Van den Brom: Anderlecht cannot afford to drop points against Zenit

John van den Brom says that Anderlecht cannot afford to drop any points in their Champions League Group C match at home against Zenit St Petersburg if they are to keep their chances of reaching the knock-out stages alive.

The Belgian champions were beaten 1-0 by the Russians two weeks ago and sit last in their section with only one points from three games, and their coach has made it clear they desperately need a win on Tuesday.

"The result at Zenit means there is more pressure on this match. If we still want to do something in Europe then we will have to win. Zenit are in a good situation, but they also need to win here to stay in the Champions League after the winter," the Dutch coach stated at a press conference.

"In the past week we have scored nine league goals, all from open play - no set pieces - so the fact that we have not scored in the Champions League this season should not be an issue. We know we need to score goals, so we will have to take care of that.

"We have taken confidence from those league results and also the way we played at Zenit. We will have to be patient as we do not need to win this match in the first ten minutes."

Tuesday's encounter is scheduled to kick off at 20:45CET.

Spartak agree transfer of Abdul Majeed Waris from BK Hacken

Spartak have agreed to sign striker Abdul Majeed Waris from Allsvenskan side BK Hacken.

After reportedly being linked to Premier League teams Everton and Chelsea, the Russian club have won the battle for the talented 21-year-old's signature.

The Ghana international was the top scorer in the Swedish league this term, netting 23 goals in 29 appearances.

"The premier league's top scorer has been surrounded by professional rumours almost the entire season," according to a statement on Hacken's official website.

"Now it's clear. BK Hacken and Spartak Moscow have agreed on a transfer. Only the details remain."

Spartak Moscow currently sit fourth in the Russian league, eight points behind leaders CSKA.

Spalletti expects Zenit & Anderlecht to attack in Champions League clash

Zenit St Petersburg coach Luciano Spalletti is expecting Anderlecht and his own team to play attacking football in their Champions League clash on Tuesday night.

The two play their fourth game in Group C with qualification still a possibility for both.

Zenit won 1-0 at Stadion Petrovski against the Belgian club, but the Italian head coach of the Russian side believes their opponents could be an altogether more attacking proposition on home turf.

Both sides have to win, he said to reporters on Monday evening. We will see how the game starts and develops, and each team will have to adapt to what happens.

Both teams play an attacking game, and I think both will play that way because they need the points.
Anderlecht are a very strong team with a good coach and players and they are going through a good spell, which makes it even harder for us.

Sometimes a match can go one way or the other because of an individual moment of brilliance or a mistake, but if Zenit are at our best we will win."

Spalletti added: Axel Witsel is a versatile player so he can play everywhere. Of course when a player arrives at a club he needs some time to adapt to the gameplan, but the more he plays the better he feels.

Anderlecht are bottom of Group C with one point, two points behind Zenit, three behind AC Milan and eight behind Malaga.

Their head coach John van der Brom told reporters: The result at Zenit means there is more pressure on this match. If we still want to do something in Europe then we will have to win.

Zenit are in a good situation but they also need to win here to stay in the Champions League after the winter.

In the past week we have scored nine league goals, all from open play - no set pieces - so the fact that we have not scored in the Champions League this season should not be an issue.

We know we need to score goals, so we will have to take care of that. We have taken confidence from those league results and also the way we played at Zenit.

We will have to be patient as we do not need to win this match in the first ten minutes."

The coach also admitted that the injury-induced absence of Hulk is unfortunate for Anderlecht fans who could have seen the Brazil international in action.

It is a shame that Hulk will not be playing, Brom continued. It is a shame for our fans that they will not be able to enjoy watching a player like that.

We managed to control him in the previous match. Axel Witsel we also know is a quality player, and we will see what position he plays in.

Hulk's sister kidnapped confirm Brazilian police

The sister of Zenit St Petersburg striker Hulk has been kidnapped in Brazil, the Centre for Police Operations in Campina Grande has confirmed.

Angelica Aparecida Vieira was outside the restaurant where she works as a nutritionist on Monday in the Brazilian city.

The 22-year-old woman was taken from her own car and put into the kidnappers vehicle according to restaurant manager Helio da Silva who witnessed the crime, and had to be treated for shock in hospital but has since been released.

Police have not yet confirmed how many people were involved in the kidnapping, which happened at 2pm local time.

Hulk was not set to play for Zenit in their away Champions League clash against Anderlecht on Tuesday night due to an injury which has ruled him out for two weeks, though these developments in his native country could have cast his appearance into doubt.

Zenit's Hulk ruled out of Anderlecht clash

Zenit St Petersburg striker Hulk has been ruled out of action for two weeks after sustaining a thigh injury and will miss their crucial Group C clash with Belgian side Anderlecht.

The powerful attacker picked up the problem during the first half of his side's 2-1 win over Rostov on Friday and was replaced byVladimir Bystrov. The Brazilian striker then underwent scans on Sunday in order to verify the extent of the problem.

The 26-year-old is now expected to be out until late November, and will therefore miss Zenit's upcoming Champions League clash with Anderlecht as well as the Russian league meeting with Volga next Saturday.

In addition, he is also likely to be unavailable for Brazil's friendly match with Colombia on November 14th, further compounding Selecao coach Mano Menezes' selection problems after Barcelona defender Adriano suffered an abductor injury against Celta Vigo.

Hulk has struggled to settle into life with Luciano Spaletti's side ever since his much-publicised 60 million move from Porto last summer, having scored just three goals in nine competitive games for his new club this season.

Voronin: I don't fit into Fortuna Dusseldorf

Fortuna Dusseldorf striker Andriy Voronin has made a statement hinting at his future at the club, having failed to find form since the start of the season.

The Ukraine international had been subject of heavy criticism since the beginning of this year's Bundesliga campaign, for which the Nord-Rhein Westfalen side loaned him from the Russian capital.

"Apparently, I do not fit into Fortuna Dusseldorf!" the 33-year-old was quoted as saying by Bild.

Coach Norbert Meier had previously banned Voronin from the squad ahead of the 1-0 DFB-Pokal victory for his side against Borussia Monchengladbach.

"If a player does not perform, you have to take these measures," the trainer stated.

The ex-Hertha Berlin man continued by commenting on rumours saying that Dinamo might have him back in their team as soon as this upcoming winter.

"I do not think about that. But if there is something to talk about, we will sit down and discuss it like men," he said.

Dusseldorf currently sit 13th in the Bundesliga and are preparing to travel to Bayer Leverkusen for their next league fixture on Sunday, which is set to begin at 15.30CET

Denisov returns to Zenit St Petersburg squad after apology

Igor Denisov has returned to the Zenit St Petersburg squad after apologising for his behaviour.

The Russia international was demoted to the reserve side after demanding a pay rise and publicly voicing his dismay with the club's alleged policy to offer foreign acquisitions higher wages than their local recruits.

"I needed time to realise what happened. My behaviour was incorrect in that situation, and I was too emotional," a statement on the club's website reads.

"As a result I couldn't help my team-mates and fulfill the expectations of our loyal fans. I have a valid contract, and I have to - and want to - work for the club till the end of the contract.

"I grew up and became a professional in Zenit, and I want to play for the good of my club."

Zenit's management and coaching staff have consequently decided to let Denisov return to training with the first team, starting from November 1.