Marta mystery gives Frankfurt a lift

FIFA Women's World Player of the Year Marta is a doubt for Umeå IK's UEFA Women's Cup final first leg against 1. FFC Frankfurt after missing training on Friday as either the Swedish or German side stand on the brink of becoming the first three-time winners of the seven-season old competition.

Deadly striker
Voted the world's best by international captains and coaches in 2006 and 2007, the Brazilian is regarded as Umeå's most dangerous attacker, but was not available for training the day before the final. "Marta has a minor injury and needed to rest, but we expect her to play," explained Umeå coach Andrée Jeglertz, adding: "If someone gets injured, I always have a backup strategy. That goes for this match as well."

European giants
The biggest game of the European women's season could not have asked for a more prestigious pairing, with Umeå and Frankfurt by far the most successful sides in the history of the UEFA Women's Cup. Only once since the competition's inaugural season in 2001/02 has a final featured neither side. Frankfurt have played in four finals and Umeå five, with both teams winning the competition twice, something no other club has done.

Previous meetings
The clubs have met in two previous finals, with Umeå avenging their 2-0 one-off loss in the first edition back in 2001/02 by beating Frankfurt 8-0 on aggregate in the 2003/04 decider, a Marta-inspired tie which the German side's star striker Birgit Prinz has not forgotten. "In 2004 our team was really, really tired and that showed on the field," said Germany captain Prinz, who was FIFA World Player of the Year in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Artificial pitch
Prinz sees Umeå as favourites in the opening leg of the tie, largely because of the artificial pitch at their Gammliavallen home. "We're not used to the surface and that's an advantage for Umeå," explained Prinz, whose side come into the game on the back of a 4-0 victory against eternal Frauen- Bundesliga rivals 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam. "The ball bounces higher than normal and we've only practiced once on this pitch."

Real thrill
The prospect of playing against Prinz was a real thrill for Umeå captain Frida Östberg, whose side recorded a fifth straight domestic win against Bälinge IF Uppsala in their most recent game. The defender said: "I woke up in the morning thinking: 'Yes! In just one day's time I'll be facing one of my favourite competitors.'" Frankfurt coach Hans-Jürgen Tritschoks could also not wait for the game to start, saying: "Scandinavian women's football is still slightly ahead of central Europe. We're happy to have reached the final and are very much looking forward to the match." The second leg is at Frankfurt's former Waldstadion next Saturday.