“Wow, we’ll continue playing in the spring!” There was a bit of a wink when SKN sports director Tanja Schulte commented on the St. Pöltner group in the Women’s Champions League. But also more than a grain of truth. Because this year the red-white-red champion footballers have a chance of reaching the quarter-finals. In the draw, ÖFB team kicker Vicky Schnaderbeck drew alongside eight-time Champions League winners Olympique Lyon, Czech champion Slavia Prague and SK Brann from Bergen, Norway. “Two opponents on equal terms, very attractive in terms of sport,” said Schulte, impressed.
Schnaderbeck with a happy hand
Reaching the quarterfinals for the first time seems feasible for the SKN players. In 2013/14, Neulengbach made it into the top eight in the Women’s Champions League – albeit under the “old” knockout mode.
The trainer is also happy with the lot. “Luck has been kind to us,” says Liese Brancao. And raise the target for the second participation in the group phase of the premier class. “With six top performances in the group games, second place is possible,” explains the Brazilian. Valentina Mädl, at 17, the youngest top performer in the SKN Ladies, agrees: “We will set ourselves the goal of getting to the quarter-finals.” It is also bearable that there is nothing with the hoped-for preliminary round games against the crowd-pullers like Bayern or Barcleona has become.
Norwegian moose test debuts
“We hope that the audience at home will still support us,” says President Wilfried Schmaus. The Wolves have already earned 400,000 euros by qualifying for the group phase, and each point they have earned is worth 17,000 euros. The St. Pölten women will make their first home appearance right at the start – SK Brann will be guests at the NV Arena on November 14th. It’s all about big points in order to keep the dream of the quarter-finals – for this you need first or second place in the group – alive.
The former ÖFB team player Viktoria Schnaderbeck played lucky angel – and drew a feasible group for the St. Pölten women.
Photo:
UEFA/Greenfly/SKN St. Pölten
“Either a great group with the really big players or one in which we have a chance of promotion,” offensive player Sarah Mattner-Trembleau wanted. It became the second. She is particularly looking forward to one game – the one against Olympique. “My family comes from Lyon, so this is a special game. Even though I would have liked a real away trip better,” jokes the 20-year-old. Lyon might be a bit too big for St. Pölten, but: “It’s an honor to be able to play against superstars like Ada Hegerberg.”
Slavia Prag is an old acquaintance, after all they met the Czech Republic last year and regularly test against each other in preparation. That’s how it would have been planned for January. “We have now canceled that,” says Brancao of the “Fifty/Fitfty games” against Slavia. The SKN took four points from the two duels with the Prague team in the last Champions League season.
The two-time Norwegian champion SK Fire is the great unknown. “I expect a team that is as robust as our qualifying opponent Valur Reykjavik was,” says Mattner. Coach Liese Brancao knows: “Norway has a good reputation in women’s football. Still, it’s not impossible to stand up to Brann.” Intensive video study is now on the agenda. So that the SKN can perhaps still perform internationally in the spring.
The game plan
spusu SKN St. Pölten – SK Brann (Tuesday, November 14th, 6:45 p.m.)
Olympique Lyon – SKN St. Pölten (Tuesday, November 22nd, 6:45 p.m.)
SKN St. Pölten – Slavia Prague (Wednesday, December 13th, 6:45 p.m.)
Slavia Prague – SKN St. Pölten (Thursday, December 21st, 9 p.m.)
SKN St. Pölten – Olympique Lyon (Thursday, January 25th, 9 p.m.)
SK Brann – SKN St. Pölten (Wednesday, January 31st, 6:45 p.m.)
