UEFA Europa League Qualifying Rounds 2018/19

[HajdukSplit]

Legia Waraw lose at home to F91 Dudelange 2:1, they played with 10 men for most of the match but still they were trailing even when it was 11 v 11. The other side from Luxembourg (Progres Niederkorn) got a manageable result in Russia as well, losing 2:1 against Ufa. No longer are LUX sides minnows, I remember a few years back Salzburg losing to one of their sides

 

[Albatros]

That was more on Legia's atrocious form though, they already got kicked out of the CL qualification by Spartak Trnava and are only 10th in the domestic league.

 

[Acallabeth]

Wtf happened to zenit? Surely the guy they hired after Mancini got sacked is going to be under pressure for that result

The biggest mistake was playing Lodygin, who is beyond horrendous, in goal. He allowed goals on 4 first shots on target, which included an easy long ranged free kick, 2 short side shots and a header from inside the goalkeeper's area after a corner, that he should definitely have played. A good goalkeeper like Lunev should have definitely saved at least two of them, possibly all of them, and the game would be salvageable. Zenit players looked like absolute garbage as well, zero urgency, it doesn't matter if Semak played the reserves, with the skill and fees paid for those players, there can be no excuses for this trash. Finally, Dynamo are on a roll: including Zenit, they won their last 5 games 19-2. To make matters worse, the leg 2 will be played in St.Petersburg with no fans attending, so it's likely Zenit fans will see zero home eurocups games this year. Lol.

Luxembourg team looked pretty decent too. Ufa definitely shouldn't go easy on any opponent.

 

[Savi]

Luxembourg team looked pretty decent too. Ufa definitely shouldn't go easy on any opponent.

Close game, Ufa scored a last minute goal to advance.

 

[Ceremony]

Legia Waraw lose at home to F91 Dudelange 2:1, they played with 10 men for most of the match but still they were trailing even when it was 11 v 11. The other side from Luxembourg (Progres Niederkorn) got a manageable result in Russia as well, losing 2:1 against Ufa. No longer are LUX sides minnows, I remember a few years back Salzburg losing to one of their sides

Great group of lads, the Progres boys.

 

[HajdukSplit]

Dudelange already up 2 goals against Legia

Another upset potentially brewing is Pyunik from Armenia scoring a vital away goal in Israel against Maccabi Tel-Aviv

 

[Savi]

Keeping an eye on Zenit as well, they still need 2 goals to force OT against Minsk and have about 20 minutes left.

edit: two quick Dzyuba goals and Zenit lead 4-0, Paredes has been sent off though

 

[HajdukSplit]

Zenit up 6:1 now which will take them through. Maccabi Tel-Aviv come from behind to eliminate Pyunik

Besiktas on the verge of being eliminated by LASK Linz

 

[HajdukSplit]

Well that escalated quickly...Zenit end up winning 8:1 as they added two late goals

Besiktas progress on away goals as Negredo scored in the 93rd minute but was sent off for second yellow for taking off his shirt

 

[Savi]

Zenit up 6:1 now which will take them through. Maccabi Tel-Aviv come from behind to eliminate Pyunik

They won 8-1

 

[ViD]

The Zenit game was insane, they scored 6 goals playing with 10 men

 

[Acallabeth]

Honestly, that game could literally end 20:0 and it would be deserved. Dynamo got away with a murder series in full time alone, with at least 3 clear as day penalty kicks missed.

 

[Kshahdoo]

They should check the whole Zenit roster for doping, and management too, and S.-Petersburg air as well...

