Werder Bremen look to stem Spanish tide in UEFA Cup

PARIS: Werder Bremen’s Champions League elimination by Barcelona could be met by a measure of revenge today when they face Barca’s city rivals Espanyol in a UEFA Cup semi-final first leg clash.

The German side are the only non-Spanish team in the last four – holders Sevilla take on Osasuna in the other semi – but are in prime form as their 3-1 win in the league last Friday kept them within two points of leaders Schalke 04.

Werder’s outstanding German international midfielder Torsten Frings believes that the 1992 Cup Winners’ Cup winners are capable of beating anyone, and certainly the manner in which they demolished Dutch League leaders AZ Alkmaar in the quarter-finals lends his theory credence.

“We can beat any club in Europe,” Frings told Uefa.com.