Gers wary of Brazilian blend

By Julian Taylor

Brazilian midfielder Diego is the creative force for Bremen

Rangers will have to beware Werder Bremen's Brazilian connection to retain their hopes of progressing in the Uefa Cup.

Diego and Naldo will supply a Latin touch, when the Bundesliga outfit check into Ibrox on Thursday.

Werder are in hot pursuit of domestic leaders Bayern Munich as they seek the title for the first time in four years.

But Thomas Schaaf's men are also looking to enhance their stature on the continental stage - and they have the Light Blues in their sights.

The Green and Whites - currently second in the Bundesliga, four points behind Bayern - arrive in Scotland with an impressive pedigree.

Their ranks include Swedish attacker Markus Rosenberg, German internationals Per Mertesacker, Tim Borowski and 70-times capped Torsten Frings, although the experienced midfield enforcer has been blighted with injuries this season.

If that wasn't enough for Walter Smith's men to be getting to grips with, they will be up against the current jewel in the crown - Diego.

Bremen's creative force and top scorer will be hoping for better fortune than his previous visit to Ibrox as a Porto player, losing a Champions League tie 3-2 in September 2005.

Nullifying the 23-year-old will be the primary challenge for Rangers' midfield, and Brahim Hemdani, a specialist when it comes to European football, is expected to be handed the role of stopping the Samba star.

Already capped 18-times for his country, Diego, dubbed 'Zaubermaus' (Magic Mouse) by Bremen's supporters, is poised to be a long-term presence for Brazil.

His recruitment by Schaaf in 2006 to replace the influential Johan Micoud was a calculated risk, with Werder striving to emulate their superb 2004 Double-winning season.

Werder Bremen in Europe 2007/08 Champions League 15 Aug v D Zagreb (H) 2-1 29 Aug v D Zagreb (A) 3-2 18 Sept v Real Madrid (A) 1-2 3 Oct v Olympiakos (H) 1-3 24 Oct v Lazio (H) 2-1 6 Nov v Lazio (A) 1-2 28 Nov v Real Madrid (H) 3-2 11 Dec v Olympiakos (A) 0-3 Uefa Cup 13 Feb v Braga (H) 3-0 21 Feb v Braga (A) 1-0

Diego burst to global prominence by helping Brazil win the Copa America in the same year, securing the tournament victory in the penalty shootout against Argentina in the final.

His stock rose sufficiently for Porto to sign him from Santos, but he had a lukewarm two-year spell under coach Co Adriaanse.

MY SPORT: DEBATE How will Rangers fare against Werder Bremen?

In fact, those fractious early days in European football cost him a place at the 2006 World Cup finals.

A change of scene was imminent, with the north-west German city of Bremen the destination.

The £4.5m move turned out to be a masterstroke by Schaaf, and the Brazilian was to be consequently dubbed "a beautiful player" by Franz Beckenbauer.

A rejuvenated Diego repaid Schaaf with fine form in 2006/07, winning the Bundesliga Player of the Season award, although Werder had to settle for a third-placed finish.

While Bremen fell short last season, they have, like Rangers, secured some impressive results in the Champions League.

What the Ibrox side realise though, is that Thursday's opponents - Diego included - are of a higher quality than VfB Stuttgart, who lost a Champions League tie at Ibrox in September.

However, Diego's temperament has been questioned this season, and he is currently serving a three-match Bundesliga ban.

With a recent red card in the defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt, Barry Ferguson, Hemdani and Steven Davis will need to be aware of his alleged propensity for theatrics.

Naldo is highly-rated by Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf

That said, Rangers, ultimately, are up against a performer likened in style to AC Milan's Kaka, and Smith will have his side on red alert.

Diegos' up-and-coming compatriot, Naldo, will join him in Glasgow, charged with stopping Rangers' goal threat.

The 25-year-old is another Brazilian to have vindicated Schaaf's judgement, by becoming an integral part of Bremen's chase for honours.

The manager claims that he is "probably the most talented defender in Brazil," and his versatility is a strong aspect of his game.

His arrival from Juventude Sao Caetano in 2005 was another speculative venture by Schaaf, but he is now regarded as the club's first-choice centre-half.

While yet to enjoy the same profile as Diego, the robust stopper has made the international grade, winning four senior caps to date.

Domestically, Bremen have already lost twice in 2008, and that frustration was typified when Naldo was sent off for the first time recently.

But it would be a mistake for Rangers to read too much into these rare setbacks.

Comfortable back-to-back-wins over Braga in the previous round of the Uefa Cup underlined just why - along with Bayern - that Werder are viewed as a hot tip for the trophy in May.

Both sides have claimed impressive results in the Champions League this term, Rangers winning in Lyon a highlight, while Bremen have already beaten Real Madrid and Lazio.

However, two defeats against Olympiakos cost the Germans their place in Europe's premier competition.

Rangers are presently coping with a hectic March schedule in four competitions.

Therefore, how Smith's squad deal with Bremen's Brazilians will determine whether they approach the Weserstadion second leg on 13 March with their Uefa Cup ambitions intact.

Uefa Cup Last 16, L1: Rangers v Werder Bremen is live on BBC One Scotland, Thursday 6 March (KO 2000 BST)