Servette draw with Berlin

Topsy-turvy match: Servette's Fournier (left) fights for the ball with Berlin's Dardai Keystone

Geneva's Servette could only manage a nil-all draw at home against Hertha Berlin on Thursday, in the first leg of their UEFA Cup tie.

In a chilly, but full Charmilles stadium, the Swiss Cup holders put the pressure on the visitors from the beginning. Alex Frei forced the Berlin keeper, Fiedler, to make two good saves in the first four minutes.

The international striker was his team’s main and in fact only attacking option though. Servette’s aim was first and foremost not to concede any goals against a strong German side.

Unfortunately, Frei failed to live up to expectations, often rushing his shots. Obradovic also took the best part of an hour before he began to feed him the ball properly.

Berlin weathered the early storm, and their defence was able to soak up the locals’ attacks, before dominating the game later on. But just like their striker Marcelhino, the Bundesliga’s top scorer, they failed to find the key to Servette’s game plan.

Watertight defence

The locals’ defence shut down the German attack, and Servette’s goalkeeper, Pédat, only faced two difficult balls, a header from Maas in the 13th minute, and a shot from Schmidt in the 49th.

The Geneva squad’s two Brazilians, Hilton and Claiton, along with Fournier, kept their team’s defence watertight. Wilson Oruma failed on the other hand to score a goal as he had done in the previous round against Spanish side Zaragoza.

The Nigerian proved to be a handful though for the Germans, who perhaps concentrated too much of their energy on him.

Everyone seemed satisfied by the final result. “We didn’t want any goals scored against us,” said Lucien Favre, Servette’s trainer. “We still have our chances in the return leg.”

Berlin’s manager, Jürgen Röber was also pleased with the scoreline. “We reached our goal with this draw, and we are in a stronger position for the return match.”

Servette defender, Sébastien Fournier was happy to settle with a draw too. “The match was what we expected. The Germans were aggressive in the second half, really chasing down the ball.”

The return leg of this third round tie is in two weeks time, on December 6 in Berlin.

swissinfo with agencies