Intertoto Weekend Preview

By: Ian Rose | July 13th, 2007

Well, another week has flown by and it is time for the glory that is the weekend. Along with all the drinking and sleeping comes, of course, the football. Intertoto Cup action continues this weekend as the second round ends and another 13 teams get their European pink slips and head home. We’re set for a great weekend of matches (hopefully without any more fan riots), so let’s get on with the preview.

Three in the hole
You hate to say that anything is impossible, but there are three ties in the second round that look to be just about over after one leg. Trabzonspor’s first-leg whooping on Vllaznia (6-0) ought to be enough to carry them through, as should huge opening away wins for Rubin Kazan (3-0) and Cherno More Varna (4-0). I love surprises, but I’ll look elsewhere for them this weekend.

Can the upset survive?
Unquestionably, to me, the biggest upset in Europe so far this season came last weekend when Gloria Bistriţa of Romania, a team that only made the Intertoto Cup because of an extra slot that Scotland didn’t use, traveled to Maccabi Haifa, probably the strongest team in the second round, and beat them 2-0. Maccabi are none too happy about the loss, and they’ll be out for blood. I think the Romanians can hold on, but it’ll be tough and I expect both goals and cards aplenty.

The Fjordlands Derby
Finland’s Honka Espoo and Denmark’s AaB Aalborg meet in a crucial match for Scandinavian bragging rights. Their first leg ended 2-2 in Finland, and the Danes will be confident with those 2 away goals in their pocket, but Honka tied their opening home leg in the first round too, before tearing Estonia’s TVMK for four goals in the second leg, so they can certainly bring it back.

The bet
A few weeks ago, rumors emerged of a bet between Offside Bob and our Bundesliga Offside blogger, Jan, if Bob’s Moldovan side should meet Jan’s Hamburg. Well, after a 1-0 home loss, Moldovan team Dacia Chişinău has it all to do to beat FC St. Gallen and move on to the Hamburg match in the third round. Personally, I have no allegiances here, except for my love of side bets, so, Go Dacia!

Well, if you happen to live in one of the countries who have a team in the Intertoto second round, enjoy all the action this weekend. If not, I’ll be posting the cream of the crop of video that surfaces over the Tubes in the next few days. Basically all but a few of the matches are close, and could go either way, so it should be a really good weekend of fitba.