2013-14 Club Soccer/Football Discussion Thread

[NewYorkExpress]

A bit of additional recap from Yesterday;

Athletico Madrid fell to Osasuna 3-0, meaning that Real Madrid is atop La Liga (by three points)

Lazio defeated Sassuolo 3-2 with four of the five total goals after the 72nd minute.



Tomorrow;

FA Cup;

Brighton and Hove Albion @ Hull City- Replay

Sheffield Wednesday @ Charlton Athletic

La Liga;

Villarreal @ Espanyol (I'm sure almost everyone prefers Real or Barca to these two)

Serie A;

Fiorentina @ Parma (One of the better overall matches today)

Genoa @ Napoli (Napoli has to avoid getting caught looking ahead to leg two with Swansea)

Bundesliga 2.

Gruether Frueth @ Cologne (These are the top two teams in this league and a top two spot means promotion to the Bundesliga, so this one will be hardfought)

Ligue 2

Brest @ CA Bastia

Lens @ Creteil

Erste Divise

Jong PSV @ FC Emmen W (or is it VV?)

Portuguese Liga

Guimaraes @ Benefica

Turkish Super League

Fenerbahnce @ Elazigspor (wins mismatch of the day award)

Greek Super League

Panetolikos @ Kalloni AEL (I didn't know Kalloni AEL existed until today)

Danish SAS-Ligen Nordsjaelland @ Esjberg (Esbjerg could go from the Europa League to relegation)

Northern Irish Premiership

Glenavon @ Linfield

Argentinian Primera Division

Rosario @ Godoy Cruz

Argentinos Juniors @ Tigre

Belgrano de Cordoba @ Gimnasia La Plata

[Јas]

Won't happen for a number of reasons, one of which is the German Bundesliga not accepting company names as team names (unless they have a decades-long tradition as is the case with Bayer Leverkusen).
However, I already have for some time been wondering whether some of the "smaller" leagues weren't well advised to merge. An Alpenliga (Austria & Switzerland) could make quite some sense, and provide RB Salzburg with reasonably strong Swiss opponents. The same applies to Benelux, Scandinavia, former Yugoslavia, or the non-English British Isles.

Ideally, I think a unified Scottish-Irish-Welsh league would be great - re-arranged in much the same way as in Rugby where the Celtic league overhauled structures (though, obviously, that appears to have worked better for Ireland than the other two).

Unfortunately though, Scotland gains very little from such a change - and the best Welsh sides play in the English league already, so have no incentive to abandon that.

That, however, would first of all require UEFA to overhaul CL and EL qualification criteria that at the moment are biased towards the smaller leagues.

How so?

[Franknburger]

That, however, would first of all require UEFA to overhaul CL and EL qualification criteria that at the moment are biased towards the smaller leagues.

How so?

Lets take a hypothetical "Alps League": Currently, Austria and Switzerland are ranked #13 and #14 in the UEFA 5-years ranking. This would entitle each of them to two spots in CL qualification, 2 EL spots and 1 EL spot for the cup winner. Let's assume the cups will still be played nationally, and, as is the case with Liechtenstein, each of Austria and Switzerland maintains the cup winner's EL spot even if the two leagues merge. That's nevertheless eight league-based spots in total - two more than Spain, England and Germany as the Top 3 leagues are getting.  Of course, there is a difference between three safe CL spots plus one in the CL qualification, as the Top 3 are getting now, and four CL qualification spots for Austria & Switzerland. But when it comes to the EL, an "Alps League" would mean losing two spots.

To my knowledge, the UEFA has so far not even defined a modus for calculating the 5-years score in case several leagues merge. But let's assume it would just be done straight-forward by adding up both leagues' scores. At current scores (per Feb. 20), that would  push up an "Alps League" to rank five, entitling it to two safe CL and one CL qualification spot, which means they would lose a third spot overall. [It would also mean France going down to rank 7, losing one safe CL spot while getting another EL spot, something Platini probably wouldn't like. Ukraine (down from 9 to 10) would lose one EL spot, Greece (down from 12 to 13) would see a safe CL spot being replaced by one in the qualification. Romania, however, would move up to #15 and gain another CL qualification spot.]

It gets even more bizarre for a hypothetical Benelux league. Current entitlement (CL/CL qualification/EL) is:
Netherlands (rank 8 )    1/1/3
Belgium (rank 10):        1/1/2
Luxemburg (rank 44):    0/1/2  
Total                           2/3/7

After merger (rank 3):  3/1/2
which means a loss of six spots, even though they become a Top 3 league at the expense of Germany!

Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Wales are all below rank 16, which means 1 CL qualification and 2 EL spots for each league (again excluding cup winners). A merger would mean moving up to rank 15: 2 CL qualification plus 2 EL spots, compared to 4 CL qualification and 8 EL spots now.

I think the issue has become clear. It's actually a very clever way of keeping smaller UEFA members happy, while at the same time ensuring that the major leagues continue to receive most of the TV revenue. As I have posted some time ago, the Dutch Ehrendivisie has about the same turnover as the German 2. Bundesliga..

