The game of their lives

By Patrick Hart

Deciding match
The Porto-based club are 90 minutes away from their first European final, having scored a vital away goal in the 1-1 draw in Glasgow two weeks ago. If they advance, it will be the greatest achievement in their 100-year history according to coach Jaime Pacheco. "We have never been in the final of a European tournament," he said. "It is the most important game for the club and possibly the game of our lives.

Losing form
"The tie is finely balanced and both teams have a chance, but I hope we have the same luck we had in the first leg and can win." Henrik Larsson's equaliser ensured parity at Parkhead following a Joos Valgaeren own goal. Since then there has been little to separate the teams in terms of form: Boavista dropped to 14th place in the Portuguese table after a 1-0 defeat at Gil Vicente FC on Friday; Celtic went eight points behind Rangers FC in the Scottish title race after losing at Heart of Midlothian FC on Sunday.

Home and away
However, Pacheco warned: "Their form back home will have no bearing on Thursday night. They are still a good team and have proved it this season away from home in Europe." Martin O'Neill's men won at FK Suduva, Blackburn Rovers FC and Liverpool FC en route to the last four - and scored in their other away ties at RC Celta de Vigo and VfB Stuttgart. Against that, though, Boavista have a 100 per cent home record in the competition, with victories against Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Anorthosis Famagusta FC, Paris Saint-Germain FC, Hertha BSC Berlin and Málaga CF.

Narrow margin
Yet with striker Chris Sutton set to join Larsson and John Hartson in a three-man Celtic attack after recovering from a broken wrist, Boavista will do well not to rest on their slender advantage. "We are not going to play for a 0-0 draw with ten men in defence," said goalkeeper Ricardo, who saved a Larsson penalty in Glasgow. "We will defend our 'lead' by going for goal."

Raring to go
Boavista have defender Paulo Turra suspended, but the Argentinian Fernando Ávalos is a capable deputy and strikers Martelinho and Silva should also shake off knocks to play. "If we were playing other games some of the lads would say they were injured," Pacheco said. "But the players think the UEFA Cup is more important than the championship."

Prize at stake
There is much at stake for Celtic too. It is 33 years since the Glaswegians appeared in a European final, and winger Didier Agathe said: "This isn't a chance that comes every day in your career and we will try to do everything we can to win this game. I am looking forward to it, not only because it is a big European game but because it is a UEFA Cup semi-final with the prize a place in the final."