2Slick
04-12-2006, 21:26
All that remains for Hamburger SV as their second UEFA Champions League campaign limps towards a conclusion is to try and gain their first points in Group G. They were assured of finishing in last place after Matchday 4 so the real significance of this game lies in whether PFC CSKA Moskva can overcome recent disappointment and secure the victory which could book them a first-ever qualifying place.
• CSKA were handily placed before the last round of fixtures, in possession of a one-point advantage over both Arsenal FC and FC Porto. However, a 2-0 home defeat by Porto promises to be very costly because even a win at the Arena Hamburg might see them left to fight a UEFA Cup campaign if the game between Porto and Arsenal ends in a draw. In that event all three teams would finish with eleven points (and on five points each when results between the three are taken into account) and the goal difference in the matches involved would give Arsenal top spot with Porto second. Valeri Gazzaev's side must look to triumph in Germany and then pray there is a winner at the Estádio do Dragão.
• Porto went through to the knockout rounds at CSKA's expense in 2004/05 and on 21 November put themselves in line to repeat the feat after goals in each half from Ricardo Quaresma and captain Lucho González gave them a third successive victory. CSKA, in contrast, suffered defeat for the first time in the section.
Late goals
• In London, Hamburg slid to their fifth successive defeat though for a time they harboured hopes of a surprise victory as they held the upper hand at Arsenal thanks to Rafael van der Vaart's second UEFA Champions League goal in as many games. Robin van Persie equalised (52) before Emmanuel Eboué and Julio Baptista finally put paid to the resistance of Thomas Doll's side in the final seven minutes.
• Hamburg have actually scored more goals than CSKA - four against two - but the Russian champions' meagre scoring tally need not necessarily be an impediment to their hopes of making progress. Teams have qualified before without a rush of goals: Villarreal CF last season and AS Roma in the 2002/03 first group stage both advanced to the next phase with just three goals, the Spanish club going on to reach the semi-finals.
Improved form
• After losing at home to Arsenal, Hamburg travelled to Moscow on Matchday 2 hoping to show improved form. However, their challenge foundered on Dudu's 59th-minute header which gave CSKA only their second home win in the UEFA Champions League proper. Their previous two campaigns had brought just one win in six home games.
• Before that game the teams had never met in UEFA club competition and it was CSKA's first-ever fixture against German opposition. Hamburg had met a team from Russia on one previous occasion - the 1996/97 UEFA Cup when under the guidance of current FC Bayern München coach Felix Magath, they played a second-round tie against FC Spartak Moskva, winning 3-0 at home before drawing 2-2 in the Russian capital.
• Hamburg are looking to avoid becoming the only the second German club to fail to register a point in the UEFA Champions League, although Bayer 04 Leverkusen's came in the second group stage in 2002/03. SK Rapid Wien (05/06), RSC Anderlecht (04/05), FC Spartak Moskva (02/03), Fenerbahçe SK (01/02) and 1. FC Košice (97/98) are the five other teams which failed to register a group stage point.
http://www.uefa.com/Competitions/UCL/FixturesResults/Round=2357/match=1116407/index.html
• CSKA were handily placed before the last round of fixtures, in possession of a one-point advantage over both Arsenal FC and FC Porto. However, a 2-0 home defeat by Porto promises to be very costly because even a win at the Arena Hamburg might see them left to fight a UEFA Cup campaign if the game between Porto and Arsenal ends in a draw. In that event all three teams would finish with eleven points (and on five points each when results between the three are taken into account) and the goal difference in the matches involved would give Arsenal top spot with Porto second. Valeri Gazzaev's side must look to triumph in Germany and then pray there is a winner at the Estádio do Dragão.
• Porto went through to the knockout rounds at CSKA's expense in 2004/05 and on 21 November put themselves in line to repeat the feat after goals in each half from Ricardo Quaresma and captain Lucho González gave them a third successive victory. CSKA, in contrast, suffered defeat for the first time in the section.
Late goals
• In London, Hamburg slid to their fifth successive defeat though for a time they harboured hopes of a surprise victory as they held the upper hand at Arsenal thanks to Rafael van der Vaart's second UEFA Champions League goal in as many games. Robin van Persie equalised (52) before Emmanuel Eboué and Julio Baptista finally put paid to the resistance of Thomas Doll's side in the final seven minutes.
• Hamburg have actually scored more goals than CSKA - four against two - but the Russian champions' meagre scoring tally need not necessarily be an impediment to their hopes of making progress. Teams have qualified before without a rush of goals: Villarreal CF last season and AS Roma in the 2002/03 first group stage both advanced to the next phase with just three goals, the Spanish club going on to reach the semi-finals.
Improved form
• After losing at home to Arsenal, Hamburg travelled to Moscow on Matchday 2 hoping to show improved form. However, their challenge foundered on Dudu's 59th-minute header which gave CSKA only their second home win in the UEFA Champions League proper. Their previous two campaigns had brought just one win in six home games.
• Before that game the teams had never met in UEFA club competition and it was CSKA's first-ever fixture against German opposition. Hamburg had met a team from Russia on one previous occasion - the 1996/97 UEFA Cup when under the guidance of current FC Bayern München coach Felix Magath, they played a second-round tie against FC Spartak Moskva, winning 3-0 at home before drawing 2-2 in the Russian capital.
• Hamburg are looking to avoid becoming the only the second German club to fail to register a point in the UEFA Champions League, although Bayer 04 Leverkusen's came in the second group stage in 2002/03. SK Rapid Wien (05/06), RSC Anderlecht (04/05), FC Spartak Moskva (02/03), Fenerbahçe SK (01/02) and 1. FC Košice (97/98) are the five other teams which failed to register a group stage point.
http://www.uefa.com/Competitions/UCL/FixturesResults/Round=2357/match=1116407/index.html