CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Hamburg Begins Where it Left Off - Against Juventus
HAMBURG, Germany (September 12, 2000 8:45 a.m. EDT http://www.sportserver.com) - Hamburg SV returns to European soccer's premier stage on Wednesday after a 16-year absence, opening its Champions League campaign against Juventus which it beat to win the European Cup in 1983.
Hamburg coach Frank Pagelsdorf, who has revived German soccer's sleeping giants in the past three years, warned that their Italian opponents would be "tough nuts to crack" -- as will the other clubs in the group, Spain's Deportivo La Coruna and Greece's Panathanaikos.
"It's a good omen," Pagelsdorf said of being drawn against the Turin club which Hamburg beat for the greatest triumph in its history.
"They're impressive because they can switch every player," he said. "One international sits out and another comes in."
Pagelsdorf was quick to play down expectations for Hamburg in a tournament that has featured a German club at the semifinal stage in all but one of the past six seasons.
"It is of maximum importance that we develop further and we want to use the group games to this end," Pagelsdorf said. "They are all tough nuts."
Hamburg will have to contain Juventus playmaker Zinedine Zidane without their new record signing, Czech international defender Milan Fukal. He is ineligible for the entire group phase after playing for Sparta Prague in the qualifying rounds.
But Pagelsdorf is likely to maintain a three-man attacking line that impressed in a 4-0 weekend demolition of VfL Bochum.
Bosnian Midfielder Sergej Barbarez should keep his new role as Hamburg's main striker in place of Ghanian Tony Yeboah who is in the middle of a trial on tax evasion charges.
Juventus coach Carlo Ancelotti has striker Filippo Inzaghi and goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar available again after injury.
Defender Paolo Montero starts a three-match suspension and will be replaced by Croatian international Igor Tudor. Italian international Gianluca Zambrotta is on Olympic duty so Uruguay's Fabian O'Neill should replace him on the right flank.
France international striker David Trezeguet is expected to start on the bench with Yugoslav target man Darko Kovacevic.
