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| UEFA Champions League 2010/11 | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 20 2010, 11:04 PM (10,153 Views) | |
| Nuno21 | Sep 14 2010, 11:42 AM Post #61 |
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Benfica's no1 fan!!
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Hapoel test just what Benfica need vs  Jorge Jesus would like to have avoided debutants Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC having studied SL Benfica's first opponents yet he feels the challenge can help his side overcome their Liga struggles. All matchesPublished: Monday 13 September 2010, 20.45CETHapoel test just what Benfica needJorge Jesus would like to have avoided debutants Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC having studied SL Benfica's first opponents yet he feels the challenge can help his side overcome their Liga struggles. SL Benfica's Portuguese title defence may not be going well but coach Jorge Jesus thinks the different challenge of Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC in the UEFA Champions League is just what his team need. The Group B visitors are making their group stage debut and Eli Gutman promises they will go all out to upset the odds. Jorge Jesus, Benfica coach The UEFA Champions League is where the best teams are and, though Hapoel Tel-Aviv are not a big name, they're a side I would like to have avoided having got to know them. Tactically they are strong, with a good idea of the game, lots of technical ability. Watching them, I was positively surprised tactically and technically. Benfica will get better, though, and we can improve a lot. Our start has been completely different from last season and certain things are not going well, but this match gives us motivation and confidence because our opponents may not know us that well. In the Champions League, the players are desperate to do well, not only because we are reigning champions but also because people are watching us throughout Europe. The players will try to be perfect in everything they do. I hope the fans will be like they were last season too, especially at difficult moments. We want their support in order to perform well and win. Eli Gutman, Hapoel coach We know the importance of this match against Benfica. It won't be an easy game, but we are very determined and we feel ready for it. It will be a very different match from the ones we play in Israel, but the team are ready for all six group games. Other sides may think they will get six points off us, but we are here to compete, we have potential and we'll try to surprise all those who think we won't get any points in this competition. Benfica play in a different way to what are we used to, they go 4-4-2 and knowing that we'll try to compete with them. The players will give their all. Because our defence is not so powerful or strong, against attackers like Óscar Cardozo, Javier Saviola, Pablo Aimar and Nicolás Gaitán we'll try to deny them the space they need. We have trained for that. I don't think Benfica's league results matter, because those are different matches from different competitions. Team news • Benfica Forward Alan Kardec and defender Roderick have yet to recover from pre-season hamstring injuries, but while Eduardo Salvio missed Friday's game at Vitória SC with a muscular complaint, Fábio Coentrão started despite a right thigh injury sustained in Portugal's 4-4 draw with Cyprus on 3 September. • Hapoel Eran Zahavi has a broken nose but could play in Lisbon wearing a face mask. Fellow attacker Mahran Lala could be out for the season after rupturing knee ligaments while Etey Shechter, Hapoel's 22-goal top scorer last season, tore his hamstring in Hapoel's opening league game. Weekend results 10/09/10 Vitória SC 2-1 Benfica (Edgar 17, Rui Miguel 83; Saviola 32) Having won only one Liga game this season, and also lost 2-0 to FC Porto in the Portuguese Super Cup, Benfica were consigned to their worst start to a top-flight campaign in 58 years with defeat in Guimaraes. They were beaten just twice in 30 Liga fixtures last term. 11/09/10 Hapoel Akko FC 2-2 Hapoel (Arafat 16, Folchuk 56; Mare 75, Tamuz 84) Toto Tamuz scored on his debut as Hapoel recovered from going two goals down to salvage a point. Salim Toama also came on for his first appearance for Hapoel in what is his third spell at the club. Did you know? Both Hapoel and Benfica competed in last season's UEFA Europa League, the Lisbon team making it to the quarter-finals and Hapoel going out in the round of 32. The Israeli champions lost three of their four away games, conceding nine goals, although they did record a 3-0 victory at SK Rapid Wien en route to the knockout stage. (info courtesy of uefa.com) |
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| Nuno21 | Sep 14 2010, 12:54 PM Post #62 |
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Benfica's no1 fan!!
