UEFA Europa League 2015/16

[Lineker]

Trouble flared up before Southampton’s Europa League clash against Vitesse Arnhem, with police storming in after glasses, chairs and punches were thrown.

There was a peaceful atmosphere in Arnhem for the majority of the day, only for things to go awry two hours before the second leg of the third qualifying round tie got under way.

The issues arose in Korenmarkt, the city’s bar district, where English and Dutch supporters had spent much of the previous 24 hours drinking together peacefully.

However, riot police and horses were called in after clashes began, which some onlookers said came after provocation from Feyenoord supporters.

In the aftermath a group of fans charged into the square, where a number of Southampton fans were seen throwing chairs and fighting.

It is understood that 50 Dutch fans and three English supporters were arrested after an incident which appears to have been started by Feyenoord supporters clashing with Vitesse fans.

There were no problems in the Southampton fanzone in the nearby Jansplaats, while buses were put on for fans to the stadium.

A club statement read: “Southampton Football Club are aware of an incident away from the official fanzone in Arnhem. We are continuing to liaise with local police and will take relevant action against those involved.”

Southampton boast a 3-0 advantage heading into Thursday night’s return leg at the GelreDome.

 

[FestiveJack]

Lol West Ham.

[Gorka]

West Ham are a joke.

[Lineker]

Spammers  

[Lineker]

Southampton will face the Danish champions Midtjylland in the play-off round for a place in the Europa League group stage.

Ronald Koeman’s team, who beat Vitesse Arnhem 3-0 on aggregate in the third qualifying round, will play at home in the first leg on 20 August and travel to Denmark a week later.

Midtjylland’s majority shareholder is the Brentford chairman Matthew Benham, who has been a driving force behind an analytics-based approach that sees the club make heavy use of statistics and mathematical modelling in its recruitment and team setup.

The Danish side entered this season’s Champions League but were beaten on away goals in the third qualifying round by the Cypriot side Apoel. Among their squad is a former Southampton academy player, the Finnish midfielder Tim Sparv.

The draw in full
Altach (Austria) v Belenenses (Portugal)
Panathinaikos (Greece) v Qabala (Azerbaijan)
Milsami Orhei (Moldova) v Saint-Étienne (France)
Lech Poznan (Poland) v Videoton (Hungary)
Zilina (Slovakia) v Athletic Bilbao (Spain)
Southampton (England) v Midtjylland (Denmark)
Jablonec (Czech Republic) v Ajax (Netherlands)
Dinamo Minsk (Belarus) v Salzburg (Austria)
Steaua Bucharest (Romania) v Rosenborg (Norway)
Astra Giurgiu (Romania) v AZ Alkmaar (Netherlands)
Young Boys (Switzerland) v Qarabag (Azerbaijan)
Rabotnicki (Macedonia) v Rubin Kazan (Russia)
Zorya Luhansk (Ukraine) v Legia Warsaw (Poland)
Odds (Norway) v Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
Molde (Norway) v Standard Liege (Belgium)
Slovan Liberec (Czech Republic) v Hajduk Split (Croatia)
Viktoria Plzen (Czech Republic) v Vojvodina (Serbia)
Krasnodar (Russia) v HJK Helsinki (Finland)
PAOK (Greece) v Brondby (Denmark)
Atromitos (Greece) v Fenerbahce (Turkey)
Bordeaux (France) v Kairat Almaty (Kazakhstan)

[Lineker]

Southampton make four changes from the side which lost 3-0 at home against Everton in the Premier League on Saturday. Manchester United target Sadio Mane starts as expected. New signing Oriol Romeu is handed a full debut following his substitute appearance against the Toffees. Elsewhere, Steven Caulker takes his place in defence, James Ward-Prowse comes in to midfield and Jay Rodriguez starts upfront. Out go Shane Long, Steven Davis, Cedric Soares and Dusan Tadic. 

Southampton: Stekelenburg, Caulker, Fonte, Yoshida, Targett, Wanyama, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Mane, Rodriguez, Pelle.
Subs: K Davis, Cedric, Long, S Davis, Tadic, Martina, Juanmi.  

Midtjylland: Dahlin, Romer, Hansen, Sviatchenko, Lauridsen, Sisto, Poulsen, Sparv, Royer, Andersson, Rasmussen.
Subs: Pusic, Urena, Olsson, Banggaard Jensen, Andersen, Onuachu, Hassan.

[FestiveJack]

Dortmund are getting wrecked by Odd. 3-0 inside 20 minutes.

[Cymbols]

Midtjylland have some legitimately good players, could be a tough match. 

[GoGo Yubari]

Dortmund now leading 4-3

Other two Norwegian teams did OK today, though. COME ON, NORWAY.

[Lineker]

1-1 for Southampton. Sets up an intriguing second leg next week.

[DavidMarrio]

Is the draw on the Friday after the games have been played on the Thursday?

[Lineker]

It's a week today.

[Lineker]

Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama, linked with a move away from St Mary's, did not travel because of a stomach infection. Forward Sadio Mane, a target for Manchester United, starts on the bench after picking up a knock in last Sunday's goalless draw with Watford.

Southampton: Stekelenburg, Martina, Fonte, Caulker, Yoshida, Targett, Romeu, S. Davis, Ward-Prowse, Pelle, Rodriguez. 
Subs: K. Davis, Cedric, Long, Mane, Tadic, Reed, Juanmi.

Midtjylland XI: Dahlin, Bach Bak, Hansen, Sviatchenko, Lauridsen, Sparv, Sisto, Andersson, Poulsen, Royer, Rasmussen.
Subs: Andersen, Romer, Olsson, Onuachu, Pusic, Hassan, Banggaard.

[Lineker]

The Danes have taken the lead!

[Lineker]

Saints are out  

[DavidMarrio]

Only Spurs, Liverpool and Celtic remain.

We'll end up with at least one tough team due to being in pot 2. Hoping it's someone entertaining seen as though I've got tickets for the Europa League games.  

[Lineker]

Draw is on BT from midday.

[Baddar]

Saints are out  

So glad I didn't bother betting on them. Their line-up didn't fill me with confidence.

[DavidMarrio]

Saints are out  

So glad I didn't bother betting on them. Their line-up didn't fill me with confidence.

Southampton in general have been uninspiring as of late. Wasn't shocked to see them go out yesterday.

 

In terms of the draw, I am hoping for some good teams (due to having my tickets sorted and I don't want to go watch dull games) but at the same time I want the best group in terms of us qualifying. There's some journeys possible that could be a killer. Need to avoid Dnipro and Kazan from Pot 1, Fenerbache, Krasnodor, Poznan, Warsaw and Lokomotiv from Pot 3 and pretty much most of Pot 4.

Ideal draw for me:
Dortmund/Ajax
Rapid Vienna/Augsburg
Belenenses/Molde/Sion

Worst case:
Anyone from Eastern Europe or Basel
Anyone from Eastern Europe or Monaco
Anyone from Eastern Europe.

[DavidMarrio]

We have Rubin Kazan. Bordeaux and FC Sion. Happy with that. 

 

Tottenham have an away trip to Azerbaijan. They also have Monaco and Anderlecht. 

 

Celtic will play Ajax, Fenerbache and Molde.