Champions League 2018/19

[Dirk]

Today RB Salzburg begins the 11th try to qualify for the Champions League, not the usual "Tu felix Austria" story . But last season they had a very good run in the Europa League so maybe it's their year now . Viel Glück!

 

[Liam_SWFC]

Celtic 1-0 up on AEK Athens early on, they look far fitter as the Greeks are still early in their pre season. With the way it's going it could be beyond AEK before it even gets to Athens.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Celtic 1-0 up on AEK Athens early on, they look far fitter as the Greeks are still early in their pre season. With the way it's going it could be beyond AEK before it even gets to Athens.

Is it on TV?

 

[mistermagic]

Today RB Salzburg begins the 11th try to qualify for the Champions League, not the usual "Tu felix Austria" story . But last season they had a very good run in the Europa League so maybe it's their year now . Viel Glück!

Looks like an easy way to the play-offs with a 3-0 home win in the 1st leg.

They usually bow out in the play-offs though.

 

[Railway Blue]

Looks like an easy way to the play-offs with a 3-0 home win in the 1st leg.

They usually bow out in the play-offs though.

Not the past 2 seasons.

 

[Liam_SWFC]

Is it on TV?

Streaming it on Celtic TV mate.

 

[Liam_SWFC]

Celtic held to a 1-1 home draw with a resilient AEK Athens, Celtic bossed the first half and could have been a couple up before giving away a sloppy goal on the stroke of half time. The Greeks had a man sent off early in the second half but defended brilliantly and take a favourable result back into the home leg. I make AEK the slight favourites to progress.

 

[mistermagic]

Not the past 2 seasons.

Oh. Then they're even worse than I imagined!

I do hope they make it to the group stage however. Been flying the Austria flag for so long. Then again, it's great fun to see that the last side to have represented the country in the CL since the Sturm Graz days was Austria Vienna.

 

[mistermagic]

Does anyone know why the likes of Valencia, Dortmund, Lyon, Inter and Liverpool have qualified directly for the CL proper this season? Is it a one-off or do the big leagues just have a bye from the play-offs nowadays?

 

[Railway Blue]

Celtic held to a 1-1 home draw with a resilient AEK Athens, Celtic bossed the first half and could have been a couple up before giving away a sloppy goal on the stroke of half time. The Greeks had a man sent off early in the second half but defended brilliantly and take a favourable result back into the home leg. I make AEK the slight favourites to progress.

So do I. Celtic have had quite a lethargic start to the season and the failed Glasgow club sit above them for the first time in about 7 or 8 years. My Celtic supporting mate has got us tickets for the Old Firm clash on 2nd September. It'll be my first ever. Let's hope they can score early in Athens tonight.

 

[Dirk]

Does anyone know why the likes of Valencia, Dortmund, Lyon, Inter and Liverpool have qualified directly for the CL proper this season? Is it a one-off or do the big leagues just have a bye from the play-offs nowadays?

From this season the Top4 Leagues in the UEFA 5 year valuation ( LaLiga, Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga) have 4 guaranteed starting places. So the 4th placed teams in these leagues don't have to play a Qualifier anymore.

The Leagues 5 and 6 (Ligue1 and Russian league) have 2 guaranteed starting places (#1,#2) plus 1 qualifier (#3)

Here's a list:

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/uefa/5jahreswertung/statistik

(it's on the right: "Distribution of places" )

 

[mistermagic]

So 4th has 4 guaranteed spots but 5th only has 2??!!!?? That's bullshit man!

 

[Dirk]

So 4th has 4 guaranteed spots but 5th only has 2??!!!?? That's bullshit man!

Don't shoot the messenger . Tell it to the UEFA Officials.

I don't like this new system either but I don't like the whole concept of these European Leagues with their shitty group stages. But we don't get the good old times with knockout rounds from the beginning back.

 

[Liam_SWFC]

Celtic 2-0 down in Athens, they need 2 goals. Looks like both Glasgow clubs could be playing Thursday night football this season, for Celtic that's a major failure already this early in the season as they'll be missing out on the Champions League money. However, realistically they have a far better chance of progressing deeper in the Europa League.

 

[SALTIRE]

Got one back, but running out of time.

 

[Abertawe]

oh Brenda what a twonk

 

[Abertawe]

Celtic 1-0 up on AEK Athens early on, they look far fitter as the Greeks are still early in their pre season. With the way it's going it could be beyond AEK before it even gets to Athens.

good call

 

[Liam_SWFC]

good call

Aye, however if you saw the first 35 minutes of the first leg that was the way it was heading. Glad they're out anyway, hopefully they don't make the Europa League either.

 

[Stevencc]

Haha Celtic.

Haha Brendan.

 

[mase]

And people still try to claim Celtic would be a top 6 side in the Premiership?

 

[Liam_SWFC]

And people still try to claim Celtic would be a top 6 side in the Premiership?

Don't encourage St Juste, in fairness AEK Athens was a far harder draw than a lot of people were making out, Greek champions.

 

[mase]

Don't encourage St Juste, in fairness AEK Athens was a far harder draw than a lot of people were making out, Greek champions.

You got me

Tbf, i'm not discrediting AEK - but i would bet good money any Celtic fan would have expected to get past them.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Play off round draw

Red Star Belgrade v Red Bull Salzburg
BATE v PSV
Young Boys v Dinamo Zagreb
MOL Vidi (Videton) v AEK Athens

Benfica v PAOK
Ajax v Dynamo Kyiv

 

[Liam_SWFC]

Celtic missing out on about £15M for not qualifying, good chance for Rangers to close the gap a bit this season.

Some interesting ties there for the play off draw, Benfica V PAOK and Ajax V Dynamo Kyiv will be worth a watch.

 

[mistermagic]

And people still try to claim Celtic would be a top 6 side in the Premiership?

I don't think anyone reasonable has claimed for quite some time now.

Play-off draw as underwhelming as ever.

 

[DarkSithLord]

I see Young Boys qualified for the group stage for the first time last night, surprising.

 

[mase]

I like young boys

 

[mistermagic]

More importantly, Greek clubs have been doing great this campaign. AEK qualified for the first time in 10-odd years while PAOK can make it if they knock out Benfica tonight (1-1 in Lisbon last week).

 

[mistermagic]

Well Benfica are 3-1 up in Greece at half-time. This is over. Oh well.

 

[Dirk]

Looks like that RB Salzburg will fail for the 11th time in a row to qualify for the CL Group stages.

After the 0-0 draw at Red Star, they were 2-0 in front at home but Red Star scored twice in 2 minutes and only minutes to play.


Edit: Aus! Ende! Servus CL, Willkommen EL