The state of affairs for Werder prior to their Champions League date with RSC Anderlecht on Tuesday, 02.11.2004, couldn't be much better. With six points from three games Werder sit comfortably behind Inter Milan in a very respectable second place. A win against the Belgien champions could swing the door to the quarter final stage wide open for Thomas Schaafs men.

It has only been two days since the North derby against HSV and now the next challenge, this time in the ultimate football tournament in Europe. One highlight follows the last, and it's been that way for weeks but Werders players would appear to have grown used to the pressure. How else could the physical and tactical performances on such a high level be explained in a three-day-tact.

Pasanen ruled out, Magnin available

The best example: Werderws tie with HSV at the weekend. How often have the German champions had to chase a defecit recently. With pure will-power the Green-Whites clawed their way back from behind to score an equaliser. This is what we are used to from Werder. Most noticable was the manner in which the champions performed after levelling the scores - exploding in attack, burning with determination to claim all three points in the last twenty minutes, calling upon the very last of their physical reserves. Trainer Thomas Schaaf and sport director Klaus Allofs were united in their opinion after the match: "We are proud of this team."

"If we can play as well against Anderlecht on Tuesday as we did in the last 20 minutes of the North derby, then we've got nothing to worry about", said midfielder Fabian Ernst and indirectly gave the call to arms for the forthcomming Champions League date. The personnel situation before this game is (as always of late) unclear. "I don't know how it will be", said Thomas Schaaf on Sunday after training. Three things are clear: Suspended in the league ludovic Magnin is available to play against the Belgiens and could well return to the starting eleven. Petri Pasanen will not be available having had to return to Finnland after the death of his mother. Frank Fahrenhorst will also be missing. Hope still presides over the return of Tim Borowski and Angelos Charisteas to the squad having both rcovered from back injuries.

Many injuries at Anderlecht

RSC Andrlecht could only salvage a 2:2 draw with KSC Lokeren in Belgiums 'Jupiler League' at the weekend. Striker Aruna, who has been in top form of late, snatched the equaliser to save RSCs' blushes. Swede Wilhelmsson, who scored against Werder in Brussels, put the champions ahead. The Belgiens are bottom of the Group G table, with zero points must win in Bremen to keep hopes alive of third place. For coach Broos, injuries are causing him serious headaches. Following Tihinen, Kolar; Jestrovic and Junior, now Mbo Mpenza and Kompany are also out. To add to that both keepers Peersman and reserve keeper Zitka have both proven shaky, to be kind, of late. As in the corresponding fixture Zetterberg and Baseggio are expected to bolster the midfield.

Johnnie Muldoon