Memories flood back for Frankfurt

1. FFC Frankfurt have never been beaten over 90 minutes in the UEFA Women's Cup, but when they travel to Sweden to meet Malmö FF in the first leg of their semi-final on Sunday, they will surely be thinking back to last year.

Dramatic defeat
Hot favourites in their last-four tie with Umeå IK, Frankfurt found themselves pegged back to 1-1 in the first leg in Sweden. They then needed a last-gasp goal to force extra-time after trailing for an hour in the return, only to be denied 8-7 on penalties.

Injury worries
Frankfurt did go on to retain the German title, and have scored 26 goals in five games in this season's UEFA Women's Cup - including an emphatic 7-2 aggregate victory against Fulham LFC in the quarter-finals. Coach Monica Staab is without Steffi Jones, Nia Künzer and Marion Wilmes and is waiting on late fitness tests on Marleen Wissink, Louise Hansen, Renate Lingor and Tina Wunderlich, but remains confident.

Vital trip
"It is vital to get a good result in Sweden so that we can go into the return leg with confidence," she said. "We have already fulfilled one of our goals of the season by qualifying for the German Cup final. Now we will be focused on the UEFA Women's Cup."

World Cup boost
Staab's team actually trail their domestic cup final opponents 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam by two points in the league, albeit with a game in hand, but having had five players involved in Germany's victory against Sweden in the FIFA Women's World Cup final last October is a fillip to say the least.

Repeat performance
Frankfurt manager Siegfried Dietrich said: "A lot of fans see the match as a repeat of the World Cup final between Germany and Sweden. Therefore we hope we can come out on top and book a place in the UEFA Women's Cup final. It would also help us keep the women's game in the eye of the media."
 
Hard training
Tournament debutants Malmö finished a disappointing third in the Swedish league last year, and are without Icelandic duo Asthildur Helgadottir and Jenny Engwall, who both suffered knee injuries on international duty. Malmö's non-national team players have been training with the Swedish Under-19 squad in the close season, and assistant coach Anders Sjunnesson said: "They have worked hard and the tempo has been has been high."

'No new injuries'
Coach Anders Johansson has been away with the Swedish team in the Algarve but believes his side can end Frankfurt's proud record. "Even though our season has not really started yet I think that we will cope well," he said. "The bulk of players got a couple of good games in the Algarve and luckily we have got no new injuries, so I think we are in with a good chance."