UEFA CUP 2007/2008 (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter Dostoevsky
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umpkin: But still Zvezda proved how strong we ca be sometimes.
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UEFA Cup Matchday 2 Preview
Thursday 8th November sees the return of UEFA Cup action, with eight teams set to make their group stage debuts after having Matchday 1 off. Some of the big guns suffered shocks as they took to the pitch on the first day - what will happen this time around?
The biggest stories of Matchday 1 mostly involved English and Spanish clubs. Tottenham parted company with Martin Jol after - or perhaps before Getafe's shock win at White Hart Lane, while Villarreal scraped a 1-1 draw at home to Fiorentina.
But for all the drama of that first day, nobody's out yet, and nobody's qualified. There's plenty of excitement left to come, starting with Matchday 2...
Group A
Larissa vs Zenit
Nürnberg vs Everton
Larissa may have lost out 3-1 at Everton on Matchday 1, but they'll still hold out hopes of shocking Zenit St. Petersburg at the Alkazar.
They've started the league campaign badly back in Greece but, with a partisan home support, anything can happen against a Russian outfit that drew 1-1 with AZ - who have a week's rest - on Matchday 1.
Nürnberg, meanwhile, lost yet again at the weekend, this time to Stuttgart, and must recover quickly in time for the visit of Everton.
The Germans only edged into the competition on away goals in Bucharest against Rapid, and it does not look good for them; however, home advantage could shock the Merseysiders...
Group B
Aberdeen - Lokomotiv Moscow
Copenhagen - Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos outclassed Aberdeen on Matchday 1 and, having re-taken second place in the Greek league at the weekend, will be in high spirits as they prepare to face Copenhagen in Denmark.
This time last year, of course, the Danes would have been competing in the Champions League; now, they're getting ready to kick off their campaign in Europe's second competition.
Aberdeen, meanwhile, face a Lokomotiv Moscow side that, much like themselves, are having a mixed time of it domestically.
The Dons are already struggling to repeat last season's third-place finish; Loko, meanwhile, are nine points off that spot in their own league with the season drawing to a close.
Atletico Madrid have the week off.
Group C
Fiorentina - Elfsborg
Mlada Boleslav - Villarreal
Both matches last week ended in 1-1 draws, Villarreal scraping back an equaliser against Fiorentina at the Madrigal. Now, they travel to face a Mlada Boleslav outfit that had a rest last week.
The Czechs edged out Palermo in Round 1, but the Spaniards are hot favourites, even without the injured Giuseppe Rossi.
Fiorentina, too, are expected to do the business against an Elfsborg side that managed an impressive home draw with AEK.
The Firenze outfit are performing effectively in Serie A and will keep that going against a side that are, by their standards, minnows, but still to be reckoned with after that AEK result.
Group D
Rennes - Brann Bergen
Dinamo Zagreb - Basel
Dinamo Zagreb rested last week but now have to hit the ground running against a Basel outfit that's narrowly clear at the top of the Swiss league.
The Croats, of course, are running away with their own domestic title and will be considered favourites.
Hamburg have a week's rest after beating Brann 1-0 in the first matchday; now, the Norwegians travel to face Rennes, who are following the pattern of successful domestic competitors in Group D.
HSV, after all, are second in the Bundesliga, while Rennes are looking good in Ligue 1.
Group E
Toulouse - Sparta Prague
Spartak Moscow - Bayer Leverkusen
Spartak Moscow kick off their campaign with one of Thursday night's most eagerly-anticipated ties: Bayer Leverkusen are heading to the Russian capital for what may be a close encounter.
Elsewhere, Toulouse will welcome a Sparta Prague outfit that was shocked 2-1 at home by Zurich in the last matchday, the Swiss having the day off.
TEF haven't quite started the French campaign to their full capability and, with their Champions League dream already over, they'll do well to get a result here and get their season back on track.
Group F
Bayern Munich - Bolton Wanderers
Aris - Crvena Zvezda
Braga have a week off after their effective draw away to Bolton on Matchday 1; now, the Premiership side face arguably the toughest match of all in the tournament - a trip to Bayern Munich.
