GWT: Europa Conference League

[bluesfan94]

I think we only need one thread here, but can adjust as needed.

Spoiler: MW1

Matchweek 1 - Thurs., Sept. 21

Home	Away	Time (CT)	Venue
LOSC Lille	Olimpija Ljubljana	9:30 AM	Stade Pierre-Mauroy
Zrinjski	AZ Alkmaar	11:45 AM	Stadion Bijeli Brijeg
Legia Warszawa	Aston Villa	11:45 AM	Polish Army Stadium
Ferencvaros	Cukaricki	11:45 AM	Groupama Arena
Racing Genk	Fiorentina	11:45 AM	Cegeka Arena
Eintracht Frankfurt	Aberdeen	11:45 AM	Deutsche Bank Park
HJK	PAOK	11:45 AM	Bolt Arena
Fenerbahce	Nordsjaelland	11:45 AM	Sukru Saracoglu
Ludogorets	Spartak Trnava	11:45 AM	Ludogorets Arena
Slovan Bratislava	Klaksvikar Itrottarfelag	2:00 PM	Tehelne Pole
Zorya Luhansk	KAA Gent	2:00 PM	Arena Lublin
Maccabi Tel-Aviv	Breidablik	2:00 PM	Bloomfield
Dinamo Zagreb	Astana	2:00 PM	Stadion Maksimir
Viktoria Plzen	Ballkani	2:00 PM	Doosan Arena
Club Brugge	Besiktas	2:00 PM	Jan Breydel Stadium
Lugano	Bodo/Glimt	2:00 PM	Letzigrund

Matchweek 2 - Thurs., Oct. 5

Home	Away	Time (CT)	Venue
Astana	Viktoria Plzen	9:30 AM	Astana Arena
Klaksvikar Itrottarfelag	LOSC Lille	11:45 AM	Torsvollur
Olimpija	Slovan Bratislava	11:45 AM	Stozice Stadium
KAA Gent	Maccabi Tel-Aviv	11:45 AM	Ghelamco Arena
Breidablik	Zorya Luhansk	11:45 AM	Laugardalsvollur
Ballkani	Dinamo Zagreb	11:45 AM	Pristina City Stadium
Besiktas	FC Lugano	11:45 AM	Vodafone Arena
Bodo/Glimt	Club Brugge	11:45 AM	Aspmyra Stadion
Aston Villa	Zrinjski	2:00 PM	Villa Park
AZ Alkmaar	Legia Warszawa	2:00 PM	AFAS Stadion
Cukaricki	Racing Genk	2:00 PM	Gradski Stadion Dubocica
ACF Fiorentina	Ferencvaros	2:00 PM	Stadio Artemio Franchi
PAOK	Eintracht Frankfurt	2:00 PM	Stadio Toumbas
Aberdeen	HJK	2:00 PM	Pittodrie Stadium
Nordsjaelland	Ludogorets	2:00 PM	Right to Dream Park
Spartak Trnava	Fenerbahce	2:00 PM	Stadion Antona Malatinskeho

Click to read more...

 

[Savi]

Bosnian champions Zrinjski were down 3-0 to AZ but came back all the way to win 4-3.
Legia Warszaw beat Aston Villa in the same group.

 

[HajdukSplit]

Funny thing is I think Zrinjski’s manager was very much on the hot seat but this result should save him for now, not bad for a team full of Croatian league mid table veterans and Hajduk rejects

 

[Jack Straw]

There's that damn Central Time again!

 

[Savi]

Incredible game from the Besiktas goalie as without him Brugge would have beaten them by 4 or 5 I think. Instead he keeps it close and they steal a point in the 88th minute on their only good chance of the game.

 

[bluesfan94]

Updated for MW2

 

[HajdukSplit]

Lugano come from two goals down to beat Bestikas in Istanbul 3:2, the three goals coming in the final 10 minutes with Bailly scoring an own goal

 

[Savi]

Lugano come from two goals down to beat Bestikas in Istanbul 3:2, the three goals coming in the final 10 minutes with Bailly scoring an own goal

And should have lost their first game against Brugge as well. Pretty overrated team
Brugge won in Norway against Bodo and play Lugano twice now, could really take control of the group

Both Gent and Genk won easily as well. Good night for Belgian clubs

Some surprises with Dinamo Zagreb losing to Ballkani, Klaksvik holding Lille to a scoreless draw, Aston Villa needing a 94th minute winner to beat Zrinjski, PAOK beating Frankfurt and Nordsjaelland destroying Ludogorets 7-1.

