Europa League 2010/2011 Thread

[portughezu']

pfff, nu ma asteptam ca Liverpool si Ajax sa fie eliminate asa de repede
Villareal are mari sanse sa castige EL anu asta.. si Porto sau Dinamo Kiev o sa ajunga departe.

[beavis]

SFERTURI

FC Porto - Spartak Moscow

Benfica - PSV

Villarreal - FC Twente

Sporting Braga - Dynamo Kiev

First legs to be played on 7 April, with the second legs on 14 April.


SEMIFINALE

Sporting Braga/Dynamo Kiev vs Benfica/PSV

FC Porto/Spartak Moscow vs Villarreal/FC Twente

First legs to be played on 28 April, with the second legs on 5 May.

[portughezu']

Villareal - Twente - asta meci tare

[[Micu]]

Semifinale : Dynamo Kiev - PSV

Porto - Villareal.

[beavis]

Ninkovic ruled out of Braga clash

Dynamo Kiev midfielder Milos Ninkovic will not play against Sporting Braga in their Europa League quarter-final tie due to a knee problem.

The Serbian midfielder, who has played 6 Europa League matches this season, felt pain in his knee at the beginning of Tuesday's EURO 2012 qualifier against Estonia and was substituted after 14 minutes.

Ninkovic returned to Belgrade for a scan and although it did not reveal any serious damage, doctors advised the 26-year-old to rest for 2 weeks before a further examination.

[beavis]

REZUMAT 1 | REZUMAT 2 | REZUMAT 3 | REZUMAT 4

[beavis]

Fulham could get Fair Play berth

Fulham are in contention for an unlikely place in next season's Europa League via the Fair Play system.

Each season the top 3 countries in the Respect Fair Play League receive an extra Europa League place under UEFA rules and England currently lie second in the standings behind Norway.

The highest placed team in Barclays Premier League's Fair Play table who have not otherwise qualified for Europe are put forward, meaning Fulham are on course to receive the berth with an average rating of 8.42 over their 30 games this season.

The Cottagers, who finished runners-up in last year's Europa League, currently sit second in the Premier League's Fair Play table behind west London neighbours Chelsea.

With the Blues in line to secure a European spot through the league, it means Fulham are in place to earn a spot in Europa League despite standing 11th in the table.

[NTGuilty]

REZUMAT 1 | REZUMAT 2 | REZUMAT 3 | REZUMAT 4

[beavis]

Benfica host Braga in Portuguese first

Benfica and Sporting Braga are sure to make history in their UEFA Europa League semi-final opener as they become the first Portuguese sides to meet in a UEFA club competition game.

Previous meetings

This is the first all-Portuguese tie in a UEFA club competition and could potentially result in a second, with Liga Sagres champions FC Porto taking on Villarreal in the other semi-final.

This is the first last 4 contest to feature two domestic rivals since the advent of the UEFA Europa League, although Shakhtar Donetsk beat Dynamo Kiev in the semi-finals of the final edition of the UEFA Cup in 2008/2009.

7 UEFA Cup finals were contested by sides representing the same national association.

1971/1972 - Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers (agg)
1979/1980 - Eintracht Frankfurt 3-3 Monchengladbach (agg; Eintracht won on away goals)
1989/1990 - Juventus 3-1 Fiorentina (agg)
1990/1991 - Internazionale Milano 2-1 AS Roma (agg)
1994/1995 - Parma 2-1 Juventus (agg)
1997/1998 - Internazionale Milano 3-0 Lazio
2006/2007 - FC Sevilla 2-2 Espanyol (aet; FC Sevilla win 3-1 on penalties)

Benfica and Sporting Braga have met in 110 Liga Sagres games, with the Lisbon club 72-11 up in terms of victories. They have also met in 10 Taca de Portugal matches, with Benfica possessing a more modest 6-4 lead.

Salvio sidelined by broken foot

Benfica winger Eduardo Salvio will miss the Eagles' Europa League semi-finals against Sporting Braga on 28 April and 5 May after breaking his right foot against PSV Eindhoven.

