SPORTS SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2014 FRENCH CUP PREVIEW Rennes gunning for Cup final revenge PARIS: French football’s great under- defeat to Guingamp - the club where from that game and it was five years ago. Guingamp’s run to the Stade de France achievers Rennes will look to end a major Didier Drogba shot to prominence from a included a 3-1 extra-time victory against trophy drought of more than four decades town with a population of little more than ‘Context is different’ Monaco in the semi-finals. when they face Brittany rivals Guingamp in 7,000 - five years later is unthinkable. “The context is different and so are the With Rennes beating second-tier today’s Cup final at the Stade de France. However, Rennes coach Philippe teams - Guingamp were in Ligue 2 at the Angers 3-2 in the other semi-final tie, that Rennes’ recent history has been peppered Montanier has played down talk of revenge time. For us it’s more about focusing on a set up a Breton derby at the national stadi- with draining disappointment, none and also insisted that his team should not final than worrying about revenge or what um and French Football Association presi- greater than their defeat in the 2009 feel under too much pressure, pointing to happened five years or 35 years ago. “We dent Noel Le Graet, who hails from French Cup final against the same the fact that Guingamp are now a top-divi- have nothing to lose because if we lose Guingamp, is certain the sell-out 80,000 Guingamp side, albeit one who were then sion side and have already won both people will continue to say that we are a crowd will make it an occasion to remem- in the second tier. On that occasion, league meetings of the teams this season. team that always loses in finals. And if we ber. “This final is for the people of Brittany Rennes took a second-half lead only for a “It’s 15th in the league against 16th,” win we will have ended a wait of 43 years. who are coming back to Paris, and I’m sure brace of goals by Brazilian forward Eduardo said Montanier, who is hoping skipper “It would be a huge disappointment if we we will see the same spectacular show that to give Guingamp the first, and to date Romain Danze will be fit in time to feature. lost, but brilliant if we won.” Both clubs we saw in 2009,” said Le Graet. “The clubs only, major trophy success in their history. “There is no favorite especially as a final is a remain in danger of relegation to Ligue 2 have agreed to both provide traditional Rennes were also beaten by Saint-Etienne one-off occasion. Guingamp maybe have with just three games left in the league Brittany music, with 50 musicians each. in last season’s League Cup final, leaving the psychological advantage because they campaign, but for Guingamp - coached by After that, long live the sport, nothing them still without a major title since beat- have beaten us twice in the league this sea- former Rennes playmaker Jocelyn more.” If Danze does play, the only absen- ing Lyon to lift the Cup back in 1971. son. But it will be an evenly-matched final.” Gourvennec - the knockout competition tee for Rennes will be left-back Cheik Such a record is not good enough for a When asked whether the 2009 final has proved to be a welcome distraction. M’Bengue, who has a thigh problem. club from the capital of the prosperous between the teams would have any bear- Inspired by the goals of Malian internation- Guingamp have a fully-fit squad with region of Brittany and owned by the bil- ing, the former Real Sociedad coach al striker Mustapha Yatabare, who has net- Lionel Mathis - their only survivor from lionaire Francois Pinault, and a second final replied: “I don’t think so. Only Danze is left ted seven in the competition so far, 2009 - available after injury. — AFP SPANISH LEAGUE PREVIEW GERMAN LEAGUE PREVIEW Real rout boosts Atletico and Real out Hamburg hopes to seal perfect week BERLIN: Rafael van der Vaart says Real Madrid’s 4-0 drubbing of Bayern Munich in the Champions League will boost relega- MADRID: Fresh from reaching a first Champions League final in 40 tion-threatened Hamburg against the Bavarian giants in years on Wednesday, Atletico Madrid insist they are already focussed today’s Bundesliga clash. Hamburg, the only club in on their La Liga title run-in, starting with a trip to Levante tomorrow. Germany’s top flight to have never gone down, sit third from Atletico will face bitter neighbours Real Madrid in a historic bottom in the table and at risk of an historic relegation. A Champions League final in Lisbon