Moscow mountain for Monaco

By Jim Wirth

AS Monaco FC will travel to Moscow for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout stage tie against FC Lokomotiv Moskva in good spirits. Fresh from a 4-0 win against Montpellier Hérault SC at the weekend, they are runaway leaders in Ligue 1 and their form has not dipped all season.

Winter hibernation
By contrast, their opponents have yet to play a competitive game in 2004, and thanks to their success in the Champions League, Lokomotiv coach Yuri Semin and his players have had to forego much of their winter holidays to get into shape for the resumption of the European season.

Off duty
With the Russian season ending in November, Lokomotiv have been off duty over the winter, but with the Champions League looming, they have had little chance to rest. "Of course we have problems because of the large interval between competitive matches," said Semin. "This causes a problem probably for all of Russian football and most Eastern European countries."

Busy schedule
When they reached the second group stage of the competition last season, Lokomotiv struck a major blow for Russian football. However, as results deteriorated in Europe and in their Russian league campaign last spring, they paid the price for their success on the pitch, with players buckling under the pressure of their busy schedule.

Well prepared
Their race for the Russian title quickly faltered, but Semin has not been tempted to withdraw resources from Lokomotiv's European campaign this season. He said: "We will have a full stadium - the whole of Moscow and Russia is waiting for the match so we have to look the part and have to be well prepared."

Squad changes
The end of the Russian season saw one major change to Semin's squad, in the departure of Russian international defender Sergei Ignashevitch to local rivals PFC CSKA Moskva. However, Lokomotiv have been able to welcome back striker James Obiorah, who had been out on loan in Spain, and have brought in Russian striker Dmitri Sytchev - although he will not be able to play n Europe this season, having already played in the Champions League for Olympique de Marseille.

Full swing
The fact that the French team will come to Moscow in peak physical condition is a matter of some concern for Lokomotiv. Asked what was Monaco's major advantage for the game, playmaker Dmitri Loskov replied: "The fact that their championship is in full swing and that we are still in our practice stage."

Cold weather
However, as Napoleon was to discover so painfully two centuries ago, the Russian winter can put pay to even the most determined of would-be conquerors. Cold weather is expected in Moscow, but Semin insisted that this would not be a major advantage for his side.

Level playing field
"If it is cold in Moscow, it will be cold for both teams," he said. "The pitch in Moscow will be in good condition and the ground full so there will be a good atmosphere. The support of the fans will give us a big advantage in the first leg. In the second leg the support of the Monaco fans will obviously give them an advantage so all is equal."

Anyone's game
As far as Lokomotiv are concerned, it is an even tie. They may be less prepared than their opponents, but after a strenuous pre-season training schedule, Loskov believes his side can match Monaco. "Ahead of the first game I can only say we have a 50-50 chance," he said. "The game will show everything."