Rijkaard faces old friend

Posted Thursday, September 17, 2009 by PA

Former Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard will come up against his erstwhile Nou Camp assistant Henk ten Cate as the Europa League group stage begins on Thursday.

Rijkaard and Ten Cate together masterminded back-to-back La Liga successes at Barca as well as Champions League glory in 2006.

They split up when Ten Cate left to take charge at Ajax but the Dutchmen will be reunited in opposition as Rijkaard's current Galatasaray side travel to Greece to face Panathinaikos.

Rijkaard is three months into a new job with the Istanbul club after a year out while Ten Cate, after an-ill fated spell on the Chelsea staff, was appointed Panathinaikos boss last year.

Rijkaard admits his side's Group F opener could not have been more difficult. Panathinaikos have won all three of their games this season without conceding a goal.

"Of course, when we look on paper it a most serious Panathinaikos team," he said.

"That's only on paper but it is not obvious how to score goals. Panathinaikos are serious competitors."

Panathinaikos will hope their former Liverpool winger Sebastian Leto can maintain his form after scoring three goals in three games.

Maintaining the Liverpool link, Panathinaikos' striker Djibril Cisse was in the Reds side which won the 2005 Champions League alongside Galatasaray pair Harry Kewell and Milan Baros.

Baros scored three of Galatasaray's 19 goals as they came through the qualifying rounds in style. Kader Keita also scored three and Shabani Nonda four.