© EuroFootball.com
The 2006 UEFA Champions League season is approaching its culmination. The four most successful teams in the prestigious tournament of the Old Continent begin the semi-final matches. It will be revealed which two of them will earn a ticket to the most coveted club football matches taking place in Paris – the Champions League final.
For this right, two famous clubs will clash and two newcomers of such competitions – namely "Milan" and "Barcelona", as well as "Arsenal" and "Villarreal". EuroFootball.com takes a look at the second semi-final pair playing on Wednesday.
Start – 21:45 Lithuanian time Referee – Konrad Plautz (Austria)
The contrast between the match between "Arsenal" and "Villarreal" on Wednesday and the games between "Milan" and "Barcelona" on Tuesday probably cannot be greater – the latter two clubs have faced each other 14 times in European Champions Cup/Champions League finals, while both "Arsenal" and "Villareal" have reached the semi-finals for the first time. The achievement of "Villarreal" seems even more impressive considering the fact that this is the first appearance for the Spanish club in the prestigious European tournament.
Overall, the team from the city of Villarreal, with just 40 thousand inhabitants, has quickly broken into the football elite and is participating in European cup competitions for only the third time - in the previous two seasons, the team played in the UEFA Cup. Before this season, "Villarreal" had only met English teams once, winning at home against "Middlesbrough" in UEFA Cup matches, and this year in the Champions League, the Spanish team has already beaten "Everton" twice and played goalless draws twice with "Man Utd".
"Arsenal" has much more experience in international competitions and has been a regular participant in the Champions League in recent years. However, the "Gunners" have been defeated three times by Spanish clubs - in the 1980 Cup Winners' Cup final against "Valencia", in the memorable 1995 final of the same tournament against "Zaragoza", where the winner was decided by an incredible goal from the middle of the field scored in the last minute of extra time, and the failure in the 2000/01 Champions League quarterfinals against "Valencia".
Additionally, when playing against Spanish teams in this tournament at home, the London club had a tough time - in seven home matches, "Arsenal" suffered two losses and played two draws, one of which was in the quarter-final match against Real Madrid. However, the match against "Villarreal" is special because it is the last European cup match for the old "Highbury" stadium, as after 93 years and 22 European football seasons, "Arsenal" will move their home to a newly built stadium on Ashburton Grove street nearby.
Arsene Wenger, the manager of "Arsenal," understands this special occasion and has not forgotten to pay tribute to the old stadium, demanding memorable matches from his team: "Without a doubt, it will be an emotional event. Leaving the stadium, a part of my soul will remain here, as I spent most of my sporting career here, and the atmosphere of 'Highbury' is unique. I think that these emotions playing against 'Villarreal' will be to our advantage. In England, everyone understands history, so we would like to be proud of the last 'European' night at the stadium."
Wenger's players have not conceded a goal in eight matches in the Champions League this season and are considered favorites, but the coach does not underestimate the opponents: "'Villarreal' is a team similar to 'Arsenal' - in January, they may not have expected to be here now. They have very good technique, are tactically mature, and have players who can determine the outcome of the match in their favor. They rely less on physical strength than the team of 'Juventus' and use maneuverability more. They play in the South American style – keeping a slow pace and trying to maintain it until they see a chance to attack. There are many similarities between the teams, and speed needs to be set by us, as we play fast and want a quicker pace."
As always, calmly setting up for the match, Manuel Pellegrini, the strategist of "Villarreal" from Chile, who is not worried about Wenger's talk of the match pace: "The whole atmosphere is positive. Being in the Champions League semi-final, against such a great club as 'Arsenal', and playing at such a famous stadium as 'Highbury' is a good feeling. It doesn't matter if you play fast or slow, what matters is which team is better. 'Arsenal' is not just a good defense plus Henry, but also a great team that deserves to be here. However, you don’t reach the Champions League semi-finals every day – we are happy about our first Champions League feeling, but that does not mean we do not want to travel further."
Prior to the match, there were almost no changes in the lineup of "Arsenal" – the only new absence became Jose Antonio Reyes, while Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy have not regained their fitness yet, Sol Campbell extended his unsuccessful nose break, and Pascal Cygan and Gael Clichy are still injured. Hence, there should be no changes in the defense, and in the midfield, the recovered Cesc Fabregas and Freddie Ljungberg will play again.
Manuel Pellegrini faces many more new problems – besides the disqualified goalkeeper Sebastiano Viera, who will be replaced by Mariano Barbosa, the main defenders Gonzalo Rodriguez and Juan Manuel Pena, who suffered injuries in the league match against "Barcelona" on Friday, will be missing. Their positions in the center of the defense will be taken by Quique Alvarez and Cesar Arzo.
Predicted starting lineups
"Arsenal" (4-5-1): Lehmann; Eboue, Toure, Senderos, Flamini; Ljungberg, Hleb, Gilberto, Fabregas, Pires; Henry
"Villarreal" (4-4-2): Barbosa; Venta, Arzo, Alvarez, Arruabarrena; Sorin, Senna, Tacchinardi, Riquelme; Jose Mari, Forlan
