Who Ate All The Bratwurst

Who Are Ya: Levski Sofia

Ahead of Levski Sofia's Champions League clash with Chelsea tonight, Bratwurst takes a sneaky peek at the Bulgarian champions so that you can know what to expect.

Who Are Ya? Levski Sofia (Bulgaria)

Why you need to know them
Jose and the boys from the Bridge are in town.

One to watch
Frenchman Cedric Bardon is arguably Levski's star player, but fellow striker Georgi Ivanov is in better goalscoring form with eight goals in six games at the start of the Bulgarian season. Ivanov first joined Levski in 1999 and became a fans' favourite before joining Stade Rennais in 2003. He re-joined Levski this year and is still regarded as a hero for his 14 goals in derby games against CSKA Sofia. Ivanov will face a late fitness test for tonight's game.

Coach
Former Levski player Stanimir Stoilov is the boss. He has been on the backroom staff since July 2000 despite still only being 39 years old.

On the home front
Top of the table and unbeaten after seven games. Six wins and a draw has given them a one-point advantage over local rivals Loko and CSKA.

Kit Parade

 

Odds 7/1 to beat Chelsea [Blue Sq]

Don't I remember you from...
Being knocked out of the Uefa Cup by Liverpool in 2003 with a little help from a Steven Gerrard volley.

[Rob Parker]

Who Are Ya: Benfica

It's Champions League Matchday Two (or at least half of it), people! Tonight is all about two Anglo-Portuguese affairs. Allow Bratwurst to run the rule over Benfica who will take on Manchester United tonight.

Who Are Ya? Benfica (Portugal)

Why you need to know them
In case you happen to catch Clive Tyldesley cheering his United boys on against them tonight.

One to watch
Simao Sabrosa is a long-term transfer target of a lot of Premiership clubs, particularly Liverpool and Arsenal. Simao has an excellent record against English clubs in European competitions having already netted against United and Liverpool. The Benfica skipper is still only 26 years old and can play on the wing or through the middle.

Coach
The 51-year-old has punctuated his tour of Portugal's top clubs with spells managing in Greece with both AEK Athens and Panathinaikos.

On the home front
Mid-table after an indifferent start to the league season. After three games Benfica have one win, one draw and one defeat.

Kit Parade

Odds 9/4 to beat Manchester United [Blue Sq]

Don't I remember you from...
Getting beaten by George Best in the famous 1968 European Cup final.

[Rob Parker]

Who Are Ya: Hamburg

Last season's third-placed German team take on the fourth-placed English side tonight. Time for a Bratwurst Who Are Ya? guide for Hamburger Sport-Verein or Hamburg as we like to call them.

Who Are Ya? Hamburg (Germany)

Why you need to know them
In the second Anglo-German tie of the week, Hamburg face Arsenal in the Champions League tonight.

One to watch
Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart scored nine goals in 21 league games in his debut season in German football. The 23-year-old caused a few eyebrows to be raised when he chose Hamburg as his destination when moving off the Ajax production line, but seems to have settled well. He will look to conduct Hamburg's attacks against Arsenal.

Coach
Former German international Thomas Doll is the man in charge. Still only 40-years-old, Doll has been Hamburg's head coach since 2004.

On the home front
Underachieving but consistent. Hamburg have started their Bundesliga campaign with three draws from three matches. They are eleventh in the table.

Kit Parade

Odds 7/4 to beat Arsenal [Blue Sq]

Don't I remember you from...
Playing host to King Kevin Keegan during his spell in German football.

[Rob Parker]

Who Are Ya: Werder Bremen

It's Champions League time, people (don't forget to sign up for the fantasy football league before the end of the day)! Chelsea start their campaign tonight against Werder Bremen - not one German football's most illustrious names but a decent side nonetheless. Click below to find out more about them.

Who Are Ya? Werder Bremen (Germany)

Why you need to know them
Werder are in Chelsea's Champions League group and play them in the opening match tonight.

One to watch
Miroslav Klose is a major doubt for tonight's match with a thigh injury, but if the World Cup Golden Shoe winner does make it he will be Werder's biggest threat. Equally adept on the deck or in the air, Klose bagged five goals for Germany in the summer and was linked with a move to several Premier League clubs.

Coach
Werder's very own 'boot room boy' Thomas Schaaf is the head coach. Schaaf is a one-club man who played for Werder between 1979 and 1994 before working his way up the backroom staff. He became head coach in 1999.

On the home front
Werder are currently fifth in the Bundesliga after three games with two wins and a defeat.

Kit Parade

 

Odds 6/1 to beat Chelsea [Blue Sq]

Don't I remember you from...
Winning the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1992 under current Greece coach Otto Rehhagel.

