by Birkirkara will welcome RSC Anderlecht tonight at the Centenary Stadium at 21:15, to determine the team progressing to round 2 in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Dennis Moerman and Vince Galea remarked the enthusiasm in the camps to show their best football in front of a strong crowd. However, away from the pitch, the two clubs expressed a united stance with former player, Rachel Cuschieri, and her family, in light of the passing of Cuschieri’s mother.
Raring To Go
RSC Anderlecht and hosts Birkirkara will aim to be on the winning end of tonight’s encounter to make a debuting appearance in round two, under the current competition format. The Belgian champions secured their place in tonight’s final by dispatching Red Star Belgrade by a 4-1 scoreline on Wednesday. On the other hand, Birkirkara completed a comeback in extra-time against Breznica Pljevlja to secure a 2-1 victory and make it to the second final in as many years.
Anderlecht’s Dennis Moerman suggested the team is in high spirits but very much focused on finishing the job tonight. “Everybody was delighted to win the first game of course, but at the same time very aware of the fact that the job is only fifty percent done. We feel a great focus and desire with the players to make it to the second round. Physically, everyone is one hundered percent fit. The fact that we played against ten players for most of the first game also allowed us to conserve energy, so we are well rested.”
Meanwhile, Birkirkara’s Vince Galea underlined the fact that extra-time put his side in a tougher position in terms of recovery immediately after Wednesday’s match. However, the Birkirkara coach suggested that the team is in good spirits ahead of the match, “We are working hard to get the players physically recovered and mentally fresh for this challenge. The atmosphere inside the clan is very positive and the girls are focused to give their best on the day.”
United In Spirit With The Cuschieri Family
Although the two teams will take to the pitch with a battle mindset tonight, their pasts share a common Maltese denominator in Rachel Cuschieri. She donned the shirt of both teams in her career, contributing to silverware with both along the way.
News of the sudden passing of Rachel Cuschieri’s mother rippled through the football community this week and both clubs expressed a united stance for their former player.
Anderlecht’s Dennis Moerman said, “Our thoughts go out to Rachel and her family in these difficult times. It has been a few years since she was part of the club, but she is still very much in our hearts and we cherish the memories we have from her time at Anderlecht. Just like the Maltese people, we wish her a lot of strength and the best for the future.”
Birkirkara’s Vince Galea echoed the sentiment, “We join the footballing community to express our sympathy with Rachel and her family, and send our deepest condolences in these moments. Both clubs share the sorrow of this loss.”
Rachel Cuschieri won her very first trophies, captained and made her maiden appearance in the European competition with Birkirkara, before leaving Maltese shores and eventually also donning the purple kit of Anderlecht. She was part of the group of players who lifted the first Belgian Super League title in the 2017/18 season to send Anderlecht into the UEFA Women’s Champions League for the first time.
Teams Relishing Challenge In Front Of Buoyant Crowd
The Belgian champions have a very distinct possession style that one would expect them to try to impose on the match. However, Dennis Moerman is expecting Birkirkara to use the home advantage to make their own mark on the match. “I think that the atmosphere in the stands will lift the spirits of the Birkirkara players. I’m sure that they will try to put on a good performance for the home crowd and just play their game, so we are hoping on a more open match.”
Meanwhile, asked whether he seeks a quick start from his team, similar to the one the side had against Red Star Belgrade, as a way to silence the home crowd, Moerman offerred a different stance. He said, “If we are able to open the score, it’s not with the objective to silence the crowd, but to secure a good result and the qualification. If anything, we hope that there is a good atmosphere in the stadium throughout the game. The Birkirkara supporters were amazing with music and flags in the first game and, for the sake of a positive vibe in the final, we hope for a similar setting tonight.”
Birkirkara’s Vince Galea suggested that the team is not abandoning their identity, despite being aware of the power of Anderlecht, “We will stick to our game principles keeping in mind the strengths of our opponents. We definitely understand the challenge ahead considering also that we played the extra time in the previous game and had less time to recover, but we are also aware of our strengths and will try to capitalise on their mistakes.”
Noting the contrasting starts that the two teams had in Wednesday’s semi-finals, Galea remarked the importance of a focused performance, “Consistency and discipline will be crucial during this game. We need to have a solid start and then the players are to be sharp and adapt in the various moments of the game.”
The Birkirkara coach finished by rallying the home support to return to the Centenary Stadium to push the side toward a strong performance, “We will count on the Birkirkara supporters and the local followers of women’s football to get behind our team from minute one until the very end.”
The final will be played under the lights at the Centenary Stadium, beginning at 21:15. It will follow the third-place play-off between Red Star Belgrade and Breznica Pljevlja, which will begin at 17:45. Match tickets for both games are available for online purchase. The match between Birkirkara and Anderlecht will also be livestreamed on TVM Sport+.
Lead Images: Brandon Bonett / Elise Bajada
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