SCOTT FLEMING

TWO of Europe's wiliest old coaches will be in opposing dugouts this evening in the Allianz Arena, where Bayern Munich face Zenit St Petersburg at the semi-final stage of the UEFA Cup.

Dick Advocaat, the former Rangers, PSV Eindhoven, Borussia Monchengladbach, Holland and South Korea coach, and Ottmar Hitzfeld, winner of six Bundesliga titles and two Champions League crowns, will pit their considerable tactical wits against each other in what should be an intriguing clash.

Bayern are the favourites for the tournament and, having won the German Cup with a 2-1 extra-time victory over Borussia Dortmund last weekend, in addition to creating a 10-point lead in the league, are on course for an impressive treble.

Nevertheless, Zenit have proved one of the surprise packages of the tournament.

Considered something of a comical figure towards the end of his Ibrox reign, Advocaat has transformed Zenit's fortunes, guiding them to the 2007 Russian Premier League title after just a year in charge. His team made a slow start to their UEFA Cup campaign, finishing third in their group, but shocked Villarreal with an away goals victory in the round of 32, and overturned a 3-1 deficit to beat Marseille in the last 16.

In the quarters the pundits began to sit up and take notice: Zenit annihilated Bayer Leverkusen 4-1 in Germany in the first leg to effectively seal their passage to the last four. Advocaat has had help however, in the form of financial sponsorship from oil corporation Gazprom, who have quickly made Zenit Russia's most successful, and richest club.

This money has not been spent on big name foreign players though. Instead, Advocaat has constructed a team of eager, young players from Russia and its neighbouring countries. One of the biggest transfer fees went on captain and former Celtic target Anatoliy Tymoschuk, from Ukraine.

Zenit's strategy lies in rapid counter-attacking, executed perfectly in Leverkusen. Russian international winger Andrei Arshavin, who got the opener with an excellent individual goal in Germany, is key. The fluent system meant the threat was never predictable, however, full-back Anyukov scoring a stunning long-range effort for the third.

Up front is Pavel Pogrebnyak, second top scorer in the competition with eight goals, two behind Luca Toni. Advocaat will be hoping the UEFA Cup Zenit turn up, however, and not the league version, who have won only one of six games.

Toni's absence could be crucial. The Italian striker has scored an incredible 35 goals in 41 appearances this season, including both goals in the German Cup final and another double in the dramatic extra-time win over Getafe in the quarters. He is full of confidence in his team-mates' ability to do the job without him.

"We won the cup and now we want the league championship and the UEFA Cup for the treble. I hope by the end of May we'll have all three."

Bayern's determination is personified by the Dutch midfielder Mark van Bommel, who has refused to comply with doctors' orders and go for an operation after breaking his nose in the cup final. "I've got to play. Having a crooked nose for a few weeks isn't so bad," he said.

That attitude might just give Hitzfeld the extra edge.