[Rob Parker]

Who Are Ya: Ventspils

I would hazard a guess that - excluding any Latvian readers we have - the knowledge of Latvian football among Bratwurst readers (and writers!) is fairly limited. It's time to change that with the Ventspils Who Are Ya? guide.

Who Are Ya? Ventspils (Latvia)

Why you need to know them
Ventspils will be at St James's Park this evening to battle Newcastle United for a place in the UEFA Cup. Newcastle have 0-1 lead from the first leg.

One to watch
If football was like field hockey, Jean-Paul Ndeki would be the player who just came on for corners. Although the Cameroonian defender is not the most sound defensively, he is a constant threat from attacking set pieces. His two goals in the previous qualifying round against GI GOTU of the Faroe Islands set-up the tie with Newcastle.

Coach
Roman Grigorchuk has been in charge for a year since leaving Latvian rivals FC Dinaburg to take over. He has been a big hit with Ventspils fans following the team's excellent form.

On the home front
Ventspils top the Latvian table with a three-point lead and a game in hand after 17 matches.

Kit Parade

Odds 14/1 to beat Newcastle [Blue Sq]

Don't I remember you from...
Causing a big upset by knocking out Brondby in 2004-05 Uefa Cup.

10 Things Newcastle fans need to know about Ventspils

Rob

Who Are Ya: Dinamo Zagreb

It is the turn of Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb to face the scrutiny of a Bratwurst Who Are Ya? guide. You will be able to tell your mates all about Dinamo's excellent start to the season before Peter Drury gets his chance to!

Who Are Ya? Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia)

Why you need to know them
Dinamo will attempt to make amends for a 0-3 to Arsenal when they play at the Emirates Stadium in Champions League qualifying tonight.

One to watch
Dinamo's 20-year-old playmaker Luka Modric is one for the future. His fleeting substitute appearances were one of the better aspects of Croatia's World Cup campaign (although that isn't saying much). Croatia see Modric as the future of their national team, and Dinamo want to build their team around him too. Interest from Bayern Munich and Werder Bremen has already been resisted as the club attempt to make an impact in European football.

Coach
Josip Kuze began his second spell as Dinamo Zagreb coach last year. The 53-year-old had previously played for the club.

On the home front
Top of the league with a 100 per cent record after four games.

Kit Parade

 

Odds 11/1 to beat Arsenal [Blue Sq]

Don't I remember you from...
Producing most of Croatia's golden generation including Zvonimir Boban, Robert Prosinecki and Dario Simic.

Rob

Who Are Ya: Maccabi Haifa

Israeli champions Maccabi Haifa looked like they might shock Liverpool when they took the lead in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier. The Reds came through in the end but just in case Rafa's homework wasn't thorough enough, here is Bratwurst's guide to Maccabi Haifa.

Who Are Ya? Maccabi Haifa (Israel)

Why you need to know them
They face Liverpool tonight in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round second leg with a 2-1 deficit to overturn.

One to watch
Former Boca Juniors striker Roberto Colautti has an excellent goalscoring record in Israel. The Argentinian has been the club's top scorer for the last two seasons and averages more than a goal every other game. Colautti has recently married an Israeli, and is being lined up for a call-up to the national team now he has citizenship.

Coach
Former player Roni Levy has led the side to three Israeli championships in a row. Levy took over the youth team when a knee injury forced him to retire, but he was appointed head coach in 2003.

On the home front
The Israeli Premier League kicks off this weekend.

Kit Parade

Odds 5/1 to beat Liverpool [Blue Sq]

Don't I remember you from...
Producing the likes of Ronny Rosental, Eyal Berkovic, Haim Revivo, Yossi Benayoun and Yakubu.

10 Things Liverpool fans need to know about Maccabi Haifa

Rob

Who Are Ya: Owen Hargreaves

After years of the poor lad taking stick, Owen Hargreaves is now flavour of the month for England fans. But compared to most England players, we know very little about our cosmopolitan new midfield star. That might change if he completes a move to Manchester United today, but it the meantime there is always the Official Owen Hargreaves website.

Did you know, for example, that his favourite music group is Boyz II Men (pictured, right) and that his favourite film is Good Will Hunting? And England's new number 7 has certainly been practising his headshots (above) to make sure they match up to those of the old number 7!

Rob

Who Are Ya: Greece

Allow Bratwurst to give you all the information you need about Greece before they take on Steve McClaren and his merry band of penalty-missers tonight. Click below for the lowdown.

Who Are Ya? Greece

Why you need to know them
Greece are playing England tonight in Steve McClaren's first game in charge.

One to watch
The old guard of Stelios Giannakopoulos, Giorgos Karagounis and Angelos Charisteas are still around, but Manchester City's Georgios Samaras is the new golden boy of Greek football. The 21-year-old has scored two goals in his first three games at international level. He will be looking to add to that tally at Old Trafford. Samaras made an impact at Eastlands on his arrival from Heerenveen, but has at times looked out of his depth. Expect his quality to show this season now he has settled.

