2015-16 NIT: the Europa League thread

[Titans Bastard]

The first round begins this week:
 
Víkingur Reykjavík (ISL) vs. Koper (SLO)
Sheriff Tiraspol (MDA) vs. Odd Grenland (NOR)
Kukësi (ALB) vs. Torpedo-BelAZ Zhodino (BLR)
Alashkert (ARM) vs. St. Johnstone (SCO)
Jelgava (LAT) vs. Litex Lovech (BUL)
Newtown (WAL) vs. Valletta (MLT)
Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO) vs. Gabala (AZE)
Renova (MKD) vs. Dacia Chișinău (MDA)
Olimpic (BIH) vs. Spartak Trnava (SVK)
West Ham United (ENG) vs. Lusitanos (AND)
Glenavon (NIR) vs. Shakhtyor Soligorsk (BLR)
Differdange 03 (LUX) vs. Bala Town (WAL)
Shkëndija (MKD) vs. Aberdeen (SCO)
Víkingur Gøta (FAR) vs. Rosenborg (NOR)
SJK (FIN) vs. FH (ISL)
Linfield (NIR) vs. NSÍ Runavík (FAR)
Brøndby (DEN) vs. Juvenes/Dogana (SMR)
MTK Budapest (HUN) vs. Vojvodina (SRB)
Skonto (LAT) vs. St. Patrick's Athletic (IRL)
Lahti (FIN) vs. Elfsborg (SWE)
Atlantas (LTU) vs. Beroe Stara Zagora (BUL)
Debrecen (HUN) vs. Sutjeska Nikšić (MNE)
Ordabasy (KAZ) vs. Beitar Jerusalem (ISR)
Balzan (MLT) vs. Željezničar (BIH)
Sillamäe Kalev (EST) vs. Hajduk Split (CRO)
Budućnost Podgorica (MNE) vs. Spartaks Jūrmala (LAT)
Red Star Belgrade (SRB) vs. Kairat (KAZ)
Flora Tallinn (EST) vs. Rabotnički (MKD)
Sant Julià (AND) vs. Randers (DEN)
Saxan (MDA) vs. Apollon Limassol (CYP)
Progrès Niederkorn (LUX) vs. Shamrock Rovers (IRL)
Aktobe (KAZ) vs. Nōmme Kalju (EST)
Dinamo Batumi (GEO) vs. Omonia (CYP)
Kruoja Pakruojis (LTU) vs. Jagiellonia Białystok (POL)
Shirak (ARM) vs. Zrinjski Mostar (BIH)
Cork City (IRL) vs. KR (ISL)
Go Ahead Eagles (NED) vs. Ferencváros (HUN)
Trakai (LTU) vs. HB (FAR)
Laçi (ALB) vs. Inter Baku (AZE)
VPS (FIN) vs. AIK (SWE)
UCD (IRL) vs. F91 Dudelange (LUX)
Domžale (SLO) vs. Čukarički (SRB)
Glentoran (NIR) vs. Žilina (SVK)
Strømsgodset (NOR) vs. Partizani Tirana (ALB)
Neftchi Baku (AZE) vs. Mladost Podgorica (MNE)
Celje (SLO) vs. Śląsk Wrocław (POL)
La Fiorita (SMR) vs. Vaduz (LIE)
Birkirkara (MLT) vs. Ulisses (ARM)
Airbus UK Broughton (WAL) vs. Lokomotiva (CRO)
Botoșani (ROU) vs. Spartaki Tskhinvali (GEO)
Europa FC (GIB) vs. Slovan Bratislava (SVK)
 
 
There are favorites and underdogs, but mostly the first round is a chaotic free-for-all among teams in preseason form still trying to gel as a squad.
 
West Ham gets a trip to Andorra.

 

[OCST]

That's fun.  I didn't know the first round was so big.
 
TB, is it seeded, or do they do the first round with an eye toward minimizing travel (like the NIT)?  Most of those road trips look like thy found teams a relatively convenient opponent.

 

[swiftaw]

That's fun.  I didn't know the first round was so big.
 
TB, is it seeded, or do they do the first round with an eye toward minimizing travel (like the NIT)?  Most of those road trips look like thy found teams a relatively convenient opponent.

Both, teams were grouped and then seeded.

 

[Cellar-Door]

That's fun.  I didn't know the first round was so big.
 
TB, is it seeded, or do they do the first round with an eye toward minimizing travel (like the NIT)?  Most of those road trips look like thy found teams a relatively convenient opponent.

