[img]http://4.bp..com/_n_W_lsX98Ks/ST5_MTTC56I/AAAAAAAAAQQ/lM43PkiNBKs/s320/champions-league-logo1.jpg[/img]

UEFA Champions League group stage


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Group A
[table]
[tr][td]Clubs[/td][td] Pld [/td][td] W [/td][td] D [/td][td] L [/td][td] GF [/td][td] GA [/td][td] Pts [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]FC Bayern München (GER)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Juventus (ITA)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]FC Girondins de Bordeaux (FRA)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[/table]


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Group B
[table]
[tr][td]Clubs[/td][td] Pld [/td][td] W [/td][td] D [/td][td] L [/td][td] GF [/td][td] GA [/td][td] Pts [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Manchester United FC (ENG)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Beşiktaş JK (TUR)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]VfL Wolfsburg (GER)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[/table]


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Group C
[table]
[tr][td]Clubs[/td][td] Pld [/td][td] W [/td][td] D [/td][td] L [/td][td] GF [/td][td] GA [/td][td] Pts [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]AC Milan (ITA)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Real Madrid CF (ESP)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Olympique de Marseille (FRA)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]FC Zürich (SUI)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[/table]


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Group D
[table]
[tr][td]Clubs[/td][td] Pld [/td][td] W [/td][td] D [/td][td] L [/td][td] GF [/td][td] GA [/td][td] Pts [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Chelsea FC (ENG)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]FC Porto (POR)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]APOEL FC (CYP)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[/table]


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Group E
[table]
[tr][td]Clubs[/td][td] Pld [/td][td] W [/td][td] D [/td][td] L [/td][td] GF [/td][td] GA [/td][td] Pts [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Liverpool FC (ENG)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Olympique Lyonnais (FRA)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]ACF Fiorentina (ITA)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Debreceni VSC (HUN)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[/table]


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Group F
[table]
[tr][td]Clubs[/td][td] Pld [/td][td] W [/td][td] D [/td][td] L [/td][td] GF [/td][td] GA [/td][td] Pts [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]FC Barcelona (ESP)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]FC Internazionale Milano (ITA)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]FC Rubin Kazan (RUS)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[/table]


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Group G
[table]
[tr][td]Clubs[/td][td] Pld [/td][td] W [/td][td] D [/td][td] L [/td][td] GF [/td][td] GA [/td][td] Pts [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Sevilla FC (ESP)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Rangers FC (SCO)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]VfB Stuttgart (GER)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]AFC Unirea Urziceni (ROU)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[/table]


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Group H
[table]
[tr][td]Clubs[/td][td] Pld [/td][td] W [/td][td] D [/td][td] L [/td][td] GF [/td][td] GA [/td][td] Pts [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Arsenal FC (ENG)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]AZ Alkmaar (NED)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Olympiacos FC (GRE)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[tr][td]R. Standard de Liège (BEL)[/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][/tr]
[/table]


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Celtic are in trouble after losing at home to Dinamo Moscow.
UEFA cup champions, Shakhtar Donetsk, should thank Fernadinho for saving them from a tight spot by scoring the late goal that earned them a 2-2 draw. They have cup tied Barcelona target, Chygrynskiy and that should end Braca's interest in the player.
Anderlecht seem almost through to the play offs with their 5-0 win.
Olympiacos are also looking almost certain with a 2-0 away win. Panathinaikos arent looking so good.

lists looks clumsy but very soon the boys will be seperated from the men.

can't imagine inter playing standard liege and i will be hearing 9-0.

With the new format, it will be harder for the likes of Arsenal to get into the group stages, as they will be playing opposition from stronger leagues.

Nice games today
- After going down 3-0 in the first 15mins, Maccabi pulled a stunning comeback to win 4-3 and progress to the play-offs,
- Sporting broke twente hearts when they scored an equalizer 3mins into injury time via their keeper who had gone up for the corner kick. Twente had led 1-0 from a goal scored just 2mins into the game.

