No place like home for Fenerbahçe

Fenerbahçe SK coach Luis Aragonés is banking on home comforts as his side attempt to preserve an imposing record at the Sükrü Saraçoglu Stadium against Group G rivals FC Dynamo Kyiv on Tuesday.

Enthusiastic support
The Istanbul giants have won their last eight UEFA Champions League games on home turf, staying unbeaten since visitors AC Milan claimed a 4-0 victory in November 2005. Aragonés credits the "massive support" from Fenerbahçe's fervent fans for creating what has been billed as 'Fortress Sükrü Saraçoglu' – yet given his team have limped through the opening two months of their campaign they may need all the help they can get. Dynamo coach Yuri Semin was in attendance on Friday night when Fenerbahçe lost 2-1 at Sivasspor, their third defeat in three away matches in the Süper Lig. Add to that the 3-1 reverse at FC Porto on Matchday 1 and the outlook appears gloomy, but Fenerbahçe continue to be a different proposition at home – conceding just once in four wins from as many games in all competitions.

Elusive win
"I watched Fenerbahçe's last match and have seen previous ones on tape. We have also been speaking with our former player Serhiy Rebrov who had a spell with Fenerbahçe, but it will be hard to surprise an experienced coach like Aragonés," said Semin, who knows only too well the pitfalls of disappointing runs since his side have not triumphed in 14 UEFA Champions League outings. They came within two minutes of ending the sequence against Arsenal FC a fortnight ago, however, and Semin believes the time is ripe for a change. "I can't speak about the past but my players are fully focused on this match," continued the former Russia coach. "The players are aware of their quality and are desperate to end this bad run."

Injury list
To that end the Sükrü Saraçoglu Stadium may not be the ideal hunting ground, although Dynamo approach the game on the back of a 3-0 triumph at FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih on Friday, achieved despite the absences of Artem Milevskiy (ankle) and Ayila Yussuf (calf). The pair are still sidelined, along with Oleh Gusev (knee) and Carlos Corrêa (broken leg), yet Aragonés has injury problems of his own with Semih Şentürk ruled out with the recurrence of an ankle complaint. Deivid has returned to full training but Spain striker Daniel Güiza is likely to carry much of the hosts' attacking burden.

Strength and weaknesses
With Josico also missing training on Friday because of thigh trouble, Aragonés concedes that injuries are taking their toll – one of two major Fenerbahçe weaknesses he has identified together with the defence's inability to cope with the long ball. That is not a tactic typically associated with their Matchday 2 opponents, however. "Dynamo are very good on the counterattack," said the man who guided Spain to UEFA EURO 2008™ glory. "We need to adjust our tactics so we know where and when to do the pressing. I prefer not to focus on other teams though – it's more important what your own side do."