Panathinaikos FC – Werder Bremen match preview

OACA Spiro Louis, Athens
Wednesday 22 October 2008 – 20.45CET
Group B – Matchday 3

Panathinaikos FC’s UEFA Champions League campaign starts now according to Henk Ten Cate as the Greek side attempt to get off the mark in Group B, facing Werder Bremen at the OACA Spiro Louis Stadium.
Pressure
After two defeats the pressure is on Panathinaikos against a Bremen team who are unbeaten after beginning their challenge with back-to-back draws, including a creditable 1-1 scoreline against FC Internazionale Milano at San Siro three weeks ago. By contrast, Ten Cate’s men followed up a 2-0 home defeat by Inter with a 3-1 reverse at dark horses Anorthosis Famagusta FC in Cyprus, although the coach remains in confident mood. “It’s the perfect opportunity for us to get some points on the board, and it’s about time,” said the Dutchman. “Analysing past matches too much is a bit like trying to open already opened doors. But overall I believe we deserved something from both games we have played so far. That’s football, though. Matches are often decided in a matter of seconds.”
Midfielders back
Ten Cate, who has Gilberto available after international duty and midfield talisman Giorgos Karagounis back to fitness, saw his side fail to break down PAOK FC in a goalless Super League draw on Sunday. Yet the former Chelsea FC assistant coach can take heart from Bremen’s tendency to underperform on their travels. “Werder don’t have a good record away from home so let’s hope we can keep it that way,” Ten Cate said, before conceding that the German team’s attack pose a real threat. “They have some very dangerous players, not only [Claudio] Pizarro. Diego and [Torsten] Frings are other good players we will have to keep a close eye on. We have Karagounis back, though, and he is very important to us. He’s a clever, intelligent player who really helps the inexperienced players in the squad.”
Travel problems
For Schaaf’s men, Wednesday’s showdown represents an opportunity to cement their claim to one of the two qualifying spots. Optimism is tempered by the fact Bremen have won only one of their last 12 away games in the competition, and Schaaf admitted things need to change if they are to enjoy UEFA Champions League success. “It’s clear we have to improve on our away form,” he said. “I don’t feel there is any particular reason we haven’t performed away from home – we just haven’t got the results our football deserved. We must do the practical, everyday things well and impose ourselves.”
Wiese out
Bremen, who drew 3-3 at home to BV Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, are deprived of goalkeeper Tim Wiese, Daniel Jensen and Aaron Hunt through injury. Wiese will be replaced by Christian Vander, the man who twice deputised for Bremen’s No1 in the UEFA Champions League last season. Schaaf is not worried by the absences, however. “This is why we have a big squad with a lot of quality players,” he said. “Panathinaikos are a good team and they had their moments against Inter – the result maybe wasn’t a true reflection. So we are facing very strong opponents who are fighting for a chance to earn three important points.”

Mertesacker backs Bremen stand-in Vander
Werder Bremen defender Per Mertesacker says he and his colleagues have no qualms about the absence of goalkeeper Tim Wiese for Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League Group B match at Panathinaikos FC.
Faith
Thomas Schaaf’s Bundesliga side have travelled to Athens without Wiese after the No1 ruptured a left thigh muscle in training on Monday. That means a start for Christian Vander, who twice deputised for Wiese in home group games last season – a 3-2 victory against Real Madrid CF but also a 3-1 loss to another Greek team, Olympiacos CFP –although this time Vander will have to deal with an expected 55,000 capacity crowd at the OACA Spiros Louis stadium. Nonetheless, Mertesacker said: “We have a strong squad and have never had a problem when Tim has been missing. We have proved we can cope without him. We have another very good goalkeeper in Christian Vander and have absolute confidence in him.”
Challenge
After two draws so far, 0-0 at home to Anorthosis Famagusta and 1-1 at FC Internazionale Milano, Bremen are looking to stake their claim for a qualifying spot against a Panathinaikos side still to get off the mark following defeats by the same opponents. Mertesacker accepts the hosts will be highly motivated to put points on the board but hopes Bremen can continue the good form shown against Inter. “We must be calm and concentrated going into this match,” the German international said. “It’s going to be a big challenge for us. We must keep the Panathinaikos attack as far as possible from our goal and minimise any threat. Every match has its own characteristics but we hope to produce the same kind of display we gave against Inter. I believe if we do that we can get the required result.”
Finding form
Mertesacker played both games as Germany claimed 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying wins against Russia and Wales last week. After an extended break in the wake of helping his country to the UEFA EURO 2008™ final, the imposing 24-year-old feels he is getting back to his best, having returned from injury in mid-September. “It was a tough start to the season but after playing in both Germany’s games I believe I am at the level I want,” he said. “I’m feeling fitter and stronger with every match and I can see this in my performances.” Mertesacker refused to be drawn, however, on Bremen’s most recent visit to Greece – the 3-0 reverse at Olympiacos on Matchday 6 last term which ended their knockout hopes. “This only brings bad thoughts,” he added. “It was a bad night and we have to forget it. This is a different game, a new season in the competition.”