... the Uefa Cup final.

What is it?This week, in the final game of the 2008 Uefa Cup, two of Europe's greatest soccer teams will meet - both dominant in their domestic leagues and both containing several of the world's top players.

But we're not here to talk about Saturday's women's Uefa Cup final between Umeå of Sweden and Frankfurt of Germany.

Before that, there is the smaller matter of the men's final, between Glasgow Rangers and a team everyone has been reading up on for the past week - FC Zenit Saint Petersburg.

So what do we need to know about FC Zenit?Politics and sport have been known to cross paths in Russia.

Famously, Zenit St Petersburg finished bottom of the Soviet League in 1967, but as it was the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution - which occurred in St Petersburg (Leningrad) - it was decided that it was not an appropriate time to relegate the team.

How Derby County must wish something momentous had happened in their area in 1958.

Zenit St Petersburg, the current Russian Premier League champions, will be hoping "50" proves lucky again this year - tonight being the 50th final of the Uefa Cup.

And the preparations for tonight?The Russian Football Association facilitated Zenit's preparations, and postponed no less than five of their league matches (three home and two away). It has cleared the way for Dick Advocaat's side - the Dutchman previously managed Rangers - to concentrate solely on bringing Europe's second-biggest club trophy back to eastern Europe.

And the Scottish FA?The SFA have helped Rangers' preparations for tonight in their own way - mainly by not making them play a league match this afternoon.

Tonight, the Scottish club will reach halfway in an effort to squeeze nine big matches into the first 24 days of May. After this evening's big game, they face three away SPL matches in six days - knowing they need all nine points - before meeting Queen of the South in the Scottish Cup final two days later.

If it goes off the rails at any stage, and especially if they lose tonight, then, with justification, Rangers can point an accusatory finger at the heads of the game in Scotland.

Even Division One side Queen of the South - currently offered at 10 to 1 to win the Scottish Cup - will have a fighting chance of beating Rangers if the Glasgow side trip up during this, the biggest week ever for the club.

And the fans?Up to 100,000 Scots are expected in Manchester today, which must be wonderful news for the locals.

Zenit St Petersburg also have a big and passionate following, but the fact that Rangers fans are only a four-hour drive to Manchester, while Zenit fans are 2,000 kilometres away (and not many are expected to drive it) means very few Russians are expected in Manchester without tickets - but 10,000 will be at the match.