Yeah, travel isn't a consideration. West Ham got a trip to Andorra, but the other options included places like Kazakhstan.

 

[cgori]

Am I correct that the first leg is 7/2 at Upton Park for West Ham?  I'm actually going to be in London around then and this could be pretty fun to watch.
 
I have no idea how one acquires day-of-match tickets for Europa league 1st round though.
 
EDIT: it appears they are 20GBP day-of-game, and sold out.  I assume scalping is an option?

 

[Cellar-Door]

Am I correct that the first leg is 7/2 at Upton Park for West Ham?  I'm actually going to be in London around then and this could be pretty fun to watch.
 
I have no idea how one acquires day-of-match tickets for Europa league 1st round though.
 
EDIT: it appears they are 20GBP day-of-game.

It's sold out from what I hear. Though maybe you can buy one off of somebody if you show up and hang around.

 

[Titans Bastard]

I'm pretty sure the qualifying draws used to be somewhat regionalized, but it's clear that's no longer the case.  There were some concerns about the fairness of such an arrangement; perhaps that spurred changes.

 

[Titans Bastard]

How the semi-mighty have fallen: Red Star Belgrade is down 1-0 to Kairat Almaty and 3-0 on aggregate.  The Serbs lost 2-0 at home in the first leg after incurring an early red card and it looks like they are going down in Central Asia.
 
The Kazakh club just signed Anatoliy Tymoshchuk (now 36 years old), but he's not playing in this one.  They are managed by Vladimir Weiss, who coached Slovakia in the 2010 WC.

 

[Cellar-Door]

West Ham in Andorra today, stadium is tiny, but the view is nice:

 

[Cellar-Door]

So so West Ham.
Sakho gets a 12th minute Red Card. Nobody seems sure exactly why. Off the ball confrontation with his defender who received a yellow.

 

[Titans Bastard]

This week in embarrassing / interesting Europa League results:
 

• St. Johnstone knocked out on away goals by Alashkert of Armenia
• Continuing the sad sack Scottish theme, Aberdeen scraped by Shkëndija of Macedonia on away goals
• The Eredivisie, which has had three consecutive weak showings in Europe, was saddled with a Fair Play spot that went to a relegated club, Go Ahead Eagles.  Unsurprisingly, they were quickly dumped out by Ferencváros of Hungary.
• Somehow Latvia got all three clubs through, the best result being Jelgava's away goals advancement over Bulgaria's Litex Lovech.
• Faroe Islands, Andorra, and San Marino are the first three countries to bite the dust this season.

 
2nd round draw
Kukësi (ALB) vs. Mladost Podgorica (MNE)
Lokomotiva (CRO) vs. PAOK (GRE)
Slovan Bratislava (SVK) vs. UCD (IRL)
Ferencváros (HUN) vs. Željezničar (BIH)
Vaduz (LIE) vs. Nõmme Kalju (EST)
Beroe Stara Zagora (BUL) vs. Brøndby (DEN)
KR (ISL) vs. Rosenborg (NOR)
AIK (SWE) vs. Shirak (ARM)
Legia Warsaw (POL) vs. Botoșani (ROU)
Dacia Chișinău (MDA) vs. Žilina (SVK)
Shamrock Rovers (IRL) vs. Odd Grenland (NOR)
Hapoel Be'er Sheva (ISR) vs. Thun (SUI)
Kairat (KAZ) vs. Alashkert (ARM)
Vojvodina (SRB) vs. Spartaks Jūrmala (LAT)
Jagiellonia Białystok (POL) vs. Omonia (CYP)
Jelgava (LAT) vs. Rabotnički (MKD)
Čukarički (SRB) vs. Gabala (AZE)
Shakhtyor Soligorsk (BLR) vs. Wolfsberger (AUT)
Trabzonspor (TUR) vs. Differdange (LUX)
Charleroi (BEL) vs. Beitar Jerusalem (ISR)
Randers (DEN) vs. Elfsborg (SWE)
Mladá Boleslav (CZE) vs. Strømsgodset (NOR)
Cherno More Varna (BUL) vs. Dinamo Minsk (BLR)
Rijeka (CRO) vs. Aberdeen (SCO)
West Ham United (ENG) vs. Birkirkara (MLT)
Apollon Limassol (CYP) vs. Trakai (LTU)
Koper (SLO) vs. Hajduk Split (CRO)
FH (ISL) vs. Inter Baku (AZE)
Inverness CT (SCO) vs. Astra Giurgiu (ROU)
Spartak Trnava (SVK) vs. Linfield (NIR)
Copenhagen (DEN) vs. Newtown (WAL)
Śląsk Wrocław (POL) vs. IFK Göteborg (SWE)
Skonto (LAT) vs. Debrecen (HUN)
 
 
West Ham fans are getting good travel in this tournament so far.

