Steaua Bucuresti host ACF Fiorentina on Wednesday knowing that only a first victory in Group F from their final UEFA Champions League game of the season can bring them a consolation place in the UEFA Cup.

Neither side have won a match in a section dominated by FC Bayern München and Olympique Lyonnais, who meet at the Stade de Gerland on Matchday 6 for top honours. But Fiorentina’s three points, compared with the one earned by Steaua against the Serie A team at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in September, means the pressure is on the Romanian club. They will also have to cope with the surprise absence of Brazilian striker Arthuro who, along with Spanish midfielder Abel Moreno, ended his contract by mutual agreement on Tuesday. Steaua president Valeriu Argaseala said it was down to “the impossibility of them adapting to Steaua”.

Though Fiorentina know it will be more important to defend well than to score, the spotlight is bound to fall on their Romanian striker Adrian Mutu. Paired with Italy’s Alberto Gilardino for the Viola, Mutu’s celebrity status and goalscoring prowess for Romania make the 29-year-old a popular figure back home; though his past with city rivals FC Dinamo 1948 Bucure?ti is unlikely to endear him to the locals on Wednesday. Munteanu said: “I hope Mutu will be respected by the Romanian fans, because he is a national team player.” Mutu returns to Bucharest buoyed by scoring one goal and making another in a morale-boosting 4-1 success at Torino FC in Serie A on Sunday.

Coach Cesare Prandelli does not expect Fiorentina to sit back in the hope of a draw, telling a news conference: “In recent years, this team has always gone out to win matches and I’d prefer to see a team that walks out tomorrow with the same desire. We know it will be difficult but we’re not frightened. We’ll be up against a really motivated side, but then so are we.” On the injury front, captain Dario Dainelli and midfielder Massimo Gobbi are both sidelined, while forward Pablo Daniel Osvaldo is a question mark with a thigh problem.

Posted on December 12th, 2008 by Dan
Filed under: Uncategorized