The 20-year-old Argentinian international was substituted in the early stages of the 2-2 second leg draw in Holland which sent Benfica through 6-3 on aggregate to a historic first meeting of two Portuguese clubs in UEFA competition.

An x-ray has confirmed that the on-loan Atletico Madrid player, who won Europa League with the Spanish side last season, fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot following a challenge with Abel Tamata and will not play again this term.

The former Lanus wide man said: "Unfortunately the season is over for me and I can only think about being in top condition for pre-season training".

"It's a pity I can't be with my team-mates for these very important moments in the season. Everything was going well until the injury. There is no point feeling sorry for myself - I have to stay positive and get ready to return to fitness."

[beavis]

REZUMAT

POZE MECI




REZUMAT

POZE MECI

[beavis]

Senna back for Villarreal

Villarreal midfielder Marcos Senna will return to boost his side ahead of the second leg of their Europa League semi-finals tie with FC Porto.

The second leg at El Madrigal sees Villarreal looking to overturn a 5-1 deficit from the first leg with a place in the Dublin final at stake.

The Yellow Submarine will be without Gonzalo, who has a calf problem.

Angel Lopez has torn knee ligaments which rule him out, while Javier Oliva has a wrist problem.

Defender Jose Catala is suspended for the clash.

Mindful perhaps that Villarreal have twice scored 5 goals at home in Europe this term - most recently beating FC Twente 5-1 in the last 8 - FC Porto coach Andre Villas-Boas has recalled goalkeeper Helton.

The 33-year-old coach has also brought back Cristian Sapunaru and Joao Moutinho after they were rested for the Portuguese champions' 4-0 win against Vitoria Setubal at the weekend.

Braga lose Quim and Vinicius

Sporting Braga coach Domingos Paciencia will be without Quim and Vinicius as his side tries to overcome Benfica to reach the Europa League final.

Quim and Vinicius are both injured while Paulo Cesar is not included after his suspension from the first leg, a match Benfica won 2-1 in Lisbon.

Benfica manager Jorge Jesus is set to include Nicolas Gaitan after injury, but Salvio, Nuno Gomes and Ruben Amorim are all missing.

Braga's home stadium is known as the Quarry and the least fashionable of Portugal's 3 Europa League semi-finalists will be trying to dig out another narrow win on Thursday.

Sporting Braga face a 2-1 first leg deficit against compatriots Benfica in their semi-final and, provided they can keep an clean sheet for the eighth time in 9 games at home in Europe this season, one goal will be enough for a ticket to Dublin on 18 May.

The eventual winners of the semi-final tie will almost certainly face Portuguese champions FC Porto, who take a 5-1 first leg win to Villarreal for the other semi-final.

Since parachuting into the knock-out stages from the Champions League, Braga have beaten Lech Poznan 2-1 on aggregate, Liverpool 1-0 and Dynamo Kiev on away goals.

Their distinctive stadium owes its nickname to the sheer wall of rock which forms one of the 4 sides to the ground and Braga have won 6 out of 8 European games there so far this season.

[beavis]

REZUMAT




REZUMAT

[beavis]

Falcao breaks Klinsmann's record

Falcao has broken Jurgen Klinsmann's 15-year-old record for goals in a single Europa League or UEFA Cup season, taking his tally to 16 as FC Porto eased through to the Final.

The Colombia striker registered 4 in last week's first leg, equalling Jurgen Klinsmann's 15-goal haul in Bayern Munchen's UEFA Cup winning campaign of 1995/1996.

He told UEFA.com after the 5-1 win that he was "not done yet" and proved true to his word just after half-time in Spain, keeping his composure to fire beyond Diego Lopez after collecting a fine pass from compatriot Fredy Guarin.

It continues a remarkable campaign for the 25-year-old, whose 16 goals have come over the course of 13 games (one more than Klinsmann) and he could add to the tally when FC Porto meet Sporting Braga in the Final on 18 May.

Falcao, who also struck in September's play-offs, has scored 3 hat-tricks this season, hauls against Rapid Vienna and Spartak Moscow preceding last week's 4-goal salvo.