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Bursaspor aim to spring Valencia surprise vs  "The favourites do not win all the time," said Bursaspor coach Ertuğrul Sağlam as the Turkish champions prepared to make their debut among Europe's elite against Valencia CF. Bursaspor aim to spring Valencia surprise"The favourites do not win all the time," said Bursaspor coach Ertuğrul Sağlam as the Turkish champions prepared to make their debut among Europe's elite against Valencia CF. Bursaspor coach Ertuğrul Sağlam has promised that the tournament debutants will represent Turkish football "in the best possible way" as they look to spring a surprise in their Group C opener against a Valencia CF side whose coach Unai Emery, new to the tournament himself, is not taking his hosts lightly. However, Emery will not be on the bench due to suspension. Ertuğrul Sağlam, Bursaspor coach Valencia have been strong at European level for many years and they won't be easy opponents. They lost some important players from last season but replaced them with new ones and as far as we can see from the analysis, they are a 'system team' who can play good team football. It'll be an extremely competitive game and Valencia can be seen as favourites but we want to make a bright start. The favourites do not win all the time and we'll try to show this. We'll face Valencia without changing the system which took us to success last season. You need to have physical abilities in order to win games like this and we have this quality. We'll use this as an advantage tomorrow. When you look at Valencia, there are talented players like Joaquín Sánchez, Vicente Rodríguez, Juan Mata and Aritz Aduriz. When you look at us, you see Ozan İpek, Pablo Batalla, Sercan Yıldırım, Federico Insúa and Ivan Ergić. In my eyes, they have the same quality. Unai Emery, Valencia coach It will be my first experience of the UEFA Champions League as coach of Valencia. It will be a magical moment for me but I guess any person who works for the club would feel the same. I have been with the club for two years and we have dreamed of playing in the Champions League. It is impossible to guess how the match will go. Bursaspor were an unknown side for us but we are learning more about them now. If a team has won the their league title, this is an indication of their standard. We have a lot of respect for their title success last season. Tomorrow our starting XI will be selected from the players who are capable of making the biggest contribution to our team. We have a lot of faith in them. When I watched Bursaspor's games on video, I could see how they won their championship. Rather than having individually talented players, Bursaspor play good team football. We have prepared for this, we won't focus on any given player but will try to unbalance their team approach. Team news • Bursaspor Turgay Bahadır missed the matches against Galatasaray AŞ, Sivasspor and Eskişehirspor with a knee injury but has been declared fit and both Milan Stepanov and Ivan Ergić have recovered from knee problems to start Friday's league game. • Valencia Éver Banega (ankle) and Vicente (sprained hamstring) will both miss the Bursaspor game after being taken off on Saturday, but Jérémy Mathieu (hamstring) and Alejandro Domínguez (knee) returned to action against Real Racing Club, while Roberto Soldado (torn adductor muscle) was an unused substitute. Domínguez is a doubt, however. Weekend results 10/09/10 Bursaspor 2-1 Eskişehirspor (Núñez 70, Sercan Yıldırım 76; Sezer Öztürk 19) Bursaspor have made a fine start to their title defence, beating Konyaspor, Galatasaray, Sivasspor and Eskişehirspor in their first four Süper Lig games. Sezer Öztürk's opener was the first league goal Sağlam's side have conceded this season. 11/09/10 Valencia 1-0 Real Racing Club (Maduro 45+2) Match-winner Hedwiges Maduro was one of two players drafted into the side which beat Málaga CF 3-1 on the opening day of the Liga season, along with Jordi Alba. David Albelda made his 400th appearance for the club against Racing. Did you know? Sağlam's charges are the first team from outside Istanbul to have claimed the Turkish title since 1984 and, ignoring their dalliance with the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 1995, have not won a match on the European stage for 36 years. (info courtesy of uefa.com) |
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| Nuno21 | Sep 14 2010, 12:58 PM Post #63 |
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Benfica's no1 fan!!
