Wolfsburg (H)

Everton vs Wolfsburg

Europa League Group Stage

Goodison Park

Thursday September 18th 8.05pm

So Europe is back at Goodison after four years. And given the price of the tickets and the greater excitement over the two big away trips, it is quite underwhelming. Still, a good test first up against Germans Wolfsburg, 5th place in England vs 5th place in Germany so we should be quite evenly matched. Wolfsburg will be the 4th German side we have played in our history, and we have never previously lost. We have beaten FC Nurnberg twice, once over 2 legs in the 60s, and in the group stage 7 years ago, won the first ever European penalty shootout against Moenchengladbach in 1970, and famously beat Bayern Munich on our way to the Cup Winners Cup in 1985.

Team News

Samuel Eto'o and Sylvain Distin are fit after missing West Brom at the weekend. To be honest, the team could be anything, but if it were my choice, I wouldnt make too many changes, and certainly not in the defence after getting our first clean sheet on Saturday. Maybe just give Barry and Lukaku a break, and maybe give Atsu a run out.

Howard

Coleman-Jagielka-Distin-Baines

Besic-McCarthy

McGeady-Naismith-Atsu
Eto'o

Ones to Watch

Luis Gustavo, former Bayern Munich destroyer and Brazil international. Likely to miss out tonight.

Aaron Hunt, half English German international, attacking midfielder signed in the summer from Werder Bremen.

Kevin De Bruyne, ex Chelsea creative midfielder who starred for Belgium in the World Cup.

Ivica Olic, Croatian former Bayern striker, bloody good player and a ton of experience.

Nicklas Bendtner. The sucker punch, ex Arsenal laughing stock who will most likely make the whole world eat their words tonight just to wind us up.

The Ex Factor

No foemer players on either side tonight.

Previous Meetings with German Clubs

(UEFA Cup Group Stage, November 8th 2007)

FC Nurnberg 0-2 Everton
(Arteta (P) 83, Anichebe 87)

(European Cup Winners Cup Semi Final 1st Leg, April 10th 1985)

Bayern Munich 0-0 Everton

(European Cup Winners Cup Semi Final 2nd Leg, April 24th 1985)

Everton 3-1 Bayern Munich (3-1 on aggregate)
(Sharp 48, Gray 75, Steven 86: Hoeness 37)

(European Cup 2nd Round1st Leg, October 21st 1970)

Borussia Moenchengladbach 1-1 Everton
(Vogts 35: Kendall 47)

(European Cup 2nd Round 2nd Leg, November 4th 1970)

Everton 1-1 Borussia Moenchengladbach (2-2 on aggregate. Everton win 4-3 on penalties)
(Morrissey 1: Laumaen 34)

(Fairs Cup 1st Round 1st Leg, September 28th 1965)

FC Nurnberg 1-1 Everton
(Greif 23: Harris 50)

(Fairs Cup 1st Round 2nd Leg, October 12th 1965)

Everton 1-0 FC Nurnberg (2-1 on aggregate)
(Gabriel 63)

Last Time

FC Nurnberg 0-2 Everton (Arteta (P) 83, Anichebe 87) UEFA Cup Group Stage, November 8th 2007

Our last game against German opposition coincided with my first European away. And what a night it was. Thousands of Blues taking over Nurnberg, and coming away with a memorable late win. One of those games where we played well but just couldnt score, before sub Victor Anichebe had probably his most productive five minutes in an Everton shirt. His presence forced a defender to wrestle him to the ground in the area, and Mikel Arteta put away the penalty in front of a delerious away end. Anichebe then finished it off just minutes later, using his strength to turn a defender before sliding in from a near impossible angle.

Memorable Meeting

Everton 3-1 Bayern Munich (Sharp 48, Gray 75, Steven 85: Hoeness 37) European Cup Winners Cup Semi Final 2nd Leg, April 24th 1985

Arguably one of the best nights in our history, and never forgotten by those lucky enough to be there. We'd drawn 0-0 in the Olympic Stadium in the first leg, so the game was on a knife edge. And it looked very very bad when Dieter Hoeness scored a crucial away goal to give Bayern the lead just before half time. Manager Howard Kendall famously told the team at half time to just get the ball forward and the Gwladys would suck the goals in...he couldnt have been more right. Just 3 minutes into the second half, Andy Gray flicked on from a throw in and Graeme Sharp glanced a header into the bottom corner. Bayern werent just rattled now, but shattered, but we still needed to score again. And with 15 minutes to go, another near post throw in was misjudged by Pfaff in the Bayern goal, leaving Andy Gray the easiest of tap ins into the open net. Trevor Steven put the icing on a very tasty cake with a memorable late breakaway goal to send us to our first ever European Final against Rapid Vienna in Rotterdam.  

Prediction

Need to get off to a good start, and in particular with being at home. Provided we put out a good side, got to be looking for a win. Everton 3-1 Wolfsburg