Thursday’s 2nd round of matches in the Europa League could prove to be fruitful for the Russian participants, as all 3 sides are at ‘home’. Kuban host Valencia in what promises to be an exciting encounter, Rubin host Zulte-Waregem and Anzhi host Tottenham in Ramenskoye. Rubin will be looking to build on a great opening day victory whereas the other two will be looking for their first points.
Anzhi will hope their talisman can return tonight.
Anzhi v Tottenham
Anzhi host a Tottenham side who are in great form, winning their opening encounter against Tromso 3-0, and they currently sit 3rd in the Premier League table. Anzhi have picked up slightly of late, drawing impressively away to CSKA, but they are still in limbo after a testing summer financially. Anzhi also drew their opening Europa League game away in Moldova against FC Sheriff, which leaves the second qualifying spot really open as Tottenham will, bar a miracle, obtain top place. Having to play the game in Ramenskoye will not help the Dagestan club either, as not many die-hard Anzhi fans will be able to make the long trip.
Team News and Tactics
Anzhi will hope to welcome back hitman Lacina Traore who hasn’t featured since the draw in Tiraspol, he may be in the starting like up but is likely to be on the bench. Which means that the hero from the weekend, who scored a 90th minute equaliser, Pavel Solomatin, will start the game up front. Gadzhiev will start with Jucilei and Ahmedov in the middle of midfield, and Ewerton could return at the back. Manchester City loanee, Abdul Razak may also start on the bench.
Tottenham manager AVB will probably rotate his squad to a similar starting line up to the one that faced Tromso, so Jermaine Defoe will probably get the nod up front. Talented wingers Nacer Chadli and Erik Lamela may also start, helping them acclimatize to life at Spurs.
Danger Men
Ahmedov (Anzhi)- Ahmedov is a player with great technical ability and a good eye for a pass. Gadzhiev will be hoping that he is influential in this game, as the way Anzhi can retain the ball will be crucial to having a chance in this match.
Defoe (Spurs)- Defoe is the type of player that will cause Anzhi’s defence no end of problems, he is small and agile, and a great finisher. He scored 2 in Spurs’ win over Tromso and Anzhi will have a hard time keeping him quiet.
Prediction: Anzhi 0-2 Spurs
Can Cisse write himself into the history books tonight?
Kuban v Valencia
This encounter promises to be a great spectacle. The match is a sell out, with 30,000+ Kuban fans roaring their team on. Kuban have been really poor in the league so far, losing 3 of their last 4 games and they also put on a poor display when they lost 2-0 in St. Gallen in this competition.
Valencia are used to playing at the highest level of continental competitions and will have played in hostile environments like this before. However, this is not the same Valencia that we know from the past. Many star players have left and due to high debt, they have not been aptly replaced, thus leading to a difficult start to the league and Europa League. They have however won their last 3 so will be confident that they can pick up points here, which they definitely need after defeat to Swansea in the first match.
Team News and Tactics
Kuban have Charles Kabore suspended for this match, after he was sent off against St. Gallen. They are also without injured Rabiu who is out with a groin problem. Munteanu may think about starting both Balde and Cisse, a partnership which could trouble the Spaniards. Dealbert and Xandao will be hoping to perform better than they have been lately, and will look to the midfield to provide cover when Valencia attack.
Despite losing so many good players, Valencia still have a good squad to chose from. Rami is suspended so Mathieu may move to centre back. Jonas will probably continue up front, as Postiga is injured and he will probably be supported on the flanks by Pabon and Feghouli in a 4-3-3 formation. If Kuban are going to take points from this game, they will have to be strong in midfield, as Valencia possess some great talent with Banega, Javi Fuego and Sergio Canales all starting in their league win over Rayo at the weekend.
Danger Men
Cisse (Kuban)- Djibril Cisse is somewhat an enigma to most, but on his day the Frenchman is top quality. He has pace and great European experience, two traits which could really help Kuban in this kind of fixture. His runs will also create space for the likes of Bucur and Popov to find space too.
Canales (Valencia)- Once of Real Madrid, Sergio Canales is a seriously gifted young playmaker, who has been plagued by bad injuries. He could hold the key to unlock Kuban’s defence as he has excellent vision and is difficult to pick up when he drifts across the midfield.
Prediction: Kuban 1-1 Valencia
Will Karadeniz produce his magic this evening?
Rubin v Zulte-Waregem
Rubin, the only Russian side to win on matchday one in Europe, have hit a bad run of form since they emphatically beat Maribor in Slovenia. This run of form has seen them lose to Krasnodar and Tom. It’s been a difficult few weeks for Berdyev, who has lost star striker Salamon Rondon to injury.
Zulte-Waregem drew 0-0 with Wigan in the opening match, meaning that they will be looking for points here. Zulte have a lot of talent in their ranks, including Eden Hazard’s younger brother, Thorgan, so they will be a danger for Rubin in this match.
Team News and Tactics
Rubin are of course without hitman Rondon, and also summer recruit Mavinga is also sidelined. So Berdyev will probably start off in a 4-5-1 with Mukhametshin up front, supported by the talented duo of Wakaso and Karadeniz. Eremenk0 will push Wakaso for a start however, as he has more experience in this type of match. Natkho and M’Vila will anchor the midfield. Berydev will hope his defence is more solid than when they played away at Maribor.
The visitors are in decent form, and sit 3rd in the Pro League table, so they will be confident of a good performance in this match. They won 4-2 away at Lokeren at the weekend, and coach Dury will probably name a similar starting 11. Zulte will probably start in a 4-3-3 formation with Thorgan Hazard opearting in an advanced midfield role, in front of highly rate midfielder Junior Malanda.
Danger Men
Karadeniz (Rubin)- I stated a few weeks back here at RFN that Berdyev will be looking to his midfield for more goals now that Rondon is out, and Karadeniz has responded. He scored a lovely goal against Maribor and followed that up with a screamer against Dynamo last week. Zulte will have to keep tracks on the elusive Turk, as he can cause them a lot of problems.
Hazard (Zulte)- Thorgan has a long way to go to be anything like his older brother, however, many thought that when Chelsea signed him, it would just be to help Eden settle in, but Thorgan is beginning to make a name for himself and is maturing with every match. He possesses a lot of pace, and is very skilful so the Rubin backline will be wary of him finding pockets of space in front of them.
Prediction: Rubin 2-0 Zulte-Waregem