Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to Soccer Futbol Forum. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
2008/09 UEFA Cup
Topic Started: Jul 16 2008, 07:21 AM (1,855 Views)
Yogi
Member Avatar
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
shelsoccer,Oct 7 2008
11:08 AM
How does UEFA decide who plays whom home and away?

I have been trying to figure that out too and have been all around UEFA's website without finding an answer. A fixture list has not yet been posted, once that has been done maybe we can deduce how they determined home and away games?

With so many teams from Europe's four best leagues-England, Italy, Germany and Spain plus many other teams from the leagues just below them- France, Holland, Russia, Portugal, Turkey and Greece you can see how almost every group will be competitive. As a Milan fan I am satisifed with their draw, Heerenveen, Braga, Portsmouth and Wolfsburg are competitive teams from good leagues but they also should be teams Milan should defeat. They should be fearing playing Milan much more than the reverse.

As Simon says this should be interesting round of group games and adds to our midweek schedule of matches available!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Mr. Pither
Member Avatar
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
The UEFA Cup has given less fashionable clubs like Zenit, CSKA Moscow, Sevilla the opportunity to win the title while other clubs like Middlesbrough, AZ Alkmaar, Celtic and Getafe have made a major impact too. I will hope more teams like this will be this year's UEFA Cup title challengers. I will then be looking out for clubs like Standard Liege, Heerenveen, Portsmouth and St. Etienne to do well this tournament.
P-I-T-H-E-R ...as in Brotherhood, but with PI instead of the BRO and no HOOD
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
badgerboy
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
I think the home & away thing is done by a computer.

The five teams within each group are given a (random - I think) number which determines the sequence of games.

You end up with a sequence something like this:

1st match day: D v B C not playing
E v A

2nd match day: B v E A not playing
C v D

3rd match day: A v B D not playing
E v C

4th match day: C v A B not playing
D v E

5th match day: A v D E not playing
B v C

Link

When deciding which team is A, B etc. the computer also has to take into account the fact that teams from Russia & Norway - "very cold" countries - shouldn't play at home on Matchday's 4 or 5 - so must be E.

Although Spartak aren't because if they were they would clash with CSKA & you can't have two matches in the same city on the same day (or something like that) plus they have a plastic pitch/undersoil heating or something which makes their matches more playable in December...

And another bunch of "cold" countries can't play at home on Matchday 5 so can't be A or B.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
libero
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Thank you badgerboy for the information. I too ahd eben wondering how this was determined. No surprise I guess that some statistical guru would figure it out on the link you provided! But I am surprised to read where you write no cold weather country team will host a game on matchdays 4 or 5. This doesn't apply in the Champions League as I believe Zenit, Dynamo Kiev and Shakhtar Donetsk will all be hosting games on one of the final two match days.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Mr. Pither
Member Avatar
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
I also apprecaite the information badgerboy. Last night was the first round of group matches in the UEFA Cup with these results:

Group Home Away
A Schalke 3-1 PSG
A Twente 1-0 Racing
B Galatasaray 1-0 Olympiacos
B Hertha 1-1 Benfica
C Sevilla 2-0 Stuttgart
C Partizan 1-2 Sampdoria
D Udinese 2-0 Tottenham
D Dinamo Zagreb 3-2 NEC
E Heerenveen 1-3 Milan
E Braga 3-0 Portsmouth
F Žilina 1-2 Hamburg
F Aston Villa 2-1 Ajax
G København 1-3 St Etienne
G Rosenborg 0-0 Club Brugge
H CSKA Moskva 3-0 Deportivo
H Nancy 3-0 Feyenoord

Can we say that there were no real surprises in this round? I don't see any although the margins of Braga's, Nancy's and CSKA Moscow's victory margins may have surprised. St Etienne, Milan and Sampdoria with good road victories.
P-I-T-H-E-R ...as in Brotherhood, but with PI instead of the BRO and no HOOD
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Simon
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
I'd agree with that because while I was surprised when I saw the Portsmouth result, on reflection it's the margin that's most surprising, losing in Braga isn't a huge upset in itself. In amongst Portsmouth's generally impressive results they've had a couple of real blowouts this season, by 4-0 to Chelsea on two occasions and 6-0 to City. Harry Redknapp strongly criticised the referee last night but also acknowledged his team's off night. The problem is that they play AC Milan next, although in this strange group stage format it's possible to squeak through to the next round with even 3 dodgy results under your belt.