Most Europa League/UEFA Cup goals in a season:

16 Falcao (FC Porto, 2010/2011)

15 Jurgen Klinsmann (Bayern Munchen, 1995/1996)

14 John Wark (Ipswich Town, 1981/1982)

12 Derlei (FC Porto, 2002/2003)

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Europa League preview: FC Porto vs Sporting Braga

Sporting Braga are out to ruin FC Porto's Treble plans when the two Portuguese sides meet in the Europa League Final in Dublin on Wednesday.

Having clinched the Liga Sagres title in April, FC Porto can claim a hat-trick of titles if they defeat Sporting Braga and then account for Vitoria Guimaraes in the final of the Taca de Portugal 4 days later.

FC Porto - winner of the competition in 2003 - are short favourites for the Europa League title, having overcome the likes of Villarreal and Moscow clubs CSKA and Spartak on their way to the Final.

Undefeated all season in the league, FC Porto's exploits have led to speculation over how long highly rated manager Andres Villas-Boas has left at the club.

Porto-born and bred, Villas-Boas has spoken of his desire to stay at Estadio do Dragao for at least another season.

If he is to pull off the Treble this campaign, he will be largely indebted to strike duo Radamel Falcao and Hulk.

The two frontmen have contrasting styles. Brazilian Hulk's physical approach has ensured he lives up to his name, while Falcao relies more on his exquisite timing to find the back of the net.

One thing they do have in common is goals, and plenty of them.

Falcao has scored 16 goals in 13 Europa League appearances, including 4 in FC Porto's 5-1 win over Villarreal in the first leg of their semi-final tie on 28 April.

Restricting the service he and Hulk receive must be the first priority for Sporting Braga manager Domingos Paciencia.

Former FC Porto striker Paciencia knows he will be best served not getting lured into a shootout with FC Porto, given the differences of both side's attacks.

FC Porto have been a free-scoring side in all competitions this season, while Sporting Braga have found goals more difficult to come by.

Sporting Braga are instead likely to hope their sturdy rear guard can hold FC Porto at bay and then wait for opportunities through their opponents' often high defensive line on the counter-attack.

What sort of impact Braga midfielders Hugo Viana and Marcio Mossorro have will go some way to determining their side's fate, with both capable of supplying a killer pass or scoring a spectacular goal.

While they have lost to Porto in both their previous meetings this campaign, the underdogs can take solace in their performances against some noted European performers to reach the Final of a continental competition for the first time.

Having exited Champions League at the group stage, Braga eased past Liverpool, Dynamo Kiev and then Benfica to book their Dublin date for Europe's second tier club competition.

Veteran striker Alan - a one-time FC Porto player - has led the line on most occasions for Braga in Europa League and will need to impress again for them if they are to upset his former side.

Adding to the intrigue of the match was the confirmation last Wednesday that Paciencia would depart Braga regardless of the final result.

Heavily linked with the post at Sporting Lisbon, how Paciencia would love to end his Braga tenure by lifting the Europa League trophy.

[beavis]

The A-Z of the 2010/2011 Europa League

With the UEFA Europa League over for another season, UEFA.com takes an alternative look at what caught the eye in this A-Z of a competition which began way back on July 2010.



Atletico Madrid - It proved a campaign to forget for the holders so soon after their triumph in Hamburg against Fulham. They never recovered from a first night defeat at Aris Thessaloniki and a 3-2 home loss to the Greek side on matchday 5 all but sealed their fate. It left Atletico needing to beat section winners Bayer Leverkusen and hope Aris slipped up against Rosenborg - neither happened.



Sporting Braga - Little was expected of the Minho team when they dropped into the competition from the Champions League, but they soon illustrated their credentials with a last 16 triumph against 3-time winners Liverpool. Dynamo Kiev and Benifca were subsequently beaten only for FC Porto to dash any hope of rounding off their best continental campaign in style.



Draws (3-3) - Juventus and Lech Poznan set the ball rolling on matchday 1 in what was the first of four 6-goal draws in the group stages. If it was comebacks you wanted, however, then Napoli were the team to follow. The Azzurri were involved in two of the best, recovering from 3 goals down at 10-man Steaua Bucureşti before an Edinson Cavani hat-trick inspired a fightback from 3-1 behind at FC Utrecht. Sparta Prague and FC Lausanne-Sport produced the other 3-3 draw.



