[Albion] Champions League final group fixtures

[Guinness Boy]

I assume your point is "we'll win on Thursday, so all third place CL teams will be irrelevant to us".

If so, I say: not really - I'm interested to know what teams are dropping into the Europa League and who we may be facing in the round-of-16.

From what I can see looking at last year's tournament, the group winners do not face each other initially, with each one drawn against a winner of the intermediate knockout stage. So, in short, there could be a CL third place side in our near future one way or another!

Nope. Good assumption, but I literally cannot believe that Champions League final round results affect us.

Wake us up when the dream's over, boss.

 

[West Upper Seagull]

So the third-placed teams are: Galatasaray, Lens, Braga, Benfica, Feyenoord, Newcastle/Milan, Young Boys & Porto/Shakhtar Donetsk.

Portugal please!

You can also add PSG to that list as a possible if Newcastle beat Milan and PSG lose to Dortmund !

Portugal would be my preference too and feel a trip to Benfica is written in the stars to match the calibre of teams we’ve played so far !

 

[peterward]

You can also add PSG to that list as a possible if Newcastle beat Milan and PSG lose to Dortmund !

Portugal would be my preference too and feel a trip to Benfica is written in the stars to match the calibre of teams we’ve played so far !

If we are to finish second. Please be Benfica.

Always wanted to go to Lisbon, we've got the beating of them and massive ground so plenty of tix!

 

[Colonel Mustard]

If we are to finish second. Please be Benfica.

Always wanted to go to Lisbon, we've got the beating of them and massive ground so plenty of tix!

Lisbon's a glorious city. Yes, it would be a great draw. For personal reasons I’d also love Young Boys. Unlike some others here, I would hate to get Galatasaray. Sounds like a horrible place to watch football.

 

[Vatican Citys No.2 Keeper]

Union Berlin played last seasons Europa League fixtures at their own ground so I can't see any reason it wouldn't happen if they got through. Although interestingly they could have played the CL games at Alte Forsterei this season, however they chose to move the games to maximise ticket sales.

Partly maximising ticket sales, but also ensured that as many members as possible could get to at least one game. Also have to take into account how much of the seating stand at Alte Försterei would have been requisitioned by UEFA for the "UEFA family" and you can understand why the decision to play at the Olympiastadion was made.

Not to be tonight, a valiant effort and absolute scenes at the end of the first half with Ronnow's penalty save quickly followed by the opening goal from Volland. Madrid had most of the possession in both halves but did little with it in the first. They moved up a gear second half, put the ball in some dangerous areas which Joselu capitalised on. Unlucky to concede the third off a deflection, but Union gave another great account of themselves against one of Europe's elite.

Still a massive "what if" when looking at the late goals conceded tonight, at the Bernabeu and at Braga. 4 points lost late on across 3 games that would have been enough to get 3rd, but focus turns to salvaging something in the Bundesliga from the second half of the season.

 

[Wardy's twin]

Well that's told me... i thought it was the team finishing bottom that we might have to play.

In my defence this is the first season in many years where I have watched any European football and I have seen exactly 5 games.....

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Lisbon's a glorious city. Yes, it would be a great draw. For personal reasons I’d also love Young Boys. Unlike some others here, I would hate to get Galatasaray. Sounds like a horrible place to watch football.

 

[peterward]

It was colonel mustard in the basement with the pipe.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

It was colonel mustard in the basement with the pipe.

apologies @Colonel Mustard, you presented an open goal and I couldn't resist the tap in. Childish, I know...

 

[peterward]

Lisbon's a glorious city. Yes, it would be a great draw. For personal reasons I’d also love Young Boys. Unlike some others here, I would hate to get Galatasaray. Sounds like a horrible place to watch football.

Switzerland in February will be cold, but I guess beautiful backdrop too.

They're currently leading the Swiss league so tricky tie.

Interesting stadium name

 

[Blues Guitarist]

Yes - just checked the rules. Benfica scored more away goals in the head-to-heads. What a way to go out!!

Especially losing on goal difference to a last minute goal after Salzburg had brought the score back to 1-2 in the second half. But Salzburg didn’t play with enough urgency until it was too late, and Di Maria was very, very good on the night.

 

[ElectricNaz]

I'd prefer Lens or Braga of those who have confirmed 3rd but it doesn't matter anyway, we're winning tomorrow

Shakhtar would be an emotional one for RDZ but again, we're smashing Marseille so it's all moot. Shakhtar vs Porto winner takes all is a killer of a fixture tbf

 

[kevo]

If we are to finish second. Please be Benfica.

