Champions League 2008-9

[Closed Account 2]

The Road to Rome starts here, with the draw for rounds 1 and 2:

1 || Linfield (NIR) v Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)
2 || Valletta (MLT) v Artmedia (SVK)
3 || Dinamo Tblisi (GEO) v NSI (FAR)
4 || St. Coloma (AND) v Kaunas (LTH)
5 || Murata (SNM) v IFK Gothenburg (SWE)
6 || Llanelli (WAL) v Ventspils (LAT)
7 || Anorthosis (CYP) v Pyunik Yerevan (ARM)
8 || Inter Baku (AZE) v Rabotnicki (MKD)
9 || Tampere (FIN) v Buducnost Pdg. (MNG)
10 || Dudelange (LUX) v Domzale (SVN)
11 || Dinamo Tirana (ALB) v Modrica (BIH)
12 || Aktobe (KAZ) v Sheriff Tiraspol (MOL)
13 || Drogheda (IRL) v Levadia Tallinn (EST)
14 || BATE Borisov (BLR) v Valur (ICE)

A || Rangers (SCO) v W 4
B || Brann Bergen (NOR) v W 6
C || W 8 v Partizan Bg. (SER)
D || W 9 v W 2
E || W 7 v Rapid Vienna (AUT)
F || W 10 v W 1
G || Panathinikos (GRC) v W 3
H || W 5 v Basel (SWI)
I || W 12 v Sparta Pg. (CZE)
J || W 13 v Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)
K || Anderlecht (BEL) v W 14
L || Beitar Jer. (ISR) v Wisla Krakow (POL)
M || Fenerbahce (TUR) v MTK Budapest (HUN)
N || AaB (DEN) v W 11

Full / Expanded
A || Rangers (SCO) v St. Coloma (AND) / Kaunas (LTH)
B || Brann Bergen (NOR) v Llanelli (WAL) / Ventspils (LAT)
C || Inter Baku (AZE) / Rabotnicki (MKD) v Partizan Bg. (SER)
D || Tampere (FIN) / Buducnost Pdg. (MNG) v Valletta (MLT) / Artmedia (SVK)
E || Anorthosis (CYP) / Pyunik Yerevan (ARM) v Rapid Vienna (AUT)
F || Dudelange (LUX) / Domzale (SVN) v Linfield (NIR) / Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)
G || Panathinikos (GRC) v Dinamo Tblisi (GEO) / NSI (FAR)
H || Murata (SNM) / IFK Gothenburg (SWE) v Basel (SWI)
I || Aktobe (KAZ) / Sheriff Tiraspol (MOL) v Sparta Pg. (CZE)
J || Drogheda (IRL) / Levadia Tallinn (EST) v Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)
K || Anderlecht (BEL) v BATE Borisov (BLR) / Valur (ICE)
L || Beitar Jer. (ISR) v Wisla Krakow (POL)
M || Fenerbahce (TUR) v MTK Budapest (HUN)
N || AaB (DEN) v Dinamo Tirana (ALB) / Modrica (BIH)


Some fairly even ties there, hard to call Beitar v Krakow, Fener v MTK and IFK Gothenburg v Basel (*assuming IFK beat Murata of Dan Marino).

[Closed Account 2]

My predictions:

Rangers beat Kaunas, who will have beaten Coloma
Brann beat Ventspils, who will have beaten Llanelli
Partizan beat Rabotnicki, who will have beatern Inter Baku
Buducnost beat Artmedia, Buducnost having beaten Tampere, Artmedia haveing beaten Valletta
Rapid beat Pyunik, who will have beaten Anorthosis
Dinamo beat Domzale, Dinamo having beaten Linfield, Domzale having beaten Dudelange
Panath. beath Tbilisi who will have beaten NSI
IFK G'burg beat Basel, IFK will have also beaten Murata
Sparta beat Sheriff, who will have beaten Aktobe
Dynamo beat Drogs, who will have beaten Levadia
Anderlecht beat BATE Borisov, who will have beaten Valur
Beitar Jer. beat Wisla
Fenerbahce beat MTK Budapest
AaB beat Modrica who will have beaten Dinamo Tirana

[HarpoJoyce]

I agree alot of even ties. Including the likes of Anderlecht versus BATE the likely winners from the previous round. I like Domzale (Slovenia) and Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova [Pride of Transnistr]).