Third qualifying round (First leg on 28/29 July; Second leg on 4/5 August)

[table]
[tr][td][/td][td][/td][td]Path [/td][td] for Non-Champions [/td][td]1st leg[/td][td]2nd leg[/td][td]Agg[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]1[/td][td]AC Sparta Praha (CZE)[/td][td]v[/td][td]Panathinaikos FC (GRE)[/td][td]3-1[/td][td]0-3[/td][td]3-4[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]2[/td][td]FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)[/td][td]v[/td][td]FC Timişoara (ROU)[/td][td]2-2[/td][td]0-0[/td][td]2-2[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]3[/td][td]Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR)[/td][td]v[/td][td]FC Twente (NED)[/td][td]0-0[/td][td]1-1[/td][td]1-1[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]4[/td][td]Celtic FC (SCO)[/td][td]v[/td] [td]FC Dinamo Moskva (RUS)[/td][td]0-1[/td][td]2-0[/td][td]2-1[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]5[/td][td]RSC Anderlecht (BEL)[/td][td]v[/td][td]Sivasspor (TUR)[/td][td]5-0[/td][td]1-3[/td][td]6-3[/td][/tr]
[/table]

[table]
[tr][td][/td][td][/td][td]Path [/td][td] for Champions [/td][td]1st leg[/td][td]2nd leg[/td][td]Agg[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]1[/td] [td]FC Salzburg (AUT)[/td] [td]v[/td] [td]NK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)[/td][td]1-1 [/td][td]2-1[/td][td]3-2[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]2[/td] [td]ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SVK)[/td] [td]v[/td] [td]Olympiacos CFP (GRE)[/td][td]0-2[/td][td]0-2[/td][td]0-4[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]3[/td] [td]FC Zürich (SUI)[/td] [td]v[/td] [td]NK Maribor (SVN)[/td][td]2-3[/td][td]3-0[/td][td]5-3[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]4[/td] [td]APOEL FC (CYP)[/td] [td]v[/td] [td]FK Partizan (SRB)[/td][td]2-0[/td][td]0-1[/td][td]2-1[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]5[/td] [td]FC Sheriff (MDA)[/td] [td]v[/td] [td]SK Slavia Praha (CZE)[/td][td]0-0[/td][td]1-1[/td][td]1-1[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]6[/td] [td]FK Aktobe (KAZ)[/td] [td]v[/td] [td]Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR)[/td][td]0-0[/td][td]3-4[/td][td]3-4[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]7[/td] [td]FK Bakı (AZE)[/td] [td]v[/td] [td]PFC Levski Sofia (BUL)[/td][td]0-0[/td][td]0-2[/td][td]0-2[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]8[/td] [td]FK Ventspils (LVA)[/td] [td]v[/td] [td]FC BATE Borisov (BLR)[/td][td]1-0[/td][td]1-2[/td][td]2-2[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]9[/td] [td]FC Levadia Tallinn (EST)[/td] [td]v[/td] [td]Debreceni VSC (HUN)[/td][td]0-1[/td][td]0-1[/td][td]0-2[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]10[/td] [td]FC København (DEN)[/td] [td]v[/td] [td]Stabæk IF (NOR)[/td][td]3-1[/td][td]0-0[/td][td]3-1[/td][/tr]
[/table]

Celtic pulled off the away win while Shaktar were sent packing

So for the play off round we have two pools

Non-Champions Path
Arsenal FC (ENG), Olympique Lyonnais (FRA), VfB Stuttgart (GER), ACF Fiorentina (ITA), Club Atlético de Madrid (SPA), RSC Anderlecht (BEL), Panathinaikos FC (GRE), Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR), Celtic FC (SCO), FC Timişoara (ROU)

Champions Path
FC Salzburg (AUT), Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR), FC BATE Borisov (BLR), FC Sheriff (MDA), Debreceni VSC (HUN), PFC Levski Sofia (BUL), FC Zürich (SUI), Olympiacos CFP (GRE), APOEL FC (CYP), FC København (DEN)

Its going to be much harder for Arsenal and co to get into the group stages this year.

No problems for Arsenal. If you want to win it, you have to beat everybody anyway.

Samaras is a very bad boy. What a way and time to score. 
Celtic had a very good game and Landry N'guemo was impressive.

sirwebs:

No problems for Arsenal. If you want to win it, you have to beat everybody anyway.

