Europa League 2018/19

[Liam_SWFC]

Burnley still in the tie but it's unlikely, wasted opportunity for them they might never get another chance at playing in Europe, oh well at least they can finish 12th in the Premier League. The draw has been tough on them but you play your strongest team when your a club playing in Europe for the first time in a generation.

Celtic held to a 1-1 draw with Suduva, not the result people were expecting but they should get the job done in Glasgow, poor start to the campaign for them considering the standards they've set the last 2 years. Another clean sheet for Rangers but only a narrow lead to take to Russia, if they get an away goal out there it should really kill the tie.

 

[Super_horns]

Moaning about the officials because the Greeks were putting pressure on them ..

It's ok for Dyche to berate the officials and demand Hughes is sent off though on Sunda I guess ..

Difference is the 2nd ref didn't bow down to the pressure .

 

[mistermagic]

Terrible game for Bordeaux at Gent last night. The first half was one of the worst ever while the second started ok but Bordeaux kept being unbelievably negative which makes you wonder if you actually want them defending French colours in the EL group stages this season. Gent forced Costil in a couple of saves and they hit the post.
Bordeaux of course have sacked Gus Poyet (he was appointed in January) after a press conference outburst where he heavily criticized the board over the sale of a striker (Gaëtan Laborde) whom he wanted replaced before selling. Thierry Henry is supposed to be appointed Bordeaux manager this week-end/beginning of next week.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Dudelange beat Romanian side CFR Cluj 2-0 in the first leg. The Luxembourgish dream is still on!

 

[Super_horns]

Bordeaux of course have sacked Gus Poyet (he was appointed in January) after a press conference outburst where he heavily criticized the board over the sale of a striker (Gaëtan Laborde) whom he wanted replaced before selling.k.

I don't blame Poyet for being unhappy but going public in such a way maybe wasn't a great idea!

The player concerned doesn't seem to have the greatest scoring record and only sold for 3 million euros to a fellow French club.

Are Bordeaux strapped for cash that they need to sell anyone for what seems like a very low fee to a rival club?

 

[mistermagic]

I don't blame Poyet for being unhappy but going public in such a way maybe wasn't a great idea!

The player concerned doesn't seem to have the greatest scoring record and only sold for 3 million euros to a fellow French club.

Are Bordeaux strapped for cash that they need to sell anyone for what seems like a very low fee to a rival club?

Laborde has a strange reputation which is one of a good striker which he isn't. He's a great winger who can get past players with his pace but his finishing is terrible (hence the poor scoring record). Still a player of his calibre is worth much, much more than 3M€ especially selling to a lesser club like Montpellier.
I don't think Bordeaux have loads of cash and let's be honest football is not a very viable enterprise profit-wise so I can understand why anyone would think twice before paying millions for getting the services of a random player and then paying over-inflated wages but their small-time attitude has been going on for the past 10 years (since winning the league really) and thursday's performance epitomised this completely. Just take the money and don't care about strategy or your manager/staff's needs.

 

[Super_horns]

Credit to Rangers - winning despite having 2 men sent off !

 

[DarkSithLord]

Not been a good year for Apoel. Crashed out of the CL Qualifiers and failed to qualify for the group stage after losing to Astana on penalties.

 

[Liam_SWFC]

Solid result for Rangers and what a boost for that club to be back in European football. Bet Burnley wish they'd had Rangers draw though as they are struggling to break down Olympiacos at Turf Moor.

 

[rudebwoyben]

A great night for Luxembourg club football with Dudelange getting through to the group stages.

 

[Liam_SWFC]

Celtic 1-0 up against Sudova, that should see them through now.

 

[nawoo]

Yes rudebwoyben......Great day for Luxembourg footy!!

 

[nawoo]

Basel & Atalanta not making through to group stages...bit of surprise ....

 

[#Beebot]

Burnley deservedly out after failing to treat the competition with respect. I was pleased for them after last season but Dyche clearly isn't interested and hopefully a more ambitious team gets the 7th place next year.

 

[Dirk]

OMG, that wasn't good for my heart what Leipzig did today

0-0 in the first leg und today 2-2 until the 90th minute when a penalty of Forsberg saved the Saxons.
The Bundesliga could avoid a third exit of its EL qualifying team in a row at the last moment.

