Champions League 07/08 Matchday 5- Stuttgart 3-2 Rangers (Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion)

[Andygers]

Big match and the equation is simple :

Win against Stuttgart and Lyon lose against Barca and we are through :)

I think we will win 1-0

Your thoughts ????????

[Andygers]

Ohhh here comes the game that could sent us through!!!

I am looking for a good performance and hopefully a good result :)

[Andygers]

Not many people taking about this game probably because of the world cup draw.....so have you're say here about the game!!!!!!

[Andygers]

Veh demands final flurry from Stuttgart

Their European campaign may effectively be over but VfB Stuttgart coach Armin Veh is determined that his resurgent team "show the real VfB" against a Rangers FC side whose hopes of finishing in the top two in Group E are still burning bright.

Renaissance
With Mercedes, Porsche and Bosch all based in Stuttgart, words like 'efficiency' and 'performance' are at the heart of the city's lexicon, yet during a torrid start to the season their football team displayed little of either. Things have improved markedly in recent weeks, however, and a run of four wins from four Bundesliga outings has revived a title defence that had almost flatlined a month ago. The turnaround may have come too late to salvage his still point-less side's UEFA Champions League aspirations but that has not numbed Veh's hunger. Of the Rangers game, he said: "We are obliged to win for ourselves, our fans and our group rivals Lyon.

Patriotic duty
"We will try everything to win and to collect points for our country: victory is important to me as a patriot," continued the 46-year-old, who will again be without the injured Yıldıray Baştürk although Serdar Tasci is available after recovering from a knee problem. "My team will be motivated. It is, after all, a Champions League match and the stadium is sold out. We have to put on a show. I am really annoyed we were so poor at the start of the campaign. Now we will show the real VfB." There have been glimpses of the above during the last month of Bundesliga action – witness Saturday's fourth successive victory, 4-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt, yet that came at a cost as Mario Gómez was forced off with a rib injury that leaves him doubtful for Tuesday.

Smith foresight
Gómez would be a big loss. The 22-year-old Germany striker has scored ten of Stuttgart's 23 goals in the Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League this term, including one in Glasgow on Matchday 1 as the Scottish club were forced to come from behind to earn a 2-1 win. "They showed at Ibrox that they are a very determined team," Rangers manager Walter Smith said. "I said after that game that they are German champions and will get back to last season's form at some point – I think that now they have."

Possible qualification
Smith's own charges are not yet in top gear, despite beating Falkirk FC 3-1 at the weekend. They seem to save their best for the UEFA Champions League, however, and victories over Stuttgart and Lyon, as well as a home draw with FC Barcelona, means they control their own destiny. Indeed, a success at the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion would take Rangers through if third-placed Lyon lost Tuesday's other Group E fixture – more than surpassing pre-season expectations for Smith.

'Transforming team'
"We're a transforming team so it would be a terrific performance by us if we managed to get through," said the manager, who welcomes Kevin Thomson back from suspension. "I'm expecting a tough game but we'll set out to do what we have in other matches." Stuttgart hope that they can do the reverse.

uefa.com

[Andygers]

I cannot get away with the comment by Armin Veh that said " We will do it for Lyon"

What is this guy on??????????

I think he should have a look at himself!!!!

[Andygers]

TEAM NEWS

Stuttgart

Mario Gomez was withdrawn early from the weekend win over Frankfurt with chest pains and is touch-and-go for this game. Ciprian Marica is on standby should Gomez fail to make it. In defence, Serdar Tasci is back from a knee injury, but Veh will probably stick with the same in-form back four for now. Yildiray Basturk is definitely out.

Possible Starting XI (4-4-2 diamond): Schafer - Beck, Meira, Delpierre, Magnin - Pardo - Hilbert, Hitzlsperger - Khedira - Gomez, Cacau

Rangers

Midfielder Brahim Hemdani is likely to return to the starting line-up having missed out against Falkirk. Darcheville will be deployed as a lone striker, relegating Boyd and Cousin to the bench. Nacho Novo is injured.

Possible Starting XI (4-1-4-1): McGregor - Hutton, Weir, Papac, Cuellar - Hemdani - Beasley, Ferguson, Thomson, McCulloch - Darcheville

[Wabbit]

Ohh the rangers will win my friend, and Barça wont lose :D

[Andygers]

Ohh the rangers will win my friend, and Barça wont lose :D That's what I like to hear my friend :) I think it will be hard but we can do it!!!!

[Andygers]

Come on people, lets get chatting about this game!!!

I still think we will win 1-0 :)

Your thoughts????

[Andygers]

Only 1hr to the game can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Andygers]

Stuttgart 3-2 Rangers

Arrrrggghhhhhhh!!!!!!! :mad2:

We lost a game that we could have easily won!!!! We had the better chances and still we failed to win, this puts us into a do or die battle with Lyon. We win or draw we can sigh and celebrate, we lose then we are in the Uefa Cup.

IM SOOOO ANGRY!!!!!!!!!!!