Fans flocking to Frankfurt finale

The biggest crowd in the history of the UEFA Women's Cup will watch either 1. FFC Frankfurt or Umeå IK become the first team to lift the trophy for the third time when the final concludes at the former Waldstadion on Saturday afternoon.

Away goal
These teams drew 1-1 in Sweden last week, Marta striking within 12 seconds of the start for Umeå before Conny Pohlers equalised five minutes later to give Frankfurt the edge on away goals. The German side lost these clubs' last final meeting 8-0 on aggregate in 2004 but two years before, in the one-off decider in the inaugural competition, Frankfurt beat Umeå 2-0 at the pre-2006 FIFA World Cup revamp Waldstadion.

Record crowd
That day, 12,106 were in the stadium and two years ago Frankfurt's UEFA Women's Cup final second-leg triumph against domestic rivals 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam at the Bornheimer Hang Stadium attracted a competition record 13,200. However, 21,000 tickets have already been sold for Saturday and Frankfurt general manager Siegfried Dietrich is hoping for even more. "We are reaching new dimensions in women's football," he said. "I expect even more demand for tickets before kick-off so I hope we can match the 22,000 Germany got for the 1989 [UEFA European Competition for Representative Women's Teams final in Osnabruck], and perhaps we can get the 24,582 that this month's English FA Women's Cup final got."

'Good position'
Frankfurt coach Hans-Jürgen Tritschoks is charged with ensuring most of that record crowd goes home happy, and the first-leg result gives him confidence. "The 1-1 draw last week puts us in a good position," he said. "I want to point out that we didn't celebrate as if we had won the trophy last week. We haven't won anything. We were just happy with the result. I expect an entertaining, thrilling game which will help to continue to promote women's football. No one will have anywhere to hide."

Experience
His opposite number Andrée Jeglertz is again without injured forward Hanna Ljungberg and long-term absentee Elaine. "Unfortunately we were unable to score more goals last week," said Jeglertz, whose team were held 0-0 in the equivalent fixture a year ago by Arsenal LFC to concede the trophy 1-0 on aggregate. Jeglertz has charged the experienced core of his side like Frida Östberg with helping younger team-mates should the pressure rise, and the defender, who in her previous Umeå spell was part of the 2003 and 2004 triumphs, said: "There is a certain tension no matter how experienced you are before this sort of game but I will nevertheless stay calm."

Unselfish stars
Some sections of the media has portrayed this match as a showdown between 2006 and 2007 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year Marta and Frankfurt striker Birgit Prinz, who took that title in 2003. 2004 and 2005. But the pair swiftly dismissed that personalising tag, Marta declaring: "It's not Marta versus Prinz, it's Frankfurt against Umeå." Prinz, like her captain Tina Wunderlich a veteran of the 2002 final success, added: "I think we did well in the first leg. We had a lot of respect for Umeå but are happy with how we played last week. Now we will see a real final."