Potsdam ready to take final step

1. FFC Turbine Potsdam coach Bernd Schröder is taking nothing for granted as his side prepare for Saturday's UEFA Women's Cup semi-final second leg against SK Trondheims-Ørn - now knowing that the victors would face Djurgården/Älvsjö in the decider after they defeated Arsenal LFC on Friday night.

'Second step'
Potsdam were impressive 4-0 winners in the first leg last week and travel to Norway with a fully fit squad available for selection. Schröder is demanding his side show the same level of intensity at the Lerkendal stadium. "We have one foot in the final and now we want to take the second step," Schröder said. "The tie is not over yet, even though the odds are definitely stacked in our favour."

Bayern defeated
Potsdam warmed up for Saturday's match by defeating FC Bayern München 3-1 in midweek. Schröder could even afford to rest captain Ariane Hingst as two second-goals from Petra Wimbersky and one from Brazilian international Christiane earned the German champions victory after they had fallen behind to Nina Aigner's 19th-minute strike.

'Valuable experience'
Trondheims-Ørn defender Gøril Kringen, meanwhile, fears her side's chances went with the flurry of Potsdam goals in Germany, but believes the experience will hold the club in good stead for the future. "We won't manage to win 5-0, but if we want to get better, we need to play as many matches as possible at the highest level," she said. "To play in a semi-final in a European competition is a valuable experience for us."