I saw the last half hour of the Tottenham game, and they played pretty well. Their dodgy keeper Heurelho Gomes made a terrible error to give a penalty away from which di Natale gave Udinese the lead, but Spurs made some good chances to equalise while I was watching. They didn't take them though, and were obliged to over-commit in attack, which allowed Udinese to seal it on the break. But Spurs are repeatedly pressing the self-destruct button, not just with Gomes' howler but with yet another silly red card, their 3rd in 2 matches. Their next 3 domestic games are against the combative Bolton, followed by Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City, so there hardly seems to be an end in sight.

Aston Villa-Ajax followed straight after, and that was a really entertaining game. Both sides played some great football and were committed to attack, and the atmosphere was electric at Villa Park so I was glad I took the time to watch it. The game seemed to be won and lost on the flanks, as Ajax really struggled with Villa's excellent wing-play. James Milner and especially Ashley Young had the beating of their full-backs and were then able either to put a succession of dangerous crosses in or dribble into the Ajax area and cause havoc. Laursen headed Villa ahead, Vermaelen's header levelled it and then Gareth Barry steered home a nice winner from Ashley Young's low cut-back that Ajax should have dealt with.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Simon
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Thursday, 06 November 2008
AC Milan 1-0 Braga
Ajax 1-0 MSK Zilina
Benfica 0-2 Galatasaray
FC Metalist Kharkiv 0-0 Hertha Berlin
Feyenoord 1-3 CSKA Moscow
Lech Poznan 2-2 AS Nancy
Man City 3-2 Twente Enschede
Racing Santander 1-1 Schalke 04
Slavia Prague 0-1 Aston Villa
Spartak Moscow 1-2 Udinese
St Etienne 3-0 Rosenborg
Standard Liege 1-0 Sevilla
Tottenham 4-0 Dinamo Zagreb
Valencia 1-1 FC Copenhagen
VfB Stuttgart 2-0 Partizan Belgrade
Wolfsburg 5-1 Heerenveen

Some interesting results yesterday, impressive away victories for Galatasaray, CSKA Moscow and Udinese. The Tottenham revival continued apace with a resounding 4-0 win behind a Darren Bent hat-trick, while Standard Liege gave further notice about what a good young side they have by beating Sevilla. The other two Spanish teams drew home matches having been ahead. Aston Villa are in good shape and that was a good win for St Etienne even if Rosenborg aren't the force that they used to be. I'd commented a couple of times in the England thread that Portsmouth were playing AC Milan this week but in fact I was wrong, I'd heard that their next UEFA Cup game is against Milan but Milan had another game first, which they won only in injury-time with a goal from Ronaldinho. Manchester City made their bow in group play with an entertaining 3-2 win over Twente, which gives me the occasion to poke fun at the poor Twente manager Steve McClaren. In August, ahead of their CL tie with Arsenal, McClaren showed that if you haven't yet had the chance to learn Dutch you should do the next best thing - which of course is to speak pidgin English in a ridiculous Dutch accent. If there's anyone out there who hasn't seen this, it's comedy gold, but you will cringe like hell on his behalf.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZnoP4sUV90&feature=related

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Merengue
Administrator
[ *  *  * ]
Oh my God that is hilarious Simon. Reminds me of when I first came to the US and people would start talking to me louder hoping I would understand their English better!

In the Champions League discussion it was noted that no team from either England or Spain won this past week. Well English clubs, notably Tottenham rebounded in the UEFA Cup but it was a disastrous week all along for Spanish sides as not one team won a match in Europe this week!
http://twitter.com/#!/SocrFutbolForum
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
valenciano
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Here is a review of Thursday's UEFA Cup play,

Quote:
 
Two late goals from AC Milan denied Portsmouth a famous victory on a night that saw the Rossoneri secure their progress to the knockout phase of the UEFA Cup along with CSKA Moscow, St Etienne and Manchester City.