Its a problem cos the non-champions pool has stronger teams when compared to the champions pool.
Last year Arsenal played twente, but this year could get drawn against clubs like Atletico, Fiorentina, Stuttgart or Lyon

biina:

So for the play off round we have two pools

Non-Champions Path
Arsenal FC (ENG), Olympique Lyonnais (FRA), VfB Stuttgart (GER), ACF Fiorentina (ITA), Club Atlético de Madrid (SPA), RSC Anderlecht (BEL), Panathinaikos FC (GRE), Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR), Celtic FC (SCO), FC Timişoara (ROU)

Champions Path
FC Salzburg (AUT), Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR), FC BATE Borisov (BLR), FC Sheriff (MDA), Debreceni VSC (HUN), PFC Levski Sofia (BUL), FC Zürich (SUI), Olympiacos CFP (GRE), APOEL FC (CYP), FC København (DEN)

Its going to be much harder for Arsenal and co to get into the group stages this year.

biina:

Its a problem cos the non-champions pool has stronger teams when compared to the champions pool.
Last year Arsenal played twente, but this year could get drawn against clubs like Atletico, Fiorentina, Stuttgart or Lyon

biina were you paid to type such rubbish?
it's gonna be harder for the strongest team in the pool to qualify?
you think any of these losers can stop "the red and white army"?

i laugh in Burmese

ok
so he's adebadluck's partner in crime

typical of Arsenal fans; dem never shoot, una don die.
So Atletico is not stronger than Twente abi?
no worry, draws is on friday, we go soon see who you go get.

MrCrackles:

Will you shut up before i stuff it with dirty socks!

u no dey fear?
Instead make u go dey pray make dem no relegate una

I'd like to meet Barcelona and real madrid in the knockout stages but never chelsea.

Non-champions path
Seeded: Arsenal, Olympique Lyonnais, Sporting Clube de Portugal, Panathinaikos, and VfB Stuttgart.
Unseeded: Fiorentina, Atlético Madrid, Celtic, Anderlecht, and Timişoara

Champions path
Seeded: Olympiacos, København, Levski Sofia, Maccabi Haifa, and FC Zürich
Unseeded: Sheriff, Salzburg, APOEL, Ventspils, and Debreceni

Full details of the draw:
Olympique Lyonnais vs. Anderlecht

Celtic vs. Arsenal

FC Timisoara vs. VfB Stuttgart

Sporting CP vs. Fiorentina

Panathinaikos vs. Athletico Madrid

Olympiacos CFP vs. FC Sheriff

FC Salzburg vs. Maccabi Haifa FC

FK Ventspils vs. FC Zürich

FC København vs. APOEL FC

PFC Levski Sofia vs. Debreceni VSC

The two leg ties will be played on the 18/19 and 25/26 of August. The ten winners will enter the draw for the Champions League group stages which will occur on the 27th August.

http://goal.com/en/news/1716/champions-league/2009/08/07/1427080/arsenal-draw-celtic-in-champions-league-play-off-round

Celtic geared for Gunners test

Match preview
Celtic FC have lost only once at home to English opposition before but manager Tony Mowbray is under no illusions about the size of his side's task against last term's beaten UEFA Champions League semi-finalists Arsenal FC in their cross-border play-off round contest.

Quotes
Tony Mowbray, Celtic manager: We are under no illusions, we are aware of the world-class players Arsenal have got. But we are looking forward to it and we have confidence. Arsenal are exceptionally good at keeping the ball and going forward but we are going to try and win. We lost the first match here against a very good [FC Dinamo Moskva] side and managed to win the away game. They might be tight games but let's hope it's a good game for British football. I don't think many teams, if any, can beat Arsenal at their own game yet every match has a different way of unfolding and we will see how this pans out.

Arsène Wenger, Arsenal manager: I still feel we are under pressure to perform because it is a massive game for us. On the other hand, you want games with this kind of pressure because you want the opportunity to show how good you are. We know we can gain respect if we perform against a team like Celtic because still many people expect a difficult game here. The atmosphere is always heated in Scotland but at the end of the day, it's eleven v eleven on the pitch and that's all that matters. We've been all over Europe in some very heated places and we know by experience that what matters is how we will play. If we can keep the atmosphere low-key it would be good and the only way to do that would be down to our performance.

Key stats
• Though these two sides have never met before, Celtic have enjoyed the better of their meetings with English teams on home soil, where their record reads four wins, three draws and one defeat.
• Celtic's most recent encounters with Premier League opposition came in UEFA Champions League Group E last term, when eventual finalists Manchester United FC followed a 3-0 home win with a 1-1 draw at Celtic Park.
• Arsenal have never faced Scottish opposition, but Gunners manager Arsène Wenger recorded a pair of league wins over Celtic counterpart Tony Mowbray last season, while the latter was in charge of West Bromwich Albion FC.
• An Arsenal legend as a player and current head of youth development at the club, Liam Brady managed Celtic from 1991-93.

