Frankfurt ready to fight back at Duisburg

Duisburg ahead
Duisburg, making their competition debut having been Frauen-Bundesliga runners-up behind Frankfurt last season, raced into a three-goal half-time lead against their injury-stricken hosts in the first leg. Although Birgit Prinz pulled one back, Frankfurt now have to do what they did against Montpellier Hérault SC in the 2005/06 semi-finals, and overturn a deficit away from home.

Garefrekes belief
"Looking at the first result, we have no chance, but we still want to turn the tie around," said Frankfurt midfielder Kerstin Garefrekes. "We are fully focused on showing we can play better football than we did a week ago in Frankfurt and that we absolutely want the victory. Who knows what direction the game will take if we score an early opener. Anything is possible in football."

New challenge
Nonetheless, Duisburg were a class above Frankfurt for long periods last Thursday, with opening goalscorer Inka Grings masterminding a superb display. "The first leg went really well for us," said Duisburg coach Martina Voss. "But even on the way home in the bus, we knew the return match would be much tougher for us. We know we have a unique chance now and we'll try everything to make it to the semis. Our chances are surely better than those of 1. FFC, but I'm sure the first result will not make us complacent."

Bajramaj out
Voss's team will remain virtually unchanged from the first game. Annemieke Kiesel is likely to wear a specially designed mask to protect her broken nose, although Fatmire Bajramaj, who came off the bench after her recovery from knee surgery, is out after fracturing an ankle and faces another spell on the sidelines. Frankfurt coach Günter Wegmann is still without key players including striker Conny Pohlers, goalkeeper Silke Rottenberg, and midfielders Pia Wunderlich and Karolin Thomas.

Route to victory
Wegmann said: "Since the day after the defeat, we have analysed the two different halves of the first match, tried to build up the team's spirit, and prepared intensively for the return. It is vital we go into the game with the right focus and aggression, and that we remember our qualities in every phase of the match. If we manage to show constant will to win and capitalise on the opportunities we will get, I see a real chance of us making up the deficit and going through to the semis."