Europa League 2013/14 Thread

[Baddar]

Tevez, 1-1. Nice goal.

[Baddar]

Even better goal from Lima, 2-1 Benfica.

[EddieG]

Tevez, 1-1. Nice goal.

Do you hope to sign him as we.. oh, wait.

[Baddar]

No.

[GoN_]

Not the best result for us, but at least we won the match.

[Lineker]

I still reckon Juve will get through.

[GoN_]

Pretty much. They played better than us in the second half, and that goal we conceded is a burden for the second leg. If we concede first next week, we are screwed.

[Johnny Latino Heat]

So here's a bit of controversy that's stirring up around these parts regarding the next Juventus vs Benfica.

Benfica fans put up a banner honoring the Torino team that died in a plane crash while returning home after a match against Benfica in 1949. Juventus officials were very offended and put up a formal complaint against Benfica, and UEFA gave Benfica the May 15 deadline to present their defence. However, yesterday afternoon, they also decided that Enzo Perez is facing potential punishment for a elbow to the face of a Juventus player (player who later went on to do the same thing to Maxi Pereira, but he doesn't get punished, how strange) and that the hearing for both cases will happen, instead of May 15, tomorrow, with Benfica having until 9 PM today to put up a defence.

I'm sorry, but given that the final is in Juventus' home stadium, that UEFA's president is, admittedly, a Juventus fan, and that Juventus have already been punished once because of corruption... I'm sorry if this makes me sound biased as a Benfica fan, but this whole situation just stinks. Not helping is the fact that the UEFA website, instead of being somewhat unbiased regarding this encounter, instead of saying Benfica has the lead, gives the title "JUVENTUS WITHIN A GOAL OF FINAL TARGET" to the match analysis. It's the little things...

[Lineker]

I for one am shocked that there are corrupt figures in both UEFA and Italian football.

[Matt]

I for one am shocked that there are corrupt figures in football.

FTFY.

[GoN_]

That was a hell of a match. We ended up being a little lucky, but we get to the final for the second straight year.

[Kaney]

How come two players got sent off from the bench? Before it started from the looks of it?

[GoN_]

I have absolutely no idea. It will cost us badly for the final.

[Colly]

Nah, second half ruck. I only caught the highlights but it looked silly and of course the Benfica player now misses the final.

[Baddar]

I hope Benfica go on to win it. I like them. They'll be good in the CL next season, providing they keep their squad together.

[GoN_]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=636379663115737&set=vb.317278538359186&type=2&theater

[Baddar]

Didn't think the final was until next week. Cool, gives me something to watch tonight.

[Lineker]

Apparently Tim Sherwood is scheduled to be a pundit tonight!

[Baddar]

I think he's been booked for a while. On my Sky guide, it says Matt Smith is joined by Gordon Strachan and Spurs boss Tim Sherwood.

[Lineker]

Sevilla: Beto, Fazio, Carrico, Moreno, Pareja, Coke, Mbia, Rakitic, Vitolo, Bacca, Reyes.

Subs: Varas, Navarro, Figueiras, Marin, Iborra, Trochowski, Gameiro.

Benfica: Oblak, Luisao, Pereira, Siqueira, Garay, Amorim, Sulejmani, Gaitan, Gomes, Lima, Rodrigo.

Subs: Artur, Vitoria, Jardel, Almeida, Djuricic, Cavaleiro, Cardozo.

Referee: Felix Brych (Germany).