How they reached the play-offs
• Runners-up in the Scottish Premier League last term, Celtic owe their place in the play-off round to Georgios Samaras's last-gasp strike at FC Dinamo Moskva, Scott McDonald having struck at the end of the first half as Celtic recorded a 2-0 victory following their 1-0 reverse in the opener.
• Arsenal enter the fray at this stage courtesy of their fourth-placed finish in the Premier League last season. The Gunners have contested eleven consecutive group stages, earning an automatic spot each time until 2006/07, when they defeated NK Dinamo Zagreb in qualifying. They then progressed past AC Sparta Praha in 2007/08 and FC Twente last term.

Injury news
Celtic
Out: Barry Robson (groin)
Doubtful: Glenn Loovens (knee), Shaun Maloney (unspecified)

Arsenal
Out: Johan Djourou (knee), Łukasz Fabiański (knee), Samir Nasri (broken leg), Tomáš Rosický (hamstring), Theo Walcott (back)
Doubtful: Cesc Fàbregas (hamstring), Bacary Sagna (unspecified), Denilson (groin)

Disciplinary information
Celtic
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: Andreas Hinkel, Chris Killen, Landry Nguemo

Arsenal
Suspended: none
Misses next game if booked: none

Last competitive results
15/08/09 Aberdeen FC 1-3 Celtic (Scottish Premier League)
(Aluko 61; McGeady 29 42, McDonald 44)

15/08/09 Everton FC 1-6 Arsenal (English Premier League)
(Saha 90; Denilson 26, Vermaelen 37, Gallas 41, Fàbregas 48 70, Eduardo 89)

Did you know?
The only visiting team to have returned south of the border with a victory at Celtic Park were Nottingham Forest FC, 2-1 winners in the 1983/84 UEFA Cup third round.

http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/fixturesresults/round=2000027/match=2000350/report=pr.html

Timişoara target Stuttgart scalp

Match preview
FC Timişoara coach Ovidiu Ioan Sabau has called on his players to reproduce the heroics that toppled UEFA Cup holders FC Shakhtar Donetsk in the previous round when they take on Bundesliga challengers VfB Stuttgart in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off round tie.

Quotes
Ovidiu Ioan Sabau, Timişoara coach: We are a small and inexperienced team, but we have our strengths – first of all, our ambition. We will have to fight and to play as we did against Shakhtar and I am appealing to my players' intelligence, to their total commitment and their refusal to give up until the last second of the second leg. We have to be well-organised, and to do what we know, not try something else. Stuttgart are not a perfect team, they have their weaknesses, and it's up to us to exploit these weaknesses. Of course, having so few players at my disposal is not ideal but we don't want to look for excuses.

Markus Babbel, Stuttgart coach: We have the chance to fulfil a dream which we worked so hard for during the past six months. In the second half of last season we caught up with the teams above us to take third . Playing in the group stage would be amazing, but we know how good Timisoara are – they are well-organised and have some very skilful individuals and the fact that they eliminated the UEFA Cup holders speaks for itself. Tomorrow we will not sit back but will attack. It is an advantage to play the second leg at home but it would be a big mistake to rely on that. Timisoara proved against Shakhtar that they can play well away, too.

Key stats
• While Timişoara are newcomers to the competition, Stuttgart will be looking to earn a third tilt at the UEFA Champions League group stage after gaining automatic access in both 2003/04 and 2007/08.
• In their only other appearance, during the inaugural edition of the competition in 1992/93, they failed to reach the group stage under a different format, losing out to first-round opponents Leeds United AFC following a 2-1 play-off loss at Camp Nou.
• Stuttgart's sole previous encounter with a Romanian side ended in victory as they defeated FC Rapid Bucureşti 2-1 during the UEFA Cup group stage in 2005/06. Recent FC Bayern München signing Mario Gómez fired both their goals. Current Stuttgart coach Babbel contested the match as a player, while Timişoara duo Valentin Bădoi and Artavazd Karamyan turned out for Rapid.
• Stuttgart's Thomas Hitzlsperger and Timişoara's Bucur were on opposite sides when Germany beat Romania 3-1 in a friendly on 12 September 2007, though they were not on the pitch at the same time.