The Bavarian giants have hit the rocks of late, but they still have a near-incomparable array of talent at their disposal, even with injuries taken into account.
Elsewhere, Aris, who rested up in the first matchday, may be considered dark horses. They eliminated Zaragoza in Round 1, but will need to have their game faces on for the visit of Crvena Zvezda.
The Serbs are disappointingly third at home but ran Bayern close on Matchday 1: now's the time for revenge.
Group G
Hapoel Tel-Aviv - Tottenham Hotspur
AaB Aalborg - Anderlecht
Spurs lost 2-1 at home to resting Getafe two weeks ago, prompting another iteration of the managerial merry-go-round. Out went Martin Jol, and in came Juande Ramos (pictured), who has won this tournament twice in the last two years.
That was with Sevilla, of course, but it does mean that he knows the continental game well. And with Spurs still struggling, he knows that they'll have their work cut out away to Hapoel Tel-Aviv.
Or will they? The Israelis were crushed by Anderlecht on Matchday 1 and, with the Red Demons having yet to win a single game in the Ligat Al, the time could be ripe for a win.
Then again, they said the same about then-struggling Getafe...
AaB Aalborg, meanwhile, welcome Belgian aces Anderlecht to Denmark.
The hosts have championship hopes that are very much alive, while the Paarswit/Mauve-et-Blanc (depending on which side of Belgium you're from) are somewhat disappointingly in fourth, albeit not far from the top.
Group H
Galatasaray - Helsingborg
Austria Vienna - Bordeaux
Panionis have a day off but their Matchday 1 draw-mates, Helsingborg, face an intimidating trip to Istanbul to meet Galatasaray.
'Cimbom' are joint-top of the Turkish Super Lig but on a continental level are still reeling from a 2-1 comeback defeat at Bordeaux two weeks ago.
The French outfit are still flying high in Ligue 1 with some decent away form to their names. That'll come in handy away to an Austria Vienna side ready to open their group stage account.
The Veilchen are unbeaten at home domestically, still topping the Austrian Bundesliga after 18 games and managed a 2-0 home win over Valerenga in the first round: clearly, then, confidence is high.
goal.com
Zvezda can win this one.I hope Aris is not that lucky as Bayern.
Thursday 8th November sees the return of UEFA Cup action, with eight teams set to make their group stage debuts after having Matchday 1 off. Some of the big guns suffered shocks as they took to the pitch on the first day - what will happen this time around?
The biggest stories of Matchday 1 mostly involved English and Spanish clubs. Tottenham parted company with Martin Jol after - or perhaps before Getafe's shock win at White Hart Lane, while Villarreal scraped a 1-1 draw at home to Fiorentina.
But for all the drama of that first day, nobody's out yet, and nobody's qualified. There's plenty of excitement left to come, starting with Matchday 2...
Group A
Larissa vs Zenit
Nürnberg vs Everton
Larissa may have lost out 3-1 at Everton on Matchday 1, but they'll still hold out hopes of shocking Zenit St. Petersburg at the Alkazar.
They've started the league campaign badly back in Greece but, with a partisan home support, anything can happen against a Russian outfit that drew 1-1 with AZ - who have a week's rest - on Matchday 1.
Nürnberg, meanwhile, lost yet again at the weekend, this time to Stuttgart, and must recover quickly in time for the visit of Everton.
The Germans only edged into the competition on away goals in Bucharest against Rapid, and it does not look good for them; however, home advantage could shock the Merseysiders...
Group B
Aberdeen - Lokomotiv Moscow
Copenhagen - Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos outclassed Aberdeen on Matchday 1 and, having re-taken second place in the Greek league at the weekend, will be in high spirits as they prepare to face Copenhagen in Denmark.
This time last year, of course, the Danes would have been competing in the Champions League; now, they're getting ready to kick off their campaign in Europe's second competition.
Aberdeen, meanwhile, face a Lokomotiv Moscow side that, much like themselves, are having a mixed time of it domestically.
The Dons are already struggling to repeat last season's third-place finish; Loko, meanwhile, are nine points off that spot in their own league with the season drawing to a close.
Atletico Madrid have the week off.
