UEFA Champions League and Europa League

[njdevils94]

Spartak Subotica 2:0 Sparta Prague

And this is by far the biggest surprise Spartak managed to completely outplay Sparta even though they were complete underdogs. Very good tactical preparation of the match. Well done to Spartak, I am sure they will manage to save this lead in the second leg (and maybe even increase it).

Massive game for Sparta today. They expected to be in Europe with the squad they had. After losing the first leg they sacked their manager Paval Hapal despite having won their first 2 league matches. The way there playing at the moment its unlikely Sparta keep a clean sheet so they'll have to score at least 4. I'd expect a really open 2nd leg.

 

[lucian-crusher]

UEFA Champions League, 2nd round:

Malmo - CFR Cluj 1 - 1 (2 - 1 agg.)
That was a fast UCL adventure

 

[njdevils94]

Relentless pressure from Sparta Prague in that first half. They lead 1-0 thanks to Josef Sural's goal but they could easily have 3 or 4. Benjiman Tetteh headed one off the post and Nicolae Stanciu headed on off the bar.

Update : Sparta Prague out! Alexandru Chipciu had a header brilliantly saved but Subotica goalie Nikola Peric. Then Sural had a disallowed goal off a corner for an apparent push in the box. Sparta were able to get level a few minutes later through Srdan Plavsic off a pulled-back cross from Chipciu. Then center half Uros Radakovic gave away a very sloppy penalty which was dispatched straight down the middle. Then things got ugly as some Sparta Prague hooligans wandered onto the pitch and started chucking the corner flag out of play and this delayed the match for about 4 minutes. Sparta could of easily won this 4 or 5 -1 but it wasn't to be

FT Sparta Prague 2 Spartak Subotica 1 (2-3 agg.)

 

[Himan]

2nd Round 2nd game Europa League

AZ- Kairat Almaty 2-1 (2-3 agg.)

Yep, Kairat was too strong for AZ at this moment, just smartness and maturity I'm afraid.

Vitesse - Viitorul 3-1 (5-3 agg.)
Just fine, Viitorul wants to play, so you lose. Fine with me

Draw 3rd round
Feyenoord - Trencin
Not an easy draw, but Feyenoord should go over a Slovak team. But everything above nation place 45 in European coefficients is never easy...

Vitesse - FC Basel

Normally this would be impossible, but FC Basel hasn't shown it's form yet, also didn't win the Swiss league. It's possible for Vitesse to win, if they are on their best.

2nd round 2nd game CL
Sturm Graz- Ajax 1-3 (1-5 agg.)
Sturm Graz stood no chance against Ajax, good start of a possible Champions League campaign.

Draw 3rd round

Ajax- Standard Liège

It's a derby, though they don't speak Dutch in Liège. I think they are almost equal, but I believe Ajax is just a little bit better, but that says totally nothing. The team who wants it the most will probably win it.

 

[lucian-crusher]

UEFA Europa League, 2nd round:

FCSB Bucharest - Rudar Velenje 4 - 0 (6 - 0 agg.)
Expected result against a weak opponent!

Vitesse Arnhem - Viitorul Constanta 3 - 1 (5 - 3 agg.)
Again, Viitorul is showing a poor European campaign.

 

[Milos-BC]

UEFA Champions League

Suduva 0:2 Crvena Zvezda

Zvezda was much better in the second match as well and even though they didn't play with their full capacity, they were still good enough to score another easy victory.


UEFA Europa League

Trakai 1:1 Partizan

A disappointing match from us, really. Another one. We had about 10 minutes of good play but it was far below the needed standards for a club like Partizan. We were also lucky that Trakai didn't benefit from the fact that we were left with 10 players. It's good that we managed to pass but we need to be much better in the next round if we want to pass.

Sparta Prague 2:1 Spartak Subotica

This was a very tough match for Spartak, but they managed to achieve a historical success and pass through. I am really glad for them Sparta was much better in this match compared to the first one, but in the end, a penalty decided the overall winner. No matter what happens in the next round, Spartak already achieved a great success and they have every reason to be proud.

Btw, Sparta is knocked out by a team for the second time in a row. Last year it was Crvena Zvezda that knocked them out and now Spartak.


Radnički Niš 2:2 Maccabi Tel Aviv


A brave and very good play from Radnički. Too bad that they conceived two naive goals near the end of the first half. That decided the match in the end.

Maccabi is a more experienced team however and, when the line is drawn, they deserved to pass through. Radnički can now focus on the league matches and potentially the cup.

 

[lucian-crusher]

UEFA Europa League, Play-Off:

Slovan Bratislava/:at Rapid Wien - Hajduk Split /FCSB Bucharest
It will be hard but we are favourites so we must qualify!

Legia Warsaw/ Dudelange - Alashkert /CFR Cluj
Bye Bye CFR Cluj!

Zorya Luhansk/ SC Braga - Red Bull Leipzig /U Craiova
If U Craiova passes in the Play-Off they really have chances!

 

[njdevils94]

Zorya Luhansk/ SC Braga - Red Bull Leipzig /U Craiova
If U Craiova passes in the Play-Off they really have chances!

I don't think Craoiva have a hope against Leipzig to be honest.

 

[Himan]

I don't think Craoiva have a hope against Leipzig to be honest.

