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Underdogs Vie for UEFA Cup Glory

Written by Adeleke Afolayan

Wednesday, 14 May 2008

The two underdogs in this season’s UEFA Cup will today square off at the City Stadium in Manchester for a place in history as champions of Europe's second tier competition.

Victory for Rangers would be even sweeter to savour following the refusal of the Scottish Football Association to postpone at least some of the Gers league matches piled close together.

Zenit St. Petersburg meanwhile got the full backing of the Russian federation who obliged to put forward all of Zenit’s league matches; four of them, leading into the date for the Russian champions first ever European Cup final appearance.

The surprise package of the UEFA Cup is also boosted by the return of their playmaker Arshavin who was suspended from the semi-final win over pre-tournament favourites Bayern Munich.

Two-goal hero in that spectacular triumph, Pavel Prograbniak will however be unavailable against Rangers through suspension. The striker is Zenit’s and the UEFA Cup’s top scorer with 11 goals

Rangers will be without Gabonese striker Daniel Cousin after his red card in the semi-final second leg at Fiorentina. Kevin Thomson however looks set to return for the Scottish side.

The Gers will be playing tonight’s match for a second of a possible four trophies available to be won in what has so far been their best season and could turn out to become a most painful season as well.

With four games in eight days coming up, starting from the 3-1 home win over Dundee United in the league on Saturday, Rangers’ season could be crowned in the glory of an unprecedented quadruple or drowned in the agony of what could have been burst in a bubble.

Rangers’ strength lies in a resolute defence, which has been condemned by critics for producing boring matches. However, that defensive approach has seen Rangers not concede in the last four UEFA Cup matches as well as in six of the last eight.

Manager Walter Smith is expected to deploy the same formation tonight against a high scoring side like Zenit with Jean Claude Darcheville continuing as the lone man upfront.

Zenit meanwhile will be relying on the creativity of Arshavin and Dominguez from the midfield, the latter was on hand to provide three assists in the 4-1 second leg demolition of Bayern Munich.

For Rangers, this is an opportunity to win a first European Cup since 1972 to add to the League Cup won in March and ahead of the FA Cup and Scottish Premier League titles left to be won.

Zenit on their part are appearing in a first ever European Cup final after 10 appearances in European competition. This also is the first time they have gone past the quarterfinal stage.

The Russian side also comes into tonight’s match as slight favourites on the back of knocking out much fancied opponents such as Bayer Leverkusen, Olympique Marseille and Villarreal along with Bayern.

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