I was happy with Valencia's 4-0 win over Rosenborg. I don't think it was quite as 'flattering' as the linked article says but it was a good way for Valencia to get back to scoring after last weekend's scoreless league draw. I am somewhat surprised to see St Etienne have already clinched a spot in the next round considering how much they are struggling in league play.

It has been a good week for Deportivo with comfortable wins in league and European play. I was also surrised at the ease of Manchester City's win at Schalke. The German club are having a poor season so far.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Simon
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Thursday, 27 November 2008
Braga 2-3 Wolfsburg
CSKA Moscow 2-1 Lech Poznan
Club Bruges 1-1 St Etienne
Deportivo La Coruna 3-0 Feyenoord
Dinamo Zagreb 0-1 Spartak Moscow
Galatasaray 0-1 FC Metalist Kharkiv
Hamburg 0-1 Ajax
MSK Zilina 0-0 Slavia Prague
NEC Nijmegen 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Olympiakos 5-1 Benfica
PSG 2-2 Racing Santander
Partizan Belgrade 0-1 Standard Liege
Portsmouth 2-2 AC Milan
Rosenborg 0-4 Valencia
Sampdoria 1-1 VfB Stuttgart
Schalke 04 0-2 Manchester City

Group table standings:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/e...les/default.stm

I watched the City game and they gave an excellent performance in Germany. They're normally so inconsistent, but at least that's now two brilliant performances in a week. Surely there won't be a third in the Manchester derby on Sunday? I noticed that City rested a few players for the United game, most notably Robinho, but they've got a great crop of young players and it was Daniel Sturridge who particularly shone last night, playing on the left of a front three. I felt sorry for Tony Adams who's had a rocky start as Portsmouth boss since Harry Redknapp left. They've got such an injury crisis it was a very weakened side that played last night and they couldn't even make up the full complement of subs. If they could have beaten a team like AC Milan it would have been the perfect tonic for them, but those two late goals denied them. Speaking of tonics, that was a nice way for Valencia to exorcise those defeats against Rosenborg in the CL last season! I was surprised by the margin of Olympiakos's victory over Benfica, what's happened to the Eagles of Lisbon?

AC Milan, Manchester City, Saint Etienne, CSKA Moscow, Shakhtar Donetsk, Aab Aalborg and the holders Zenit St Petersburg are the 7 teams so far guaranteed a spot in the UEFA Cup's Round of 32.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Yogi
Member Avatar
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
I don't know Milan pulled out that draw at Portsmouth. The team weren't playing well but Ronaldinho, as is becoming his habit, rescued the team with another free kick goal and Inzaghi scored in injury time to tie it up. It probably was more than Milan deserved for their effort and is not something I would like to see them repeat but the ability to rescue what looked like a lost cause is an encouraging sign.

Simon, thanks for adding the Champions League teams "dropping" down to the UEFA Cup when the competition resumes next year. The last few UEFA Cup winners did not follow that route but you would still have to think some of these Champions League teams will be leading contenders in the tournament, most notably the current holders Zenit.

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Merengue
Administrator
[ *  *  * ]
http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-...uters&type=lgns

Quote:
 
Hamburg led a trio of former European champions into the UEFA Cup knockout phase on Thursday and previous winners Valencia also secured a last 32 place.

Aston Villa and Ajax Amsterdam progressed from Group F along with Hamburg, whose 2-0 victory at Slavia Prague meant Villa qualified despite a 2-1 home defeat by Slovakia’s Zilina.

Ajax did not play on Thursday but their six-point haul ensures the four times European champions will be in the first knockout round draw.

Valencia, the 2004 UEFA Cup winners, progressed from Group G after a 1-1 draw at home to Club Bruges.