Group C
Fiorentina - Elfsborg
Mlada Boleslav - Villarreal
Both matches last week ended in 1-1 draws, Villarreal scraping back an equaliser against Fiorentina at the Madrigal. Now, they travel to face a Mlada Boleslav outfit that had a rest last week.
The Czechs edged out Palermo in Round 1, but the Spaniards are hot favourites, even without the injured Giuseppe Rossi.
Fiorentina, too, are expected to do the business against an Elfsborg side that managed an impressive home draw with AEK.
The Firenze outfit are performing effectively in Serie A and will keep that going against a side that are, by their standards, minnows, but still to be reckoned with after that AEK result.
Group D
Rennes - Brann Bergen
Dinamo Zagreb - Basel
Dinamo Zagreb rested last week but now have to hit the ground running against a Basel outfit that's narrowly clear at the top of the Swiss league.
The Croats, of course, are running away with their own domestic title and will be considered favourites.
Hamburg have a week's rest after beating Brann 1-0 in the first matchday; now, the Norwegians travel to face Rennes, who are following the pattern of successful domestic competitors in Group D.
HSV, after all, are second in the Bundesliga, while Rennes are looking good in Ligue 1.
Group E
Toulouse - Sparta Prague
Spartak Moscow - Bayer Leverkusen
Spartak Moscow kick off their campaign with one of Thursday night's most eagerly-anticipated ties: Bayer Leverkusen are heading to the Russian capital for what may be a close encounter.
Elsewhere, Toulouse will welcome a Sparta Prague outfit that was shocked 2-1 at home by Zurich in the last matchday, the Swiss having the day off.
TEF haven't quite started the French campaign to their full capability and, with their Champions League dream already over, they'll do well to get a result here and get their season back on track.
Group F
Bayern Munich - Bolton Wanderers
Aris - Crvena Zvezda
Braga have a week off after their effective draw away to Bolton on Matchday 1; now, the Premiership side face arguably the toughest match of all in the tournament - a trip to Bayern Munich.
The Bavarian giants have hit the rocks of late, but they still have a near-incomparable array of talent at their disposal, even with injuries taken into account.
Elsewhere, Aris, who rested up in the first matchday, may be considered dark horses. They eliminated Zaragoza in Round 1, but will need to have their game faces on for the visit of Crvena Zvezda.
The Serbs are disappointingly third at home but ran Bayern close on Matchday 1: now's the time for revenge.
Group G
Hapoel Tel-Aviv - Tottenham Hotspur
AaB Aalborg - Anderlecht
Spurs lost 2-1 at home to resting Getafe two weeks ago, prompting another iteration of the managerial merry-go-round. Out went Martin Jol, and in came Juande Ramos (pictured), who has won this tournament twice in the last two years.
That was with Sevilla, of course, but it does mean that he knows the continental game well. And with Spurs still struggling, he knows that they'll have their work cut out away to Hapoel Tel-Aviv.
Or will they? The Israelis were crushed by Anderlecht on Matchday 1 and, with the Red Demons having yet to win a single game in the Ligat Al, the time could be ripe for a win.
Then again, they said the same about then-struggling Getafe...
AaB Aalborg, meanwhile, welcome Belgian aces Anderlecht to Denmark.
The hosts have championship hopes that are very much alive, while the Paarswit/Mauve-et-Blanc (depending on which side of Belgium you're from) are somewhat disappointingly in fourth, albeit not far from the top.
Group H
Galatasaray - Helsingborg
Austria Vienna - Bordeaux
Panionis have a day off but their Matchday 1 draw-mates, Helsingborg, face an intimidating trip to Istanbul to meet Galatasaray.
'Cimbom' are joint-top of the Turkish Super Lig but on a continental level are still reeling from a 2-1 comeback defeat at Bordeaux two weeks ago.
The French outfit are still flying high in Ligue 1 with some decent away form to their names. That'll come in handy away to an Austria Vienna side ready to open their group stage account.
The Veilchen are unbeaten at home domestically, still topping the Austrian Bundesliga after 18 games and managed a 2-0 home win over Valerenga in the first round: clearly, then, confidence is high.
goal.com
Zvezda can win this one.I hope Aris is not that lucky as Bayern.
