Stuttgart eager to build on success

VfB Stuttgart take on Panathinaikos FC in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night hoping to build on their victory against Manchester United FC in their previous game.

Wonderful victory
After a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Rangers FC in Glasgow on Matchday 1, Stuttgart took the 1999 champions by surprise with two goals in two second-half minutes that United could not recover from. Victory at home tonight against the Greek side could put Stuttgart in charge of Group E as the two British sides meet in Scotland in what is likely to be a tight affair.  

Mood improved
The Stuttgart coach, Felix Magath, also pointed to Saturday's Bundesliga victory as having improved the mood within his camp. "The team is looking forward to the Panathinaikos game and have gained extra self-confidence from the 3-1 win away against [SV Werder] Bremen. With the support of the fans from the very beginning, we want to play attacking football and put the opposition under pressure."

Soldo injury worry
Magath is, however, eager to be able to call on the services of his influential captain, Zvonimir Soldo. "The medical department of the club are working around the clock to get Zvoni fit," Magath said of the defensive midfield player. "I expect he will be able to lead the team on to the pitch."

Desire intact
Magath was also quick to rubbish suggestions that Panathinkaikos would not be giving it their all after picking up just one point from their first two games. "I don't believe that the Champions League is seen by them as less important than their domestic championship," he said. "We watched them at the weekend and they rested a few regulars. That shows they want to play well here."

'Good for a goal'
Stuttgart's Greek forward Ioannis Amanatidis has no doubt that they can. "Maybe we're favourites on paper but we cannot afford to underestimate Panathinaikos," he said. "They have experienced people in their ranks and are always good for a goal."

'Our opportunity'
Panathinaikos coach Itzhak Shum is certainly going for victory. "It is a very important match for us and for Stuttgart," he said."It is all about the first two places in the group. Every match begins 0-0 and this is our opportunity." His side suffered their first domestic defeat of the season at the weekend, though, a 2-1 loss to Egaleo FC that saw Panathinaikos concede first place to Olympiacos CFP. Shum is not too downbeat, however.

Schum bullish
"A journalist asked me how we would win in Stuttgart after the first defeat at the weekend," Shum said on the eve of the game in Germany. "I answered him that Manchester [United], before the match in Stuttgart, won their league match and then lost in Stuttgart. Also Stuttgart drew before their match in Glasgow and then lost [against Rangers]. That shows that the national league and the Champions League are not the same thing. We want to achieve a good result tomorrow, that is our aim."