Pana Haas to win - skipper

Posted Thursday, November 05, 2009 by PA

Sturm Graz captain Mario Haas has backed his side to kick-start their stuttering Europa League campaign with an overdue victory against Panathinaikos on Thursday night.

The Austrian league title challengers made it three Group F matches without a victory by slumping to a narrow 1-0 loss against Panathinaikos last time out, but are aware that three points would bring them right back into the reckoning for a top-two finish.

Sturm have just one point on the board courtesy of a creditable draw at leaders Galatasaray, but largely their European campaign to date has been below expectations.

Certainly Sturm's domestic form indicates they are capable of better, with last weekend's 4-0 thumping of Austria Karnten in the Bundesliga leaving Franco Foda's troops just a point off leaders Salzburg but with a game in hand.

Sturm finished fourth in the Bundesliga last season to ensure their berth in the Europa League qualifying rounds, and Haas has backed the team to build on the promise shown since the start of this term.

"We are more mature compared to the pre-season - the young players have learned to work with the old, and we have a good harmony in the team," the 35-year-old told club website sksturm.at.

"The most important game is on Thursday, if we win then it's all open.

"I believe we can win the game. We have already put in a good performance [against Pana] but unfortunately we lost because of a stupid mistake."

A Dimitris Salpigidis penalty proved enough to seal victory for Pana over Sturm at the Olympic Stadium in Athens a fortnight ago. The Greece international slotted home after being upended by Mario Sonnleitner and despite later chances for the visitors, Henk ten Cate's men claimed the three points.

A similar result tomorrow would send the Austrian side crashing out of the competition with two games to spare should Galatasaray manage at least a draw at Dinamo Bucharest in the night's other Group F game.

Pana are second in the group on six points after recovering from a 3-1 loss to Galatasaray in their opening match to register successive wins over Dinamo and Sturm.

Ten Cate's side are also riding high in the Greek Super League standings, and Sunday's 2-1 win against Panionios courtesy of a Djibril Cisse brace extended their unbeaten start to the domestic campaign to nine matches and kept the club in a share of the lead with Olympiacos.

History does not favour Ten Cate's side, however, with Panathinaikos having loss all three of their previous European matches on Austrian soil.