Crashing the UEFA Fiesta

Never before has Spain managed to have three teams in the UEFA semis, and the public interest in the competition is higher than ever, particularly since the proud football nation has no team left in the Champions League.

Understandably, there is even more media attention being paid to the Osasuna-Sevilla semi than to the Espanyol-Bremen tie. But that's just fine for Werder's opponents who are focused purely on getting a result at home and preventing the free-scoring Germans from getting a vital away goal.

Defender Daniel Jarque said on Monday that "we have to stop them from scoring here." Jarque added that "we really have to enjoy games like this, this is what we are footballers for."

Free-scoring Werder a challenge for any team

Espanyol midfielder Moises Hurtado, for his part, said on Tuesday that "Werder Bremen are the big favourite to win the UEFA Cup...They have an enormous offensive capacity and they are coming from the Champions League."

Bremen were only narrowly eliminated in a tough Champions League group with Chelsea and Barcelona.

Boasting World Cup top scorer Miroslav Klose and Brazilian playmaker Diego, Bremen have overcome an early-spring slump and are in fine form again, on the heels of Bundesliga leaders Schalke and ready to deliver in the UEFA Cup as well.

"We are highly motivated. Every player dreams of these big matches. We will do out utmost to claim both titles, in the league and in the UEFA Cup," said Diego.

Klose said Bremen has "no reason to hide" as the Germans aim to take a first step towards preventing a final between two teams from one league which last came in 1998 when Inter Milan beat fellow- Italians Lazio.

Title holders storming to second consecutive final

Holders Sevilla are also hot favourites to reach the final again, though they rarely fare well in Osasuna's intimidating Reino de Navarra stadium.

Sevilla coach Juande Ramos should have his entire squad available, given that Andres Palop, Renato, Adriano and Frederic Kanoute are all now fit and raring to go.

Jose Maria del Nido, the ambitious president of Sevilla, pointed out on Monday, that his priority is to qualify for the Champions League rather than retain the UEFA Cup or win the Spanish King's Cup. "The Champions League is a strategic, sporting and economic objective which will permit us to increase our budget by about 30 per cent," he claimed.

"The UEFA Cup and the King's Cup are important but our priority has to be getting in the Champions League."

Sevilla are currently second in "La Liga", after thrashing Athletic Bilbao 4-1 on Sunday.

Osasuna's only doubt concerns Iranian international Javad Nekounam, who has been out since March 30 with a twisted knee. Midfielders Francisco Punal and Ludovic Delporte are both fit again after lengthy layoffs.

Osasuna coach Jose Angel Ziganda rested several key players in Sunday's 1-0 away to Deportivo Coruna, most notably Enrique Corrales, Roberto Soldado and Savo Milosevic.

Osasuna defender Carlos Cuellar said on Tuesday that Sevilla are "a good team" but added that "we are certainly not afraid of them." Cuellar added that "the important thing on Thursday will be to not concede a goal."