Who will be marking the Maccabi strikers? Who will be trying to break down the back four? Here are some possible answers
Asteras, the modest club from the Greek town of Tripoli, contain within their ranks a pinch of European experience, a whiff of South American flair and a strong shot of youthful Greek enthusiasm. On the eve of Maccabi Tel Aviv's first steps in this season's Europa League play-off, here follows a sketch of some of the main figures they'll be encountering when they take to the pitch tomorrow night at Asteras' Theodoros Kolokotronis Stadium.
"Stars"
Name: Pablo De Blasis
Position: attacking midfielder
Number: 32
The 26 year-old Argentinian was Asteras' best player last year and it would appear his good form is carrying over into this season as well. After six goals and seven assists in his maiden season (2012/13), De Blasis continued his upward curve last term with ten goals and six assists. This season the quick and technical Argentinian is once again proving to be the team's main point man with three goals and an assist in the their first four matches. At 5 foot 6 inches, De Blasis may have to look up to many of his opponents but the occasional headed goal is a proven part of his repertoire. His technique as we said is a matter of record and if you need any proof just look him up on YouTube and see his spectacular overhead effort from last season.
Name: Pablo Mazza
Position: striker
Number: 7
In a team with little European experience, Argentinian newboy Pablo Mazza has already attained star status by scoring some important goals. Having just arrived as outstanding player for his homeland second-tier Club Atletico Douglas Haig, Mazza chose the perfect moment to display his talents, scoring a brace in the return leg against Bundesliga regulars Mainz to send Asteras through to the Europa League play-offs. This is Mazza's first foray outside his native Argentina, and by all impressions his adjustment has been very swift indeed.
Name: Facundo Parra
Position: striker
Number: 23
Like Pablo Mazza, striker Facundo Parra has also just joined the squad this summer as one of the seven Argentinians now on the Asteras books. He's played for a number of top-flight outfits in his native Argentina, with his on-loan stint with Club Atletico Independiente ranking as his best, with 16 goals in two seasons and an important goal in the final of the South American equivalent of the Europa League, which the club won in 2010. Parra has made ten appearances for Argentina's Under-20's but has yet to make his first appearance for Asteras. He's expected to be included in the squad for tomorrow's game against Maccabi.
Name: Eric Tie Bi
Position: holding midfielder
Number: 4
One of Asteras' stand-out acquisitions this summer is 24 year-old Ivory Coast midfielder Eric Tie Bi, who arrived from French Ligue 1 side Evian, where he spent four years after coming up through the academy at fellow Ligue 1 side Lyon. Not a goalscorer by nature, Tie Bi specialises in halting opposition attacks and navigating his side going forward. Having arrived just after Asteras' second leg against Mainz, he has yet to make his first official appearance for the club, but tomorrow night may just be the night.
"Veterans"
Name: Dorin Goian
Position: centre back
Number: 30
Asteras' oldest and most experienced player is the 33 year-old Romanian defender Dorin Goian, now playing for his ninth professional club. This is Goian's second season at Asteras and as was the case last season he looks to be the lynch pin of the Asteras defence, having already appeared in all four of the club's European ties. Four successful years at Romanian stalwarts Steaua Bucharest opened the door for his transfer to Italian Seria A side Palermo and later to Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers. He has an impressive 59 appearances and five goals for the Romanian national side under his belt, including Euro 2008. At one stage this highly regarded defender was also in the cross hairs of Man United, but the deal never materialised.
"Youngsters"
Name: Dimitris Kourbelis
Position: centre back
Number: 25
20 year-old defender Dimitris Kourbelis, who can double as holding midfielder, is one of Asteras' most promising young talents. Kourbelis came up through the club's academy and made his maiden appearance for the senior squad in the 2011/12 season, two months prior to his 18th birthday. In the three seasons since then Kourbelis has succeeded in establishing his position, making 64 appearances in all competitions. He's been in the first eleven of all four of Asteras' European ties and scored his maiden goal in the 4-2 home win against Finnish side Rovaniemen Palloseura. He's also played a central role in Greece's youth teams and is now a member of the country's Under-21s. His ability has caught the idea of bigger Greek clubs like PAOK and AEK Athens as well as attracting interest abroad, in particular English side Fulham.
Name: Anastasios Bakasetas
Position: striker
Number: 14
Surprisingly the 21 year-old striker Anastasios Bakasetas has booked the club's largest number of European appearances, seven. True, most of them saw him come in off the bench, but they still point to his importance to the squad. One of those appearances also landed him a debut European goal, scoring the team's final goal in the 4-2 home win against Finnish side Rovaniemen Palloseura in their Europa League 2nd round qualifier. Like his young team-mate Dimitris Kourbelis, Anastasios Bakasetas has already worn national kit as an Under-19. The two are expected to be the spearhead of the Asteras attack in the coming years and this season they've both already shown their worth.
*photograph courtesy of the official website of Asteras Tripoli F.C.