 

[HajdukSplit]

Zrinjski played relatively well in the first half, had some decent chances too but in the 2nd half it was all Villa, pretty much all the play was in Zrinjski's half and you can tell they are not used to playing at this intensity, the players could barely move after the 70th or so minute. Dinamo might be on their third manager of the season and we're only in October, lots of pressure on Jakirovic after back to back losses, this loss today is a big embarrassment for them, I know transfermarkt isn't the be all end all but Ballkani's net value is lower than even some Croatian 2nd division clubs

 

[Savi]

Zrinjski played relatively well in the first half, had some decent chances too but in the 2nd half it was all Villa, pretty much all the play was in Zrinjski's half and you can tell they are not used to playing at this intensity, the players could barely move after the 70th or so minute. Dinamo might be on their third manager of the season and we're only in October, lots of pressure on Jakirovic after back to back losses, this loss today is a big embarrassment for them, I know transfermarkt isn't the be all end all but Ballkani's net value is lower than even some Croatian 2nd division clubs

It's finally Hajduk's year?

 

[JPBolts]

Zrinjski played relatively well in the first half, had some decent chances too but in the 2nd half it was all Villa, pretty much all the play was in Zrinjski's half and you can tell they are not used to playing at this intensity, the players could barely move after the 70th or so minute. Dinamo might be on their third manager of the season and we're only in October, lots of pressure on Jakirovic after back to back losses, this loss today is a big embarrassment for them, I know transfermarkt isn't the be all end all but Ballkani's net value is lower than even some Croatian 2nd division clubs

Zrinjski played really well, and defended expertly. The group now already has a reset, as all teams have 3 points and zero GD.

 

[JPBolts]

was a tough game today, lucky to win 2-1. But getting the Lenglet goal ruled offsides by VAR then we apparently got an apology after the game saying the goal shouldn't have been ruled out

 

[Power Man]

Chaibi

HOLY CRAP

 

[Fjorden]

And should have lost their first game against Brugge as well. Pretty overrated team
Brugge won in Norway against Bodo and play Lugano twice now, could really take control of the group

Both Gent and Genk won easily as well. Good night for Belgian clubs

Some surprises with Dinamo Zagreb losing to Ballkani, Klaksvik holding Lille to a scoreless draw, Aston Villa needing a 94th minute winner to beat Zrinjski, PAOK beating Frankfurt and Nordsjaelland destroying Ludogorets 7-1.

It will be a group final between Bodø/Glimt and Club Brügge now. Bodø needs to win with at least two goals to win the group.

Strong performance by Brügge today with 5-0 win against Besiktas. Bodø with a 5-2 win against Lugano.

 

[Power Man]

Amoura is amazing

 

[JPBolts]

 

[gary69]

Trapp had bad match, largely at fault for both goals conceded as Frankfurt lost at home to PAOK.

 

[gary69]

It will be a group final between Bodø/Glimt and Club Brügge now. Bodø needs to win with at least two goals to win the group.

Strong performance by Brügge today with 5-0 win against Besiktas. Bodø with a 5-2 win against Lugano.

Turkey had a horrid day, as Fenerbahce was well beaten too, 6-1. Maybe the match would have gone differently had their 2-2 equalizer at the brink of half-time been allowed to stand.

But they were terrible in the 2nd half. On paper they should be much better than this.

 

[Savi]

Turkey has always been overrated

Besiktas are a horrible team which is odd if you look at the names on paper, however on the field they're just a bunch of big names past their prime, probably just there to cash a check

It was 5-0 last night, Brugge could have easily scored 8 and they should have put 5 past them in the home game as well but their goalie was amazing in that match

Brugge v Bodo could be a really good game especially if Bodo manages to score first but I think Brugge takes care of it and wins the group.

 

[Savi]

Nordsjaelland beat Fenerbahce 6-1 and Ludogorets 7-1 yet they finish 3rd behind both teams lol

Genk are out, they've had a terrible run in Europe, going from the CL qualifying rounds to out of Europe in December.

Last years semi-finalists AZ out as well after losing to Legia tonight.

 

[Jussi]

Perparim Hetemaj bows out of football by scoring from the penalty spot for HJK at the end of the game.

 

[HajdukSplit]

Gotta somewhat feel for Nordsjaelland, won two group games 7:1 and 6:1 against the teams that advanced and were eliminated with 10 points, the killer was a home draw to Trnava which was the Slovakians’ only point. Only other slight surprise was Besiktas failing to get out the group but they lost all three home games so maybe not so much

 

[HajdukSplit]

The playoff draw is December 18, group winners get a bye to the Round of 16 while the playoff will be contested between group runners-up (seeded) and EL drop outs (unseeded)

Group Winners: Lille, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Viktoria Plzen, Club Brugge, Aston Villa, Fiorentina, PAOK, Fenerbahce

Playoff draw…
SEEDED: Slovan Bratislava, Gent, Dinamo Zagreb, Bodo/Glimt, Legia Warsaw, Ferencvaros, Eintracht Frankfurt, Ludogorets Razgrad
UNSEEDED: Olympiakos, Ajax, Real Betis, Strum Graz, Union SG, Maccabi Haifa, Servette, Molde

 

[gary69]

I suppose there is country protection in the draw, so Union SG can't face Gent, or Molde can't play against Bodo/Glimt.