Sydney FC striker Bobo ready to tackle Liverpool again after battles in the Champions League

YOU could say that Bobo is ready for the decider with Liverpool — Sydney FC’s Brazilian striker has played the Reds twice before, won once and lost once.

Sydney FC striker Bobo at training ahead of Wednesday night’s clash with Liverpool.

YOU could say that Bobo is ready for the decider with Liverpool — Sydney FC’s Brazilian striker has played the Reds twice before, won once and lost once.

It’s doubtful he expected one final encounter with Liverpool, but it’s even more doubtful this third clash can top the drama of the others.

One was a memory to savour for life. The other, not so much.

In 2007, Bobo led the Besiktas attack in the Turkish club’s UEFA Champions League campaign that misfired badly at first, losing away to Marseille and at home to Porto — meaning their third game, at home to Liverpool, became make or break.

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“The games before, we lost, so at home to Liverpool, we had to win (to stay alive in the tournament),” said Bobo. “But when you talk about Liverpool and the Champions League, you have to have full respect — a big club, they won it two years before. They had a very good team at the time.”

Bobo and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard compete for the ball.

With eight minutes left, though, Besiktas were a goal up but under pressure, until they broke upfield.

“One touch, I went past Sami Hyypia, then I put the ball between the legs of Pepe Reina, the goalkeeper — it was a nice goal,” said Bobo, still smiling at the memory of a strike that clinched a 2-1 victory.

“After that, it was the most unbelievable atmosphere from the Besiktas fans.

“I have a good memory about that. In my memory, still the best thing is the supporters, they way they encouraged us. We all had a fantastic feeling after the game. The Champions League is unbelievable, always a great atmosphere home and away.”

Except the atmosphere for the return fixture just two weeks later quickly became rather different. Besiktas travelled to Liverpool in both hope and expectation.

“When we flew there, we talked about getting a draw, maybe getting one or two goals,” said Bobo. “But it wasn’t happening.”

Sydney FC striker Bobo at training ahead of Wednesday night’s clash with Liverpool.

And how. Ahead two-nil at halftime, Liverpool were merciless in the second period and added another six. Yossi Benayoun scored a hat-trick in what was a record score then for the Champions League era. Only once since has a club conceded as many.

“It was a very different result. What can I say about that game except it was a disaster,” said Bobo. “Just a total disaster. To be honest, I hardly touched the ball. Just a disaster. It’s not normal.

“We had a bad night, Liverpool played a perfect game.”

Thanks to Liverpool topping up their squad for their trip to Australia with some club legends, three opponents from those two games in 2007 will be involved tonight — Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Lucas Leiva.

And though the occasion might not match the ferocity of the Champions League, the prospect of scoring against Liverpool again makes Bobo’s eyes light up.

“It’s possible,” he said. “When you play football, everything is possible.”

Originally published as Sydney FC striker Bobo ready to tackle Liverpool again after battles in the Champions League