Stuttgart steeled for test of nerve

VfB Stuttgart coach Markus Babbel has warned his side that they have "90 difficult minutes" ahead as they look to press home a 2-0 advantage against FC Timişoara and qualify for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. Timişoara may have lost the home leg of their play-off, but their coach Ovidiu Ioan Sabau is refusing to let his team throw in the towel. "As long as a chance exists, no matter how small, we are going to fight for it," he said.

Quotes
Markus Babbel, Stuttgart coach
It's in our hands now. We have worked six months for this and it would be careless to go into the match without the necessary focus. We have 90 difficult minutes ahead of us. They had a couple of chances in the first leg and we had some luck. They have nothing to lose and will try everything. We have to be prepared for that. It's easy to concede if you are not focused and then it becomes a game of nerves. I'm not sure if [Aleksandr Hleb] will be available. He is still at 60 per cent fitness, and that's why he gets small injuries from time to time. It will be two to four more weeks until he is at 100 per cent.

Ovidiu Ioan Sabau, Timişoara coach
I'm very satisfied about how we played in the last round [of the Romanian league] in Urziceni, but I'm not at all satisfied with the result [0-0]. We know what our chances are in Stuttgart after the first leg, but as long as a chance exists, no matter how small, we are going to fight for it. Unfortunately, several players are missing or doubtful and I hope to have some substitutes on the bench. That's why it will be very important to get at least some of the injured players back before the referee blows his whistle to start the game.

Key stats
• Stuttgart are firmly in the driving seat after their first-leg win in Romania. The German side seized control of the tie through first-half goals by Timo Gebhart (penalty) and Hleb.

• To underline the size of Timişoara's task, Stuttgart have not relinquished a lead in their last 15 European ties in which they won the first leg. The last time the German side surrendered a first-leg advantage was in the first round of the 1992/93 UEFA Champions League when they beat Leeds United AFC 3-0 at home only to lose 4-1 in England. Although technically through on away goals, Stuttgart had fielded an ineligible player in Leeds meaning the English club were awarded a 3-0 default victory. Stuttgart lost the resulting play-off 2-1 in Barcelona.

• While Timişoara are chasing a first UEFA Champions League appearance, Stuttgart aim to secure their third participation in the group stage after gaining automatic access in both 2003/04 and 2007/08.

• Stuttgart's only previous encounter with a Romanian side ended in victory when they defeated FC Rapid Bucureşti 2-1 in the UEFA Cup group stage in 2005/06. Stuttgart coach Markus Babbel contested that match as a player, while Timişoara duo Valentin Bădoi and Artavazd Karamyan turned out for Rapid.

How they reached the play-offs
• Timişoara earned themselves a spot in the third qualifying round after finishing second in the Romanian Liga 1 last term. Their reward was a tough tie against 2008/09 UEFA Cup winners FC Shakhtar Donetsk, but after Gheorghe Bucur struck twice in Ukraine to seal a 2-2 draw, Sabău's side then held on to a 0-0 stalemate at home to progress on away goals.

• Stuttgart ended their own domestic campaign in third spot to book a play-off round ticket, falling five points short of the tally amassed by Bundesliga champions VfL Wolfsburg and three short of Bayern.

Team news
• Stuttgart
Out: Martin Lanig (cruciate ligament), Roberto Hilbert (slipped disc)
Doubtful: Alexander Stolz (back), Khalid Boulahrouz (shoulder)
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: Matthieu Delpierre, Aleksandr Hleb

• Timişoara
Out: Srgian Luchin (adductor)
Doubtful: Marián Cišovský (muscle strain), Lukáš Magera (ankle), Iasmin Latovlevici (adductor), Winston Parks (knee)
Suspended: Dan Alexa, Artavazd Karamyan
Misses next match if booked: Arman Karamyan, Lukáš Magera, Costel Pantilimon, Stelian Stancu

Weekend results
22/08/09 BV Borussia Dortmund 1-1 Stuttgart (German Bundesliga)
(Valdez 27; Niedermeier 47)

22/08/09 AFC Unirea Urziceni 0-0 Timişoara (Romanian Liga 1)

Did you know?
Former Romanian international forward Ioan Viorel Ganea played for both teams, turning out for Stuttgart between 1999 and 2003 and spending the 2007/08 campaign at Timişoara.