2022-23 Europa League: Bumbling Towards Budapest

candylandriots

unkempt
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I’m getting the dramatic voiceless Union halftime highlights right now so it may be fixed.
Thank you. My wife has already requested my clothes go straight into the wash, so I may as well enjoy the beer and not risk near-certain death from trying to return if it’s not working at home.

It just occurred to me too that we are still paying TV tax, but apparently don’t have German TV. I know why (it’s a royal PITA) but kind of annoying. I should have been able to just switch to RTL.
 

candylandriots

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Apparently this bar is full of Köln fans, so that’s the game with sound. Anyone know why Grill is in for Rønnow?!?
 

candylandriots

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Cheer for that Shaktar Matchup I think
Hoping for them or maybe RB Salzburg or Sevilla (maybe? Based on current form?). But completely expecting Barcelona. Which would certainly be memorable at least. I was there when they beat Frankfurt a couple days after Frankfurt eliminated Barca from the UEL, and you’d have thought that Union Berlin won the Champions League after that. No matter what, it’s gonna be fun. Now, to somehow get that ticket…
 

OCST

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Hoping for them or maybe RB Salzburg or Sevilla (maybe? Based on current form?). But completely expecting Barcelona. Which would certainly be memorable at least. I was there when they beat Frankfurt a couple days after Frankfurt eliminated Barca from the UEL, and you’d have thought that Union Berlin won the Champions League after that. No matter what, it’s gonna be fun. Now, to somehow get that ticket…
You know what? Bring 'em on. This is straight up house money, right? Might as well beat Barca. They're vulnerable. Might not be a better time. You'll never forget it.
 

candylandriots

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You know what? Bring 'em on. This is straight up house money, right? Might as well beat Barca. They're vulnerable. Might not be a better time. You'll never forget it.
That’s kinda what I’m thinking. My god that would be a blast. This team is definitely not lacking in confidence right now either.

When we decided to move here, I figured something like this could be possible. In like 20 years.
 

Zososoxfan

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Do the 3rd place UEL teams drop down into UConfL?

Also, it looks like the UEL group winners are through to the KOs, and there's a playoff between UCL 3rd placers and UEL group runners up--is that a one-game playoff or Home-and-home?
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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Do the 3rd place UEL teams drop down into UConfL?

Also, it looks like the UEL group winners are through to the KOs, and there's a playoff between UCL 3rd placers and UEL group runners up--is that a one-game playoff or Home-and-home?
Yup, 3rd place Europa League goes to the conference league knockouts. And the Europa League knockouts start with a two legged "playoff round" between the eight second place finishers and the eight teams dropping down from the Champions League.
 

candylandriots

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Here are the NIT draws. Not psyched about Union Berlin’s matchup. The last one is pretty spicy though.

PSV-Sevilla
Nantes-Juventus
Midtjylland-Sporting
Union Berlin-Ajax
Monaco-Leverkusen
Roma-RB Salzburg
Rennes-Shakhtar Donetsk
Manchester United-Barcelona
 

Zososoxfan

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Bump for the KOs that start today (home side listed first):

Ajax Amsterdam vs. FC Union Berlin
12:45 PM
Johan Cruijff Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Barcelona vs. Manchester United
12:45 PM
Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain

FC Salzburg vs. AS Roma
12:45 PM
Red Bull Arena Salzburg, Wals bei Salzburg, Austria

Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Stade Rennais
12:45 PM
Stadion Legii Warszawa im. Jozefa Pilsudskiego, Warsaw, Poland

Bayer Leverkusen vs. AS Monaco
3:00 PM
BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany

Juventus vs. Nantes
3:00 PM
Allianz Stadium, Torino, Italy

Sevilla vs. PSV Eindhoven
3:00 PM
Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, Sevilla, Spain

Sporting CP vs. FC Midtjylland
3:00 PM
Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal

UEL favorites Sevilla headline the action today. They're a terrible side in terrible form at the moment, but doubt their UEL performances at your peril. PSV are currently 4th in Holland.S

More seriously, some terrific matchups today. The headliner for me is Barca vs. MANU. 2 giant clubs that are starting to find their way out of the wilderness get to compete in a high profile matchup with relatively low stakes. This one has the potential to be lots of fun.

Ajax currently sit 3rd in a competitive Eredivisie this season. They're led by young star Brian Brobbey and Dutch NT players Bergwijn and Berghuis. Monaco are also having a good season, sitting in a competitive 3rd position in Ligue 1. Ben Yedder and Embolo have stood out for them this year.

Salzburg sits atop the table in Austria, while Roma are clinging to 4th with Milan and Lazio hot on their heels.

No idea what Shakhtar are doing domestically, but good for them regardless. So sad that this match is forced to be held in Poland. Rennais sit 6th, very close to 5th, but likely too far down to catch a top 4 spot in France this season.

Leverkusen are struggling this season and sit midtable. Monaco are currently 3rd and look pretty good for a top 4 finish.

Juve are currently making shady deals to avoid FFP, and are probably more focused on getting the Superleague off the ground than anything else. Nantes are in 13th!

Sporting are currently in 4th, but closer to 5th than 3rd. Mdtjylland is based in Scandanavia, probably.
 

candylandriots

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Just a moment of extreme panic as I got the "you can't watch with a vpn" message on Paramount+, but found the workaround.
 
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candylandriots

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Union Berlin had the better first half against Ajax, but score is 0-0 at the half. Union outshot Ajax 9-0 and had one really solid opportunity that I hope they don't rue missing.
 

OCST

Sunny von Bulow
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Utd just score on a crazy pinball at 60' to go up 2-1 on Barca. Bounced off several players from both sides in the six yard box before going over the keeper's shoulder. I've seen it five or six times, I still don't know what happened.
 

candylandriots

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I would have happily taken a draw before the game started, but damn if Union Berlin didn't deserve a win there. They were definitely the better of the two in every way except the score.

Everything to play for next Thursday. SadAF will be crazy and I can't wait.
 

candylandriots

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It’s an hour before kickoff and Stadion an der alten Försterei is buzzing. 20,000 Germans singing “Uptown Girl” at the tops of their lungs haha.
 

candylandriots

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Thought there could have maybe been another penalty before half too. Josip Juranovic has been so good since he got here from Celtic. Knoche had the first (pen) and Juranovic the second off the Ajax GK’s hand. Actually he got a hand on both.
 

fletcherpost

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Not great half of football if you're a Utd fan. they seem a bit disjointed up front. i expect a little jiggle with the formation, maybe bruno up the middle and Sancho wide.
 

fletcherpost

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Garnacho gets brought down whilst running full pelt, and he does six or more 360 degree side rolls with his hands clutching his head. Stunning piece of acrobatic theatrics.
 

candylandriots

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My cardiologist thanks Danilo Doekhi for taking the 2-1 score to 3-1 only 2 minutes after Ajax scored.

I don’t think there is a team on earth having more fun than Union Berlin these days.

Song after the game: “Zieht den Bayern die Lederhosen aus” (take off Bayern’s trousers!)
 

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candylandriots

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Results of the draw today:

Shakhtar/Feyenoord
Sporting/Arsenal
Union Berlin/Union-St. Gilloise (I'm happy with this draw!)
Leverkusen/Ferencvaros
Man United/Real Betis
Roma/Real Sociedad
Juventus/Freiburg
Sevilla/Fenerbahce