Europa League 2017/2018

[Cassano]

Hahaha, Arsenal, are you kidding me? Köln didn't win a single game this season in the league, have two points and 4 goals scored in 12 games, dead last in the standings, of course.

I really feel happy for their coach, Stöger. I like that guy.

0 starters played for Arsenal to be fair.

I would like to see Arsenal play Celtic. Should be a good atmosphere.

 

[HajdukSplit]

A: Villarreal with a hard fought win in Kazakhstan was enough to win the group with a game to spare (they have better H2H over Slavia). Slavia-Astana on MD6 is the matchup for 2nd place, Slavia only need a point

B: Partizan Belgrade advance to the next round beating Young Boys 2:1 at home while the already progressed Dynamo Kiev surprisingly lost in Albania to Skenderbeu. On MD6, Dynamo host Partizan to determine first place, Dynamo only needing a draw

C: Braga's 3:1 win over Hoffenheim see them advance to the next stage while the Germans are out with a game to spare. Ludogorets miss a chance to progress after losing at home to Istanbul Basaksehir. Ludogorets now probably need to get a result in Germany on the final MD or must depend on Braga getting a result in Turkey

D: AC Milan win the group with their 2nd hammering of Austria Wien, their only impressive performances in the group stage. Austria Wien-AEK Athens on the final matchday will determine 2nd place with AEK needing a point

E: Atalanta and Lyon have already progressed, with Atalanta hammering Everton today. They both play each other in Italy on the final matchday to determine 1st place, winner wins the group, a draw of 1:1 or 0:0 will be enough for Atalanta while a draw of 2:2+ will be good enough for Lyon

F: The only group without a team to progress so far, the surprise package Sheriff still top the group after their win over Zlin while Lokomotiv jumped above Copenhagen with their win in Moscow today. The big match on MD6 will be Copenhagen-Sheriff, the loser is basically out with Lokomotiv expected to get a result against Zlin

G: Steaua and Viktoria both progress today despite Steaua losing in Czech Republic, however Steaua must likely beat Lugano at home to win the group. Plzen can win the group with a win in Israel + Steaua dropping points

H: Despite the loss today, Arsenal confirm 1st place in the group while both BATE-Zvezda fail to capitalize and only earn a point. BATE are in the toughest position, they not only have to win at the Emirates but they must hope Zvezda-Koln end in a draw. Zvezda-Koln on MD6 will likely determine 2nd place with Zvezda only needing a point

I: Salzburg top the group with a win over Guimaraes after Konyaspor-Marseille played a draw. Marseille and Konyaspor will fight for 2nd with Marseille controlling their own destiny

J: The Swedish side Ostersunds continue to make a name for themselves in this competition and progress in a group consisting Athletic Bilbao and Hertha with a game to spare. Athletic Bilbao come from behind to beat Hertha and now only need a point in Ukraine on the final matchday to progress while Zorya must win

K: Group was determined before today, Lazio win the group, Nice finish 2nd

L: The top two were already known, Zenit and Sociedad both won today and they will determine first place on Md6 in Spain, Zenit only needing a point

 

[Hadoop]

Watch out Europa League. Atletico Madrid are back.

 

[Savant]

Since Everton is already eliminated they didn’t bring anyone who is going to play in the Derby to their Europa League game. Allardyce didn’t even go. He stayed at Goodison for training. The average age on the Ev’s bench tonight is 17.86 years old.

 

[HajdukSplit]

Astana leading in Prague which will see them through, Group F continuing the be the group with a lack of goals

 

[Bon Esprit]

I don't think Köln has any chance at Red Star.

 

[Savant]

Klinsmann in goal for Berlin

 

[John Pedro]

Nice match between Real Sociedad and Zenit. Three amazing goals. Sociedad's was all Januzaj with a fantastic trick on the defender then a setup that they striker just need to redirect it to the goal, he was amazing in this match created so much for his team. Ivanovic scored on a bicycle kick and Paredes dibbled two defenders in the box before finishing with such a soft touch. Rulli was awful, though. I guess that he as an Argentine thought he was a Zenit player too.