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'Improving' Inter welcome Twente test vs  Rafael Benítez wants further signs of progress from holders FC Internazionale Milano as they visit an FC Twente side with "nothing to lose" according to coach Michel Preud'homme. 'Improving' Inter welcome Twente testRafael Benítez wants further signs of progress from holders FC Internazionale Milano as they visit an FC Twente side with "nothing to lose" according to coach Michel Preud'homme. UEFA Champions League debutants FC Twente begin their maiden campaign with a tough-looking Group A test against holders FC Internazionale Milano on Tuesday but coach Michel Preud'homme declared: "We have everything to win and nothing to lose." Rafael Benítez believes Inter have been improving since he took over in the summer but is not taking Twente's strength and "intensity" lightly. Michel Preud'homme, Twente coach Inter can dictate the game whenever they need to, but they can also let the other team play when the situation asks for it, like [in last season's semi-final against] Barcelona. Inter's strengths have not changed. In fact, I think it is a good thing to start at home against Inter. We have everything to win, and nothing to lose. This is something new for FC Twente and something new for the fans. It is the continuation of the dream they had [after winning the title] at the end of last season. Thanks to that we are here now, and we will try to make the best of it. We approach the game with confidence. It is a great match to play in, but we know how strong our opponents are. Everybody is fit. We will stay loyal to our way of playing and try to attack when possible. Rafael Benítez, Inter coach I have a fantastic team and I don't think about the past. I have seen some progress since the day I arrived, but I want to see more. Twente are a strong side with intensity and quality. We have watched them on video and we know it will be tough, not least because they will be eager to start well in the Champions League. However we don't have to talk too much about our opponents, we must only think about ourselves. If we play well, we will achieve a good result. With the same mentality and spirit of last season we know we can win the Champions League again. Every year is different, last season Inter did not do too well in the group stage, but we want to do better this time around. It's not easy for teams who have a lot of players who played in the World Cup at this time of the season, but I think we are improving in all respects. Team news • Twente Nicky Kuiper was an unused substitute against VVV-Venlo at the weekend after recovering from surgery on his right knee in April. • Inter Thiago Motta is out with a knee injury. Dejan Stankoviæ missed the weekend game against Udinese Calcio – on his 32nd birthday – with a left thigh injury, and is a doubt. Maicon has yet to make a Serie A appearance this term because of a knee injury picked up in training and is still not "100%" according to Benítez. Weekend results 11/09/10 VVV-Venlo 1-2 Twente (Paauwe 42pen; Ruiz 29, Rosales 70) VVV's goal was the first Nikolay Mihaylov has conceded in six games in all competitions this season for his club. Preud'homme named the same XI which had defeated FC Utrecht 4-0 on 29 August. 11/09/10 Inter 2-1 Udinese Calcio (Lucio 7, Eto'o 67; Floro Flores 31) Lucio's strike was his first for club or country since scoring against Juventus in the Coppa Italia in January, and his first in the league since 23 September 2009. Inter have not lost a home game in Serie A since a 2-1 defeat by Juventus on 22 March 2008. Did you know? Inter coach Benítez has never lost against Dutch opposition in the UEFA Champions League. During his time at Liverpool FC he recorded five wins and a draw against PSV. He previously oversaw two draws against Ajax with Valencia CF. (info courtesy of uefa.com) |
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| Nuno21 | Sep 14 2010, 01:02 PM Post #64 |
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Benfica's no1 fan!!
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United aim high as Rangers visit vs  Sir Alex Ferguson meets former club Rangers FC and ex-assistant Walter Smith on Tuesday when the Scottish champions visit Manchester United FC, but he already has sights on the final. United aim high as Rangers visitSir Alex Ferguson meets former club Rangers FC and ex-assistant Walter Smith on Tuesday when the Scottish champions visit Manchester United FC, but he already has sights on the final. Sir Alex Ferguson will go head to head with his former Manchester United FC assistant Walter Smith when Rangers FC visit Old Trafford to open UEFA Champions League Group C on Tuesday. The United manager, who once played for Rangers, could welcome back Rio Ferdinand from injury and already has his sights set on next May's final at Wembley. Sir Alex Ferguson, United manager Our home record [in Europe] over the years has been very good – I hope that continues and we can get off to the right start. No injuries to report: everyone is fit apart from Michael Carrick who is having treatment on his Achilles. I look forward to playing against Rangers, though it does bring a bit of focus on me being Scottish and having played for Rangers. Every season we want to reach the final and we were disappointed not to last year. We've got pretty much the same