 

[Ceremony]

Some quality match fixing going on in that tie. 8-1

 

[Savi]

Both Belgian teams eliminate their Polish opponents with relative ease

All Dutch teams are out though so their coefficient could take another hit

 

[HajdukSplit]

So after making the World Cup final the Croatian clubs meanwhile having their worst Euro season in what I would say more than a decade when Hajduk were in the CL qualifying, Dinamo weren't even in Europe and Cibalia lost at home to some North Irish side

Only Dinamo left for Croatia, Rijeka lost at home to Sarpsborg ffs

 

[ViD]

Both Belgian teams eliminate their Polish opponents with relative ease

All Dutch teams are out though so their coefficient could take another hit

Belgium is already a much better football nation than Holland

 

[HajdukSplit]

Playoff matchups set, matches to be played on August 23 & 30

Champions Path
Olimpija Ljubljana (SVN) vs. Spartak Trnava (SVK)
APOEL Nicosia (CYP) vs. Astana (KAZ)
Rosenborg (NOR) vs. Shkendija (MKD)
F91 Dudelange (LUX) vs. CFR Cluj (ROU)
Suduva (LTU) vs. Celtic (SCO)
Sheriff Tiraspol (MDA) vs. Qarabag (AZE)
Malmo (SWE) vs. FC Midtjylland (DEN)
Torpedo Kutaisi (GEO) vs. Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL)

League Path
Sigma Olomouc (CZE) vs. Sevilla (ESP)
Sarpsborg (NOR) vs. Maccabi Tel-Aviv (ISR)
Gent (BEL) vs. Bordeaux (FRA)
Partizan Belgrade (SRB) vs. Besiktas (TUR)
Rapid Wien (AUT) vs. Steaua Bucharest (ROU)
Apollon Limassol (CYP) vs. FC Basel (SUI)
Rangers (SCO) vs. Ufa (RUS)
Atalanta (ITA) vs. FC Copenhagen (DEN)
Zenit St. Petersburg (RUS) vs. Molde (NOR)
Trencin (SVK) vs. AEK Larnaca (CYP)
Racing Genk (BEL) vs. Brondby (DEN)
Olympiakos (GRE) vs. Burnley (ENG)
Zorya Luhansk (UKR) vs. RB Leipzig (GER)

The winners of these ties will go to the group stage + the losers of the CL playoffs

 

[HoseEmDown]

They sure aren't making it easy on Burnley. First they have to go to Istanbul, now have to go Athens for another tough matchup. Luckily for them they don't have too hard opponents in the league before the ties in Watford and Fulham then Man U the weekend after.

 

[ViD]

Ufa will give a final test for Gerrard

 

[HajdukSplit]

They sure aren't making it easy on Burnley. First they have to go to Istanbul, now have to go Athens for another tough matchup. Luckily for them they don't have too hard opponents in the league before the ties in Watford and Fulham then Man U the weekend after.

In the past even English clubs that had no recent European tradition would be seeded in the playoffs, no longer the case with the new way they calculate the coefficient points. However, Istanbul was one of the toughest draws they could have gotten this round, they are a legit contender for Turk league title

 

[Evilo]

Tough draw for Bordeaux.

 

[HoseEmDown]

In the past even English clubs that had no recent European tradition would be seeded in the playoffs, no longer the case with the new way they calculate the coefficient points. However, Istanbul was one of the toughest draws they could have gotten this round, they are a legit contender for Turk league title

They definitely shouldn't be seeded cause they're English. If they get by Olympiacos that would be a top 3 in Turkey and top 2 in Greece. I don't think they'll win the Cup but can see them getting to the round of 16 if they keep that form up.

Atalanta vs Copenhagen is the best draw for me.

 

[MaxV]

What’s the record for biggest comeback in these 2-game series?

That Zenit game was crazy.

Clearly, they should have never been in 0-4 hole to begin with.

 

[Savi]

Belgium is already a much better football nation than Holland

Internationally, yeah. On club level I think right now Belgium has better depth, a more competitive league and just more good teams. However no Belgian team can match the talent or financial power Ajax has. Even though Ajax' downfall always seems to be the fact they think they're way better than they actually are, something you'll never see from a Belgian team.
Anyway I think both Ajax and PSV will make the CL which ironically might be worse for their coefficient since they won't win many games there, while Belgium will probably at least have 3 teams in the EL group stage with a chance to rack up some points. Don't think Brugge will do much in the CL as well, don't really have the squad for it.