Europa League Thread

[JBlues08]

Woops , from your hand on the draws , it looks like our run once again ends in the semis and if not , before that !
And from your predicitions , all looks fine except that i would favour a Dynamo Kiev victory over City who have come into the Round of 16 after thrashing Besiktas 8-1 on aggregate . And Artem Milevski really looks an impressive and quality striker to me

Besiktas aren't exactly a world beater despite the talents that they have. The Dynamo Kiev vs Man City clash can go either way to a certain extent considering the former have plenty of experience in the Champions League but I kinda just pick Man City because they are playing away in the first leg.

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It felt pretty strange what is written above. So I went for a search and I found this:

'The draws for the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final (to determine the "home" team) will be held on 18 March 2011'

So the winners of the final 16 will not face 'automatically' against each other in the quarter-finals.

Almost every team in the final 16 is on the or in the subtop of their competitions, so hopefully we can see some good football.

^ Lol . Don't tell me that you thought what Jason posted above as the original draw

I did mention and underline the word "virtual" in the earlier post.

Was feeling bored and decided to make a virtual Quarter Finals...

 

[Haarithan]

I did mention and underline the word "virtual" in the earlier post.

You probably should have had it in 'Bold letters' as well

 

[JBlues08]

You probably should have had it in 'Bold letters' as well

Edited.

 

[ZexyZahid]

Not sure what you meant with virtual. Virtual could also mean that already were predicting that teams could go through in a fixed bracket.

But never mind it now.

 

[JBlues08]

Not sure what you meant with virtual. Virtual could also mean that already were predicting that teams could go through in a fixed bracket.

But never mind it now.

Just only changed the word to "fake". Probably a better word to use.

Sorry for the confusion though.

 

[JBlues08]

Is it just me or is Liverpool's away form is still rather similar to the one under Hodgson? Anyway, I still expect Liverpool to overturn the 1-0 deficit at Anfield.

No away goals and 2-0 down, City will surely have a hard time in the second leg against Dynamo Kiev. Now that City need to attack, it will be interesting to see how offensive will Mancini be in the second leg.

 

[JBlues08]

Quarter Finals
FC Porto vs Spartak Moscow
Benfica vs PSV Eindhoven
Villarreal vs FC Twente
Sporting Braga vs Dynamo Kiev

Semi Finals
Braga/Dynamo Kiev vs Benfica/PSV Eindhoven
FC Porto/Spartak Moscow vs Villarreal/FC Twente

No really exciting ties in the QF although Braga against Kiev might be a good one. A potential match between Porto and Villarreal in the semis should be fun.

 

[m_vaughan]

I don't know how you can't call that as exciting. I can't seem to pick the winners. I've been very impressed with whatever I've seen of Braga this season - knocking Sevilla out in the UCL qualifiers, victory against Arsenal in the group stage of the UCL and now this run in the Europa League. Excellent.

 

[JBlues08]

I don't know how you can't call that as exciting. I can't seem to pick the winners. I've been very impressed with whatever I've seen of Braga this season - knocking Sevilla out in the UCL qualifiers, victory against Arsenal in the group stage of the UCL and now this run in the Europa League. Excellent.

It is generally exciting as it is extremely open that any team can win it but what I said earlier was solely based on those QF ties alone.

However, I have to say that Spartak Moscow's 4-0 win over the two legs against Ajax certainly caught my eyes. They may well be the dark horse in this competition.

 

[JBlues08]

Again, 3 of the 4 quarter final ties already looking done and dusted!

Falcao was excellent in the game against Spartak Moscow and scored a hattrick too. They just did not and could not handle him well enough.

Didn't watch the Villarreal game but saw their fifth goal by Nilmar. It was a lovely goal from him.

Anyway, if there are no major upsets in the second leg, then I can't wait for the FC Porto vs Villarreal game. Should be a cracker.

 

[JBlues08]

An excellent turnaround from Porto in the second half to give Villarreal another thrashing after their 5-0 defeat against Valencia recently. Looks like it's going to be an all-Portuguese final in Dublin.

 

[Haarithan]

And Falcao and his heading skills again !!!!

 

[Haarithan]

Going for a 1-0 win to Braga . Aimar getting suspended for Benfica is a huge blow , and the last thing I would wish for , is the match to go into Extra time . Personally , I would love a Porto-Benfica final especially after what happened between the two in the Portuguese Cup semis .

 

[Auwais]

You were spot on.

I'd have preferred a Benfica/Porto final too, no disrespect to Braga. They've a very friendly relationship with Porto so I don't think we'll get half as intense and competitive a final as we would have if their bitter rivals Benfica had got through.

Feel a bit bad for Villarreal though, who've been one of the most entertaining sides to watch this season. Would've liked to have seen a Porto/Villarreal final if they hadn't been drawn against each other.

 

[JBlues08]

Going for a 1-0 win to Braga . Aimar getting suspended for Benfica is a huge blow , and the last thing I would wish for , is the match to go into Extra time . Personally , I would love a Porto-Benfica final especially after what happened between the two in the Portuguese Cup semis .

Spot on there. Braga certainly won't be pushovers in the final against Porto.