rd - 6 Points) versus SL Benfica (4th - 4 Points)
What: Champions league Group Stage - Matchday Six, Group D
When: 4th December 2007, 20:45 CET
Where: RSC Olympiyskiy Stadium, Donetsk, Ukraine
Background
The first clash between the two teams dates back to October 2007 and a shock 0-1 at the da Luz stadium in Lisbon as Shakhtar didn't succumb to stage fright with a Brazilian scoring the winning goal at the end of the first half.
Jadson's strike was the second defeat to be inflicted on the Àguias (Eagles) and was seen as the sharpest nail in Benfica's Champions League coffin for the 2007-08 season, although Benfica did shave the woodwork in a failed attempt to bring the game back to life in the second half.
Now both are basically fighting for a place in the last stages of the UEFA Cup; cold consolation after hopes of classification faded in the wake of adverse results against Celtic and AC Milan, but certainly an aim worth fighting for in a game that will have a special flavour to it.
If all goes as planned and he hangs his boots up at the end of the current season, Rui Costa will be playing his last Champions League game as an active footballer - and O Maestro (The Maestro) will want to bow out gracefully - although not out of Europe entirely.
The veteran playmaker is looking for a big improvement on the level that the team reached against the Dragões at da Luz. "I expect a far better performance than against FC Porto, but just like our great game against AC Milan won't really affect us, the defeat isn't something that's hurt us", he explained.
"Shakhtar have a good team that plays an open game and they'll be looking for the win just as hungrily as we will. It's probably going to be my last game in the Champions League, but I hope it won't be the last in European competition", he ended, in reference to the sought-after secondary target of a UEFA Cup place.
Shakhtar Donetsk won't be a pushover, however, and Coach Mircea Lucescu rattled a combined warning shot and call to arms in the run-up to the crucial clash. "In the match against Celtic we let in a goal at the end so we must be aware that our main problem is a lack of concentration at decisive moments and you can't solve that problem in the same way as physical preparation."
"We must be mentally prepared to make sure that progress isn't wasted by a few avoidable lapses if our chances are to be maximised. Last matchday's late defeat by Celtic left Shakhtar three points behind the Hoops meaning that the Ukrainians are obliged to beat Benfica and pray Celtic fall to AC Milan.
Lucescu started his Champions League campaign with two wins but a bad patch led to three defeats - and a consequent supermodel-slim chance of making it through to the last sixteen, hoping that a home edge that didn't stop Milan will be enough to leave Camacho and co. in fourth place.
Team News
SHAKHTAR DONETSK
The cancellation of this weekend's match against FC Zorya Luhansk has allowed the last stragglers in sick bay to recover and the team should be at full strength. "Chygrynskiy, Vukić and Brandão had a few niggles to get over but should be match fit and Fernandinho has served out his suspension", detailed Lucescu.
The Coach was eager yet not foolish and called for balance in his men rather than a headlong rush at goal. "We must win but cannot forget that Benfica have the same aim. They played a first-class game against Celtic and at home against Milan so we need to be careful as they have improved since the last time we faced them."
SL BENFICA
Binya is out serving the second of a six-match ban handed down by UEFA after his rash tackle / impromptu bone marrow extraction at Celtic. Midfielders Fábio Coentrão and Cristián Rodríguez are both unavailable with leg injuries and Nélson is struggling to make it back to full fitness with a thigh problem.
The three players that did best in the FC Porto match are all expected to feature in a first eleven that is still somewhat of a secret. Heavily clothed to combat the bone-chilling temperatures, Camacho kept his cards close to his chest in recent training.
The Spaniard frustrated a small flock of fleeced journalists by refusing to field a defined first eleven, preferring to rotate his nineteen players between a total of eleven different potential line-ups as the Coach dribbled specifics, just confirming that he knew who would play and how.
Camacho wasn't even up to ngoing as far to say who'll be the stand-in for injured Uruguayan Cristian Rodriguez, although Di Maria may be readying himself for a starting spot. The other contender is Nuno Assis, and the choice appears to boil down to the old dilemma of choosing experience (Assis) or youthful vim (Di Maria).
Nuno Gomes did very well despite not scoring as the veteran striker fought tooth-and-nail for every ball and showed he's honed his role as a pivot for rushing wing-backs and midfielders, Luisão proved he's back to full strength after his injury by totally annulling FC Porto number 9 Lisandro Lopez while Rui Costa showed that he's still able to distribute and channel play with class, favouring the left side in a move that may well be repeated many times in Donetsk.
SL Benfica Call-Up List vs. Shakhtar Donetsk
Goalkeepers: Butt and Quim
Defenders: Luisão, Léo, Luís Filipe, Edcarlos, Nelson and David Luiz
Midfielders: Katsouranis, Maxi Pereira, Rui Costa, Di Maria, Petit, Romeu Ribeiro, Adu and Nuno Assis
Strikers: Nuno Gomes, Bergessio and Cardozo
Possible Staring Elevens (Unconfirmed)
SHAKHTAR DONETSK (4-3-1-2): Pyatov; Srna, Chig yi, Yezerskyi and Rat; Ilsinho, Hubschman and Fernandinho; Jadson; Lucarelli (Castillo) and Brandão (Gladkiy)
SL BENFICA (4-2-3-1): Quim; Luís Filipe (Nélson), Luisão, David Luiz and Léo; Petit, Katsouranis, Maxi Pereira, Di María (Nuno Assis) and Rui Costa; Nuno Gomes
Here is the goal.com preview. Benfica must win to get a UEFA Cup birth, I really hope they can do it but I also have my doubts.What: Champions league Group Stage - Matchday Six, Group D
When: 4th December 2007, 20:45 CET
Where: RSC Olympiyskiy Stadium, Donetsk, Ukraine
Background
The first clash between the two teams dates back to October 2007 and a shock 0-1 at the da Luz stadium in Lisbon as Shakhtar didn't succumb to stage fright with a Brazilian scoring the winning goal at the end of the first half.