Always wanted to go to Lisbon, we've got the beating of them and massive ground so plenty of tix!

That would be a great trip, for sure. Lisbon is a beautiful city.

 

[amexer]

Sure it has been said before but seems so wrong that the reward for not doing well in Champions League is a last 16 spot in Europa League. Obvious reasons have never noticed this before.
Is this something that was pushed by big clubs to cover failure in CL or just a way of having more games

 

[Jim in the West]

I thought about asking when the draw for the knockout round is held - but then decided to Google it: Monday 12noon our time. But probably hoping we’re not in it

 

[ElectricNaz]

Sure it has been said before but seems so wrong that the reward for not doing well in Champions League is a last 16 spot in Europa League. Obvious reasons have never noticed this before.
Is this something that was pushed by big clubs to cover failure in CL or just a way of having more games

Probably pushed. Also means UEFA get big bucks like last season when Barca etc dropped down. All good for the TV rights.

At the same time, if we'd finished 3rd we'd then be in the Conference League - so I guess it's a nice little buffer.

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

Sure it has been said before but seems so wrong that the reward for not doing well in Champions League is a last 16 spot in Europa League. Obvious reasons have never noticed this before.
Is this something that was pushed by big clubs to cover failure in CL or just a way of having more games

It's not a spot in the last 16. It's a spot in what is technically the last 24 (which sounds wrong) as they've got to beat a Europa League group stage runner up for a place in the last 16.

It's been this way since the 1999-2000 season, although the UEFA Cup/Europa League has had a few different formats over that time so they used to drop into the round of the last 32. Since the start of the Conference League they've dropped into this Knockout stage preliminary round.

This is the last season any clubs will transfer down from Champions League to Europa League and Europa League to Conference League at the end of the group stage though as the new format changes how qualification from the group stage works.

 

[Colonel Mustard]

Switzerland in February will be cold, but I guess beautiful backdrop too.

They're currently leading the Swiss league so tricky tie.

Interesting stadium name

Bern is a beautiful old city and worth a visit anytime. Been Wankdorf a couple of times. Saw England play there, as well as a CL match but can’t remember the opposition. Good atmosphere but the Swiss are polite and relatively restrained so not as febrile as Athens or Marseille. Nor Benfica, I’m sure. Would be one of the safest away matches possible.

As for the weather, yes it would be cold but Switzerland is a land-locked country so there's no wind which is what makes February in Brighton or Eastbourne much more unpleasant. Temperatures can get very low in Switzerland but strangely, it's quite tolerable without the icy winds. All that said, somewhere warmer in February like Spain or Portugal would be welcome. I think anywhere would be good.

 

[Doug-ees-evil]

I feel like a bad fan, deliberating on not the team or club's destiny – but where we'd all like to go on another short holiday ; -). Yesterday's CL drop-ins makes the prospect of not getting a result against Marseille a little easier to bear should it go that way. There's some crackers in a potential 3rd place play-off.

Would also love to go to Switzerland, having never been before (Youngs Boys/Wankdorf.. oooo Matron etc.) and I quite like the idea of a constrast of a cold, snowy, alpine away break after the joy of shorts/t-shirt in Athens in December. Having said that, warmth and sun in bleak February is also deeply appealing. I've got my heart set on a Benfica Quarter Final in March though.

As others have said, Galatasaray is probably my least favourite option too. Just think it will feel like a considerably less friendly and more aggressive version of Athens (without the amazing city, history and hospitality).

I do very much want to win the group though for the record – would be a stunning achievement. My bank balance will thank me too for us topping the group.

 

[peterward]

Bern is a beautiful old city and worth a visit anytime. Been Wankdorf a couple of times. Saw England play there, as well as a CL match but can’t remember the opposition. Good atmosphere but the Swiss are polite and relatively restrained so not as febrile as Athens or Marseille. Nor Benfica, I’m sure. Would be one of the safest away matches possible.

As for the weather, yes it would be cold but Switzerland is a land-locked country so there's no wind which is what makes February in Brighton or Eastbourne much more unpleasant. Temperatures can get very low in Switzerland but strangely, it's quite tolerable without the icy winds. All that said, somewhere warmer in February like Spain or Portugal would be welcome. I think anywhere would be good.

Sold.

Sounds wonderful.

If we got Bern, and i get ticket, think I'd try and make it a 4 or 5 dayer to see city and get up in mountains a couple of days.

The one that may be most problematic for you & I non tier 1's is Lens.

1 hour out of Calais, dead easy to drive. Will be a binfest.

Hopefully all academic for round of 32 after a resounding win tomorrow.

UTA!