Tactics vital as Steaua aim to avoid a two-goal defeat

6Dec 2012

Europa Liga

A key match in tonight's Europa League is the one that sees Steaua Bucharest aiming to avoid a two or more goal defeat in Denmark. Jonathan Wilson explains how the Romanian side can progress...

In a week in which European rubbers have tended to be dead, there's some relief to be taken in Copenhagen tonight with a game between two teams who could both go through to the last 32 of the Europa League but, in all likelihood, only at the expense of the other.

Steaua Bucharest seemed to have Group E sewn up as they followed up a draw in Stuttgart with three successive wins but then, two weeks ago, needing only a draw to progress, they were blown away by Stuttgart, who scored four times in the first 31 minutes and went on to win 5-1. Stuttgart will now qualify with a home win against the bottom club Molde, while Steaua will join them provided they don't lose by more than a goal away to FC Copenhagen.

The defeat clearly rattled Steaua and, after winning 14 and drawing three of their previous 17 games, they promptly lost 3-1 away to midtable Brasov in the league. They bounced back on Saturday, though, thrashing Concordia 6-0 - which should restore confidence if nothing else.

Their coach, Laurentiu Reghecampf, has an intriguing tactical decision to make. Back in October, when Steaua beat Copenhagen 1-0 in Bucharest, he opted for a 4-4-2 with Adrian Poparadu operating just off the Brazilian Adi, who was replaced at half-time by the young Montenegrin forward Stefan Nikolic. Steaua matched Copenhagen shape-for-shape and had the better of the game but only claimed the win eight minutes from time through a Ragnar Sigurdsson own-goal.

More recently, though, he has used a 3-4-3 with Raul Rusescu through the middle, Poparadu to the right and Cristian Tanase left. Rusescu scored twice in the win over Concordia so it seems likely he will retain his place. The question then, assuming Copenhagen stick to their familiar 4-4-2, presumably with Cesar Santini and Andreas Cornelius as the two central strikers, is how will Steaua set up?

The issue is really whether Reghecampf believes his wing-backs, Alexandru Chipciu and Iasmin Latovlevici, can drive the two Copenhagen wingers - perm any pair from Thomas Delaney, Cristian Bolanos and Rurik Gislason - back. If they can, then Steaua should have a three on two at the back as well as an advantage in midfield. If they can achieve that, they should be able to dominate possession which should in turn give them protection.

More likely, though, is that he opts to return to the 4-4-2, especially as the back three was heavily criticised after the Stuttgart defeat. Caution is likely to be the prime concern, particularly given how well Steaua played earlier in the group. They are seven points clear at the top of the Romanian league and will surely go on to be champions but they need - at the very least - progress to the last 32 of the Europa League if claims that this is a Steaua returning to the highest level are to be taken seriously.

Their chairman and owner, Gigi Becali, of course, has been hailing Steaua's return for some time, but then he is a man who says what he likes whenever it suits him. He was Romania's Homophobe of the Year in 2006, as awarded by the national lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transsexual lobby, and in 2009 was arrested on charges of match-fixing.

That arrest suggested Becali's reign, one that had involved allegations of intimidation, assaults on journalists, sacking a Turkish coach "for being too Muslim", banning the playing of Queen songs at the ground because of Freddie Mercury's homosexuality, might be drawing to a close, particularly as Steaua's form faltered and they finished seventh. Steaua have slowly rebuilt and after a third place finish last season have kicked on again this.

Copenhagen, though, are also well clear at the top of the Danish table, nine points ahead of Nordsjaelland. They have won their last four in the league and beat Molde in their last Europa League fixture. This will be tough for Steaua.

Backing Copenhagen To Qualify at 1.81 seems senseless. Given the probability that Stuttgart will beat Molde, it makes more sense simply to back the Danish side to beat Steaua at 2.1, which is both longer and makes single-goal victories a winner.

Or, if you're convinced Copenhagen will go through, it's probably worth dutching some Correct Score bets: a package of 2-0 10.5, 3-0 25 and 3-1 18.5 offers far better value for essentially the same outcome.