Coach
Controversial, but successful, German coach Otto Rehhagel. He guided Greece to victory at Euro 2004 by playing football which would have made a mid-1990s Wimbledon side look sophisticated and entertaining. But - as countless Premiership managers have pointed out to a miserable Jose Mourinho - you can only work with what you have got and have to play to your strengths. His record speaks for itself.

Kit Parade

Odds 6/1 to beat England [Blue Sq]

Don't I remember you from...
Being the current champions of Europe, but failing to qualify for the World Cup.

Rob

Who Are Ya: Crvena Zvezda

Bratwurst runs the rule over Serbia's Crvena Zvezda (might be more familiar than you think) who are hoping to secure a big Champions League third qualifying round tie tonight.

Who Are Ya? Crvena Zvezda (Serbia)

Why you need to know them
They take a 1-0 lead into the home leg of their Champions League second qualifying round tie with Cork City tonight. The winners will face AC Milan in the next round.

One to watch
Serbia and Montenegro's 6ft 8in target-man Nikola Jigic failed to make an impression at the World Cup, but he is a player Arsene Wenger was prepared to pay £7 million for in January. He has scored 45 goals in 76 games for Crvena Zvezda.

Coach
Dušan Bajević has recently taken charge from former Italian goalkeeper Walter Zenga. Bajević has spent his managerial career in Greece where he attracted controversy by flitting between rivals Olympiakos and AEK Athens.

On the home front
Won the Serbian league comfortably last season. The new season kicks off this Saturday.

Kit Parade

Odds 1/5 to beat Cork City [Blue Sq]

Don't I remember you from...
Being called Red Star Belgrade. Crvena Zvezda are in fact no other than the 1991 European Cup winners playing under their Serbian name.

Rob

Who Are Ya: FK Suduva

Bratwurst's tour of some of Europe's less illustrious clubs continues with a trip to Lithuania, home of FK Suduva.

Who Are Ya? FK Suduva (Lithuania)

Why you need to know them
Suduva are at home to Welsh side Rhyl tonight after a goalless draw in the first leg of their Uefa Cup qualifying match.

One to watch
Every obscure eastern European side seems to have a token Brazilian or two. Suduva's are Jose Cordeiro and Otavio Braga. Braga is a 32-year-old striker who created some of the best chances of the match in the first leg.

Coach
Algimantas Gabrys began his second spell in the job a year ago when he replaced Italian Rino Lavezzini.

On the home front
Suduva are not having the best of times. They are in sixth place in a ten-team league after 21 matches.

Kit Parade

Odds 2/5 to beat Rhyl [Blue Sq]

Don't I remember you from...
Getting thashed 8-1 by Celtic in the Uefa Cup in 2002.

Rob

Who Are Ya: Siroki Brijeg

Our latest Who Are Ya? team guide looks at the best Bosnia and Herzegovina has to offer: Siroki Brijeg. If you have never heard of them, click the link below to find out a bit more.

Who Are Ya? Siroki Brijeg (Bosnia-Herzegovina)

Why you need to know them
They are playing Hearts in Champions League qualifying tonight.

One to watch
It was 21-year-old striker Ivan Bubalo who scored the vital away goal in Siroki's first qualifying match against Shakhtyor Soligorsk. The youngster seems to get himself among the chances and could have a bright future ahead.

Coach
Siroki are coached by former Mostar player Ivica Barbaric.

On the home front
They won the Bosnia and Herzegovina Premier League last season, finishing three points ahead of Sarajevo.

Kit Parade

 

Odds 15/2 to beat Hearts [Blue Sq]

Don't I remember you from...
Not a great deal unless you follow Bosnian football closely, although coach Barbaric reportedly faced Hearts during his time with Mostar.

Rob Parker

Who Are Ya: Odense

It is the turn of Danish side Odense to undergo the Bratwurst Who Are Ya? treatment. Read, store under 'Pub trivia', and regurgitate at will.

Who Are Ya? Odense (Denmark)

Why you need to know them
Odense take a 1-0 lead into the away leg of their Intertoto Cup tie with Hibernian today.

One to watch
Swedish playmaker Tobias Grahn ran the show in the first leg against Hibs. The 26-year-old only signed for Odense at the start of July on a one-year loan deal from relegated Danish side AGH Aarhus. Grahn - a bit of a journeyman for his age - has also played for Valarenga (Norway), Lyngby (Denmark) and Beira Mar (Portugal).

Coach
None other than former Arsenal boss Bruce Rioch. The ex-Scotland international took up the post in November 2005 on the advice of his 29-year-old son Gregor, who was enjoying success as coach of Danish First Division side Koge. Rioch's managerial career has also taken in Torquay, Middlesbrough, Bolton, Norwich and Wigan.

