History beckons for the winners of the UEFA Cup final between Germany’s Werder Bremen and Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine in Istanbul tonight.
Both sides are appearing in the competition’s final for the first time, with Shakhtar bidding to become the first Ukrainian side to win a European trophy since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Werder are hunting for their first major European honor since the 1992 Cup Winners’ Cup, while both sides know that whoever wins will enter the record books as the last UEFA Cup champions before the tournament’s re-launch as the UEFA Europa League next term.
The German side qualified for the final by beating arch-rivals Hamburg on the away goals rule and they also eliminated their near neighbors in the semi-finals of the German Cup, setting up a meeting with Bayer Leverkusen on May 30.
Despite their cup exploits, Thomas Schaap’s side, who knocked out previous favorites AC Milan in the round of 32, have endured an underwhelming league season.
The 2004 German double winners have been the epitome of inconsistency, hitting five goals in victories over Bayern Munich, Hoffenheim, Hertha Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt, but struggling against the league’s lesser lights.
A tame 3-1 defeat at home to bottom side Karlsruhe in their penultimate league game on Saturday confirmed a 10th-placed finish prior to a thankless trip to champions-elect Wolfsburg next weekend.
Werder will be without key players for the match in the Sukru Saracoglu stadium, with Juventus-bound playmaker Diego and Portuguese striker Hugo Almeida both suspended and German international defender Per Mertesacker injured.
Diego’s Brazilian compatriot Naldo is also a doubt for the game, having missed the defeat to Karlsruhe with an adductor muscle injury.
“If I am not completely fit than I will not play,” the center-back said. “But I will fight and give my best to be back. It would be unbelievably beautiful and important for us to win the UEFA Cup.”
Shakhtar, last season’s Ukrainian champions, go into the game after thrashing Lugansk 3-0 away from home to secure second place in this year’s championship behind runaway champions Dynamo Kiev.
A brace from forward Yevgen Seleznov and Brazilian midfielder Willian was able to clinch victory and a place in the third qualifying round of next year’s Champions League.
“We were the better side tonight and I believe the score is pretty fair,” said Shakhtar coach Mirea Lucescu, who rested a number of first-choice players.
Shakhtar are likely to be at almost full-strength tonight, with only Czech midfielder Tomas Hubschman absent after he picked up a booking during the semi-final triumph over Dynamo.
Lucescu’s side have also been boosted after the club doctor said Brazilian attacker Jadson should be able to play after shaking off a knock.
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