 

[Cellar-Door]

West Ham scoreless at the half against Birkirkara, despite spending basically the entire half within 25 yards of Birkirkara's goal. Birkirkara's keeper having a terrific game, but his defenders constantly fouling so they'll likely give up a penalty or go down a man at some point.

 

[Cellar-Door]

West Ham may be about to go out against a Maltese team.
Down a goal (tied on aggregate).
Just went to 10 men on a truly HORRIBLE red card.
 
 
Edit- two guys got locked up on a corner, West Ham's Tompkins pushed the defender off and the player grabbed his face like he'd been hit. Red for Tompkins, yellow for the defender? It made no sense.

 

[DJnVa]

HORRIBLE as in a bad call, or HORRIBLE in a "what the hell did he do that for?" kinda way?

 

[Cellar-Door]

HORRIBLE as in a bad call, or HORRIBLE in a "what the hell did he do that for?" kinda way?

A very bad call, it was pretty standard wrestling. Maybe you give a yellow if you want to make a point, but a yellow for one and straight red the other is a ref who is lost.
Though it was also pretty dumb to get into it with a player on a scrubby team you should beat.
 
It's also funny that West Ham qualified through fair play and have had a man get a straight red in each home and home so far.

 

[SoxFanInCali]

Both teams down to 10 now. About 6 minutes away from penalties.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Penalties.
 
One of the worst performances I've ever seen from West Ham.

 

[Cellar-Door]

An embarrassing win is still a win.

 

[SoxFanInCali]

Go, go, England coefficient!

 

[Titans Bastard]

Wow.  West Ham being dumped out of the EL qualifying rounds by a Maltese club would have been beyond epic.  This round could have used a big upset for entertainment purposes.
 
End of the road for Slovenia, Bulgaria, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Lithuania, Northern Ireland, Estonia, Armenia, Malta and Wales.  Really poor showing from Slovenia and Bulgaria this year.
 
 
The 3rd qualifying round has some big names coming in.  Winners advance to the playoff round, where they'll be joined by the losers from the CL 3rd qualifying round.
 
 
 
Zürich (SUI) vs. Dinamo Minsk (BLR)
Kairat (KAZ) vs. Aberdeen (SCO)
Žilina (SVK) vs. Vorskla Poltava (UKR)
AZ (NED) vs. İstanbul Başakşehir (TUR)
Bordeaux (FRA) vs. AEK Larnaca (CYP)
PAOK (GRE) vs. Spartak Trnava (SVK)
Târgu Mureș (ROU) vs. Saint-Étienne (FRA)
Debrecen (HUN) vs. Rosenborg (NOR)
Jablonec (CZE) vs. Copenhagen (DEN)
Thun (SUI) vs. Vaduz (LIE)
Belenenses (POR) vs. IFK Göteborg (SWE)
Sampdoria (ITA) vs. Vojvodina (SRB)
Kukësi (ALB) vs. Legia Warsaw (POL)
Charleroi (BEL) vs. Zorya Luhansk (UKR)
Sturm Graz (AUT) vs. Rubin Kazan (RUS)
Elfsborg (SWE) vs. Odd Grenland (NOR)
Southampton (ENG) vs. Vitesse (NED)
Slovan Liberec (CZE) vs. Ironi Kiryat Shmona (ISR)
Gabala (AZE) vs. Apollon Limassol (CYP)
Wolfsberger (AUT) vs. Borussia Dortmund (GER)
AIK (SWE) vs. Atromitos (GRE)
Standard Liège (BEL) vs. Željezničar (BIH)
West Ham United (ENG) vs. Astra Giurgiu (ROU)
Athletic Bilbao (ESP) vs. Inter Baku (AZE)
Rabotnički (MKD) vs. Trabzonspor (TUR)
Brøndby (DEN) vs. Omonia (CYP)
Rheindorf Altach (AUT) vs. Vitória de Guimarães (POR)
Hajduk Split (CRO) vs. Strømsgodset (NOR)
Krasnodar (RUS) vs. Slovan Bratislava (SVK)

 

[Cellar-Door]

West Ham up 2-0 and dominating Astra (best known for knocking out Lyon last year). Collins with a red. West Ham qualified through fair play and has a red in each round so far.