On the home front
Odense finished third in last season's SAS-Ligaen. They are sixth in the table this season after a grand total of one match, which they drew 1-1 with FC Midtjylland.

Kit Parade

Odds 5/2 to beat Hibs [Blue Sq]

Don't I remember you from...
Striker Mads Timm was a Manchester United player until a few weeks ago. He was one of the two United trainees arrested after a car accident while racing on a public road, and was sentenced to 12 months in a young offenders' institute. United released Timm in June and he returned to his home-town club.

Rob Parker

Who Are Ya: MyPa

The Bratwurst Who Are Ya? guides continue their mission to keep you up to date with even the most obscure teams thrown up by this season's European fixtures with a look at Finnish Champions League hopefuls MyPa.

Who Are Ya? MyPa (Finland)

Why you need to know them
They take a 1-0 advantage into their away match against Welsh champions The New Saints tonight.

One to watch
Brazilian striker Adriano is MyPa's star man. He scored the only goal in the first leg and it took a superb save from TNS keeper Gerard Doherty to stop him doubling his tally. Two goals from Adriano knocked Dundee United out of last season's Uefa Cup. The MyPa website describes him as a 'not so typical Brazilian striker', by which they mean he is in the mould of the traditional British centre-forward.

Coach
MyPa are coached by 43-year-old Ilkka Mäkelä.

On the home front
MyPa are currently underachieving in the Finnish Veikkausliga, lying mid-table in seventh place. They are 10 points adrift of leaders Tampere United.

Kit Parade

Odds 5/6 to beat TNS [Blue Sq]

Don't I remember you from...
Like Lillestrom, MyPa have had a number of future English league players pass through their ranks. The list includes Jari Litmanen (Liverpool), Sami Hyypia (Liverpool) and Markus Heikkinen (Luton Town).

Rob Parker

 

Who Are Ya: Kaizer Chiefs

Next up in our series of guides to some of the not so familiar sides that crop up at this time of year is South African side Kaizer Chiefs. All together now:

'I PREDICT A RIOT, I PREDICT A RIOT!'

Who are ya? Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa)

Why you need to know them
They will play Manchester United this evening as part of United's annual attempts to make their players worn out before the season has begun.

One to watch
Recently released Charlton Athletic striker Shaun Bartlett is now playing for Kaizer Chiefs in his native South Africa. Now aged 33, Bartlett is Kaizer Chief's most experienced player. He has played to a much higher standard than his team-mates and Kaizer Chiefs (who are taking the United friendly very seriously) will be looking for him to lead the line this evening.

Coach
German coach Ernst Middendorp has been in charge since 2005. Middendorp has coached a number of German clubs as well as Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko in Ghana. He was also in charge of Iranian side Tractorsazy Tabriz.

On the home front
The South African league is in its off-season. Last season Kaizer Chiefs finished third in the Castle Premiership behind Mamelodi Sundowns and bitter rivals Orlando Pirates.

Kit Parade

Odds 12/1 to beat Manchester United [Blue Square]

Don't I remember you from...
Being an English rock band? In case you were wondering, the missing link between a South African football club and a group of musicians from Leeds is Lucas Radebe. The former Leeds United defender moved to the club from Kaizer Chiefs and was nicknamed 'The Chief' by fans.

Rob Parker

Who Are Ya: Lillestrom

The European club season is now starting to get going, and that means far flung away trips to places you have never heard of or watching sides on TV you know nothing about. Fear not, because Bratwurst's Who Are Ya? guides will keep you up to date with all the teams you need to know about.

If you want to impress your mates with your knowledge of obscure European teams or would simply like to know something about who you side is playing, then keep reading. First up is Lillestrom.

Who are ya? Lillestrom (Norway)

Why you need to know them
Lillestrom are playing Newcastle United today in the prestigious Intertoto Cup.

One to watch
Bjorn Helge Riise, brother of Liverpool's John Arne, is one of Lillestrom's best players. The midfielder came close to joining Manchester City a few seasons back after impressing HRH King Kevin Keegan. City eventually cooled their interest despite publicly announcing that Riise had done well during a one week trial. Still only 23 years old, Riise might still get his big move.

Coach
Former Manchester City striker Uwe Rosler is the boss. In fact the Lillestrom bench is a bit of a Premiership players' graveyard with Jan Aage Fjortoft and Gunnar Halle working alongside Rosler.

On the home front
Currently second in the Norwegian Tippeligaen behind SK Brann.

Kit Parade

Odds 8/1 to beat Newcastle [Blue Square]

Don't I remember you from...

Selling Henning Berg to Blackburn Rovers. Ronny Johnsen is another former player.

Rob Parker