Europa League. From a position of strength – news.Sportbox.ru

Having scored in home games, three goals, “Zenith” and “Dynamo” have overcome the first stage of the playoffs the Europa League. Last fall, the enthusiasm of the scoring team showed continent never.

Favorite

Russian clubs were in 1/16 favorites. While rivals they got quite decent. PSV Eindhoven, who now leads the championship Holland, ahead of the nearest competitor by 14 (!) Points, so that feels so confident that even allowed himself admitted after the fact as his coach, underestimate the velikobyudzhetny “Zenith”. And “Anderlecht”, the reigning champion of Belgium, who was in the Europa League from the Champions League, which has struggled to compete with Dortmund and “Arsenal”. (Incidentally, in the Champions League group stage last autumn Brussels club has not lost any away match. This is to ensure that the right to assess the outcome of the meeting on “Arena Khimki».)

And here on the background of these if not great, but strong European clubs, which are also now have an advantage over our well-known in tone, the Russians really looked favorites. And “Zenith” and “Dynamo” really played a position of strength. What little harbors and warm. In addition to the results, of course.

However, meaningful it is still opposition were different.

Class

«Zenit» passed to the next stage rather on the class. Primarily refers to the performers of the attack. All three goals on Thursday at “Petrovsky” ball became the property of the attacking trio Hulk – Rondon – Danny.

However, it would be unfair not to notice and coaching contribution. It seems that André Villas-Boas Philip Cocu prepodnёs little surprise arrangement of their forwards. Portuguese reversed the edge. It is not known so than he was guided, but the idea worked. The first goal came from the right flank, where this time mainly operated Danny.

                      «Zenit» – PSV. 1: 0. Jose Rondon waited master pass Danny

A second goal followed on the left, where the will of the coach was dismissed Hulk. The Brazilian did not feel the opposite edge any inconvenience: he was accustomed adventurous, by the 20th minute put the card on your opponent Joshua Breneta, and finally loaded on the right as on the rack until some time was able to view only the left.

                      «Zenit» – PSV. 2: 0. Hulk great!

For the most part, “Zenith” has never given a reason for doubt. Guests, of course, also snapped, scored a good goal from a corner (repealed by the judges), hit a foul shot, but it’s been particularly able to change the account, not the outcome.

However, this victory should not be overestimated. In recent years the Netherlands in the European Cup somehow visibly passed. For example, in the table of coefficients of the current season, it is worth only 14 minutes, in the neighborhood of Belarus. Thus, the “Zenith” should thank PSV for the pleasure and opportunity to forget. Next will have to overcome the resistance of an entirely different order.

Will

Dynamo win the class have not yet learned. Although speculative advantage in skill often have. Blue and white take their perseverance, character. Where can not win, there’s just dig.

If the result of the second meeting with “Anderlecht” considered only through the prism of scoring episodes, it may seem that the Muscovites were lucky. The first goal gave the goalkeeper rivals, the second – the judge.

                      «Dynamo” – “Anderlecht”. 1: 1. Alexei Kozlov with a force ran the ball between the legs of goalkeeper zazevavshegosya

But the version of the decisive contribution of the case will fade when he remembered all the way “Dynamo” in the Europa League. Team managed to qualify thanks to a goal in the second minute of compensating, in a similar style and won the group (one in the 90th minute, the second time – on the third added). By the way, last fall Dynamo generally never won convincingly, juicy – all with a margin of one ball, which is also in its own work confirms the nature of their football.

About the same was taken and “Anderlecht”. Diligence, activity, pressure, volume. Dynamo did not discourage missed goal, unrelated to the logic of the game. They were convinced that they must break, and in the end had broken.

Perhaps this is not the force that is required in football for big wins, but not in this situation pick. Well, that would be available at this.

From the “Dynamo” to take another if the spring stage of European club football club the last time was introduced almost twenty years ago, in 1996? In those days, the goalkeeper Stanislav Cherchesov acquainted with the Austrian football, still not knowing that he will be a legend “Tyrol” and Valuysky boy Sasha Kokorin celebrated its fifth anniversary.