 

[Super_horns]

Celtic or Rangers to get Arsenal or Chelsea I bet .

 

[nawoo]

OMG, that wasn't good for my heart what Leipzig did today

0-0 in the first leg und today 2-2 until the 90th minute when a penalty of Forsberg saved the Saxons.
The Bundesliga could avoid a third exit of its EL qualifying team in a row at the last moment.

True.....they did it the hard way.......
Hoping for the 3 Bundesliga sides to do well

 

[Liam_SWFC]

Shame to see Burnley not treat it with more seriousness, first time in Europe for 50 years and they probably will be waiting another 50. Oh well I'm sure a 14th placed top flight finish will be remembered.

Celtic eased through and I expect both them and Rangers to take it serious, they might get further than Arsenal and Chelsea.

 

[Dirk]

True.....they did it the hard way.......
Hoping for the 3 Bundesliga sides to do well

Thx.

Nice to see that you're interested in German football.

Today's the Draw. Only Leverkusen is in Pot #1, Frankfurt and Leipzig only in Pot#3.

 

[The Southbank]

Feel for Burnley, could have been drawn with AC Milan and Real Betis - imagine a midweek trip or two to Milan or Seville!

 

[rudebwoyben]

Feel for Burnley, could have been drawn with AC Milan and Real Betis - imagine a midweek trip or two to Milan or Seville!

They would have had a trip to Luxembourg too!

 

[#Beebot]

Arsenal, Sporting Lisbon, Qarabag, Vorskla Poltava

Chelsea, PAOK, BATE, Vidi

Celtic, Salzburg, Leipzig, Rosenborg

Rangers, Spartak Moscow, Villarreal, Rapid Vienna.

 

[Dirk]

LOL, Salzburg and Leipzig in one group. Last year it wasn't even sure that both could play in the same competition. Anyway, Leipzig should be strong enough to come out of this group of Salzburg, Celtic and Trondheim to the knockout stages although they qualified with luck this time.​

​

I am always glad when german clubs don't have to travel to "am Arsch der Welt" , just like Arsenal has to do this time​

​

 

[nawoo]

Thx.

Nice to see that you're interested in German football.

I am ever since Mexico 86 when I first saw Germany play as an 8 year old...

Always like Germany to do well in all sports

 

[nawoo]

Tough group for Eintracht Frankfurt....with Lazio and Marseille. Cypriot sides are also tricky opponents

 

[Dirk]

Tough group for Eintracht Frankfurt....with Lazio and Marseille. Cypriot sides are also tricky opponents

That's right. But was to be expected when you're in Pot#3.

btw: Very sad for the enthusiastic Eintracht Fans that they can't travel to the first away match (and their first EL match since 2014) against Olympique
Marseille had to play the first home match as a "closed session" because of the riots in last seasons Quarterfinal match against Leipzig.

 

[Super_horns]

Good job Wenger isn't manager of Arsenal - he would be moaning like mad about the long trips to Eastern Europe.

Tricky for Rangers and Celtic.

 

[Dave]

 

[Super_horns]

Good draw in Spain for Rangers .

Salzburg winning the Red Bull battle ..

 

[Dirk]

Good draw in Spain for Rangers .

Salzburg winning the Red Bull battle ..

thx for at least one post for today's EL matches. Wow, overwhelming activity of our Arsenal and Chelsea fans here....ah wait

Yes, Salzburg won the "Battle of the Bulls" and deservedly so. RB Leipzig without Timo Werner and Emil Forsberg and Yussuf Poulsen (was substituted in the 2nd half and made the 2-2) and you could see why Leipzig has actually Problems in Bundesliga. The Defense was a catastrophe and Salzburg easy 2-0 ahead. Kudos though that Leipzig came back late in the 2nd half and equalized and then they wanted it all but Salzburg showed why they were last years semi-finalist in the Europa League. A genius moment from ex-Werder Bremen Junuzovic and Wolf and suddenly Gulbrandsen was free and made the 2-3.

Leverkusen on the other side changed the game completely. They were also 0-2 behind against Rasgrad and won 3-2.

Biggest surprise for me was the 2-1 away win for Eintracht Frankfurt at Olympique Marseille. Great result!
This match had to be played without spectators (see my post above from Aug31st).

So, from the 7 German teams in CL and EL only Leipzig lost. That's a nice change from last season.