Algerians in Europe 2007-2008

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Algerian star Saifi set for Saudi move

Rafik Saifi shines with Lorient

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December 17, 2007 -- .....Algerian striker Rafik Djebbour was the hero after scoring the lone-goal for Panionios in a win against top side Panathinaikos...

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December 21, 2007 -- Manchester United will face Lyon in the Champions League’s last 16 and Nadir Belhadj has exclusively reacted to the draw on setantasports.com.

The Algeria international did not know what the draw was before we contacted him, and the versatile player is very excited by the prospect to play against Sir Alex Ferguson’ side.

OL hammered Rangers 3-0 at Ibrox Park to qualify for the next round and the left-footed believes that this stunning victory will bring confidence to the reigning French champions.

The Premier League champions are favourites against Alain Perrin’s outfit, but Belhadj is hopeful Les Gones can qualify against The Red Devils.

“Manchester United? Damn!” said Belhadj to setantasports.com. “There are only big teams at that stage of the Champions League and they are part of the most difficult ones to beat.

“To my mind everything is possible and we have chances to qualify for the quarter finals.

“We already won in Scotland in a warm British stadium so playing at Old Trafford does not scare us.

“If I have to speak about one player of their team, I would name Cristiano Ronaldo, who is achieving a tremendous season.

“All their players are strong and defending against Ronaldo won’t be a kid’s game. It is a very exciting draw and for my first Champions League experience I am delighted to face such a giant of Europe.”

Nadir Belhadj: we can beat Manchester United

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December 22, 2007 -- .....Charlton stay fifth after being held to a 1-1 draw at home by Hull City. Frazier Campbell scored first for the mid-table team on 37 minutes, Algerian Madjid Bougherra levelling for the Londoners on 57 minutes. Charlton defender Danny Mills was sent off for feigning injury in the second half, the seventh red card of his career.....

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December 22, 2007 -- Rafik Saifi scored one goal and created another as in-form Lorient took another step towards the upper reaches of the Ligue 1 table with a convincing win over free-falling Metz.

The recently crowned Algerian Player of the Year broke the deadlock with a 57th minute tap-in before turning provider for Nicolas Marin to add a stoppage time second.

In response, Metz had two chances but wasted them and Lorient rarely looked threatened en route to extending their unbeaten run to eight games.

The win carries Christian Gourcuff's side up to eighth place, four points adrift of fourth place, while Metz look hopelessly destined for the wooden spoon.

The defeat was their 14th of the campaign and they are now nine points off 19th place, but early on it seemed they might snap their five-game losing streak.

Indeed, Metz had the first chance of the game when Abdoulaye Balde broke clear of the Lorient defence only to lose a one-on-one to Fabien Audard after four minutes.

Lorient grew in stature afterwards, Marama Vahirua, Ulrich Le Pen and Saifi coming close, but it was not until three minutes short of the hour that they made their breakthrough.

Le Pen started the move, cutting in from the left and passing to Fabrice Abriel, who lifted the ball over Christophe Marichez, allowing Saifi to tap the ball into an empty net.

Emmanuel Francoise then had a good shot saved at the other end, but the uprising was crushed when Marin raced onto a Saifi assist and rounded the keeper for a simple finish in stoppage time.

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.....Algerian Yacine Bezzaz collected his first red card as his side Valenciennes lost 1-0 away to Nice.

Bezzaz was sent-off after just 15 minutes following a late tackle.

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..Algerian striker Rafik Djebbour was the hero
after scoring the lone-goal for Panionios in a win against top side Panathinaikos...

.....Three points further back are Panathinaikos, who missed a great chance to be up there when they were surprisingly beaten 1-0 by Panionios.

The only goal of the game came from the Algerian striker Rafik Djebbour who has now taken his tally in the Super League to nine this season. If Panionios can hang on to him in the January window - a time when the big clubs invariably cherry-pick the best of the rest - then they have a good chance of at least a top six finish....