Dzeko & Grafite: The deadliest duo in Europe

Shearer and Sutton, Torres and Villa, Butch and Sundance, Cheech & Chong...the list goes on. Deadly partnerships all, but few can confidently boast a record to match that of Bundesliga champions-elect Wolfsburg’s Bosnian-Brazilian duo; Edin Dzeko and Grafite.

4-5-1 or a fluid 4-3-3 has become the football formation de rigeur, so genuinely successful scoring partnerships are now few and far between. This pair, however, have bucked that particular trend spectacularly. With 51 league goals between them, they each share their place in the higher echelons of the prestigious ESM Golden Shoe rankings with names illustrious as Samuel Eto’o, David Villa, Diego Forlan and, er, Marc Janko (who leads the list courtesy of his 39-goal haul in the Austrian Bundesliga). Their veritable hatful-and-a-half of goals has been the primary force behind the Wolves’ charge to within a point of the first Bundesliga title in their previously unassuming history.

On Saturday afternoon, the club financed by Volkswagen’s millions and led by authoritarian head coach Felix Magath will host beaten UEFA Cup finalists, Werder Bremen. They need only a draw to ensure German football supremacy ahead of fellow contenders Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart – who meet one another at the Allianz-Arena knowing only a win allied to a Wolfsburg defeat will do.

That Wolfsburg are still in pole position at the denouement of Europe’s most open and exciting title race comes as something of a surprise to those who expected Bayern’s big names to undergo a late-season resurgence. For all the merits of Italian internationals Cristian Zaccardo (who has, in fact, featured little) and Andrea Barzagli, in-form Swiss ‘keeper Diego Benaglio, and impassable Brazilian midfield patroller Josue, it is with free-scoring strikers Dzeko and Grafite that the plaudits must mostly lie.

Burly forward Grafite (disappointingly pronounced ‘graff-eetch’, rather than ‘grafitti’ or even ‘graphite’) had, prior to this season been something of a peripatetic journeyman. The 30-year-old moved to the Volkswagen Arena from Le Mans for a modest fee of £5m, with spells at Sao Paulo and, more obliquely, Anyang LG Cheetahs of South Korea’s K-League filling out his sparse CV. Few could have predicted the man with just one cap and one goal for the Brazilian Seleção would have set alight one of Europe’s top leagues with goals such as this stonker in April’s spectacular 5-1 dismantling of Bayern. In that game, ex-Bayern boss Magath enjoyed twisting the knife by needlessly substituting his ‘keeper Benaglio with just minutes to play. To conclude that the Wolves’ boss – who heads for Schalke this summer – would ‘love it, just love it’ if his current side could hold off the all-conquering Bavarian powerhouse for 90 minutes longer would be a fair assessment.

While Magath’s Brazilian import has, in part, relied on his penalty-spot prowess to boost an already impressive goals total, his strike-partner Dzeko’s 25 league goals have come entirely from open play. Of the two, it is the 23-year-old Sarajevan who has drawn the most admiring glances from Europe’s top clubs. His stunning second half of the season has culminated, during the past fortnight, in a pair of clinically-taken hat-tricks against Hanover and Hoffenheim – whose own Bosnian striker Vedad Ibisevic led the scoring charts pre-Christmas only to suffer a season-ending injury. The Balkan nation lie second, behind European champions Spain, in their World Cup qualifying group. They sit ahead of both Turkey and fast-improving Belgium, and the goals of Ibisevic and Dzeko (the top scorer in qualifying to date) could well make the young nation a surprise package in South Africa next summer.

At Wolfsburg, master-marksman Dzeko has been fed the bullets time and time again by the “sharpest passer in central Europe” (at least according to Bundesliga expert Rapha Honigstein); playmaker Zvjezdan Misimovic – also a Bosnian, though Munich-born. It is the exceptional success of this particular on-field alliance which has elevated Dzeko to the status as one of Europe’s hottest properties. Arsenal, Chelsea and a host of Serie A’s leading lights have been touted as possible destinations for the lethal frontman. In a way, it would be a shame – though entirely predictable – for the Wolves’ wunderteam to be dismantled with next season’s Champions League on the near horizon. Yet with Magath’s departure will come the vultures ready to pick off the stars of this remarkable season.

Wolfsburg’s squad, for now, will have thoughts of next year firmly stricken from their minds by tough taskmaster Magath. They now have a golden opportunity to etch the club’s name into football lore for reasons other than having had, to the amused delight of many, a manager named Wolfgang Wolf. They may not grace the Volkswagen Arena for much longer; but the scene is set, much like Butch and Sundance, for Wolfsburg’s deadly duo to go out in a blaze of glory.

