Stars Align For UEFA Cup Semi-Finals

By: chris | April 17th, 2009

The Champions League’s younger, less talented brother has been taking place in the background this year for some reason. Of course it’s always a distant second, but it seems this year more so than others. Perhaps it’s the uninspiring roster of clubs still left, with many of the big boys – Milan, Zenit, Valencia, etc. – bowing out even before the quarters.

Whatever the case, Europe’s other cup competition just thrust itself into the forefront with two semi-final matchups that must be the work of some mysterious cosmic force. Not only will one final will be all-Ukrainian and the other all-German, guaranteeing a Ukraine v Germany final, but as a gift from the footy gods, each semi-final is a proper derby.

In the first semi-final, Dynamo Kyiv, runaway leaders/eventual winners of the Ukrainian Premier League, will be put up against the big money of rivals Shakhtar Donetsk. A rivalry which has been burgeoning since the inception of Ukraine’s domestic league in 1991, with the two clubs combining to win 16 of 17 titles – all but the inaugural. Shakhtar have really burst onto the scene since the turn of the millennium with deep pockets and a roster packed with technically gifted Brazilians and Dynamo have always been one of Eastern Europe’s biggest clubs. With the two clubs far and away Ukraine’s biggest outfits, a derby was spawned.

In the other semi-final it’s Germany’s Nord Derby; the battle between northern Germany’s two biggest clubs, Werder Bremen and Hamburger SV. Very much a geographical derby whereas the battle of Ukraine is more about jockeying for domestic superiority. Both clubs will want to reign victorious but for vastly different reasons: HSV to cement a wildly successful first year under Martin Jol, one which may well end up in title glory, and Werder to dull the blow of an incredibly disappointing year which will almost undoubtedly see them out of Europe altogether next season. Same prize, different reasons.

And all of this makes gauging the semi-finals nearly impossible. As everyone knows: form goes out the window in a derby. Normally a keen eye can simple assess the quality of the two teams and make a decision. In fact, these year’s keen eye would make Dynamo the overwhelming favorite to take home the continental title – keeping the trophy in the former Soviet Bloc. Their league form has been Barca-esque this season, dropping a total of 5 points in 23 fixtures and holding a staggering 15 point lead over second placed – you guessed it – Shakhtar. They’ve even begun creeping up towards our Power Rankings – a sure sign of achieving something.

But now we might as well flip a coin. Sure, quality matters to some degree but we’ve seen time and time again a lesser team thump its superior rival based on sheer will alone. Something which may vault the UEFA Cup into finally triumphing over its older, richer and more handsome brother. After all, you simply cannot beat a derby – much less two.