squad, have kept hold of the same players and they've gained in experience. I think Rangers are an organised side, and with [Steven] Naismith and [Vladimír] Weiss coming in they're better than they were last year. They'll be organised, fit and will come here with a game plan – teams like that are always tough to beat. Walter Smith, Rangers manager Just being in the Champions League is always a big thing but the first game always brings extra excitement. We did reasonably well last season away in Europe but our home form let us down so we will be hoping to keep our away form going and improve at home. That said, there are few teams in the world, if any, that can afford to come here without paying proper attention to defending. When I came back to Rangers [in 2007] I had no intention of staying this long, but I'm relishing it: the Champions League is where you want to be involved. We qualified out of the Champions League group phase into the UEFA Cup a couple of seasons ago and we need to be aiming for that level of performance again. Not that I'm aiming for third place, it's that level of performance I'm looking to recreate. Team news • United While Carrick is a doubt, Ferdinand (knee) "should get a game" against Rangers according to Sir Alex – he has not played since being ruled out of England's FIFA World Cup squad. Owen Hargreaves (knee) is a long-term absentee and Anderson has been out since suffering a cruciate knee injury on 23 February. • Rangers Andy Webster and John Fleck (both hamstring) are yet to feature this season while Steven Whittaker (calf) and Kirk Broadfoot (ankle) suffered knocks on UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying duty with Scotland. The latter started the weekend game against Hamilton Academical FC but injured his other ankle shortly before half-time. Weekend results 11/09/10 Everton 3-3 Manchester United (Pienaar 39, Cahill 90+1, Arteta 90+2; Fletcher 43, Vidiæ 47, Berbatov 66) Sir Alex Ferguson's 700th Premier League game as United manager ended with former Rangers midfielder Mikel Arteta scoring Everton's shock equaliser within seconds of Tim Cahill pulling one back. Nemanja Vidiæ's goal was his first for club and country since the 3-0 defeat of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC on 15 December. 11/09/10 Hamilton Academical FC 1-2 Rangers (Bougherra og 56; Jelaviæ 6, Miller 90) Nikica Jelaviæ – ineligible for the UEFA Champions League – scored on his first start while Kenny Miller's last-gasp winner was his seventh goal in his last six games. He has registered in all four of Rangers' league matches – including a hat-trick in the 3-0 triumph over Hibernian FC. Did you know? Rangers manager Smith was Sir Alex's assistant when he led Scotland at the 1986 FIFA World Cup and also served as his No2 at Old Trafford in 2004. (info courtesy of uefa.com) |
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| Nuno21 | Sep 14 2010, 01:06 PM Post #65 |
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Benfica's no1 fan!!
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Lyon and Schalke looking for lift-off vs  Olympique Lyonnais and FC Schalke 04 are both going into their opening Group B meeting struggling for form and confidence after a disappointing start to their domestic league campaigns. Lyon and Schalke looking for lift-offOlympique Lyonnais and FC Schalke 04 are both going into their opening Group B meeting struggling for form and confidence after a disappointing start to their domestic league campaigns. Less than five months after the 4-0 defeat at FC Bayern München that cost Olympique Lyonnais a place in the UEFA Champions League final, Claude Puel's side face Bundesliga opposition again as FC Schalke 04 visit in Group B on Tuesday. Both teams have made disappointing starts to their domestic campaigns and Puel and opposite number Felix Magath are well aware of the scale of their challenges. Claude Puel, Lyon coach We can't compare this game to the semi-final against Bayern München. This is another season, another context. The thing we can say is that Schalke competed with Bayern for the title until the end last season. So, they're a great team. The Champions League is totally different to the French league. Players have to show an extraordinary potential, physically, technically and psychologically speaking, to get good results. A lot of people consider us group favourites, but we have to be careful. Our opponents may not be as famous as Real Madrid or Barcelona, but it will be difficult. We are all roughly equal. We have a quality squad. Like us, Schalke are a wounded beast. It's not easy to be efficient when you have to integrate a lot of new players. I'm sure they will do great things this season, like us. We'll have an open game. Felix Magath, Schalke coach Our recent results demonstrate that the squad has gone through a lot of changes this season. It's true we've only worked with the whole team for a few days. I'm just happy to be playing in a different competition. We are happy to be here and to start against the strongest team in the group. It's a big challenge for us. We have conceded six goals in three games, but I'm sure that the defence is going to gel. As Manuel Neuer said, it's not only a defensive matter. We'll find the solution as a team. Lyon are in the same situation in the French league, and they maybe have not got over the defeat