 

[Schnerres]

Wolfsberg (AUT) - Dortmund 0-1 (75th min).
Dortmund is really swimming right now. They were in complete control in the 1st half. After minute 55, Wolfsberg started getting chances. And it really looks that it´s the same bullshit like last year (and before): Dortmunds left side with Schmelzer as LB is poor. I hate the guy, he has to play weak for Dortmund, so he won´t be recalled from Jogi due to few alternatives. Schmelzer is really attacking so much, but on defense, he was responsible for 3 clear chances for Wolfsberg in the last 20 minutes.

 

[Schnerres]

KF Kukesi - Legia Warschau was stopped in 55th minute, when Legia went ahead 1-2. Their midfielder Ondrej Duda was hit by a stone, which was allegedly thrown from the home teams fans. The swiss ref stopped the match after a short break after that incident.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Astra scored two (well 1 and a fluke own goal) to draw and Bilic was banned from the touch line. Also two injuries to players expected to start against Arsenal. All told about as bad as it gets. Forced to send a good team to Romania, and 3 starters out of the Arsenal match.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Sampdoria 0-4 Vojvodina
 
WTF?  Well, early signs are that last season was a fluke and Italian clubs are back to phoning in their Europa League performances.
 
Rabotnički 1-0 Trabzonspor is a nice result for the Macedonians.

 

[wonderland]

I read that Sampdoria was raided this offseason. Might explain some of it.

 

[DLew On Roids]

That Sampdoria result could go a long way to keeping England in 3rd place in the coefficient rankings. They're almost certain to go out with no more than 1 point. West Ham is already sitting on 3.5 if my memory serves (2 vs Lusitans, 1 vs Birkirkara, 0.5 vs Astra)

 

[Cellar-Door]

West ham running out the 4th team.

 

[Cellar-Door]

And in what should be no surprise to anyone who saw the squad list, West Ham are out.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Astra Giurgiu 2-1 West Ham United, FT.
 
That's it for the Hammers.  Nice scalp for the Romanians in their third season of European football even if West Ham didn't much care about this competition; Astra knocked out Lyon last year, too.
 
Some other upsets so far:
 
Zürich v. Dinamo Minsk (0-1, 1-1; 1-2)
Jablonec v. Copenhagen (0-1, 3-2; 3-3a)
Rabotnički v. Trabzonspor (1-0, 1-1; 2-1)
 
 
Rabotnički (Macedonia) and Milsami Orhei (Moldova, dropping from CL to EL next round) are probably the two smallest clubs left in Europe.
 
I forgot that Jablonec has a Bosnian/American winger named Nermin Crnkić, who apparently assisted on the winning goal.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Playoff round draw:
 
Rheindorf Altach (AUT) vs. Belenenses (POR)
Žilina (SVK) vs. Athletic Bilbao (ESP)
Steaua București (ROU) vs. Rosenborg (NOR)
Zorya Luhansk (UKR) vs. Legia Warsaw (POL)
Viktoria Plzeň (CZE) vs. Vojvodina (SRB)
Milsami Orhei (MDA) vs. Saint-Étienne (FRA)
Jablonec (CZE) vs. Ajax (NED)
Young Boys (SUI) vs. Qarabağ (AZE)
Molde (NOR) vs. Standard Liège (BEL)
PAOK  (GRE) vs. Brøndby (DEN)
Bordeaux (FRA) vs. Kairat (KAZ)
Lech Poznań (POL) vs. Videoton (HUN)
Dinamo Minsk (BLR) vs. Red Bull Salzburg (AUT)
Rabotnički (MKD) vs. Rubin Kazan (RUS)
Slovan Liberec (CZE) vs. Hajduk Split (CRO)
Atromitos (GRE) vs. Fenerbahçe (TUR)
Panathinaikos (GRE) vs. Gabala (AZE)
Southampton (ENG) vs. Midtjylland (DEN)
Astra Giurgiu (ROU) vs. AZ (NED)
Odd Grenland (NOR) vs. Borussia Dortmund (GER)
Krasnodar (RUS) vs. HJK (FIN)
Thun (SUI) vs. Sparta Prague (CZE)

 

[Titans Bastard]

Uh....Odd Grenland is beating Dortmund 3-0 at 25'.

 

[Schnerres]

Dortmund made it to 3-1 and twice hit the post.
 
