Email
Print
Digg This
By Martyn Herman
LONDON, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Four-times European champions Bayern Munich were given a real fright by Aberdeen last week and will be on their guard on Thursday when they attempt to reach the last 16 of the UEFA Cup.
The first leg of the last 32 clash ended 2-2 but the Scottish Premier League club twice took the lead at Pittodrie and were denied victory by a controversial penalty.
Bayern, the biggest hitters left in a competition packing some famous names, will be huge favourites in the Allianz Arena but will take nothing for granted as they attempt to clinch a spot against either Anderlecht or Bordeaux.
After all, they were beaten at the quarter-final stage of the defunct Cup Winners Cup in 1983 by Aberdeen who went on to lift the title by beating Real Madrid.
While the present Aberdeen side lives in the shadow of Alex Ferguson's class of 83, the Scottish outfit are still hopeful of claiming another great scalp despite injuries to key players like Jackie McNamara.
"Everything is possible in football," Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood told the club's Web site (www.afc.premiumtv.co.uk).
"You just can't go out there and look at their team sheet and the 1,000 caps they have got between them for massive countries. We did it at Pittodrie for long periods, dominating for periods of the game.
"I don't think we'll dominate in the Allianz but big teams can be beaten."
Bundesliga leaders Bayern are more used to playing in the Champions League at this time of year, but will be determined to lift the UEFA Cup for second time in their history before Ottmar Hitzfeld takes over as coach of Switzerland.
Midfielder Frank Ribery is extremely doubtful for Bayern with a thigh injury while full back Ze Roberto and Bastian Schweinsteiger are nursing knocks.
Last week's first legs produced few upsets and the last 16 looks like being a high quality line-up.
Tottenham Hotspur should get past Slavia Prague following a 2-1 away victory in the first leg and keep coach Juande Ramos on track for a third consecutive UEFA Cup title after the Spaniard dominated the competition with Sevilla.
England keeper Paul Robinson, dropped since January, is expected to start at White Hart Lane following Radek Cerny's blunder in Prague.
Benfica take a 1-0 advantage to German side Nuremburg while Werder Bremen hold a 3-0 lead against Portuguese side Braga. Spartak Moscow will need a miraculous comeback at home to Marseille, having lost the first leg 3-0.
Atletico Madrid have work to do, however. They were beaten 1-0 by Bolton Wanderers in the first leg, as were Villarreal against Zenit St Petersburg.