Wasteful Bayern blow title race wide open

The Bundesliga title race resumed with a bang following the lengthy winter break, as Bayern Munich travelled to Hamburg on Friday night. Two former Spurs heroes went head-to-head in the battle of the dugouts: Jürgen Klinsmann’s Bayern were tied at the top (on 35 points) with tiny Hoffenheim; Martin Jol’s Hamburg lurking behind on 33. With Hertha Berlin and Bayer Leverkusen also within three points of top spot at the break, the race for supremacy in German football this spring promises to be an intensely-fought one.

Bayern’s faltering start to the season has been well documented, but hopes of an improved showing were boosted by a thumping victory over Stuttgart (now managed by ex-Liverpool defender Markus Babbel) in the German Cup last week. However, as Klinsmann later stated, the Bavarians were ‘asleep’ for the first 30 minutes of the resumption of league duties.

During the opening half-hour, Hamburg flooded forward at will – tricky winger Piotr Trochowski causing havoc with his ceaseless work ethic and clever invention. The German international struck the base of the post with an early shot from distance. Dominant HSV hardly seemed perturbed by the absences of Nigel de Jong (now plugging the many gaps in the Manchester City engine-room) and tireless frontman Ivica Olić (bound for Bayern in the summer).

TV cameras homed in on the Croatian, serving a controversial suspension for dismissal in a mid-break friendly, watching on as his present team-mates dominated those of his future. Yet it was Bayern who were unfortunate not to take the lead when Luca Toni had an apparently legitimate goal chalked off, ostensibly for impeding Hamburg’s Bastian Reinhardt. It was, in fact, Reinhardt that might have been penalised instead – for shirt-tugging – as the giant Italian strode through to fire past Frank Rost.

One of Klinsmann’s main concerns about the side he inherited in the summer must be the security (or otherwise) of its last line of defence. Oliver Kahn’s successor was always going to have a tough act to follow, but Michael Rensing has consistently struggled under the weight of expectation that comes with being Bayern no.1.

On the cusp of half time, Rensing palmed David Jarolím’s rather tame deflected shot straight into the path of the grateful Mladen Petrić. The Croat striker nodded in from near the penalty spot to put Hamburg into a deserved one-goal lead. The Bayern ‘keeper’s pain would hardly have been soothed by Klinsmann’s post-game description of the goal as “stupid”.

Within seconds of that concession, Bayern broke upfield and, from Bastian Schweinsteiger’s cross, Toni flashed a header narrowly wide of Rost’s goal. On the other side of the whistle, the second period opened with Hamburg on the offensive once more. Petrić latched onto ex-Bayern striker Paolo Guerrero’s smart through-pass, but could only divert the ball against the post; Guerrero then wasted a gilt-edged opportunity to grab a second goal from the rebound.

The brightest star in Bayern’s galaxy – Franck Ribéry – was, as ever, full of flicks, tricks and no-look passes. Only the end product was missing from his repertoire, as the lime-booted winger found his influence suppressed by the close attentions of Collin Benjamin throughout. Zé Roberto, still sprightly at the grand old age of 34, offers great skill and industry in his second spell at the club, while giant Brazilian centre-half Lúcio still enjoys the odd lung-bursting upfield surge. Yet Klinsmann’s side palpably lack the formidable aura carried by all-conquering Bayern teams of the past.

They pressed hard for an equaliser throughout the second half – having another possible goal denied by the linesman’s flag when it looked as if Rost might have clawed a shot out from behind the goal-line. Trochowski, probably the shortest man on the pitch, then headed off the line from a Toni flick-header.

Toni’s profligacy continued, as his performance leant more towards Euro ‘08 than Fiorentina 05/06. With 20 minutes to go, the 31-year-old inexplicably headed wide of the target again when set-up with a presicion headed pass from Miroslav Klose. It was a chance that ‘Coach Klinsi’ himself would surely still have bulged the net with, even at the age of 44.

Klose, Lúcio and Toni again, spurned further opportunities to level the score as the clock ran down. Even the late introduction of Landon Donovan (who arrived on a Beckham-esque loan deal from LA Galaxy) couldn’t alter the destiny of the game, HSV hanging on for three precious points. For twenty-four hours at least, Jol’s men lead the table by a point.

Rumours persist that Zenit St Petersburg’s midfield general Anatoliy Tymoschuk will also join Bayern – possibly in the summer – while Philip Lahm, Ribéry and, for definite, Lukas Podolski (who returns to Koln at the end of the season) could all be heading for the exit. Whatever the comings and goings, Klinsmann certainly has his plate full.

A Champions League tie with Sporting Lisbon looms on the horizon amid a close-fought Bundesliga title race which is beginning to resemble that of 2006/07, when a young Stuttgart team emerged as unlikely champions and Bayern finished only fourth. A repeat of such an outcome would not be at all palatable to the giant egos at ‘FC Hollywood’. Klinsi: the pressure is on.

Schalke can’t shake those Man City blues

Two underachieving Bundesliga giants met on Sunday night, entrenched in the middle of the table as the winter break looms large. Both hosts VfB Stuttgart and their visitors FC Schalke 04 were in UEFA Cup action earlier in the week – with mixed fortunes.