[NewYorkExpress]

Today;

FA Cup;

Hull City will Advance to the Quarterfinals, defeating Brighton and Hove Albion

Charlton Athletic advances to the Quarterfinals, defeating Sheffield Wednesday 2-1

This means the Quarterfinals will consist of;

Sunderland
Wigan
Manchester City
Everton
Sheffield United
Arsenal
Hull City
Charlton

La Liga;
Villarreal defeated Espanyol 2-1

Serie A
Fiorentina drew at Parma 2-2

Napoli blew a great chance drawing at home against Genoa, 1-1.


Tomorrow;

UEFA Champions League

Borussia Dortmund heads to Putin's playpen to face Zenit St. Petersburg

Manchester United looks to keep reversing their slump against Olympakios in Athens.

Scottish Premier League;

The League's top two sides Aberdeen and Celtic, clash in Pittodorie Stadium in Aberdeen (Of Course, Celtic has a 24 point lead on Aberdeen)

French Ligue 1;

Bordeaux looks to re-enter the race for a European bid as Lorient comes to Stade Jacques Chaban Delmas.

Wednesday February 26

UEFA Champions League;

Chelsea heads to Turk Telecom Arena to face Galatarasay

Real Madrid will go to the Veltins-Arena to face Schalke

Swiss Super League

Young Boys head to Stade Tourbillion to face fallen stars FC Sion.

[Keystone Phil]

Yeah, I knew once the 80th minute struck and we hadn't scored a second goal that we would concede late. And the dude that scored is on loan from Napoli. So it's officially a battle for keeping third for us. Good job, Rafa. Better at least win Coppa Italia.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Olympiakos up 1-0 at halftime against Man U. Hope that holds up.

[Lief 🗽]

First time United has ever lost to a Greek team. Give Moyes a contract extension pls.

[NewYorkExpress]

As is being discussed, The Olympakios 2-0 victory over Manchester United is the big story today, with goals from Alejandro Dominguez and Joel Campbell.

I'm willing to bet Manager David Moyes is sacked by Easter.

Meanwhile Borussia Dortmund defeated Zenit St. Petersburg 4-2, capped by a double from Robert Lenwandoski.


In Scotland the top two sides collided, and Aberdeen (who still trailed by 28 points) gave visiting Celtic their first League defeat of the year 2-1 to cut the gap to still gaudy 25 points.


Tomorrow

Chelsea at Galtasaray

Real Madrid at Schalke 04 (Upset Alert)

In Switzerland FC Sion Sitten vs Young Boys

[Keystone Phil]

If Gala win tomorrow, we very well could be Prem League-free in the Quarter finals. Not saying I necessarily want that but...

[Lief 🗽]

Too bad Mancini is horrible at Champions League so that won't happen.

[Keystone Phil]

Real Madrid win 6-1...on the road. The lone conceded goal was a wonderful volley strike.

Galatasaray was able to salvage a 1-1 draw.

[Franknburger]

So its Bayer 0:4 Leverkusen this time. Not the faintest of a chance against PSG. I already had been wondering before whether Leverkusen wouldn't have been served better by assuming third place in CL group stage in order to continue a few more rounds in the EL. Possibly, the same may apply to Schalke.

Sometimes it sucks being a prophet. Schalke 1 Real 6, Schalke really looked like a high school team (which they, to some extent, actually are). Farfan was the only player who was half-way on a level with admittedly brilliant Real. Nothing to see from K.P. Boateng. Draxler misses a 100%-chance for an early equaliser, just to shortly after initiate a series of mistakes that allows Real's 2:0, and breaks Schalke's resistance.  Huntelaar's first shot on goal came in the 91st minute, though that was brilliant one and provided the consolation goal.

[Tender Branson]

Own goal by Ajax and another nice goal by RB Salzburg ends Ajax's EL dreams ...

Next stop for us: Basel

[Tender Branson]

Phil's Napoli and Lewis' Frankfurt in big trouble with 15 minutes to go ...

[Tender Branson]

Phil's Napoli and Lewis' Frankfurt in big trouble with 15 minutes to go ...

As I write, both teams score goals ...

Plus: Red Bull Salzburg vs. Ajax Amsterdam is now 3-0 (6-0 on aggregate) ...

[Tender Branson]

Next round we'll have a Sevilla City derby ...

[Tender Branson]

Frankfurt in big trouble again ...

Looks like a Phil vs. Lewis match won't happen after all ...

[Tender Branson]

Game is over and Frankfurt is out, sry Lewis ...

Napoli wins and plays Porto now instead of Frankfurt.

[Keystone Phil]

Survived a scare. A shame we won't play Lewis' side. I have a reason or two to dislike Porto though so it will be cool to play them. Unfortunately for Italian pride, Lazio lost and Juve play Fiorentina next round so the most we'll have in the Quarter finals is two.