against Bayern last season. Nevertheless, we'll have to pay attention to Lisandro, and we know that Lyon are strong at home. Team news • Lyon Aly Cissokho, Cris, César Delgado and Ederson have all been sidelined by thigh injuries this term, though Michel Bastos and Alexandre Lacazette, who have also been suffering from similar problems, have been named in Lyon's 19-man squad. • Schalke Long-term absentees Tim Hoogland, Levan Kenia and Christian Pander are not even included on Schalke's UEFA Champions League squad list while Mario Gavranoviæ (knee) is also missing. Weekend results 11/09/10 Lyon 1-1 Valenciennes FC (Pied 27; Bong 69) Jérémy Pied, 21, opened the scoring on his first start for Lyon, and only his second ever appearance for the club. Yoann Gourcuff and Pape Diakhaté also made their first starts. Five points from their opening five games represents Lyon's worst start to a domestic season since 1995/96. They had 13 points at this stage last term. 10/09/10 TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 2-0 Schalke (Vorsah 37, Salihoviæ 90+3) Schalke have opened their Bundesliga campaign with three successive defeats; the last time they started with back-to-back losses, in 1987/88, they were relegated. Did you know? Schalke summer signing Raúl González was an unused substitute for Real Madrid CF in last season's Round of 16 first-leg match at the Stade de Gerland, won 1-0 by Lyon. The striker played in four UEFA Champions League games against the Ligue 1 side while at Madrid, drawing two and losing two – both defeats coming in France – and failed to score (info courtesy of uefa.com) |
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| Nuno21 | Sep 14 2010, 01:10 PM Post #66 |
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Benfica's no1 fan!!
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Schaaf delighted to welcome new boys Spurs vs  Thomas Schaaf is hoping for a "special night" as SV Werder Bremen open their Group A campaign at home to a Tottenham Hotspur FC side who expect to take a cautious approach. Schaaf delighted to welcome new boys SpursThomas Schaaf is hoping for a "special night" as SV Werder Bremen open their Group A campaign at home to a Tottenham Hotspur FC side who expect to take a cautious approach. SV Werder Bremen are back in the UEFA Champions League after a year's absence and coach Thomas Schaaf hopes there will be a "special night" at the Weserstadion when group-stage debutants Tottenham Hotspur FC visit in Group A on Tuesday. Spurs manager Harry Redknapp is expected to abandon his favoured 4-4-2 formation for a more cautious approach but nonetheless stated: "We want to win every match." Thomas Schaaf, Bremen coach Of course we played very well in [drawing 0-0 at FC Bayern München on Saturday] but we have to improve some things. For example, we did not score there and so there is room for improvement. After a year away we start tomorrow against a team from England and now we can compete with the best teams in Europe. We all are very happy. We have a very difficult group with attractive teams. We want to create special nights in the Champions League like we did in past seasons. Of course we are missing [Claudio] Pizarro, Naldo and [Per] Mertesacker but we have a high-quality squad and we proved it in Munich. Redknapp is an excellent coach and he demonstrated it by getting his team through against Young Boys. Tottenham have a very good team and will be great opponents. I think we will see an interesting match tomorrow. We have to pay special attention to Peter Crouch, because of his height. And he can always score. But [Bremen defenders Petri] Pasanen and [Sebastian] Prödl also have great qualities. Harry Redknapp, Tottenham manager We want to win every match. [New signings Rafael] van der Vaart and [William] Gallas both played well in the last game, but they are both very tired now. So I have to see how well they recover and if they can play tomorrow. Of course [Luka] Modriæ is very important for us and we are happy that he did not suffer a bad injury. But I won't let him play when he is not fit. I do not want to risk a more serious injury and lose him for weeks. It is absolutely fantastic for this club to play in the Champions League. I am really looking forward to great games. But also we have to learn because we are not used to playing every three days. We have watched every Bremen game since the day of the draw. We know Bremen very well. We have to be very careful. I remember the match between Germany and England at the World Cup so we have to be very careful. Werder Bremen are very experienced in the Champions League but they are not the favourites. After Inter Milan the group is very balanced. Team news • Bremen Mertesacker fractured his eye socket in Germany's UEFA EURO 2012 qualifier against Azerbaijan on 7 September, Pizarro is suffering with a thigh injury while Naldo has yet to make an appearance this term due to a recurring knee problem. • Tottenham Jermain Defoe (ankle) and Michael Dawson (knee) are definitely out, but fears Modriæ had broken a leg when he hobbled off just past the half-hour at West Bromwich Albion FC on Saturday proved unfounded after a scan, and he could yet play. Goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes missed that match with a groin injury and Carlo Cudicini will start at Bremen. Weekend results 11/09/10 FC Bayern München 0-0 Bremen Wesley and Mikaël Silvestre made their Bundesliga debuts against Bayern, in what was Bremen's first goalless draw in any competition this calendar year. Bremen were the first team to stop Bayern scoring in front of their home fans since FC Girondins de Bordeaux on 3 November 2009. 