UEFA Champions League Qualifying Rounds 2017/18

[Evilo]

Second half totally in favor of Ajax except in the last 5 minutes where Nice could have (underservedly) won it.
That Cardinale mistake completely changed the game. Lots of cynical fouls by Ajax, but they're used to Europe, even as young as they are.

 

[John Pedro]

Ajax probably would've won this match had they started with De Jong and Neres instead of Schone and Kluivert. De Jong plan and simple much better than Schone while Kluivert didn't seem ready (maybe it was just a bad day for him, don't know).

Nice had their chances, too. Plea missed a clear cut scoring chance late and their GK gave away a goal. Dalbert not starting hurt them a bit, he had some good moments and gave Veltman a lot of trouble with his blazing pace.

Great game overall.

 

[HajdukSplit]

Astana - Legia Warsaw 3:1
Red Bull Salzburg - Rijeka 1:1
Hapoel Beer Sheva - Ludogorets Razgrad 2:0
Viitorul Constanta - APOEL 1:0
Maribor - FH Hafnarfjordur 1:0
Celtic - Rosenborg 0:0

Legia put themselves in a tough spot, they got the crucial away goal but conceded a third in the 90th minute. Ludogorets in a more difficult spot without an away goal. Hapoel Beer Sheva continuing their solid Euro results from last season where they got results against the likes of Inter and Southampton. All to play for in the other ties, Maribor had a tough time beating FH while Celtic were held scoreless by Rosenborg.

Dynamo Kiev - Young Boys 3:1
Nice - Ajax 1:1
Club Brugge - Istanbul Basaksehir 3:3

Similar situation to what happened in Kazakhstan with Legia happened to Young Boys. They scored a crucial away goal in the 90th minute but then conceded with literally the last kick of the game (classic route one goal, think the goalkeeper even got the assist ). Tough task to come back against experienced Euro campaigners Dynamo Kiev. Solid result for Ajax in south France while Istanbul Basaksehir came from two goals down to take a 3:2 lead in Belgium before conceding the equalizer late

Return legs next week

 

[Milos Krasic]

Definitely a strange ending to the Dynamo/Young Boys match, though I felt Dynamo deserved that last goal for how much they controlled the contest. 2-1 would have been pretty harsh considering Young Boys didn't produce really anything. Dynamo could have gotten goals from Kádár (hit the crossbar) and Korzun (missed 1-on-1 with keeper). So the late Harmash goal, though pretty lucky, wasn't totally unfair.

 

[YNWA14]

Ajax probably would've won this match had they started with De Jong and Neres instead of Schone and Kluivert. De Jong plan and simple much better than Schone while Kluivert didn't seem ready (maybe it was just a bad day for him, don't know).

Nice had their chances, too. Plea missed a clear cut scoring chance late and their GK gave away a goal. Dalbert not starting hurt them a bit, he had some good moments and gave Veltman a lot of trouble with his blazing pace.

Great game overall.

No idea why Schone is still there.

Neres is good but he got to come on late and run at tired defenders when Ajax were controlling the game. Very different.

 

[ViD]

Nice vs Ajax is a brutal matchup for just third qualifying round

 

[Savi]

while Istanbul Basaksehir came from two goals down to take a 3:2 lead in Belgium before conceding the equalizer late

Gonna be tough. Our defense wasn't yet on point and the only one who was actually any good (Stefano Denswil) might leave for HSV

Istanbul impressed me though. They don't look like your usual Turkish football team, they actually seem to know what they're doing

 

[John Pedro]

No idea why Schone is still there.

Neres is good but he got to come on late and run at tired defenders when Ajax were controlling the game. Very different.

Not only running at tired defenders but running at angry fans too I agree with you, though.

 

[YNWA14]

I'd rather see Ajax line up with Kluivert on the left, Neres on the right and de Jong starting in place of Schone (van de Beek playing the holder).

Younes is okay but nothing special and Schone is a liability...especially as the deepest midfielder.

 

[ScottishCanuck]

We struggled badly without a striker available. All Rosenborg had to do was sit 11 men behind the ball and hit us on the counter. There was no penetration.

Think it will be a different story next week, providing that Griffiths is fit.

 

[John Pedro]

I'd rather see Ajax line up with Kluivert on the left, Neres on the right and de Jong starting in place of Schone (van de Beek playing the holder).

Younes is okay but nothing special and Schone is a liability...especially as the deepest midfielder.

Other than his free kicks I haven't been impressed by Schone. Seems like it's just a matter of time until they field a Ziyech-de Jong-de Beek midfield. Younes is too predictable, Ajax should cash in while his value is at its peak (which I think they will do if they can beat the competition for Richarlison).

 

[HajdukSplit]

Qarabag are the first team in the playoff round after beating Sheriff 2:1 in Moldova, for Qarabag its their first time ever in the CL playoffs after several attempts and coming close each time

 

[Evilo]

Nice up 1-0 at Ajax. Through as of now.

 

[ViD]

CSKA is through with an average effort.

Need Kiev, Ajax and Plzen to get eliminated to become seeded

 

[gnr25]

CSKA Moskva won 1-0 today to comfortably advance on agg. 3-0 into the league patch playoff round. Seeding is still TBD, but they are ahead of Sporting, so the Portuguese chances of being seeded are not so good.

Slavia Praha lost 2-1 @ BATE but progress on away goals after 2-2 agg.

After losing first leg 1-0 in Romania, APOEL won 1-0 against Viitorul today forcing extra time. APOEL currently lead 2-0 in the extra time after scoring twice, so Viitorul must score twice in the final 15 minutes in order to advance.

Istanbul are up 2-0 in the second half and so appear to be comfortably going through to the league route playoffs.

 

[John Pedro]

Ajax goal was all Kluivert. His dribbling really sparked the team.

 

[Evilo]

1-1 !
Not at fault for the goal, but Malang Sarr has been awful in both legs.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

Beer Sheva is blowing it pretty hard. Need a strong second half.

 

[HajdukSplit]

10-man FCK take the aggregate lead over Vardar who did manage to score an away goal in Denmark. Copenhagen scored the goal minutes after Gregus was sent off. Vardar can still advance in the tie if they can score

 

[YNWA14]

Forgot this was on because of the Liverpool game. How was Ajax been? van de Beek scoring again...lovely lad.

 

[Evilo]

Nice sinking in that second half of the first half. Nice going from defending agressively, going forward without the ball to being way too passive.

 

[Evilo]

Forgot this was on because of the Liverpool game. How was Ajax been? van de Beek scoring again...lovely lad.

Nice was the better team for the first 20 minutes, and then it was all Ajax. 1-1 probably fair at halftime.

 

[HajdukSplit]

Legia fans with a heavy choreo before the game, won't post it due to political nature but you can see for yourself on twitter. At the moment however they will be crashing out to Astana

Rijeka-RBS is a pretty even game, Rijeka slightly better of the two sides but Salzburg had their chances

 

[YNWA14]

Just saw the goal. Very nice from Maradonny.

 

[HajdukSplit]

Copenhagen complete their comeback on Vardar, the Macedonians really have themselves to blame

Ludogorets scored their third goal over HBS, the Israelis can still advance if they can score