Shakhtar - AC Milan (CL Preview)
The arrival of Andriy Shevchenko in Donetsk on Monday, accompanied by his AC Milan team-mates, has drawn admirers of the Ukraine captain and goalscoring hero from around his homeland - with fans arriving from Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkov, Odessa and, of course, Kiev.
Starstruck
Yet ahead of Tuesday's opening UEFA Champions League Group F match between FC Shakhtar Donetsk and Milan, the word from the Ukrainian side's camp was that unlike the travelling members of the Shevchenko fan club, there was no danger of them being starstruck.
Matuzalem's message
The message was spelt out in bold by the club's Brazilian midfield player Matuzalem, who played in Italy for SSC Napoli, Brescia Calcio and Piacenza FC. "There is no team in Italy, whose players would be afraid before a game against Milan or any other big club," said the player, who spent four years in Serie A. "I hope that the courage I found in Italy will widespread among my new team-mates. We are a very strong team, because there can be no other kind of team in the Champions League. You just have to bear that simple thought in mind and get used to it."
Surprise factor
Shakhtar, runners-up in the Ukrainian Premier League last season, are back in the group stage after a four-year absence, having overcome FC Pyunik and, more impressively, Club Brugge KV - who went down 4-1 in Donetsk - in the qualifying rounds. Matuzalem said: "Of course, we have not have a rival of Milan's calibre so far, but I am pretty sure we have something to surprise them."
Srna on song
Shakhtar lead their domestic league after six straight wins and warmed up for Milan's visit by defeating FC CSKA Kyiv 2-1 in the Ukrainian Cup at the weekend, with Brazilian striker Brandão and Croatian midfield player Darijo Srna on target. It was the second goal of the week for Srna, who struck a spectacular free-kick as Croatia beat Sweden in FIFA World Cup qualifying last Wednesday.
Defensive doubts
Mircea Lucescu's side look in good shape then, with the only notable absentee Romanian defender Flavius Stoican, following his red card against Brugge last month. As for Milan, their coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted to doubts about defenders Cafu and Jaap Stam - injured in Saturday's Serie A opener against AS Livorno Calcio - but otherwise the Italian was happy to give journalists a good idea of the team he will field on Tuesday night.
Milan held
"In attack Kaká, Shevchenko and [Jon Dahl] Tomasson will play, with [Gennaro] Gattuso, [Andrea] Pirlo and [Clarence] Seedorf in midfield. The only doubts are in defence because I have got to check on the condition of Cafu and Stam who picked up knocks against Livorno." Milan were held 2-2 in that match after losing goalkeeper Dida to a red card in the first half. Alessandro Nesta, Filippo Inzaghi, Pirlo and Gattuso were all rested while Seedorf got both the Rossoneri's goals.
Mixed omens
The Italian champions face a side with an impressive recent home record in Europe. Shakhtar have won five of their last six matches at their stadium against continental opposition. However, their record against Italian sides augurs less well: six matches have brought five losses and only one win, at home to Juventus FC back in the 1976/77 season in a tie which ended in defeat none the less.
Source: Uefa.com