If they only had other RB/LB than Schmelzer (weak lifetime LB) and Castro (usually DM, but plays RB today and slept for the first 15 seconds, when it was already 1-0).

 

[DJnVa]

They've pulled one back.

 

[Schnerres]

47th minute: 3-2 Kagawa.

 

[Schnerres]

Aubameyang hit the post and missed the goal from 1m at the far post. Dortmund really dominating the possession and playing it out for their chances. 20min to go.
 
Edit: Aubameyang makes it 3-3 after a nice run from Schmelzer. I wonder why nobody plays the guy as a LM instead as LB.

 

[Schnerres]

85: Another crossbar from Gündogan and then Mikhitaryan makes it 3-4 for Dortmund. Insane. 20-5 shots on goal, but you have to give Odds credit for the fight they show.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Nice day for Norway.  Odd put up a respectable fight, Molde beat Standard 2-0 at home, and Rosenborg thumped Steaua 3-0 in Budapest.
 
Solid result for Žilina, who beat Athletic Bilbao 3-2 - even if it will be tough to hold on in Spain.
 
Also a good day for Czech and Polish clubs.
 
Southampton were held to a 1-1 draw by Midtjylland ("FC Algorithm").

 

[Schnerres]

Nice day for Norway.  Odd put up a respectable fight, Molde beat Standard 2-0 at home, and Rosenborg thumped Steaua 3-0 in Budapest.

 
 
Steaua is Bukarest, which is in Romania.
Budapest is in Hungary, which has clubs like Ujpest or Ferencvaros. (One part of the city is Buda and the other is Pest and it is "divided" by the Donau.)
 
Hungary is the country with the former football greats (Puskas etc.) who led Germany 2-0 in the final and lost 2-3.
 
(I have vacation, so this is my geography class ATM )

 

[Titans Bastard]

 
 
Steaua is Bukarest, which is in Romania.
Budapest is in Hungary, which has clubs like Ujpest or Ferencvaros. (One part of the city is Buda and the other is Pest and it is "divided" by the Donau.)
 
Hungary is the country with the former football greats (Puskas etc.) who led Germany 2-0 in the final and lost 2-3.
 
(I have vacation, so this is my geography class ATM )

 
:blink:
 
I know where Steaua is, but my brain simply didn't cooperate with my hands.  I've been to Budapest - never been to Romania, but I've looked at it across the border from Bulgaria.
 
Rosenborg's win wouldn't have been nearly as impressive against a Hungarian club....these days anyway.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Almost another upset for a Kazakh club.  Kairat beat Bordeaux 2-1 but went out on away goals.
 
Qarabag [awkward verb here] Young Boys 3-0 (4-0 on aggregate)...nice result for the Azeris.

 

[swiftaw]

Southampton go out. That's going to hurt England's coefficient this season - 2 of their 8 entrants didn't make a group stage. 

 

[Schnerres]

Dortmund scored a bunch of beautiful goals vs. Odds.
Someone who really turned it around under Tuchel is Mikhitaryan. He played a better 2nd part last season, but for now, he seems to be on fire.
 
Of course, everybody thinks of last seasons 18th place first half, but it was not so long ago, when they won the Bundesliga twice, were in the CL final, won the DFB cup and regularly beat Bayern in the Bundesliga. Yes, some guys got older and most importantly Lewandowski and Götze are gone, but they know how to win and I think they can finish in Top4 in the Bundesliga again. Problem in the Europa League will probably be their unsteady defense. If you let in some dumb goals (at home), you´re out sooner than you can say Reus.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

Efe Ambrose continues to be an absolute horror show.
 
Liverpool having trouble with Sion at home. Two A+ opportunities for Lallana and Origi, directly at the keeper.
 
Full time. draws away to Bordeaux and home to Sion...  :nsmith:

 

[swiftaw]

I can't tell if the FS1 announcers are calling the game from the studio or from the stadium.

 

[DLew On Roids]

Team Klopp has clearly been telling the players to try to receive the ball while moving upfield. Coutinho, Can, and Lallana have all changed how they try to receive it.

 

[DLew On Roids]

Divock Origi has worse touch than Eric Van.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

Can draws a foolish second yellow for Kuzmin in 36', then pots the equalizer on the ensuing FK

 

[DLew On Roids]

An article on The Liverpool Offside called Kuzmin a "red card machine." Even so, I wasn't expecting something that dumb.

 

[Nick Kaufman]

Isn't Liverpool playing better than its last few appearances? What is Layla's talking about when he says that this unchanged from Rodgers days?