Shakhtar steeled for Sevilla storm

Sevilla FC coach Juande Ramos has described Thursday's visit to FC Shakhtar Donetsk as "a final" for the UEFA Cup holders.

'Have to win'
The Spanish side are seeking to become only the second team to retain the UEFA Cup, after Real Madrid CF's triumphs of 1985 and 1986. Their hopes hang in the balance going into the second leg of this Round of 16 tie, however, after last week's 2-2 draw at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán stadium. "We have 90 minutes to score one more goal than our rivals, and we can't make any mistakes because this match is a final and we have to win," said Ramos.

Pressure on
Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu agreed that the pressure was on the visitors, particularly after last Sunday's 1-0 defeat at CG Tarragona that cost Ramos's men top spot in Spain. "My counterpart [Ramos] realises how difficult it is to win the Spanish league, so he will treat the Shakhtar match like a final," said Lucescu. Shakhtar, naturally, have their own ambitions as they scent the possibility of reaching a first European club competition quarter-final since the 1983/84 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

Impressive home record
Their home form certainly augurs well given they have not lost in six European ties in Donetsk this term - including a 2-2 draw and 1-0 win against UEFA Champions League quarter-finalists Valencia CF and AS Roma respectively. A 0-0 or 1-1 scoreline would be enough to take them into the last eight and Lucescu has a fully-fit squad, save for the suspended midfielder Darijo Srna and striker Brandão.

Lucescu wary
However, Lucescu warned: "It will be tough for Shakhtar as we are well aware of Sevilla's quality and I believe they have spent a lot of time examining our team, unlike before the first leg. The Spaniards will be playing in a different way because they must score." Lucescu's charges, who registered their club's first-ever goals in Spain at the fifth time of asking, warmed up with Sunday's 1-0 win at FC Metalist Kharkiv to leave them two points off pole position in Ukraine.

Adriano back
Sevilla, who would be facing an even bigger challenge were it not for Enzo Maresca's 88th-minute penalty equaliser last week, have Adriano Correia available after a calf injury but David Castedo (calf), Renato (ankle), Aleksandr Kerzhakov (heel) and Jesús Navas (ankle) are all missing. Despite these absences, Ramos is hopeful. "We can't play desperately - it's just a question of scoring as early as we can," he said. "My team are mature enough to know it's a long match and the goal can come at any time."

Trophy reminder
If Sevilla need any reminding of the importance of the occasion, the UEFA Cup trophy has travelled with them. Club officials will then take it on to Glasgow as part of Friday's ceremonial handover to UEFA before the 16 May final in Scotland.