11/09/10 West Bromwich Albion FC 1-1 Tottenham (Brunt 41; Modriæ 27) Tottenham won their first four league games last season but have collected only five points at the same stage in 2010/11. In the absence of captain Ledley King due to a persistent knee injury, Tom Huddlestone wore the armband, while Gallas and Van der Vaart made their debuts. Did you know? Spurs' only previous European Champion Clubs' Cup appearance was back in 1961/62 when they reached the semi-finals before losing to SL Benfica. Bremen, by contrast, are back in the group stage after just 12 months, their failure to qualify last term halting a sequence of five consecutive appearances. (info courtesy of uefa.com) |
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| Nuno21 | Sep 14 2010, 01:14 PM Post #67 |
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Benfica's no1 fan!!
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København and Rubin target strong starts vs  Ståle Solbakken says FC København will have "a fighting chance of progressing" if they get the better of an FC Rubin Kazan side confident of picking up at least a point in the Danish capital. København and Rubin target strong startsStåle Solbakken says FC København will have "a fighting chance of progressing" if they get the better of an FC Rubin Kazan side confident of picking up at least a point in the Danish capital. Points are already at a premium in UEFA Champions League Group D according to FC København coach Ståle Solbakken who considers his charges' opening game like "a final" as they look to get off to a winning start against their Russian visitors, FC Rubin Kazan. With Panathinaikos FC and FC Barcelona to follow, Rubin coach Kurban Berdyev knows also that a positive start could be key to success in the section and goes into the game with confidence high despite facing a "disciplined team with very few weaknesses". Ståle Solbakken, København coach This match is vital for FC København. This one and the home game against Panathinaikos are our best chances of picking up three points. If we win we will have a fighting chance of progressing, so for us tomorrow is a final as we are determined to play European football after Christmas. Rubin Kazan are very good defensively, but if we play well we should be able to create chances and at the same time contain their offence and prevent them creating chances. Their new attacking midfielder, Brazilian international Carlos Eduardo, played well on his debut at the weekend and it is important that we close him down and do not give him any chances from set-pieces near our penalty area. Kurban Berdyev, Rubin coach We are in a difficult group and have the utmost respect for København. We expect them to put us under pressure, but still fancy our chances of getting at least a point. We have never met a Danish side in a competitive match but our scouts have been at København's recent matches and see them as a disciplined team with very few weaknesses. They have a lot of quality, especially in attack. Barcelona are the favourites to win the group but we hope to qualify for the next round and are looking forward to enjoying this Champions League experience, testing ourselves against the finest in Europe. Team news • København Martin Bergvold is expected to be sidelined until November after suffering a knee injury in the win against Lyngby BK on 21 August. Morten Nordstrand has not played since March after picking up thigh and groin injuries while on loan at FC Groningen. • Rubin Roman Sharonov is likely to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. César Navas is suspended. Weekend results 11/09/10 København 2-2 Silkeborg IF (Santin 57, N'Doye 59; Svensson 19, Saag 54) København extended their unbeaten start to the Danish Super League season to eight games against a Silkeborg side propping up the table. Their haul of 20 points is their best ever at this stage, and they have won six of their last eight games in all competitions. 11/09/10 Rubin 3-0 FC Amkar Perm (Eduardo 26 52, Martins 86pen) Carlos Eduardo marked his Rubin debut with two goals, while Obafemi Martins' strike was his first in club football since scoring for VfL Wolfsburg against his new employers on 18 March. Rubin, who sit second in the Russian Premier League six points behind FC Zenit St. Petersburg, are five matches unbeaten and have won their last five home games. Did you know? The champions of Denmark and Russia – who both successfully defended titles they had claimed the previous year – have each held a place at Europe's top table once before. The Russian side first featured 12 months ago in a memorable debut campaign in which they produced a remarkable 2-1 win at holders Barcelona, the Spanish giants who are again in the same section. Rubin followed that with a goalless draw in the return to enhance their reputation as a surprise package in last year's competition. (info courtesy of uefa.com) |
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| Nuno21 | Sep 14 2010, 01:18 PM Post #68 |
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Benfica's no1 fan!!