Will any poster here have a chance top go to any of the non-Irish club games?

[lionelhutz]

How strong is Estonian football? Surely Irish football is at a much higher level with it becoming professional/semi-professional.

Don't think they'll have much chance against Kiev anyway if they do win thier first round. Would be fantastic for an Irish team to reach group stages though. Does anyone think it will happen in the next decade?

[Closed Account 2]

Estonian football is pretty much on it's knees. The last generation was ok (likes of Andreas Oper and Mart Poom) but there are no new players coming in. The club standard is low and clubs from the other Baltic nations always beat Estonian teams in the end of season Baltic cup.

[HarpoJoyce]

Ventspils (Latvia) 4-0 Llanelli. (4:1)
Sherriff Tirapol (Moldova) 4:0 Aktobe (Kaz) (4:1)
Rabotnicki 1:1 Inter Baku (Azeribaijin) away goals
Kaunas (Lithuania) 3:1 Santa Coloma (andorra) (7:1)

[ciaraa]

Ventspils (Latvia) 4-0 Llanelli. (4:1)
Sherriff Tirapol (Moldova) 4:0 Aktobe (Kaz) (4:1)
Rabotnicki 1:1 Inter Baku (Azeribaijin) away goals
Kaunas (Lithuania) 3:1 Santa Coloma (andorra) (7:1)

Good result for Inter Baku. Ventspils were meant to be very impressive against llaneli too. I think Buducnost could be the surprise this year and if they get by Tampere tonight could easily find themsleves in Q3. Am not optimistic about our chances tonight but we live in hope. Its probably the best time in the last 30 years to be playing Kiev if we get through tonight.

Are Artmedia Bratislava the only team to go the whole way from Q1 to the group stages? Heard this last week and couldnt beleive that there has only ever been one.

[Dazzy]

Are Artmedia Bratislava the only team to go the whole way from Q1 to the group stages? Heard this last week and couldnt beleive that there has only ever been one.

Also Liverpool.

[Denis The Red]

No one giving Drogs a chance? I think they'll go through and what a great draw to get Kiev. Best of luck to them.

[gustavo]

I thought it was one of the worst possible draws they could have got to be honest.

[Denis The Red]

I thought it was one of the worst possible draws they could have got to be honest.

Drogheda are not going to win the champions league so if they're going out it might as well be to a big club and get a big gate at United Park which I think they will with Kiev coming to town.
Sure, it would have been nice to go a round or two further but at this stage they were never going to meet a team that they could beat for that to happen.

[gustavo]

Drogheda are not going to win the champions league so if they're going out it might as well be to a big club and get a big gate at United Park which I think they will with Kiev coming to town.
Sure, it would have been nice to go a round or two further but at this stage they were never going to meet a team that they could beat for that to happen.

You could say that about Kiev , They arent going to win it , so whats the point in them playing ::confused:Theres no reason why they couldnt have gotten a favourable draw and gotten to the 3rd phase

[Torn-Ado]

I agree alot of even ties. Including the likes of Anderlecht versus BATE the likely winners from the previous round. I like Domzale (Slovenia) and Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova [Pride of Transnistr]).

Will any poster here have a chance top go to any of the non-Irish club games?

I'll probaby go to see IFK Gothenburg V Basel if I'm in the city. That's an interesting tie.

[Metrostars]

Full Second Qualifying Round

Brann - Ventspils 29/07 » 05/08 »
İnter Bakı - Partizan 29/07 » 06/08 »
Drogheda - Dynamo Kyiv 29/07 » 06/08 »
Rangers - Kaunas 30/07 » 05/08 »
Tampere United - Artmedia 30/07 » 06/08 »
Sheriff - Sparta 30/07 » 06/08 »
AaB - Modriča 30/07 » 06/08 »
Beitar Jerusalem - Wisła Kraków 30/07 » 06/08 »
Fenerbahçe - MTK 30/07 » 06/08 »
Göteborg - Basel 30/07 » 06/08 »
Anderlecht - BATE 30/07 » 06/08 »
Anorthosis - Rapid Wien 30/07 » 06/08 »
Panathinaikos - Dinamo Tbilisi 30/07 » 06/08 »
Domžale - Dinamo Zagreb

The third round draw will be done on Friday.

