Wolfsburg draw up their plan to tackle Portsmouth

Published on Wednesday 3 December 2008 23:26

WOLFSBURG require only a draw against Portsmouth tonight to advance to the knockout round of the Uefa Cup.

The German club have six points from two games and can afford to lose to Tony Adams' team and still go through to the round of 32, provided Heerenveen do not lose at home to Braga in the other Group E game. Six points have previously been enough to advance.

"We need one point to be quite sure and we are going to get it," Wolfsburg midfielder Christian Gentner said.

Portsmouth squandered a two-goal lead against AC Milan last week and have only one point from two games. If Braga win in Heerenveen and Portsmouth fail to defeat Wolfsburg, the English side will be out.

But Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath has warned against underestimating Portsmouth.

"The team is not being given its proper due. It's a top team. It's going to be a good measuring stick for us," Magath said.

Wolfsburg's Italian defenders, Andrea Barzagli and Cristian Zaccardo, could get a rare start together to battle Portsmouth's strike pair Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe.