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UEFA Champions League Preview: Udinese v Panathinaikos (Group C) [Tue Sep 13th, 2005]
In their first ever UEFA Champions League game, Udinese will host Panathinaikos looking forward to a win that will give them the advantage towards finishing in one of the top two places of Group C.
BACKGROUND
Udinese are the eighth Italian club to take part in the UEFA Champions League, from a country which currently has an annual quota of four clubs. Udinese finished fourth in Serie A last season, only a point ahead of Sampdoria, and qualified for the first time ever in the group stage with a 4-2 aggregate win against Sporting Clube de Portugal in the third qualifying round.
The Champions League newcomers will begin with a home game against the Greek giants Panathinaikos, who can be considered as very experienced in the top European club tournament, as they appear in the group stages for the seventh time.
The Greek side reached the semi-finals once ten seasons ago and they have achieved qualification for the knockout stages another time when, in 2001-02, after two group stages they were eliminated by Barcelona in the quarter finals after two exciting games.
Last season, Panathinaikos finished just a point behind top-placed Arsenal and PSV Eindhoven in their group, and should have progressed if they hadn’t played a 2-2 draw against then bottom-placed Rosenborg at Trondheim.
However Udinese can be considered to be in better shape, having scored a 1-0 away win at Olympico against Roma thanks to a strike by Sulley Ali Muntari, while Panathinaikos are already five points behind Olympiacos in their campaign for the Greek title after and their 2-2 away draw last Sunday against Ionikos.
Panathinaikos also, in the opening match-day of the Greek First Division, faced a shameful 2-0 home defeat in the Greek “Classico†against Olympiakos in front of a 65.000 capacity crowd and they want a boost in order to help their fans forget these two embarrassing results.
And that’s what was mentioned by Panathinaikos' captain Giannis Goumas right after the game against Ionikos: “We didn't want to start the season like this. This draw tastes like a defeat. But we have a long way ahead of us and Panathinaikos are a big team – they will find their way. Now we have the Champions League match against Udinese and will give it our best shot.â€
The teams have never faced each other, but Udinese in the UEFA Cup have previously played two ties against Greek clubs. In 2000-01, the Italian side met PAOK in the second round, and last season they were eliminated by Panionios in the first round of the same tournament for the right to join the group stage.
Panathinaikos will meet an Italian club for the second time in the Champions League, and have also met Italian clubs in previous UEFA competitions.
TEAM NEWS
Udinese: Serge Cosmi, Udinese’s coach, has been boosted by the return of striker David Di Michele but he has to deal with the injury of Valerio Bertotto, who was ruled out in the match against Roma, and is doubtful for Wednesday’s “show-down.â€
Panathinaikos: Panathinaikos’ Italian coach Alberto Malesani is without two crucial players for their trip to Udine. Midfielder Flavio Conceiçao and forward Emmanuel Olisadebe have been banned from the match, having both accumulated two yellow cards in the Champions League’s third qualifying round against Wisla Krakow.
Referee: Olegario Banquerenca (POR)/ Stadium: Friuli
Michael Paterakis
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