[Closed Account 2]

Domžale - Dinamo could be a sparky affair

[HarpoJoyce]

Domžale - Dinamo could be a sparky affair

Wishful thinking. There is no historical reason for it. Only a rivalry amongst close teams with a similar expectation of success.

Does Anorthosis have a chance against Rapid?
and how much milage will the racists of beitar get from their visit to Krakow?

[superfrank]

Does Anorthosis have a chance against Rapid?
Anorthosis seem to be banking on getting through. They signed Greek international Traianos Dellas during the week. He played in Euro 2004, scored the winner in the semi, and 2008. He's only 32. He's played for Roma not to long ago.

Imo, it's a pretty big signing for them. I don't know much about wages in Greece but I'd say they pay a lot more than Cypriot teams.

[Cymro]

Excellent effort from Inter Baku to get through. As I recall, Neftci are also in the third round of the Intertoto Cup. Azerbaijan have some good teams at the moment. I am pleased for them, though it is a bit embarrasing to see Wales behind them in the coefficiants year after year.

[ciaraa]

Full Second Qualifying Round

Brann - Ventspils 29/07 » 05/08 »
İnter Bakı - Partizan 29/07 » 06/08 »
Drogheda - Dynamo Kyiv 29/07 » 06/08 »
Rangers - Kaunas 30/07 » 05/08 »
Tampere United - Artmedia 30/07 » 06/08 »
Sheriff - Sparta 30/07 » 06/08 »
AaB - Modriča 30/07 » 06/08 »
Beitar Jerusalem - Wisła Kraków 30/07 » 06/08 »
Fenerbahçe - MTK 30/07 » 06/08 »
Göteborg - Basel 30/07 » 06/08 »
Anderlecht - BATE 30/07 » 06/08 »
Anorthosis - Rapid Wien 30/07 » 06/08 »
Panathinaikos - Dinamo Tbilisi 30/07 » 06/08 »
Domžale - Dinamo Zagreb

The third round draw will be done on Friday.


So potential shocks anyone?
I reckon BATE can do it - also would've gone for ventspil to do well but Brann will be extremely difficult for them. Ourselves and Modrica are the only newbies and I reckon their tie is just as tricky as ours.
Anyone giving MTK any chance to get one over a quarter finalist from last year?

[HarpoJoyce]

Domžale - Dinamo could be a sparky affair

I have to apologise to you cfdh_edmundo I was talking to some sources over the weekend and they were saying that that draw certainly can be described as 'Sparky' both for football and other reasons. I suggested otherwise earlier. So hears hoping it remains a healthy neighbourly rivalry anyway.

[HarpoJoyce]

So potential shocks anyone?
I reckon BATE can do it - also would've gone for ventspil to do well but Brann will be extremely difficult for them. Ourselves and Modrica are the only newbies and I reckon their tie is just as tricky as ours.
Anyone giving MTK any chance to get one over a quarter finalist from last year?

Well, I'd say 1-2 win is a shock already.
Saw the last twenty minutes via bet365.com streaming. Apparently Anderlecht scored a terrific goal. FC BATE (pron.Bite) went up the field and their forward went down in the box Marsin Wasilewski was given 2nd yellow. Off. Peno, goal. FC BATE had one more shot on target and scored after 85 minutes. Belarus 'keeper saved with his face from Mbark Boussoufa in injury time


Anorthosis seem to be banking on getting through. They signed Greek international Traianos Dellas during the week. He played in Euro 2004, scored the winner in the semi, and 2008. He's only 32. He's played for Roma not to long ago.

Imo, it's a pretty big signing for them. I don't know much about wages in Greece but I'd say they pay a lot more than Cypriot teams.

Pretty impressive start, 3-0 up.

Red Cards at Euro club level
Only saw last few minutes of two games via streaming and there was sending off in both. But soft/unneccessary to foul... stuff. Wisla Krakow player second yellow for shirt pull 85 mins. Anderlecht defender saw the attacker race away from him in the box, forward goes down peno and off. And a nice one, FC BATE midfielder (Igor Stasevich) was substituted because he picked up a yellow. While his team are 1-1 away the fourth official call sthe referees attention and the player gets a second yellow in the dugout and walks. Camera shown shots of uphappy manager and directors.