next month but in the meantime thousand fans watched the team go through their paces on they are in the driving seat as they need just two wins from their last Thursday and shouts of “never in the second division!” three games to seal their first La Liga title for 18 years. echoed around the training ground. Diego Simeone’s men are on a run of nine straight league wins Hamburg are five points from safety with two games left and another victory away to mid-table Levante will give Los and desperately need points against champions Bayern to Rojiblancos the chance to wrap up the championship at home to climb out of the bottom three. If they finish 16th, they will Malaga next weekend and avoid needing to get something from face a last chance play-off against the third-placed side in the their daunting visit to Barcelona on the final day of the campaign. second division to try to maintain their Bundesliga place. But Even in the wake of his side’s famous 3-1 win over Chelsea, Simeone Bayern’s Champions League exit in Tuesday’s 4-0 semi-final, insisted he was immediately “preparing and focusing on the objec- second-leg drubbing at home to Real has given Hamburg tive of beating Levante.” Full-back Filipe Luis echoed his coach’s sen- hope, says Netherlands star Van der Vaart. “It’s a matter of timents and believes they will have beaten “the best team in Europe” survival and honor for us. If we give our all, then we also have if they go on to win La Liga or the Champions League. “This team a chance against Bayern,” said the 31-year-old, who is hoping never gives up. There are a lot of very important games before Lisbon to play after recovering from a calf injury. and we are going to try and win them all,” said the Brazilian. But the Dutch playmaker says Hamburg must be confi- “Real Madrid are the most difficult opponent you can face, they dent against Bayern. “We need to show some balls, Bayern are the best team in Europe in my opinion, but we always approach won’t give anything away and it would be really bad for them games with humility and try our best to win. There is a long way to to lose two games in a row,” he said. Since being confirmed go though and now Levante is the most important game.” Simeone Bundesliga champions with a record seven games to spare at is expected to make a few changes to the side that started at the end of last month, Bayern have produced some below- Stamford Bridge with captain Gabi back from suspension and the par performances which culminated in their drubbing at the likes of Raul Garcia and David Villa set to feature. However, top scorer hands of Real. “After the defeat to Real, Bayern are sure to Diego Costa should be fit to start despite being withdrawn late on in have no great desire to get on the plane to Hamburg. We midweek due to a knee injury. Real Madrid could be nine points adrift want to annoy them,” said director of sport Oliver Kreuzer in a of Atletico, albeit with two games in hand, by the time they kick-off radio interview. later tomorrow at home to Valencia. The Bavarian giants have wounded pride and will be look- Los Blancos enjoyed a fantastic win in midweek themselves as ing to bounce back at Hamburg ahead of their German Cup they hammered European champions Bayern Munich 4-0 at the final against arch rivals Borussia Dortmund in Berlin on May Allianz Arena to qualify for their first European final for 12 years. 17. “We need to quickly lick our wounds so we put in a better Having already lifted the Copa del Rey, Real could still win an historic performance in the Cup final against Dortmund,” insisted treble this season should Atletico stumble in their final few league chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. Hamburg have suffered games. And coach Carlo Ancelotti is savoring the success of his first some heavy losses to Bayern recently, being routed 5-0 at season in charge. “Obviously I am very happy, you have to enjoy the home in February’s German Cup quarter-finals and humbled good moments because, sooner or later, the bad moments will 9-2 in Munich in the league in March 2013. come,” he told Sky Italia. “It gives me great satisfaction to take Real Hamburg, for whom Mirko Slomka is their third coach this Madrid to the final 12 years later.” Barcelona also maintain a slight season after Thorsten Fink and Bert van Marwijk were both chance of retaining the title, although they need both Atletico and fired, are low on confidence after six defeats in their last ten Real to slip up as well as winning their three remaining games.