2011/12 UEFA Europa League

[DavidMarrio]

Yet Celtic got fined more for having a banner saying Fuck Uefa, Arsenal got fined more for Wenger criticizing the ref and he got a touchline ban as well and Barca got fined more for the use of flares by fans.

UEFA are a fucking joke.

[Lineker]

Second leg of Athletic/Schalke is on 5 tonight. Hopefully they'll seal the deal in style!

[Baddar]

Athletic are 4/5 tonight. Persuade/dissuade me, Ace!

[IAceI]

4/5 for a team that know a narrow defeat or a draw would do? Hmm. You could always leave your money in the pocket and just enjoy the spectacle. Schalke 04 have Huntelaar and Raul, Athletic are playing Ekiza and Amorebieta at the back with Javi Martinez moving up into central midfield again from what I read. Good to see Martinez back in his comfortable position but I don't know how well Ekiza will cope with their back four.

Think you can get Llorente anytime 11/10 and Huntelaar 9/4. I may load up William Hill now and have a scour, not bet for a couple of days and not bet on football in a while - been on the horses mostly lately.

Either way you can always just enjoy the game. Wish Hannover 96 v Atletico Madrid was on earlier, would enjoy watching that match as well to be honest. Think Hannover may beat them tonight.

[IAceI]

EDIT: Apologies for the double post

Edited April 5, 2012 by IAceI

[IAceI]

Line Up: Iraizoz; Iraola, Ekiza, Amorebieta, Aurtenetxe; Javi Martinez, Herrera, De Marcos; Susaeta, Llorente, Muniain

Line Up: Unnerstall, Hoogland, Papadopoulos, Matip, Escudero, Jones, Holtby, Raul, Jurado, Obasi, Huntelaar

Two strong teams, both goal getters start as well as all the big names you'd expect. Should be a good game, expect both teams to score.

[Lineker]

#MCFC fined £25,000 by UEFA for "late kick-off" at Sporting Lisbon. More than £17,000 Porto fined for racist abuse to Balotelli. Absurd.

[DavidMarrio]

Yet Celtic got fined more for having a banner saying Fuck Uefa, Arsenal got fined more for Wenger criticizing the ref and he got a touchline ban as well and Barca got fined more for the use of flares by fans.

UEFA are a fucking joke.

Looks like I have something else to add to that quote now.

[Colly]

I'd take the Celtic one out given the circumstances behind it.

[Summers]

Valencia have been horrendous this evening. I'm appalled.

[Lineker]

Athletic

[Summers]

YES! Riccy Costa! 4 - 2.

That's better. Can get them back to the Mestalla and win this now.

[EddieG]

They won't though.

Fuck Valencia anyway.

[Summers]

:/

[IAceI]

Sporting absolutely dominated Athletic last night but they go that important away goal and that is the main thing, was a shame they capitulated like they did but they were two pretty good goals from Sporting to score, and they could have had more so to take a 1-2 to the San Mames isn't too shabby. Not to mention Sporting are almost a Champions League calibre side whereas Athletic are a rarity in Europe whatsoever so it's been a good run if it does come to an end.

Didn't see the other match, obviously, as they kick off at the same time but Atletico Madrid - like Athletic - seem to be playing their best football in the Europa League as opposed to the league; whereas Valencia appear to have just stopped caring recently and Unai Emery looks like a man who won't be at the club next season.

Whatever the final, it will be an entertaining one, and I'll be supporting Athletic should they make it. If not Atletico Madrid would be my preferred choice, Diego Simeone is such a nice man.

[GoN_]

[MDK]

Now you're just showing off

[Berober]

But WHERE is the referee?

[Lineker]

Athletic Bilbao: Iraizoz, Iraola, Javi Martinez, Amorebieta, Aurtenetxe, Ander Herrera, Iturraspe, Muniain, Susaeta, Llorente, Ibai.

Subs: Raul, Toquero, San Jose, David Lopez, Gabilondo, Inigo Perez, Ekiza.

Sporting: Rui Patricio, Joao Pereira, Anderson Polga, Xandao, Insua, Andre Martins, Schaars, Fernandez, Bruno Pereirinha, van Wolfswinkel, Diego Capel.

Subs: Tiago, Daniel Carrico, Onyewu, Evaldo, Jeffren, Carrillo, Rubio.

Referee: Martin Atkinson (England)

Valencia: Diego Alves, Barragan, Rami, Ricardo Costa, Jordi Alba, Albelda, Parejo, Feghouli, Jonas, Canales, Soldado.

Subs: Guaita, Maduro, Aduriz, Piatti, Victor Ruiz, Mathieu, Tino Costa.

Atletico Madrid: Courtois, Juanfran, Godin, Miranda, Filipe Luis, Mario Suarez, Tiago, Turan, Adrian, Diego, Falcao.

Subs: Sergio Asenjo, Salvio, Gabi, Dominguez, Koke, Perea, Martin.

Referee: Damir Skomina (Slovenia)

So fuck ya.

[GoN_]

Showing off would be to have both games' starting elevens.

And nobody cares for the ref.

Sa Pinto is not holding back tonight. Sporting has the advantage (2-1 at home), but it will be very risky. Pereirinha is probably the biggest surprise, but he will provide some help at the right back.