© EuroFootball.com
Forty-one years after their last triumph in a European tournament, Lisbon's Sporting club is just one victory away from joining the elite group of clubs who have celebrated the title of champions on their home ground - the "Jose Alvalade" stadium - tonight as the opponents of the Portuguese team will be Moscow's "CSKA".
(Kick-off at 21:45 Lithuanian time)
Featuring Lithuanian Deividas Šemberas, CSKA could become the first club from the Russian capital to win such an important UEFA trophy, but the Moscow team will have to improve their away game - having drawn twice in Portugal against Benfica and Porto this season. Meanwhile, Sporting only lost once at home in the UEFA Cup, losing to Sochaux in the group stage, and winning all other matches.
Sporting's journey to the final was probably more winding than the usual forward assault of coach Liedson towards the goal, but coach Jose Peseiro believes that his players will perform better than the Portuguese national team did a year ago and will be able to lift the trophy in front of their own fans.
"I believe we can do it, because I believe in the abilities of my players. We are on the verge of a great achievement. Everyone in Portugal expects us to win, and I believe the same. We have worked so hard knowing that we have the opportunity to win the trophy in our own stadium, and this is the best opportunity we have ever had to fulfill our destiny. We will not disappoint anyone," said Peseiro.
The 4-4-2 tactical scheme loyal to Peseiro will once again have defender J.Enakarhire in his lineup, but the latter is likely to start the match on the bench, as the coach may deploy Beto and A.Polga in the center-back positions. The team will be without the injured Chilean M.Pinilla, so the responsibility to score goals will fall even more on Sporting's attacking leader Liedson, who will be supported by Sa Pinto.
Despite the home advantage of their opponents, CSKA coach Valery Gazzaev is optimistic. Unbelievably, but this will be the 19th European match for Moscow this season, as the Russian club also participated in the Champions League tournament. Gazzaev, who is likely to field a similar lineup to the semifinal match against Parma, says that his team can only surprise if they manage to contain Liedson.
"I believe in the individual mastery of my players. They are in good form and have enough qualities to help them match Sporting," Gazzaev said. "Sporting has very strong individual players. Ricardo, Rochemback, and Liedson are the main guys, but they also have experienced players like Sa Pinto or Pedro Barbosa. Nevertheless, I believe in my team, and I think they will fight until the end."
Possible starting line-ups "Sporting" (4-4-2): Ricardo; Anderson Polga, Miguel Garcia, Beto, Rui Jorge; Custodio, Rochemback, Moutinho, Douala; Liedson, Sa Pinto
"CSKA" (3-5-2): Akinfeev; A. Berezoutski, Ignashevich, V. Berezoutski; Šemberas, Zhirkov, Aldonin, Carvalho, Rahimic; Olic, Vagner Love"
