UEL GW2 - Group A heat's up

Anzhi Makhachkala's strike force of Samuel Eto'o
and Lacina Traore v Udinese (GW1)

Group A has already lived up to expectations as being one of the most exciting sections in the Europa League this season. After two matches, 3 sides are already likely to contest the progression spots, yet none of them were able to pick up back-to-back wins. Anzhi Makhachkala’s involvement in this group may be the reason why it’s so intriguing. Due to their vastly inferior UEFA coefficient they were almost certainly going to line up alongside at least one European heavyweight, but they ended up being pitted against two of the tournament’s favourites in Liverpool and Udinese. The fourth side to make up the group were Young Boys from Bern, and after being denied a debut win in the group stage by Udinese in game week 1, Anzhi went in search of 3 points against the Swiss side in their first home match of the group stage. Describing it as a home match might not be entirely correct, as Anzhi have been forced to play all of their European home matches, away from their usual stadium in Dagestan due to security fears, yet playing their matches in Moscow (at the Lokomotiv Stadium) has at least reduced the mid-week travelling of their players, who are already based there during the week.

Anzhi Makhachkala's usual UEL
formation 2012/13

Anzhi have clearly stated that this competition is a priority, despite leading early on in the Russian Premier League title race. In their first match they played a full strength line-up, and once again they started with their strongest side possible against Young Boys, a slight difference to the more fancied clubs in their group who have tinkered with their domestic squads when competing in Europe. Anzhi’s strength is in their size and pace, with a cluster of overseas players forming the spine of the side. The centre back partnership of Joao Carlos and Christopher Samba is imposing yet susceptible to breakaways, while their midfield is defensively sound, with Jucilei and the technically brilliant Lassana Diarra marshalling the front of the defence. Up front Lacina Traore is a modern day target man, who’s gangly frame and occasionally frustrating attitude may be hard to swallow at times, but has proved over the last few seasons with Cluj and Kuban Krasnodar before joining Anzhi that he has a knack of collecting a hat full of goals. 

However, the key to Anzhi’s success is not exactly a big surprise; former Barcelona and Inter striker Samuel Eto’o carries the burden of being a goal scoring front man, the side’s creative source and club captain all under his belt, and excels under the pressure. This game in particular against a lacklustre Young Boys team, was a clear case in point. For much of the match, Anzhi looked in control defensively, sitting quite deep for a home side, and trying to hit the Swiss side on the counter attack. For all the charms of wingers Shatov and Boussoufa, who at times threatened, little in terms of chances came the Russians way. Chances would need to be carved out of nothing and Eto’o was the man for the job. He turned on his guile just before the break, creating two chances for Traore and Joao Carlos, before in the second half stepping up to take an early penalty to take the lead. After that, space opened up and with Eto’o pushed forward into the central striking position vacated by Traore, he shone brighter, fashioning equally promising positions, before collecting a brace late on in a typically clinical fashion. In a match that was contested by two solid defensive units, Eto’o proved a little spark could steal all the points.

Liverpool's usual UEL
formation 2012/13

Looking ahead to the match at Anfield in GW3, the same place where the home side Liverpool were humbled at times against Udinese, losing 3-2 in GW2, comparisons can be sought for the Russians visit to England. Udinese once again are punching above their provincial club status, selling their star names to balance the books internally. Any creative spark is inspired by a one-man attack in the form of Antonio Di Natale, who scored and created two goals out of the blue just after the break to sink the Reds. Anzhi’s similar reliance on Eto’o could play into the hands of the Russians as they will likely aim to hit the home side on the counter attack. Depending on who Brendan Rodgers picks in his squad, will prove where the dangers will come from. Three goals for Jonjo Shelvey and three assists for Stuart Downing already in Europe is a surprise to many domestic viewers, however it does set up some key battles across the pitch. Yuri Zhirkov will be returning to England, where he had a miserable time with Chelsea a couple of years back, and will be keen to show his dominance over Downing in the left back role. While Diarra and Jucilei will no doubt be briefed on Shelvey’s lung bursting runs into the box that have shown him in such a good light in the previous group matches.

The Anzhi experiment, inevitably started with a bang, attacking talent galore was poured into the squad without thinking of the consequences in behind them. Since the appointment of Guus Hiddink last year, they have toughened up in the defensive third, and condensed down the attack into a decent front pairing of Eto’o and Traore. They may see little of the ball for much of the game at Anfield, but they have the perfect set up to put their stall out and possibly pull off the biggest result in their clubs history.