 

[HajdukSplit]

Klinsmann in goal for Berlin

Saved a penalty which saved a point, though it didn't mean much in the grand scheme for Hertha

Ostersunds in their debut in Europe qualify for the R32, also impressive is Red Star Belgrade who are the only team who made the R32 to start from the 1st Round qualifiers all the way back in early July, they were also unseeded in the last two rounds

Every team secured at least one point, with Vardar today becoming the first Macedonian side to get a result in UEFA club competition group stage

 

[HajdukSplit]

Here are the seeds for Mondays draw, the teams from same country and same group cannot draw each other

SEEDED
Villarreal (ESP)
Dynamo Kiev (UKR)
Sporting Braga (POR)
AC Milan (ITA)
Atalanta (ITA)
Lokomotiv Moscow (RUS)
Viktoria Plzen (CZE)
Arsenal (ENG)
Red Bull Salzburg (AUT)
Athletic Bilbao (ESP)
Lazio (ITA)
Zenit St. Petersburg (RUS)
CSKA Moscow (RUS)
Atletico Madrid (ESP)
RB Leipzig (GER)
Sporting CP (POR)

UNSEEDED
Astana (KAZ)
Partizan Belgrade (SRB)
Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL)
AEK Athens (GRE)
Lyon (FRA)
FC Copenhagen (DEN)
Steaua Bucharest (ROU)
Red Star Belgrade (SRB)
Marseille (FRA)
Ostersunds (SWE)
Nice (FRA)
Real Sociedad (ESP)
Napoli (ITA)
Spartak Moscow (RUS)
Celtic (SCO)
Borussia Dortmund (GER)

 

[YNWA14]

Woah some of those unseeded teams are strong.

 

[Live in the Now]

Arsenal-Napoli and Milan-Dortmund immediately please.

 

[VEGASKING]

Even money on Arsenal drawing Napoli or Dortmund? Sociedad and the French teams would also be nice to avoid.

 

[ViD]

Strongest last 32 in EL of all times

 

[Cassano]

What an amazing performance by Wilshere. Somehow, Livermore and Drinkwater will still be getting caps though.

 

[Evilo]

Lyon unseeded is a joke...

 

[Theokritos]

Strongest last 32 in EL of all times

Yes, sure, but "of all times" only really means "since 2010" here.

Lyon unseeded is a joke...

Napoli too.

 

[Deficient Mode]

How were those seeds even determined? 12 group winners and then what?

 

[ViD]

How were those seeds even determined? 12 group winners and then what?

12 group winners plus 4 best 3rd ranked CL teams.

 

[Deficient Mode]

12 group winners plus 4 best 3rd ranked CL teams.

3rd place teams that earned the most points in the group stage?

 

[Evilo]

Napoli too.

Yeah them too. And BVB.

 

[Pouchkine]

Lyon finished 2nd to Atalanta that's why they are unseeded. I must agree the field is very strong and there's lots of very interesting possible matchups. Also there's no clear cut favorite and at least 10 teams should think they can win it all.

 

[HajdukSplit]

3rd place teams that earned the most points in the group stage?

Yes, Dortmund only got 2-3 points hence they are unseeded. If they used coefficients then Napoli/Dortmund would easily have been seeded but UEFA uses CL results

 

[Deficient Mode]

Yes, Dortmund only got 2-3 points hence they are unseeded. If they used coefficients then Napoli/Dortmund would easily have been seeded but UEFA uses CL results

Ahh I figured that was the most likely alternative. Weird to go by points when you can't really compare the strength of one group to another but can't say Dortmund deserve any favors right now.

 

[Hadoop]

Yeah them too. And BVB.

Disagree. BVB are hot garbage right now. Unless they get a coach whose tactics are better suited for their personnel they are going nowhere.