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Panathinaikos fear Barcelona backlash vs  Josep Guardiola wants FC Barcelona "back to our best" after losing to Hercules CF and Panathinaikos FC boss Nikos Nioplias is wary of the reaction when the sides meet on Tuesday Three days after their shock home Liga defeat by Hercules CF, FC Barcelona begin their UEFA Champions League campaign at home to Panathinaikos FC in Group D and coach Josep Guardiola believes his players, if still tired from Spain's FIFA World Cup triumph, will respond well to their loss. Panathinaikos coach Nikos Nioplias, meanwhile, concedes that his team are clear underdogs. Josep Guardiola, Barcelona coach I never got angry with the players [on Saturday]. We have never had so many Barcelona players in the national team and they reached the final and that has a price and it means they need more time to rest. I never used it as an excuse but it's a reality. We can't live off the six trophies, it's one of those common sentences, a bit of a corny sentence even ... the team wants to carry on winning, they are upset about losing. The day they don't get upset, then we will change half the team or I will leave. I can make life difficult for them, but I can never doubt them. I expect the strongest possible opposition, as usual. I don't know if they will come to attack, defend or counterattack, but Panathinaikos are a club with a great history in the Greek league, with lots of experienced players. I imagine they are more defensive away from home than in Athens, but it's vital to win the Champions League home games. We want to get back to our best. Nikos Nioplias, Panathinaikos coach It's a great moment for the fans as well as for the team. Everyone knows Barcelona, and everyone is amazed by their team, by the football they play, so there's not much more to say there. They are very strong and after losing a game they are even stronger. Surprises can always happen, Barcelona can lose a match but the best team will always finish top of the group. The other three teams in our group can come second. In a league you can see which team is the best and I can see Barcelona being the better side tomorrow and favourites for the title. Our rivals are the other three teams in our group, not Barcelona. Tomorrow we can draw, win or lose, but the important thing is the outcome of the group. But I have never said we need a miracle. Team news • Barcelona Carles Puyol has not featured this season after pulling up with a left calf injury during the warm-up before Barcelona's Liga opener against Real Racing Club but he is available to face Panathinaikos. Jeffrén tore his left thigh muscle in training with Spain's Under-21s earlier this month. • Panathinaikos Along with Giourkas Seitaridis (quadriceps) and Antonis Petropoulos (groin), Giorgos Karagounis (thigh) and Nikos Spyropoulos (knee) missed the weekend game against Aris Thessaloniki FC after picking up injuries on international duty with Greece. Weekend results 11/09/10 Barcelona 0-2 Hercules CF (Valdez 27 59) Javier Mascherano made his debut and Adriano and Bojan Krkiæ came into the starting lineup as Barcelona suffered their first defeat at the Camp Nou since a 2-1 loss to Sevilla FC in the Copa del Rey on 5 January. Hercules had also won on their last visit to Barcelona, recording a 3-2 victory against Sir Bobby Robson's side in 1996/97. 11/09/10 Aris Thessaloniki FC 0-1 Panathinaikos (Cissé 43pen) Nioplias made four changes to the team held 1-1 at home to Xanthi FC on the opening day of the season, Stergos Marinos, Loukas Vyntra, Gilberto Silva and goalkeeper Djibril Cissé all coming into the starting lineup. Barcelona old boy Luís García came off the bench to make his Panathinaikos debut. Did you know? The Greens' García started his career at La Masia, Barcelona's famous academy, along with Puyol, Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta and Víctor Valdés. All five were members of the Barcelona team in 2003/04 before García joined Liverpool FC (info courtesy of uefa.com) |
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VIVA BENFICA VIVA! VIVA PORTUGAL VIVA! Trophy Cabinet: TC2 Doubles Dodgeball Champion with Chris (TC Admin) TC2 Classic Football Cup Winner (Sevilla) TC2 Fantasy Hockey - Season 1 (Pittsburgh Penguins) TC2 Handball Champions - Season 9 (Ritmo HC) | |
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| TC Admin | Sep 14 2010, 02:01 PM Post #69 |