How they reached the play-offs
• Hosts Timişoara earned themselves a spot in the third qualifying round after finishing second in the Romanian Liga 1 last term, three points behind champions AFC Unirea Urziceni and two ahead of FC Dinamo 1948 Bucureşti. Their reward was a tough tie against Shakhtar, but after Gheorghe Bucur struck twice in Ukraine to seal a 2-2 draw, Sabău's troops then held on to a 0-0 stalemate at home to progress on away goals.
• Stuttgart ended their own domestic campaign in third spot to book a play-off round ticket, falling five points short of the tally amassed by Bundesliga champions VfL Wolfsburg and three short of Bayern.

Injury news
Timişoara
Out: Winston Parks (left knee), Srgian Luchin (adductor)
Doubtful: Alexandru Curtean (adductor), Dare Vršič (ankle)

Stuttgart
Out: Khalid Boulahrouz (shoulder), Roberto Hilbert (slipped disc), Martin Lanig (cruciate ligament), Ricardo Osorio (shoulder), Jan Šimák (back), Alexander Stolz (back), Christian Träsch (broken wrist)
Doubtful: none

Disciplinary information
Timişoara
Suspended: Alexandru Bourceanu
Misses next match if booked: Dan Alexa, Arman Karamyan, Artavazd Karamyan, Lukáš Magera, Stellian Stancu

Stuttgart
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: none

Last competitive results:
14/08/09 Timişoara 1-0 FC Rapid Bucureşti (Romanian Liga 1)
(Karamyan 33)

15/08/09 Stuttgart 4-2 SC Freiburg (German Bundesliga)
(Pogrebnyak 53, Elson 65 (pen) 76, Schieber 88; Idrissou 70 85)

Did you know?
Former Romanian international forward Ioan Viorel Ganea played for both teams, turning out for Stuttgart between 1999 and 2003 and spending the 2007/08 campaign at Timişoara.

http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/fixturesresults/round=2000027/match=2000351/report=pr.html

Sporting wary of Viola menace

Match preview
Sporting Clube de Portugal coach Paulo Bento admitted his team would have to step up a gear if they are to put aside their poor record against Serie A opposition and gain a first-leg advantage against play-off rivals ACF Fiorentina in Lisbon.

Quotes
Paulo Bento, Sporting coach: We want to win over the fans, we are not performing well and they
are not happy. To win without conceding would be ideal but if not, a 0-0 would not be a bad result. We will be facing a good side with strong collective organisation. Defensively they are always strong with good players up front. Against Italian sides having the ball is not a sign of control. They don't do that much but are always a step away from scoring and we have to prevent that by defending properly. Our aim is to impose our style of play and when we don't have the play to stop their key men giving us problems.

Cesare Prandelli, Fiorentina coach: We respect Sporting a lot. They have 50 years of history in European football. It will be an open tie and we don't feel we are favourites. Sporting play vertical football with lots of possession in midfield – they have good midfielders and attackers who play from deep. We are wary of them as a team rather than of any specific players, although they do have quality individuals. We've prepared in pre-season for these two matches and are very motivated to win through. With our new tactical approach [Cristiano Zanetti in place of Adrian Mutu] the team is better balanced and able to move the ball more quickly.

Key stats
• Sporting have a miserable record against Italian sides having won just four of 23 matches. They at least boast the upper hand at home courtesy of three wins, six draws and two defeats.
• Fiorentina's record in Portugal reads one win, no draws and two losses, and they have prevailed in just one two-legged tie against a Portuguese club, beating SL Benfica 2-1 on aggregate in the 1996/97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.
• Sporting are bidding to make their fourth consecutive group-stage appearance and have featured in the group stage five times overall. Their only previous experience of progressing through the qualifiers came against Beitar Jerusalem FC in 1997/98, while their two failures came against Italian sides – Udinese in 2005/06 and Inter three years before that.
• Fiorentina have twice appeared in the group stage, earning their place through qualifying on both occasions. They overcame SK Slavia Praha last season and RTS Widzew Łódź in 1999/2000.

How they reached the play-offs
• Runners-up in the Portuguese Liga last term, Sporting opened their bid against FC Twente in the third qualifying round. Following a goalless first leg in Lisbon, Twente took an early lead in the Netherlands but Sporting advanced on away goals after Peter Wisgerhof put through his own net in added time to make it 1-1.
• Prandelli's men booked their play-off round place by finishing fourth in Serie A last season, above Genoa CFC courtesy of a better head-to-head record.

