ForzaNerrazurri
Senior Squad
The reward for FC Artmedia Bratislava, in their first season in the UEFA Champions League, is an opening home match against the Italian club FC Internazionale Milano. Artmedia, who have performed heroics to reach this stage, are the Slovakian title holders for the first time in their 105-year history.
By comparison, this is the 397th game in UEFA competitions in their 44th season for Inter, but they have not won Europe’s top competition for 40 years. Their most recent successes have been in the UEFA Cup with victories in 1991, 1994 and 1998. But their experience of European competition will give them a significant advantage.
Having won their first Slovakian championship, Artmedia are new to the competition, but have beaten established teams to reach the group stage, and have shown considerable resilience and resource.
In the second qualifying round, the Slovakian side made everyone aware of their presence with a 5-0 home leg demolition of Celtic FC, who were in last season’s Champions League, with Juraj Halenár scoring a hat trick. The Scottish side fought back after their first-leg humiliation to haul back four goals but Artmedia squeezed through.
In the final qualifying round against FK Partizan, another recent Champions League qualifier, it was the turn of the Artmedia defence to shine. Neither side could score a goal in normal or extra time, but Slovakian nerves held in Belgrade, with Artmedia qualifying for the group stage with a 4-3 win on penalties.
Inter have played at Bratislava in UEFA club competitions before. In the first round of the 1982/83 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, the Italians were drawn against ŠK Slovan Bratislava, then a force in the old Czech league. Inter won 2-0 at home and a penalty from Hansi Müller after five minutes of the return leg put them in control. But Slovan hit back with goals from Marian Takac and Rudolf Bobek, to win the game 2-1. So Inter have still to win in Bratislava.
The match will be played at Tehelné Pole, the traditional home of Slovan, who are currently plying their trade in the Slovakian second division. Although currently out of the top flight, Slovan have won most Slovakian championships since an independent league began in 1993/94 with four titles.
So, who is actually going to care about this match besides myself, SBD, Yoss, and Moratti1?
By comparison, this is the 397th game in UEFA competitions in their 44th season for Inter, but they have not won Europe’s top competition for 40 years. Their most recent successes have been in the UEFA Cup with victories in 1991, 1994 and 1998. But their experience of European competition will give them a significant advantage.
Having won their first Slovakian championship, Artmedia are new to the competition, but have beaten established teams to reach the group stage, and have shown considerable resilience and resource.
In the second qualifying round, the Slovakian side made everyone aware of their presence with a 5-0 home leg demolition of Celtic FC, who were in last season’s Champions League, with Juraj Halenár scoring a hat trick. The Scottish side fought back after their first-leg humiliation to haul back four goals but Artmedia squeezed through.
In the final qualifying round against FK Partizan, another recent Champions League qualifier, it was the turn of the Artmedia defence to shine. Neither side could score a goal in normal or extra time, but Slovakian nerves held in Belgrade, with Artmedia qualifying for the group stage with a 4-3 win on penalties.
Inter have played at Bratislava in UEFA club competitions before. In the first round of the 1982/83 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, the Italians were drawn against ŠK Slovan Bratislava, then a force in the old Czech league. Inter won 2-0 at home and a penalty from Hansi Müller after five minutes of the return leg put them in control. But Slovan hit back with goals from Marian Takac and Rudolf Bobek, to win the game 2-1. So Inter have still to win in Bratislava.
The match will be played at Tehelné Pole, the traditional home of Slovan, who are currently plying their trade in the Slovakian second division. Although currently out of the top flight, Slovan have won most Slovakian championships since an independent league began in 1993/94 with four titles.
So, who is actually going to care about this match besides myself, SBD, Yoss, and Moratti1?