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The last of the previews for the new teams: SC Braga  Group Stage opponents: Arsenal, Partizan Belgrade, Shakhtar Donetsk. Who did they beat to get here? Celtic 4-2 on aggregate (third qualifying round), Sevilla 5-3 on aggregate (play-off round). Website: Here (in Portuguese) Wikipedia page: Here
Chances of qualifying: They definitely have a chance. Arsenal should go through in first but I can see any of the other teams joining them. They beat Celtic and Sevilla to get here so they're definitely a great side. We start tonight then!  I'd post the fixtures but Nuno's already made them clear  Remember the uefa.com Fantasy Football game starts at 2030 CET tonight so that's the deadline if you want to take part in our league. Can't wait to start now. Looking forward to Matchday 2 especially 
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 Credit to Bandit! @TheComplexII | |
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| Nuno21 | Sep 14 2010, 07:45 PM Post #70 |
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Benfica's no1 fan!!
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Half Time: Benfica 1-0 Tel-Aviv Twente 2-2 Internazionale Bremen 1-2 Tottenham Barcelona 3-1 Panathinikos Bursaspor 0-2 Valencia Man. United 0-0 Rangers Lyon 1-0 Schalke |
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VIVA BENFICA VIVA! VIVA PORTUGAL VIVA! Trophy Cabinet: TC2 Doubles Dodgeball Champion with Chris (TC Admin) TC2 Classic Football Cup Winner (Sevilla) TC2 Fantasy Hockey - Season 1 (Pittsburgh Penguins) TC2 Handball Champions - Season 9 (Ritmo HC) | |
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| TC Admin | Sep 14 2010, 08:45 PM Post #71 |
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Matchday 1: Part 1 results Barcelona 5 Panathinaikos 1 Benfica 2 Hapoel Tel-Aviv 0 Bursaspor 0 Valencia 4 FC Copenhagen 1 Rubin Kazan 0 FC Twente 2 Internazionale 2 Lyon 1 Schalke 0 Manchester United 0 Rangers 0 Werder Bremen 2 Tottenham 2 Inter Milan are not the same with Benitez Maybe their hearts are not with it having just won a Champions League recently. Twente were competing in their first Champions League group stage match so they were always going to be up for it. Janssen's free kick is a must see Anti-football or sensible tactics by Rangers? They 'parked the bus' and came away with a point. Tottenham nearly had a dream start to their Champions League adventure after going 2-0 up but Werder brought them back down to Earth Tight group.Copenhagen stole the win right at the end 
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Credit to Bandit! @TheComplexII | |
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| Ryan. | Sep 14 2010, 08:58 PM Post #72 |
League 2 Player
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Poor result for United, completely wrong team selection from SAF. Well played Rangers though, cant blame them for playing that way but United lacked creativity, only real chances were Gibson's few 35 yarders. Get well soon Valencia 
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| hugh | Sep 14 2010, 09:02 PM Post #73 |
two trophies, many runner-ups.
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yeah there was definitely a lack of creativity from United, the players on the park were good enough but they were just totally off their game tonight. Not necessarily the wrong team choice by Ferguson. Rangers played negatively, but they defended well so you must give them credit for that. I guess Bursaspor are pretty awful, so Valencia have a good head start I guess. Some suprising results in Group A as well, that's looking tight. Well done to Benfica and Copenhagen as well. 
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| TC Admin | Sep 14 2010, 09:10 PM Post #74 |
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Admin
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Ferguson probably had an eye on the Liverpool match - hence all the team changes. |
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Credit to Bandit! @TheComplexII | |
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| TGLucario475 | Sep 14 2010, 10:56 PM Post #75 |
Top Poster of 2018
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Dream start for Spurs, sadly they didn't win. |
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