Champions League: Anderlecht vs. Rostov

FRIDAY, 15 JULY 2016, 14:28 - D.A.B.
Anderlecht-Online No Image Found

GAMES Anderlecht will have to eliminate the Russian club Rostov if they want to advance in the Champions League qualification rounds. The first leg will be played on July 26 or 27. The second leg follows one week later. More details are yet to be announced.

Rostov is a club from Soutern Russia, about 5 and a half hours flying from Brussels. The club ended second in Russia last season, behind CSKA Moscow but before St. Petersburg, Spartak and Lokomotiv. There are no real stars to be on the lookout for. Rostov is just a very solid team, but relies on an excellent defence and a rock solid home reputation. With only 20 goals against in 30 games and with 2-0 and 3-0 victories over CSKA and Zenit, the Mauves are more than warned for a difficult match.


Continue reading below the article

Continue reading
Rostov almost relegated to the second division in 2015. One year later, in 2016, the club was nearly bankrupt until business man Ivan Savvidis took control. In one year time, the situation was turned around and from almost relegating, the club went on to take the second place. 
Up until now, there are no remarkable incoming transfers done in Rostov. One important player left though: 21 year old Sardar Azmoun, the best striker of the club (9 goals), left for Rubin Kazan. Nonetheless, the Mauves will have to be at their best to beat this tough opponent.