Eremenko - The Dynamo Kiev midfielder topped the assist charts with 6 in 12 appearances, some feat considering his team exited the competition in the quarter-finals. Roman Eremenko proved particularly influential on matchday 4 as he set up both goals in a 2-0 home win against AZ Alkmaar.



Radamel Falcao - FC Porto's goal machine was in irresistible form as Villarreal, in particular, will testify. His 4-goal haul at Estadio do Dragao in the semi-finals first leg was his third hat-trick of the tournament following previous trebles against Rapid Vienna (3-1) and Spartak Moscow (5-1).

His second leg strike at Villarreal - his 16th of the campaign - broke Jurgen Klinsmann's 15-year-old record for goals in a single Europa League/UEFA Cup season. Somewhat predictably he also scored in the Final.



Group F - The aforementioned draw between Sparta and Lausanne was responsible for 6 of the 42 goals scored in the section - the highest of the 12 groups. On average each game in the pool, which was won by CSKA Moscow and also featured Palermo, yielded 3.5 goals.



Hat-tricks - Aside from Falcao's exploits, 6 other players walked away with a match ball. Of the 9 trebles from the group stage onwards, 3 were scored on matchday 1 by Artjoms Rudnevs (Juventus 3-3 Lech), Patrick Helmes (Leverkusen 4-0 Rosenborg) and Aleksandr Kerzhakov (Anderlecht 1-3 Zenit Sankt Petersburg).

Emmanuel Adebyaor (Manchester City 3-1 Lech), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool 3-1 Napoli), and Edinson Cavani (FC Utrecht 3-3 Napoli) were responsible for the others.



Italy - Napoli's 2-1 aggregate defeat by Villarreal in the round of 32 meant for the first time since 2007 Italy had no representation in the last 16. Serie A's other hopefuls - Juventus, Palermo and Sampdoria - failed to negotiate their way through the group stage.



Juventus - La Vecchia Signora's shortcoming was their penchant for draws: indeed, all 6 of their Group A matches finished in stalemate. The Bianconeri are not the first team to have done that, however, for AEK Athens broke new ground when they did so in the 2002/2003 Champions League first group stage.



Karpaty Lviv 3-4 Borussia Dortmund - Along with Spartak's 5-2 loss to FC Porto, this was the highest scoring game (group stages to Final). Yet for so long it looked like being Karpaty Lviv's night, the hosts having comeback from 2-0 down to lead 3-2 going into the last 4 minutes.



Late goals - 1000 of the 551 goals were scored between the 76th and 90th minutes, though perhaps none later than Cavani's effort 8 minutes into added time in Napoli's 3-3 draw with Steaua Bucureşti.



One nation Final - The Dublin decider between Portuguese rivals Braga and FC Porto was the eighth final contested by teams from the same national association.



Portugal - 3 clubs from Portugal reached the last 4 of a UEFA competition for the first time. Moreover, FC Porto emphatically ensured Villarreal would not prevent an all-Liga Final, thereby guaranteeing the Iberian nation its eighth UEFA club honour.



Stuttgart - VfB Stuttgart defied their domestic form by reaching the last 32. In contrast to the Bundesliga, where their worst start to a season cost Christian Gross his job, the Swabian side topped Group H with an impressive tally of 15 points.



Unbeaten at home - Aris's hopes may have ended in the round of 32 against Manchester City, but they at least bowed out with their long unbeaten home record intact. In 40 years - and 25 home games in UEFA club competition - no visiting team has triumphed at Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium.



Villas-Boas - Andre Villas-Boas became the youngest coach - at 33 years and 213 days old - to win a major UEFA club competition when FC Porto prevailed in Dublin. The former Academica Coimbra trainer, in his first full season as a coach, broke Gianluca Vialli's record. The Italian was 33 years and 308 days when he led Chelsea to the 1997/1998 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.



Zenit Sankt Petersburg - The 2008 UEFA Cup winners were the only team to emerge from the group stages with a 100% record, their 6 matches producing as many wins and 18 goals scored.