I accept there have been some reds for the LoI opposition lately but I consider that pay-back as some years ago some LoI clubs went through a rash of players getting sent-off during 50/50 matches or controlled situations.

[pete]

Hardly matters how they did it but BATE win away from home has to be biggest shock in recent years. If they get through they will be seeded in the 3rd round.
Anorthosis also odds on to progress & would be unseeded so they could play each other for right to make the group stages.

Would be great to see a small team like BATE in the group stages as Uefa only want the big clubs in there & big countries have all the advantages.

[HarpoJoyce]

Third round qualifying draw

Anorthosis / Rapid Wien : Olympiakos
Vitoria : IFK Goteborg / FC Basel
Shakthor Donetsk : NK Domzale / Dinamo Zagreb
Schalke04 : Club Atletico Madrid
Aalborg / FK Modrica : Rangers / FBK Kaunas
FC Barcelona : Beitar Jerusalem / Wisla Krakow
PFC Levski Sofia : RSC Anderlecht / BATE Borisov
Standard de Leige : Liverpool FC
Inter Baku / FK Partizan : Fernebahce / MTK Budapest
FC Twente : Arsenal FC
Spartak Moscow : Drogheda Utd. / Dynamo Kyiv
Juventus : Tampere Utd. / Artmedia Bratislava
SK Brann / Ventspils : Olympique de Marseilles
Fiorentina : Slavia Prague
Galatasaray : Steau Bucharest
Panathinaikos / : FC Sheriff Tiraspol / AC Sparta Prague
Dynamo Tbilisi

[ger121]

Some very interesting possible ties there. Schalke vs Atletico Madrid, most likely Kiev against Spartak another big one. Galatasaray vs Steau would be hard to call. BATE if they go through would have to fancy themeselves against Levski Sofia. To think Bohs knocked them out only a few years ago....

[Closed Account 2]

Schalke v Atletico is probably the tie of the round... impossible to call that one IMO. I'd be tempted to put some money on Twente beating Arsenal over the two legs. I think McClaren seems to hold the bogie sign over Arsenal and the gunners look short of depth with all the selling they've been doing. A potential Partizan v Fenerbahce match could be a cracker too. Most of the ties are pretty even, the only dead certs to get through seem to be Liverpool, Barcelona and, sadly, Juventus.

[newbie]

are ya mad? McLarens last match against Wenger was a 7-0 defeat! some bogey that is!

Arsenal to slaughter them. il run up O Connell St in the nip if they dont...

[HarpoJoyce]

are ya mad? McLarens last match against Wenger was a 7-0 defeat! some bogey that is!

Arsenal to slaughter them. il run up O Connell St in the nip if they dont...

Haha!....Which O'Connell Street?

[newbie]

hmmm i didnt think this through did i? :D

the one in Dublin :)

[HarpoJoyce]

hmmm i didnt think this through did i? :D

the one in Dublin :)

No bother, many people use it as a forfeit in the early hours of the morning.
Very few take any notice, 'cos it's so busy with people, good choice.


These early rounds have got interesting anyway, looking forward to the rest of the results.

[pete]

BATE drew 2-2 at home to Anderlecht to go through 4-3. They play Levski Sofia (Bulgaria) for place in groups stages.

Anorthosis 1-1 away to Rapid Vienna to got through 4-1. They play Olympiacos next.

Alongside Kaunas v Aalborg a few chances for minnows to make the group stages.

[Closed Account 2]

Levski Sofia were shocking and lost their opening Bulgarian league match, BATE have a real chance and I'm sticking some $$$ on them!

[Mr Maroon]

Juventus make their long awaited return to European competition tonight against Artmedia.

[pete]

Spartak Moscow 1 Kiev 2 at half time. :eek:

[pete]

The minnows are within touching distance of the group stages!

Sofia 0 BATE 1.

Anorthosis 3 Olympiacos 0 - They won 2nd round 3-0 at home too only to lose 1-3 away so maybe not so clear cut. Seems Cyriot club teams much stronger at home like national team.

[DaveyCakes]

Borisov are through after a 1-1 draw. They had a man sent off after 43 minutes.

[HarpoJoyce]

Fenerbahce just got a second against Partizan Belgrade 2-0 on the night(4-2)

Atletico equalised against Schalke 1-0 and the Romanian Revolution continues Steau have taken the lead against Galatasaray with a short time to go.