Stuttgart met Sampdoria; returning from Genoa with a 1-1 draw in caretaker coach Markus Babbel’s first game as boss. The one-time Liverpool defender took temporary control of first team affairs in the aftermath of 2006/07 title-winning coach Armin Veh’s recent dismissal. It will be some act for the 36-year-old to follow: even in relative failure Veh was a popular figure at the club and ‘Danke Armin’ placards abounded at the packed Mercedes-Benz Arena prior to kick-off.

Schalke, meanwhile, were embarrassed at home by a rampant Manchester City side. 0-2 could easily have been 0-4 or 0-5, given City’s total supremacy in Gelsenkirchen. Stephen Ireland strolled through the German side’s midfield with alarming ease, and star full-back Rafinha was run ragged by the pace and exuberance of young Daniel Sturridge. In short, it was a whitewash.

Coming on the back of Thursday night’s comprehensive defeat and the news that the table-toppers – Bayern Munich and miracle club Hoffenheim (the two meet next weekend) – had each picked up another three points on Saturday; Schalke were sorely in need of a win.

Their bright start, however, went unrewarded. Energetic midfielder Jermaine Jones – much like Tottenham’s JJ, Jermaine Jenas, a player of great athleticism and willingness, lurking on the fringes of the national team – hit the base of the post early on. From the rebound, Jefferson Farfán somehow contrived to miss a near-open goal. With Jens Lehmann stranded, left-back Arthur Boka blocked heroically on the line, when Farfán really shouldn’t have given him any opportunity to do so.

Just minutes later, Farfán, a €10m summer buy from PSV, fluffed his lines again. Schalke’s goal-shy striker Kevin Kurányi hared in on goal as the slumbering Stuttgart defence failed to react and last man Boka had little choice but to halt his progress with a clear trip in the six-yard box. Remarkably, referee Wolfgang Stark opted to keep his cards to his chest – a trend which the decidedly liberal official maintained throughout the game – but a penalty was awarded. Not for the first time in a long, illustrious career, Stuttgart ‘keeper Lehmann guessed right: diving low and left to repel Farfán’s spot kick.

Spurred on by that let-off, the home side started to turn the tide. Free-scoring forward Mario Gómez, impressive throughout, was denied by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer at close range; had a strong penalty claim turned down; and then had a borderline-legitimate ‘goal’ ruled out for offside, all before half-time. It looked as if it was only a matter of time before he would get his reward.

After the break, Stuttgart’s superiority grew steadily into total dominance, as they penned the visitors firmly back in their half from the whistle. Managerial novice Babbel smartly opted to throw on Brazilian forward Cacau in place of the anonymous Ciprian Marica, with momentum tangibly building.

The substitute was quickly involved: threading a clever cross just beyond the reach of the unattended Gómez. Neuer then reacted quickly to keep out another effort from the German international. Ex-Aston Villa hammerfoot Thomas Hitzlsperger was uncharacteristically inaccurate with a drive from 20 yards soon after.

All of the hosts’ endeavours seemed as if they were to be in vain, as the clock ticked down and the deadlock remained unbroken. In the end, it took a 79^th minute killer pass – from the most unlikely of sources –to shatter it decisively.

Khalid Boulahrouz, regarded as something of a hatchet-man (as his ‘Cannibal’ nickname might suggest) during brief, unsatisfactory spells with Chelsea and Sevilla, was surprisingly the man with the vision to pick out Czech sub Jan Šimák from deep inside his own half. Babbel had introduced the dynamic blond midfielder at the expense of captain Hitzlsperger only five minutes hence. That gamble was rewarded spectacularly, as Šimák escaped Fabian Ernst’s close attentions to send a magnificent lob over the on-rushing Neuer, from the edge of the area, which looped satisfyingly into the top-right corner of the Schalke net.

The Gelsenkirchen club’s spirit irreconcilably crushed; ruthless Stuttgart then went on to add a decisive second.

A bone-shuddering centre-circle collision between Jermaine Jones and Sami Khedira sent the ball spinning free for Pável Pardo to feed Gómez. The 23-year-old striker raced clear to fire in confidently with his favoured left foot. Khedira knew little about it, as he was escorted from the field looking like he’d gone 12 rounds or more with David ‘The Hayemaker’ Haye. Nonetheless, his side had done enough to deservedly confirm their first win in six games.

Schalke, though, clearly haven’t yet shaken their Man City blues. With this defeat they effectively conceded any lingering hopes of a post-Christmas title challenge.

Previous coach Mirko Slomka lost his job in spite of reaching the Champions League quarters (losing only to Barça) last year and finishing second to Stuttgart in 06/07. On that form, current boss, Dutchman Fred Rutten – lured from Steve McLaren’s FC Twente along with lumbering midfielder Orlando Engelaar – can only survive so long if results to not take a turn for the better. And soon.