Jadson's strike was the second defeat to be inflicted on the Àguias (Eagles) and was seen as the sharpest nail in Benfica's Champions League coffin for the 2007-08 season, although Benfica did shave the woodwork in a failed attempt to bring the game back to life in the second half.
Now both are basically fighting for a place in the last stages of the UEFA Cup; cold consolation after hopes of classification faded in the wake of adverse results against Celtic and AC Milan, but certainly an aim worth fighting for in a game that will have a special flavour to it.
If all goes as planned and he hangs his boots up at the end of the current season, Rui Costa will be playing his last Champions League game as an active footballer - and O Maestro (The Maestro) will want to bow out gracefully - although not out of Europe entirely.
The veteran playmaker is looking for a big improvement on the level that the team reached against the Dragões at da Luz. "I expect a far better performance than against FC Porto, but just like our great game against AC Milan won't really affect us, the defeat isn't something that's hurt us", he explained.
"Shakhtar have a good team that plays an open game and they'll be looking for the win just as hungrily as we will. It's probably going to be my last game in the Champions League, but I hope it won't be the last in European competition", he ended, in reference to the sought-after secondary target of a UEFA Cup place.
Shakhtar Donetsk won't be a pushover, however, and Coach Mircea Lucescu rattled a combined warning shot and call to arms in the run-up to the crucial clash. "In the match against Celtic we let in a goal at the end so we must be aware that our main problem is a lack of concentration at decisive moments and you can't solve that problem in the same way as physical preparation."
"We must be mentally prepared to make sure that progress isn't wasted by a few avoidable lapses if our chances are to be maximised. Last matchday's late defeat by Celtic left Shakhtar three points behind the Hoops meaning that the Ukrainians are obliged to beat Benfica and pray Celtic fall to AC Milan.
Lucescu started his Champions League campaign with two wins but a bad patch led to three defeats - and a consequent supermodel-slim chance of making it through to the last sixteen, hoping that a home edge that didn't stop Milan will be enough to leave Camacho and co. in fourth place.
Team News
SHAKHTAR DONETSK
The cancellation of this weekend's match against FC Zorya Luhansk has allowed the last stragglers in sick bay to recover and the team should be at full strength. "Chygrynskiy, Vukić and Brandão had a few niggles to get over but should be match fit and Fernandinho has served out his suspension", detailed Lucescu.
The Coach was eager yet not foolish and called for balance in his men rather than a headlong rush at goal. "We must win but cannot forget that Benfica have the same aim. They played a first-class game against Celtic and at home against Milan so we need to be careful as they have improved since the last time we faced them."
SL BENFICA
Binya is out serving the second of a six-match ban handed down by UEFA after his rash tackle / impromptu bone marrow extraction at Celtic. Midfielders Fábio Coentrão and Cristián Rodríguez are both unavailable with leg injuries and Nélson is struggling to make it back to full fitness with a thigh problem.
The three players that did best in the FC Porto match are all expected to feature in a first eleven that is still somewhat of a secret. Heavily clothed to combat the bone-chilling temperatures, Camacho kept his cards close to his chest in recent training.
The Spaniard frustrated a small flock of fleeced journalists by refusing to field a defined first eleven, preferring to rotate his nineteen players between a total of eleven different potential line-ups as the Coach dribbled specifics, just confirming that he knew who would play and how.
Camacho wasn't even up to ngoing as far to say who'll be the stand-in for injured Uruguayan Cristian Rodriguez, although Di Maria may be readying himself for a starting spot. The other contender is Nuno Assis, and the choice appears to boil down to the old dilemma of choosing experience (Assis) or youthful vim (Di Maria).
Nuno Gomes did very well despite not scoring as the veteran striker fought tooth-and-nail for every ball and showed he's honed his role as a pivot for rushing wing-backs and midfielders, Luisão proved he's back to full strength after his injury by totally annulling FC Porto number 9 Lisandro Lopez while Rui Costa showed that he's still able to distribute and channel play with class, favouring the left side in a move that may well be repeated many times in Donetsk.
SL Benfica Call-Up List vs. Shakhtar Donetsk
Goalkeepers: Butt and Quim
Defenders: Luisão, Léo, Luís Filipe, Edcarlos, Nelson and David Luiz
Midfielders: Katsouranis, Maxi Pereira, Rui Costa, Di Maria, Petit, Romeu Ribeiro, Adu and Nuno Assis
Strikers: Nuno Gomes, Bergessio and Cardozo
Possible Staring Elevens (Unconfirmed)
SHAKHTAR DONETSK (4-3-1-2): Pyatov; Srna, Chig yi, Yezerskyi and Rat; Ilsinho, Hubschman and Fernandinho; Jadson; Lucarelli (Castillo) and Brandão (Gladkiy)
SL BENFICA (4-2-3-1): Quim; Luís Filipe (Nélson), Luisão, David Luiz and Léo; Petit, Katsouranis, Maxi Pereira, Di María (Nuno Assis) and Rui Costa; Nuno Gomes
Saddest news is this will be Rui Costa's last Champions League game ever
The funny thing is, he took him to Sporting and subsequently dropped him while he was there.