[HarpoJoyce]

Partizan Belgrade are getting crucified by the referee. They are getting caught off-side legitimately but then a Fenerbahce defender lobs the ball back to his advancing keeper and of course the ball bounces into the net. Offside. Two strikers were in an advanced position but.......

[pete]

Borisov are through after a 1-1 draw. They had a man sent off after 43 minutes.

Was just about to post a score update until I realised that was full time. :eek:
Greatest achievement in Champions League history?
They may finish pointless in the groups.

Dynamo Kiev 4 Spartak Moscow 1 (8-2 aggregate)

[superfrank]

Dynamo Kiev 4 Spartak Moscow 1 (8-4 aggregate)
Is it not 8-2?

[pete]

Is it not 8-2?

correct. edited.

[NeilMcD]

Jesus how much better are Bohs than Spartak Moscwo so :)

[Stevo Da Gull]

So what's the record for Wenger - Mclaren, something like 16 played, 13 wins for Wenger and 3 draws. Christ Twente were muck, what a stroll in the park!

And then there's Roddy's `watch Kiev get thumped` comment....:confused:

[old git]

liverpool (1) - standard leige (0)
after extra time

liverpool very unimpresive tonight struggled to beat standard leige
and in fact standard were unlucky not to go in at half time 1-0 up rienna made 1 great save .

torres poor spent most of his time going down easy under challanges looking for free kicks . keane very poor also missed one great chance but i always think he needs 2-3 chances to score 1 goal , gerrard non existant for most of match and overhit some terrible passes liverpool only seemed to have plan a and it never worked tonight . need a decent wide player and a creative midfielder and another defender or two.. leige on the other hand looked solid at back & midfield if only they had a decent forward may have got result just wondering how much longer benitiz /liverpool can continue to be lucky in champions league games :ball:

[ciaraa]

Was just about to post a score update until I realised that was full time. :eek:
Greatest achievement in Champions League history?
They may finish pointless in the groups.

Dynamo Kiev 4 Spartak Moscow 1 (8-2 aggregate)

What a result for BATE - fantastic stuff. I know Levski are no great shakes but fair play regardless. Hopefully they can stick it to a few moneybags teams in the group stages. If they draw celtic then they are guaranteed at the very least 3 points.

[Dodge]

Even if they're hammered 6 times, the 12 million they get should set them up for years.

They were unseeded in the first qualifying round (Drogheda were seeded). Nobody's ever done that before. Also there's no way in hell they're better than a LOI side so hopefully it'll spur Bohs (or whoever ;) ) on next year.

Nice to see a cypriot team in there too for the first time.

[superfrank]

It can only be good news for the smaller nations.

[Closed Account 2]

a
Chelsea
Roma
Bordeaux
Cluj

b
Inter
Bremen
Panathinikos
Famagusta

c
Barca
Sporting
Basel
Donetysk

d
Liverpool
PSV
Marseille
Atletico Madrid

e
Man Utd
Villareal
Celtic
Aalborg

f
Lyon
Bayern
Steaua
Fiorentina

g
Arsenal
Porto
Fenerbache
Dynamo Kiev

h
Real Madrid
Juventus
Zenit
BATE Borisov

Matches start on 16th & 17th Sept.

[newbie]

typical easy group for Mancs and Chelsea :D

Pool will get through but will make me and the rest of the fans sweat buckets full and leave it til a 9th min injury time screamer from gerrard to get us through.

[Closed Account 2]

My calls, mixture of hope* and guessing:

a
Chelsea
Roma
Bordeaux
Cluj

b
Inter
Bremen
Panathinikos
Famagusta

c
Barca
Sporting
Basel
Donetysk

d
Liverpool
PSV
Marseille
Atletico Madrid

e
Man Utd
Villareal
Celtic
Aalborg

f
Lyon
Bayern
Steaua
Fiorentina

g
Arsenal
Porto
Fenerbache
Dynamo Kiev

h
Real Madrid
Juventus
Zenit
BATE Borisov


*(e will probably be Man Utd and Villareal, and h Juventus and Real)

[HarpoJoyce]

I'd back OL to reach the quarters at least. The smaller clubs will disappoint again I believe. Many of them managing between zero and one point.

Still at Anorthosis got a second Greek team. To show the first one wasn't a fluke.