Injury news
Sporting
Injured: Marat Izmailov (tendinitis)

Fiorentina
Injured: José Ignacio Castillo (meniscus)

Disciplinary information
Sporting
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: Hélder Postiga, Miguel Veloso

Fiorentina
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: none

Last competitive results:
15/08/09 CD Nacional 1-1 Sporting (Portuguese Liga)
(João Aurélio 27; João Aurélio og 75)

Fiorentina n/a

Did you know?
Sporting coach Paulo Bento played all 90 minutes and Viola striker Mutu was an unused substitute when Portugal downed Romania 1-0 at UEFA EURO 2000™.

http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/fixturesresults/round=2000027/match=2000352/report=pr.html

Olympiacos face Sheriff threat

Match preview
FC Sheriff coach Leonid Koutchouk may consider Olympiacos CFP as "the strongest opponents we could have drawn" but he refused to rule out an upset as he welcomed the Greek champions to Tiraspol with his side's sights set on becoming the first Moldovan team to reach the group stage.

Quotes
Leonid Koutchouk, Sheriff coach: Olympiacos were the strongest opponents we could have drawn, but it will make this tie even more interesting. We have played against similarly strong opponents in Europe several times and gained experience. I do not like it when people consider one side as favourites. Who would have imagined [FC] BATE Borisov reaching the group stage last season? We have raised our standards very high this season and now we can try to go higher. As for my suspension, we have an organised and disciplined team and my absence from the bench should not be a major factor.

Temuri Ketsbaia, Olympiacos coach: Sheriff are a very disciplined team, who are capable of punishing you for any mistakes. We should pay special attention to their set-pieces, which is one of their strong suits, but they also play good football and have fast strikers. We can't lose like last year – we have to make the group stage and we can't afford to underestimate our opponents. We will try to win the tie in the first leg and will do everything to achieve this goal, although a draw would not be the worst result.

Key stats
• Sheriff have already gone further than ever before by reaching this final hurdle in qualifying, but blocking their path are an Olympiacos side determined to make amends for missing out on the group stage last season.
• Olympiacos suffered a surprise loss to Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta FC in the 2008/09 third qualifying round, then the last step before the competition proper. If the Greek titleholders need reminding of that defeat, they do not have to look far, as their new coach Temuri Ketsbaia was in charge of Anorthosis at the time.
• Prior to that loss, Olympiacos had competed in the UEFA Champions League group stage for eleven consecutive seasons and they advanced to the last 16 in the 2007/08 season before losing to Chelsea FC.
• Sheriff fell in the second qualifying round for eight years running before this season, when the change in the qualifying format meant they entered the competition at that same stage.

How they reached the play-offs
• Sheriff beat FC International Turku 2-0 on aggregate in the second qualifying round, Alexandru Suvorov scoring from the penalty spot in both legs. They then secured their passage to the play-off round by defeating SK Slavia Praha on away goals following a 1-1 aggregate draw. José Nadson scored the decisive equaliser in Prague three minutes into added time to send the Moldovan champions through.
• Olympiacos entered the competition in the third qualifying round, where they recorded 2-0 victories both at home and away against ŠK Slovan Bratislava.

Injury news
Sheriff
Out: Abdul Mamah (hamstring), Nadson (knee)

Olympiacos
Out: None

Disciplinary information
Sheriff
Suspended: Koutchouk
Misses next match if booked: Benjamin Belima, Jymmy França, Abdul Mamah

Olympiacos
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: Enzo Maresca

Did you know?
As a player, Olympiacos coach Ketsbaia once scored a winning goal in Moldova for his national team. Ketsbaia fired the only effort of the match as Georgia won a FIFA World Cup qualifier there in September 1997. He figured in two other internationals against Moldova: a 2-0 home win in that same World Cup qualifying competition and a 3-2 away loss in EURO '96™ qualifying in 1995.

http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/fixturesresults/round=2000027/match=2000344/report=pr.html

København told to get ruthless

Match preview
FC København coach Ståle Solbakken has warned his players they must take their chances against an APOEL FC side whose own trainer, Ivan Jovanović, is expecting a "difficult" assignment in the first leg of their play-off tie in Denmark.

