Uefa Cup 2008/09: Deportivo in Group H

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Competition News

CALENDAR DEFINED IN THE UEFA CUP

08 Oct 2008

The draw for the group stage in the UEFA Cup was made on Tuesday. Deportivo was put in group H and will have to face PFC CSKA Moskva (Russia), Feyenoord (The Netherlands) , AS Nancy-Lorraine (France) and KKS Lech Poznan (Poland). Depor starts the round on October 23 visiting CSKA at the Luzhniki Stadium.

Tough group for Deportivo in the UEFA draw, but the true is that things could be worse as the Galician team could meet AC Milan in the way out. In the end the Italian giants were sent to another group.

The group stage round only consists of four matches, two will be played at the Riazor while the other two will take place outside home. The draw determined that Deportivo will have to pay a visit to PFC CSKA Moskva and to KKS Lech Poznan. It will be the first time in which Depor plays a European game in both Russia and Poland. Meanwhile Feyenoord and AS Nancy-Lorraine will have to visit the Riazor. The three best clubs in the group will advance to the next round.

Coach Miguel Angel Lotina talked after the draw and gave his opinion about the challenges of Depor in this competition “We should be content with the group we have. In the beginning the stronger side seems to be CSKA, that’s because they were in the first pot and also because they are second in their league, competition that’s very advanced at the time.

Feyenoord and Nancy are a little relegated in their leagues. In the other side Lech Poznan is fourth. These are very good teams, they have a pretty name but we can match them. We shouldn’t complain about it. Makaay is at Feyenoord and the brother of de Guzmán too, that will make pretty the competition.”

Later it was Juan Carlos Valerón who analysed the things for Deportivo “We knew the groups will be like this, with three teams very equaled and with other one in a little worse situation, we will see what happens. I consider CSKA and Feyenoord as two very good teams. They are historical and it’s always difficult to play against them. We have other two rivals and we must face them.”

Finally Julian De Guzmán, who didn’t travel to Canada for injury reasons, talked about the confrontation against his brother Jonathan “We have big chances of achieving the qualification. I already talked with my brother about the possibility of being in the same pitch. I prefer to face him at the Riazor. I hope he will be able to reach the next round too. He’s really strong and can score goals. I am his teacher and he is my pupil. He has a great future.”

The groups after the draw:

Depor starts the group stage visiting CSKA at the Luzhniki Stadium and ends hosting Nancy at the Riazor. The Calendar of matches in UEFA is:

Matchday 01: 23-Oct-08 CSKA - Deportivo
Matchday 02: 06-Nov-08 Rest
Matchday 03: 27-Nov-08 Deportivo - Feyenoord
Matchday 04: 04-Dec-08 Lech Poznan - Deportivo
Matchday 05: 17-Dec-08 Deportivo - Nancy

For further information on the rivals in this group, please visit;

http://www.deportivo-la-coruna.com/n-news.php?cid=1609&ctg=4&pg=1