Anderlecht bar Bayern’s path to last eight

22.02.2008
Brussels-based RSC Anderlecht will face Bayern in the UEFA Cup Round of 16 after the reigning Belgian champions eliminated Girondins Bordeaux on Thursday night. Following a 2-1 home success in the first leg, the side coached by Ariel Jacobs drew 1-1 in France to seal a 3-2 aggregate victory.

Thomas Chatelle put the Belgians in front on 34 minutes at the Stade Chalban-Delmas in Bordeaux. Fernando Cavenaghi levelled on 71 minutes for the team lying second in France, but the home side shot themselves in the foot with red cards for Tremoulinas and Chalmé as the visitors held out for the draw.

Tough proposition

The 29-times Belgian champions will now face Bayern for the seventh time in European competition. “It’ll definitely be a lot more difficult than Aberdeen,” commented Uli Hoeneß, well aware that previous meetings with Anderlecht have tended to be tight affairs. Bayern have won three, with two draws and one Munich defeat.

“Anderlecht aren’t doing so well in the Belgian league, but they’re a hard side to beat,“ observed Mark van Bommel. RSC currently lie fifth in the Jupiler League. Bayern will still approach the double-header, on 6 March in Brussels and on 12 March at the Allianz Arena, in confident mood. “We have a slight advantage in that the first leg is away from home. That’s our reward for winning the group,” Hoeneß remarked.