Quotes
Ståle Solbakken, København coach: We're facing a very experienced team – they've got many different nationalities and their players are used to international football with their national sides. They are exceptional defensively, which will make it difficult for us, but over the two legs we have a fair chance of going through. I don't expect the tie to be decided tomorrow but if we can keep a clean sheet and score then I will be very pleased. We must be more clinical with our finishing than we have been so far this season – we have wasted too many chances, especially at home. Your defensive errors get punished more severely in Europe than domestically and the games are often decided by pieces of individual brilliance so we need to keep our composure and concentration for 90 minutes.

Ivan Jovanović, APOEL coach: When we drew FC København we knew immediately that we were up against opponents of great quality. They are one of the best sides in Scandinavia with great experience of playing in Europe. We have tried to get the best preparation possible but it will be difficult as they have a lot of skilled players. I like their style of football. They are attack-minded but still keep a tight organisation. I believe this tie is more difficult than our tie in the last round against [FK] Partizan, but our team are in good shape. We badly want to qualify for the group stage, and for that to happen we’ll need to stay focused for the entire match and keep our mistakes to a minimum.

Key stats
• Although, technically speaking, the sides have never met before, APOEL did face one of København's parent clubs, Boldklubben 1903, precisely 30 years ago. The merger of B1903 with Kjøbenhavns Boldklub in 1992 created the modern-day København, but prior to that, in 1979/80, B1903 took on APOEL in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup preliminary round. The Danish side won the first leg 6-0 at home on 15 August 1979 and completed a resounding aggregate triumph with a 1-0 victory in the return on 8 September.
• København's goal is to secure their first appearance in the group stage since they first made it through in 2006/07 by defeating Myllykosken Pallo-47 and AFC Ajax in successive qualifying rounds. Those triumphs reversed a trend that brought the Danish side defeats at the qualifying stage on four occasions (2001/02, 2003/04, 2004/05 and 2007/08).
• The Copenhagen side also fell short of the group stage in an earlier version of the competition format in 1993/94, losing 7-0 on aggregate to AC Milan in the second round.
• APOEL are looking to follow the lead of their compatriots Anorthosis Famagusta FC, who became the first Cypriot club to reach the UEFA Champions League proper last term.

How they reached the play-offs
• København swept aside Montenegro's FK Mogren 12-0 on aggregate in the second qualifying round before a more closely contested tie against Stabæk IF. The Danish champions won 3-1 in Copenhagen – Jesper Grønkjær and Cesar Santin the scorers – before holding on for a goalless draw in Norway.
• APOEL secured a surprise 2-1 aggregate success against FK Partizan in the third qualifying round. After a 2-0 home victory via goals from Nenad Mirosavljević and Marcin Żewłakow, Jovanović's men limited the Serbian titleholders to a single-goal victory in the return in Belgrade. They had earlier defeated Faroese side EB/Streymur 5-0 on aggregate in the second qualifying round.

Injury news
København
Out: None

APOEL
Out: None

Disciplinary information
København
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: Mikael Antonsson, Mathias Jorgensen

APOEL
Suspended: Joost Broerse, Savvas Poursaitidis
Misses next match if booked: Nektarios Alexandrou, Marinos Satsias, Żewłakow

Last competitive results
15/08/09 København 0-1 AGF Århus (Danish Superligaen) (Graulund 33)

APOEL n/a

Did you know?
Both clubs competed in the UEFA Cup in 2008/09. København reached the Round of 32, while APOEL were knocked out in the first round.

http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/fixturesresults/round=2000027/match=2000347/report=pr.html

FINAL SCORES:

FC Sheriff 0 - 2 Olympiacos FC
[] [Dudu 46', Mitroglou 81']

FC København 1 - 0 APOEL FC
[Pospěch 54']

Celtic FC 0 - 2 Arsenal FC
[] [Gallas 43, G. Caldwell (o.g.) 71]

FC Timişoara 0 - 2 VfB Stuttgart
[] [Gebhart 28(pen), Hleb 30]

Sporting Clube de Portugal 2 - 2 ACF Fiorentina
[Vukčević 58, Miguel Veloso 66] [Vargas 6, Gilardino 79

Many away wins is making next week less interesting

MrCrackles:

You know. . .Who cares anyway as long as my own team scales!

Your team has scaled, Emiraati is as good as impregnable.

Panathinaikos obstacle for Atlético

Match preview
Vastly experienced at navigating a route through UEFA Champions League qualifying, Panathinaikos FC will need to be at their best to deny play-off round rivals Club Atlético de Madrid a group-stage place.

