Hamburg manager Martin Jol knows what it’s like to be beaten in a penalty shootout by Werder Bremen and has been putting his players to work to avoid a repeat in the UEFA Cup.
Hamburg need only to avoid defeat at home today to reach this month’s final and Jol has said he will make his squad practice penalties following last month’s German Cup defeat against the same opponents.
With Hamburg leading 1-0 following last week’s first-leg match and Dynamo Kiev tied at 1-1 ahead of their trip to Shakhtar Donetsk, both semi-finals are finely poised.
The only thing that is certain is that it will be a Germany v Ukraine final in Istanbul on May 20.
Two games without a Bundesliga win have made Hamburg outsiders for the German league title, so the UEFA Cup represents their best chance of a trophy in Jol’s debut season.
“Things are going good,” Jol said. “It’s May and we have only important games left. It’s the best for a player.”
With the UEFA Cup set to be revamped as the Europa League next season, this is Hamburg’s last chance to add the title to their other continental wins.
Hamburg won the European Cup, the precursor to the Champions League, in 1983 and lifted the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1977.
Hamburg will be bolstered by the expected return of striker Mladen Petric, who has been out for two weeks because of a cut on his shin.
Petric, who has 20 goals for Hamburg this season, is likely to line up alongside fellow Croatia international Ivica Olic, as Paolo Guerrero is suspended.
Defender Axel Silva is nursing a thigh injury, but Jol expects him to be fit for the third of four matches between the two teams in 19 days.
Bremen, who are five places and 16 points behind Hamburg with four games remaining in the Bundesliga, expects to have midfielders Diego and Mesut Oezil back after both missed a 1-0 loss at Cologne at the weekend.
Both were officially reported injured — Diego with back problems and Oezil with knee problems — but many suspect they were simply rested.
Striker Hugo Almeida is still doubtful though after suffering a big cut on his leg in the first leg in Hamburg, while defender Petri Pasanen is definitely out.
Dynamo Kiev have a superior European record than Shakhtar, winning the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1975 and 1986 during the Soviet heyday.
And while Dynamo only need to avoid defeat in one of their last four Ukrainian league matches to replace Shakhtar as national champions, they face a far tougher task on Thursday.
En route to their first European semi-final, Shakhtar have not conceded a goal in their last four European matches at the Olympic Stadium in Donetsk. They beat Basel 5-0 in the Champions League group stage, then enjoyed three 2-0 victories in the UEFA Cup.
Dynamo Kiev have shown they know how to progress after an unfavorable result at home. Facing a similar situation in the round of 32 following a 1-1 first-leg draw with Valencia, Dynamo drew 2-2 in Spain to advance on away goals.
“We were in the same situation against Valencia,” goalkeeper Stanislav Bogush said. “In my opinion, Valencia are a better team then Shakhtar. I’m confident we will go through to the final.”
Dynamo also progressed on away goals against fellow Ukrainian side Metalist Kharkiv in the round of 16, hinting that another draw represents their best chance, since they are winless in their last four away matches in Europe.
“The tactic of such matches is well known — to score an away goal,” Shakhtar captain Darijo Srna said. “We have secured a narrow advantage. Let them think of us now. It’s clear that they will have to score.”
Dynamo will be without injured defender Taras Mikhalic, although striker Artem Milevskiy, who has scored six goals in eight matches in Europe this season, is likely to recover from a hip injury.
Coach Yuri Syomin rested most of his key players in the 1-0 win over Zarya Lugansk on Sunday.
Shakhtar reported no injuries after Sunday’s 1-0 league victory over Kryviy Rig, but could be without suspended defender Aleksandr Kucher.
“The second game will be even more tough,” Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu said. “Sometimes it’s more difficult to play at home than away.”
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