[Keystone Phil]

ArsenaLOL

[NewYorkExpress]

It's been a long beginning to March;

EPL;

Everton moves to within two points of Tottenham, defeats West Ham 1-0

Chelsea crushes Fulham 3-1, behind hat-trick from Andre Schurrle.

Arsenal falls to four points back, slips up at Britannia Stadium 1-0 to Stoke.

Liverpool moves up to second position, shuts down Southhampton 3-0.

Sunderland and West Brom postponed


Scottish Premier League;

Celtic recovers from upset, blasts Inverness Caledonian Thistle 5-0, Leigh Griffth, hat-trick included.

La Liga;

Relegation battle ends in 1-1 draw between Malaga and Real Valladolid

Levante advances to seventh, possible Europa League berth, defeating Osasuna 2-0.

Espanyol and Getafe get no offense going, finish with scoreless tie.

Elche defeats Celta Vigo 1-0.

Serie A

Roma and Inter fight to 0-0 draw, and with each other in heated match.


Bundesliga (Germany)

Bayer Leverkusen continues to slump, loses to Mainz 1-0. (Leverkusen falls to third place)

Borussia Dortmund climbs to second, defeats Nurnberg in easy 3-0 romp.

Augsburg fails to take advantage of opportunity draws Hannover 1-1 @ SGL Arena

Borussia Monchengladenbach misses golden opportunity drawing Eintracht Braunschwieg 1-1 as both GK's score own goals.

Werder Bremen wins derby matchup, defeats Hamburg 1-0 at the Weser Stadion

Bayern Munich crushes Schalke 5-1 lead by hat trick from Arjen Robben. (After Schalke's abysmal showing against Real Madrid I'm curious about whether manager Jens Keller is in any danger)

French Ligue 1

St Etienne defeated Monaco 2-0 (St. Etienne advances to third with the victory)

Lorient and Bastia fought to a 1-1 draw

Toulouse defeated Nice 2-0.

Sochaux upset Bordeaux 2-0

Stade de Reims defeated bottom-feeder Valenciennes 3-1.

Guingamp improves to thirteenth, defeats Stade Rennes 2-0.


Portuguese Liga

Sporting Lisbon defeated Braga 2-1


Turkish Super League

Fenerbahce defeated Gencerbligi 2-1


Swiss Super League

FC Zurich defeated Grasshoppers 3-1

[NewYorkExpress]

The Lineup for Sunday, March 2

Capital One Cup- Final @ Wembley Stadium

Manchester City will face Sunderland for domestic glory.


EPL

Aston Villa at home against Norwich

Swansea hoping to recover from Europa league elimination, stay alive in Premier League against Crystal Palace

Tottenham Hotspur home against Cardiff


La Liga

Villarreal faces extreme bottom-dweller Real Betis

Madrid Derby to electrify Vicente Calderon

Real Sociadad hopes to follow up Barcelona win with road victory at Sevilla

Barcelona aims to recover from loss to Sociadad, defeat Almiera

Valencia battling injuries, suspensions and Rayo Vallecano

Serie A

Udinese on the road at Caligari

Chievo Verona faces Atalana

Catania looks to move out the cellar against Genoa

Hellas Verona home against Bologna

Sassuolo looks to escape the basement against Parma

Sampdoria travels to Turin to face Torino

Third placed Napoli travels to Armando Picchi to face 18th ranked Livorno.

Italy's traditional powers face off in Milan as ninth place AC Milan takes on 1st place Juventus

Lazio travels to face Fiorentina


Bundesliga (Germany)

Wolfsburg will head on the road to face Hoffenheim

Relegation battle- Stuttgart at Eintracht Frankfurt


French Ligue 1

Lille heads to Corsica to face bottom of the table Ajacco

Montpellier is at Lyon

Two of France's greatest cities do battle as Marseilles comes to Paris to take on PSG


Dutch Eredviese

League-leading Ajax Amsterdam goes on the road to take on 4th place Feyernood Rotterdam

Greek Super League

1st place Olympakios looks to ride the high of beating Manchester United into a victory over 4th place Panathankios

Belgian Juliper League

1st place Standard Liege travels to second place Club Brugge

Sixth place Racing Genk looks to move up as they travel to third place Anderlecht

Austrian Bundesliga

1st place Red Bull Salzburg welcomes 3rd place Rapid Vienna

Danish SAS-Ligen

1st place Midtjylland heads on the road to face 3rd place FC  Copenhagen





 

[Tender Branson]

Bayern Munich crushes Schalke 5-1 led by hat trick from Arjen Robben.

David Alaba had a good day:

He scored the first goal for Bayern after 3 minutes into the game after a free-kick from about 30 meters away.

He also managed the great assist for the 3rd goal for Bayern.

Highlights of the game:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/video/bayern-v-schalke-video-highlights-204302261.html

[Keystone Phil]

Well, at least an Italian scored for Sunderland. Al must have such mixed feelings.

[Keystone Phil]

City wonder goals!