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UEFA Champions League: Bremen trust in man with the golden shoes [Tue Sep 13th, 2005]
Frankfurt (Reuters) - Werder Bremen are pinning their hopes of a UEFA Champions League upset against Barcelona on the golden boots of substitute striker Nelson Valdez.
Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf will be unable to field his first choice attacking line-up in Wednesday's opening Group C clash with the Catalans, with Germany international Miroslav Klose suspended.
That leaves Valdez to partner Ivan Klasnic up front and the Paraguayan has ordered a new pair of golden boots for the game, identical to those he wore when scoring twice against Valencia to send Bremen through to the knock-out stage last season.
"It's a big chance for me," said Valdez, who has been preparing for the opportunity ever since Klose was sent off in the 3-0 win over FC Basel in the qualifying round. "I haven't touched a drop of alcohol since then."
The loss of Klose is a big blow for Bremen, who are desperate to restore a reputation that was destroyed in a humiliating 10-2 aggregate defeat by Olympique Lyon last season.
Between them, Klose and Klasnic have scored nine goals in four Bundesliga games to take Bremen up to second place.
Bremen will also be without first choice goalkeeper Tim Wiese, a long-term injury victim, but are otherwise at full strength.
Barcelona are among the favourites of the Champions League after securing the Spanish championship and they looked in good enough form in Sunday's 2-0 win at home to Real Mallorca.
SORE HEAD
Leading striker Samuel Eto'o clearly suffered no ill effects from a clash of heads that had kept him in hospital on Friday night, as he nodded in both goals to secure a first win after the disappointing goalless draw with Alaves.
Deco, Ronaldinho, Eto'o and Ludovic Giuly together give them formidable attacking strength but coach Frank Rijkaard wants to see more of the urgency of last season when they take on Bremen.
"We have fallen into the trap of playing too slowly this season," Rijkaard said. "We need to up the pace if we want to play effective and attractive football and break down well organised defences."
Their best player against Mallorca was the Brazilian-born Portugal international Deco, a Champions League winner with Porto in 2004 and Barcelona's best hope of a successful start against Bremen.
"Deco was brilliant against Mallorca," Rijkaard said. "He played like he did last season. He made some great challenges, worked really hard and made some very intelligent passes."
It will be the job of defensive midfielder Torsten Frings to reduce Deco's influence, with Tim Borowski and Johan Micoud attempting to feed the strikers.
Probable teams:
Werder Bremen: 1- Andreas Reinke; 15- Patrick Owomoyela, 3- Petri Pasanen, 4- Naldo, 27- Christian Schulz; 6- Frank Baumann, 22- Torsten Frings, 24- Tim Borowski, 10- Johan Micoud; 17- Ivan Klasnic, 9- Nelson Valdez
Barcelona: 1- Victor Valdes; 2- Juliano Belletti, 23- Oleguer, 5- Carles Puyol, 12- Giovanni van Bronckhorst; 4- Rafael Marquez or Edmilson, 6- Xavi, 20- Deco; 8- Ludovic Giuly, 10- Ronaldinho, 9- Samuel Eto'o
Referee: Terje Hauge (Norway)
PA Sport
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