Anorthosis steeled for acid test

Coach Temuri Ketsbaia has told Anorthosis Famagusta FC to achieve their "ultimate dream" by pressing home their surprise 3-0 advantage against Greek titleholders Olympiacos CFP to qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time.

'Strength'
"We may have won the first game 3-0 but we have a really tough second leg ahead," Ketsbaia said of Wednesday's return match at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Athens. "Obviously our lead is healthy, but we need to work even harder if we want to get to the group stage. I want those who take the field against Olympiacos to use all their strength to achieve our ultimate dream. We're close but the game that stands in our way is very tough."

'Enthusiasm'
The match is being billed as the most important in Cypriot football history, with the 40-year-old Ketsbaia admitting he would love to be taking part. The former Georgian international scored the goal that sent Newcastle United FC to the group stage for the first time in 1997 and his enthusiasm was contagious when he met the press on Tuesday. "I just wish I could play," he said. "Not being able to play in games like these is one of the things you regret once you stop playing."
 
Sávio available
No Cypriot club has appeared in the UEFA Champions League proper, yet Anorthosis' hopes of becoming the first have been boosted by the news that former Real Madrid CF midfielder Sávio will be available after making his debut against APOEL FC in Saturday's Super Cup match. Influential midfielder Ioannis Skopelitis, however, misses out after failing to overcome a knock sustained in the first leg.

'Stress'
Olympiacos, meanwhile, are determined to prove they have learned the lessons of their defeat in Larnaca. The Piraeus outfit have been a mainstay of the group stage since 1997 and coach Ernesto Valverde is adamant that a difficult situation is retrievable. "In football you always feel under pressure to win," the Spaniard said. "It comes from within. I feel we can advance if we handle the stress. We must start the match believing we can do it and we have to channel this belief in our game."

Defensive dilemma
Valverde welcomes back goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis and defensive midfielder Christos Patsatzoglou, who have recovered from hand and groin injuries respectively, but remains undecided about the make-up of his back line. Paraskevas Antzas, Michał Żewłakow and Avraam Papadopoulos are in contention for the two central defensive berths while Vassilis Torosidis and Tasos Pantos vie for the right-back slot.

'Patient'
The former RCD Espanyol trainer will use a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Dudu as a holding midfielder alongside Ieroklis Stoltidis, and with Luciano Galletti and Sebastian Leto on the flanks. Up front, the onus will be on the experienced pair of Darko Kovačević and captain Predrag Djordjević, with the latter insistent there is still everything to play for. "With the help of our fans, we can get the result that will take us into the group stage," he said. "We must be patient and hopefully we'll be luckier than two weeks ago in Cyprus."