2011/12 UEFA Europa League

[IAceI]

Atletico sneaking a win. And Hakduk fail at a strong litmus test, unable to prevail on a weekday at the Britannia (we all know that the ultimate litmus test is a cold, wet Tuesday at the Britannia though..).

Not too many teams cruising through, obviously some teams aren't fully fit and don't intend on playing full strength, but I think a lot of teams are starting to improve to a higher standard in Europe now. Obviously the Europa League gets quickly dismissed though because none of the teams are Barcelona or Man Utd - and therefore it's shit.

[Lineker]

You can listen to commentary of the Fulham match tomorrow on BBC Radio London (Sky channel 0152).

[Cadj]

Never in doubt

[Lineker]

All of the British sides are through to the next round - pre-group playoffs.

And Woodgate played 90 minutes without reinjuring something!

[Lineker]

The draw is just about to start up again on Eurosport. I'll edit it into this post as it happens.

Europa League Playoff Round draw

Maccabi Tel-Aviv (ISR) vs. Panathinaikos FC (GRE)

Atlético Madrid (ESP) vs. Vitória S.C. (POR)

Shamrock Rovers FC (IRE) vs. FK Partizan Belgrade (SRB)

FC Metalist Kharkiv (UKR) vs. FC Sochaux-Montbéliard (FRA)

Beşiktaş J.K. (TUR) vs. FC Alania Vladikavkaz (RUS)

Rosenborg BK (NOR) vs. ARK Larnaca (CYP)

FC Vorskla Poltava (UKR) vs. Dinamo Bucharest (ROM)

Bursaspor (TUR) vs. RSC Anderlecht (BEL)

AS Roma (ITA) vs. SK Slovan Bratislava (SLV)

Olympiacos Volou (GRE) vs. Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) *tbc

Legia Warsaw (POL) vs. FC Spartak Moscow (RUS)

FK Ekranas (LTU) vs. Hapoel Tel-Aviv (ISR)

PAOK FC (GRE) vs. FC Karpaty Lviv (URK)

Tranzonspor (TUR) vs. Athletic Club Bilbao (ESP)

Hearts (SCO) vs. Tottenham Hotspur (ENG)

NK Maribor (SVN) vs. Rangers FC (SCO)

FC Steaua Bucharest (ROM) vs. PFC CSKA Sofia (BUL)

FC Nordsjælland (DEN) vs. Sporting CP (POR)

FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (URK) vs. Fulham FC (ENG)

FC Lokomotiv Moscow (RUS) vs. Spartak Trnava (SVK)

FC Sion (SUI) vs. Celtic FC (SCO)

WKS Śląsk Wrocław (POL) vs. FC Rapid Bucharest (ROM)

PFC Litex Lovex (BUL) vs. FC Dynamo Kiev (UKR)

S.S. Lazio (ITA) vs. FK Rabotnicki (MKD)

C.D. Nacional (POR) vs. Birmingham City FC (ENG)

PSV Eindhoven (NED) vs. SV Ried (AUT)

FC Thun (SUI) vs. Stoke City FC (ENG)

Aalesunds FK (NOR) vs. AZ Alkmaar (NED)

FC Vaslui (ROM) vs. AC Sparta Prague (CZE)

AC Omonia (CYP) vs. FC Salzburg (AUT)

FC Zestafoni (GEO) vs. Club Brugge KV (BEL)

Hannover 96 (GER) vs. Sevilla F.C. (ESP)

HJK Helsinki (FIN) vs. FC Schalke 04 (GER)

FC Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO) vs. AEK Athens FC (GRE)

Stade Rennais FC (FRA) vs. FK Crvena Zvezda (SRB)

CS Gaz Metan Mediaș (ROM) vs. FK Austria Wien (AUT)

S.C. Braga (POR) vs. BSC Young Boys (SUI)

R. Standard de Liege (BEL) vs. Helsingborgs IF (SWE)

Sorry in advance, Cadj.

[Cadj]

Bring it on Spurs.

[Lineker]

Nice additional couple of pre-season friendlies (Y).

[Cadj]

Redknapp has already said he's not bothering about the Europa League hasn't he?

I reckon we can take something at Tynie, Euro nights at Tynie are fantastic and a Battle Of Britain type tie will only make the atmosphere better.

Kevin Kyle to be the difference maker

[Lineker]

In all seriousness, it should be a great tie, and I'll be trying to get tickets for the away leg for sure.

EDIT: Or I would if it wasn't for the stupid dates. I'm not in the country on the 18th or the 25th . Damn.

[Baddar]

Fulham are playing Derek Boateng's new team. This pleases me.

[Cadj]

Wont be going to Hearts/Spurs then as it's already sold out in the Hearts end

[Kaney]

Fucks sake, Hearts.

[Hobo]

Shamrock Rovers are one nil down at home to Partizan after 15 mins. I have a strange feeling no Irish side is making it to the Europa League groups.

[Kaney]

...fucks sake.

Fucking Hearts.

[Dan]

This is brutal.

[Kaney]

Oh well. I tried supporting Hearts from a Scottish perspective but they fucking suck.

One nil to Rangers.

[EddieG]

Shamrock Rovers are one nil down at home to Partizan after 15 mins. I have a strange feeling no Irish side is making it to the Europa League groups.

Do they ever?

[Cadj]

Knew we were doomed when I saw Webster starting and Mrowiec/Black being in midfield together.

Set about this game completely wrong, not even taking into account the gulf in class/money/etc.

[Kaney]

Spurs could sit back and not even move for the rest of the second half and I still don't think Hearts could pull this back.

Maribor pull one back against Rangers, and it's still goalless at Celtic/Sion. Referee is fucking terrible in this so far, so many bizarre calls, mostly against Celtic.

EDIT: Full time scores: Spurs 5 Hearts 0, Maribor 2 Rangers 1.

[Hobo]

Shamrock Rovers are one nil down at home to Partizan after 15 mins. I have a strange feeling no Irish side is making it to the Europa League groups.

Do they ever?

That was my point, Bad Eddie.

Oh, and it finished 1-1. The dream lives!