They don't have hopes against any of those three opponents. It's a horrible draw for U Craiova.
Champions League:

Play off round:
FK Qarabag /BATE Borisov - PSV Eindhoven

Well, PSV should go over every team they drew this round, though I think this is the worst draw of them all. They both will be good defensive teams. 60-70% chance of qualifying

Play off round:
Ajax /Standard Liège - Dinamo Kyiv /Slavia Praha

Well just four equal teams with Kyiv probably marginally the best team. Still Ajax has a chance, but Dutch football... Oh well. I personally don't have high hopes yet. 20-25% chance to qualify


Europa League

Apollon Limassol /Dinamo Brest - Vitesse / Basel
Well, when Vitesse beats Basel, they get a real good chance to reach the group phase. And Basel doesn't have the big form, so it may can happen. Still Basel is a big favorite. 20-25% to qualify

Trencin /Feyenoord - Sturm Graz /AEK Larnaca
Feyenoord has a good draw I think, not that any of the opponents are easy, cause easy doesn't exists anymore, but Ajax beat Sturm Graz relatively easy, which I think is the best opponent of the three. So, good draw, but still have to do it 40-50% to qualify

 

[njdevils94]

Will be watching Malmo vs Videoton

Will give my thoughts later

 

[Milos-BC]

The next round is about to begin for teams


UEFA Champions League


Crvena Zvezda - Spartak Trnava

Based on the play, I would say that Zvezda is a favorite but Spartak managed to surprise Legia so I expect a pretty tough duel here.


UEFA Europa League


Nordsjælland - Partizan


We have a pretty tough rival and we need to be careful in both matches if we want to pass through. As the general height ofNordsjælland's players is not that great, breaks could be one of our chances to score.

Brondby - Spartak Subotica

Very hard rival for Spartak, but if they repeat the same dedication from the last duel, anything is possible.

 

[lucian-crusher]

I don't think Craoiva have a hope against Leipzig to be honest.

I was trying to say that If by any miracle the pass Leipzig they have chances! I really don't want U Craiova to do well in Europe, because together with CFR Cluj, FC Dinamo Bucharest and Viitorul Constanta they created a circle whose only purpose is that FCSB doesen't win the league. It's a toxic circle in which this 4 teams play against FCSB like it's the match of their life, while against the other title contender they send the reseve team, they intentionaly miss penalties or they don't even bother to atack. The only Romanian team that I support in Europe besides FCSB is Astra Giurgiu, which is a team that puts the interest of sport above their own interest!

 

[njdevils94]

HT Malmo 0 Vidi 0

Malmo have had most possession and the best chances through Marcus Antonsson. The first put through from a wide angle but Videoton keeper Kovacsik came out quickly and made himself big. The second a strong header just over the bar on a great ball in by Safari.

 

[DutchSuomiFan]

2nd Round 2nd game Europa League

AZ- Kairat Almaty 2-1 (2-3 agg.)

Yep, Kairat was too strong for AZ at this moment, just smartness and maturity I'm afraid.

Vitesse - Viitorul 3-1 (5-3 agg.)
Just fine, Viitorul wants to play, so you lose. Fine with me

Draw 3rd round
Feyenoord - Trencin
Not an easy draw, but Feyenoord should go over a Slovak team. But everything above nation place 45 in European coefficients is never easy...

Vitesse - FC Basel

Normally this would be impossible, but FC Basel hasn't shown it's form yet, also didn't win the Swiss league. It's possible for Vitesse to win, if they are on their best.

2nd round 2nd game CL
Sturm Graz- Ajax 1-3 (1-5 agg.)
Sturm Graz stood no chance against Ajax, good start of a possible Champions League campaign.

Draw 3rd round

Ajax- Standard Liège

It's a derby, though they don't speak Dutch in Liège. I think they are almost equal, but I believe Ajax is just a little bit better, but that says totally nothing. The team who wants it the most will probably win it.

Feyenoord would've won easily had Ryan Koolwijk still played at Trencin.

 

[njdevils94]

What the heck is us up with Feyenoord. 3-0 down at ht to Trencin. Not watching the game but the scoreline just now. Are you watching [MENTION=16334]DutchSuomiFan[/MENTION]?

 

[Himan]

What the heck is us up with Feyenoord. 3-0 down at ht to Trencin. Not watching the game but the scoreline just now. Are you watching [MENTION=16334]DutchSuomiFan[/MENTION]?

Welcome to Dutch football...

 

[Gabe]

LEGIA LOST TO DUDELANGE AHAHHAHAJHAJAHJHAJAHJHAJH

 

[pjelacki]

LEGIA LOST TO DUDELANGE AHAHHAHAJHAJAHJHAJAHJHAJH

happens to the best of us

 

[lucian-crusher]

UEFA Europa League, 3rd round:

Hajduk Split - FCSB Bucharest 0 - 0
It's a good result but I would've preferred a 1 - 1 or 2 - 2

Alashkert - CFR Cluj 0 - 2
This, together with Legia's result gets CFR a good road to the group stage!

Red Bull Leipzig - U Craiova 3 - 1
Well done!

 

[Himan]

I don't want to talk about Dutch football in Europe anymore. Nothing to be proud of.