VfL Wolfsburg and Braga qualified from Group E, joining favourites AC Milan, CSKA Moscow, Manchester City, St Etienne, Udinese, Galatasaray, Standard Liege, Twente Enschede and Metalist Kharkiv who had already reached the last 32.
http://twitter.com/#!/SocrFutbolForum
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Yogi
Member Avatar
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
These are the eight third place teams in the Champions League who "drop" down to the UEFA Cup:

Bordeaux, Werder Bremen, Shakhtar Donetsk, Marseille, Aalborg, Fiorentina, Dynamo Kiev and Zenit St. Peterburg.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Manzanares
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
This week's results:

PSG 4-0 TWENTE
RACING 3-1 MANCHESTER CITY
OLYMPIACOS 4-0 HERTHA BERLÍN
BENFICA 0-1 METALIST JARKIV
SAMPDORIA 1-0 SEVILLA
STUTTGART 3-0 STANDARD LIEJA
NEC NIMEGA 2-0 UDINESE
TOTTENHAM 2-2 SPARTAK M.
PORTSMOUTH 3-0 HEERENVEEN
MILAN 2-2 WOLFSBURGO
HAMBURGO 3-1 ASTON VILLA
AJAX 2-2 SLAVIA PRAGA
BRUJAS 0-1 FC COPENHAGUE
SAINT ETIENNE 2-2 VALENCIA
DEPORTIVO 1-0 NANCY
FEYENOORD 0-1 LECH POZNAN

Sevilla, who won the UEFA Cup in 2006 and 2007 were eliminated by Stuttgart's win today. Racing defeated Man City but it was not enough as PSG easily won their match to eliminate Racing in their first season in Europe.

So these then are the 32 teams left who will be in tomorrow's draw:

Manchester City

Twente Enschede

Paris St Germain

Metalist Kharkiv

Galatasaray

Olympiakos Piraeus

Standard Liege

VfB Stuttgart

Sampdoria

Udinese

Tottenham Hotspur

NEC Nijmegen

VfL Wolfsburg

AC Milan

Braga

Hamburg SV

Ajax Amsterdam

Aston Villa

St Etienne

Valencia

FC Copenhagen

CSKA Moscow

Deportivo Coruna

Lech Poznan

Third-placed finishers from the Champions League:

Girondins Bordeaux

Werder Bremen

Shakhtar Donetsk

Olympique Marseille

AaB Aalborg

Fiorentina

Dynamo Kiev

Zenit St Petersburg
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Mr. Pither
Member Avatar
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Sevilla were not the only "name" team to not make it out of the group stage. Hertha Berlin, Schalke and Benfica all failed to advance too. So here is the draw for the round of 32 and the subsequent round of 14:

Last 32
Paris St Germain v VfL Wolfsburg
FC Copenhagen v Manchester City
NEC Nijmegen v Hamburg SV
Sampdoria v Metalist Kharkiv
Braga v Standard Liege
Aston Villa v CSKA Moscow
Lech Poznan v Udinese
Olympiakos Piraeus v St Etienne
Fiorentina v Ajax Amsterdam
AaB Aalborg v Deportivo Coruna
Werder Bremen v AC Milan
Girondins Bordeaux v Galatasaray
Dynamo Kiev v Valencia
Zenit St Petersburg v VfB Stuttgart
Olympique Marseille v Twente Enschede
Shakhtar Donetsk v Tottenham Hotspur

* First legs to be played Feb. 18 and 19.

Second legs to be played Feb. 26


Last 16
Werder Bremen or AC Milan v Olympiakos Piraeus or St Etienne
Aston Villa or CSKA Moscow v Shakhtar Donetsk or Tottenham
Hotspur
Lech Poznan or Udinese v Zenit St Petersburg or VfB Stuttgart
Paris St Germain or VfL Wolfsburg v Braga or Standard Liege
Dynamo Kiev or Valencia v Sampdoria or Metalist Kharkiv
FC Copenhagen or Manchester City v AaB Aalborg or Deportivo
Coruna
Olympique Marseille or Twente Enschede v Fiorentina or Ajax
Amsterdam
NEC Nijmegen or Hamburg SV v Girondins Bordeaux or Galatasaray

* First legs to be played March 12

Second legs to be played March 18 and 19

Werder Bremen-Milan looks like a mouth watering matchup coming up in February. Signore Beckham should still be with Milan for those matches too.
P-I-T-H-E-R ...as in Brotherhood, but with PI instead of the BRO and no HOOD
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
DealsFor.me - The best sales, coupons, and discounts for you
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · UEFA · Next Topic »
Add Reply