Quotes
Henk ten Cate, Panathinaikos coach: Atlético are a very good side, with quality players performing in a very competitive league – it will be tough for us but I believe every team have a chance to qualify and I trust in my players and their ability. With their pace and Sergio Agüero, Diego Forlán, Maxi Rodríguez and Simão, Atlético are dangerous away from home and it's very important for us to avoid conceding. We will try to attack with intelligence, without neglecting our defence – I would prefer to win but wouldn't mind a goalless draw.

Abel Resino, Atlético coach: This is a very important tie for the players, the club and the fans of Atlético. I expect the match to be intense, with lots of pressing from both sides. Panathinaikos have Kostas Katsouranis and Giorgos Karagounis in midfield, players with lots of presence, and they usually play counterattacking football. They will press from the first minute, aided by their fans, but we must keep in mind that football is eleven versus eleven and not be overawed by the atmosphere. My players could even be motivated by it.

Key stats
• The teams' most recent meeting came in the group stage of the 2007/08 UEFA Cup which Atlético won 2-1 in the Spanish capital. With both sides already through to the Round of 32, Panathinaikos took a first-half lead through Dimitris Salpingidis only to be pegged back with 16 minutes remaining when Luís García equalised. Atlético were reduced to ten men following Raúl García's 81st-minute dismissal, but deep into stoppage time Simão struck from a free-kick.
• Panathinaikos's participation in last year's UEFA Champions League was ended by Spanish opposition, Villarreal CF triumphing in the first knockout round. The two teams drew 1-1 in Spain before the Yellow Submarine prevailed 2-1 in Greece.
• That was the Greens' first home loss to a Spanish club, taking their record on their own turf to three wins, five draws and one defeat.
• Atlético have yet to triumph in Greece, having recorded two draws and two defeats on four previous visits.
• They have tasted victory in two of four two-legged ties with Greek teams – the most recent a 9-6 aggregate win over PAOK FC in the 1997/98 UEFA Cup. OFI Crete FC proved too strong in the 1993/94 UEFA Cup, by contrast, as did Panionios GSS in the same tournament in 1971/72.

How they reached the play-offs
• Third in the Greek Super League last term, Panathinaikos topped a four-team play-off tournament to book a third qualifying round berth. There they staged a dramatic 3-0 second-leg victory over AC Sparta Praha to win 4-3 on aggregate. José Sarriegi, Kostas Katsouranis and Dimitris Salpingidis all struck in Athens.
• Los Colchoneros finished fourth in the 2008/09 Spanish Liga to enter the play-off round and are aiming to reach the group stage for a third time. They defeated FC Schalke 04 in their only previous tilt at qualifying last season.

Team news
• Panathinaikos
Injured: Cédric Canté (knee)
Suspended: José Sarriegui
Misses next match if booked: Djibril Cissé, Gabriel

• Atlético
Injured: Mariano Pernía (broken collarbone), Ignacio Camacho (hip)
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: none

Did you know?
Panathinaikos midfielder Gilberto and Atlético forward José Antonio Reyes were Arsenal FC team-mates from 2004-07, while Greens striker Cissé and Atlético forward Florent Sinama-Pongolle were at Liverpool FC between 2004 and 2006.

Anderlecht out to end Lyon run

Match preview
Olympique Lyonnais are looking to book their tenth consecutive group-stage place but standing in their way are an RSC Anderlecht side whose coach Ariël Jacobs is banking on "the illogical side of football" to take his men through.

Quotes
Claude Puel, Lyon coach: I have a lot of respect for this Anderlecht team. They are very solid, very physical. This is a team with a lot of good points so we know it will be difficult. The heat causes a difficulty; it will play into the hands of the team defending most. They have a very good midfield with a big physical presence, but with some technically gifted players as well who can make the difference with the ball. We missed a lot of chances on Saturday [a 1-0 win against Valenciennes FC], but I would like to focus on the fact that we created so much – the goals will come. It could be an open tie over the two legs. I am generally satisfied with my team but we still have a lot of room for improvement.

Ariël Jacobs, Anderlecht coach: They are the logical favourites for this game but I believe in the illogical side of football. We have no specific plans to stop Lisandro. Lyon's strength is not down to one player, but their team as a whole. They have a quality side with a lot of individual talents. The Champions League is very different from the domestic league or the pre-season matches. Even if Lyon have not been prolific in front of the goal this season, we have to underline that they create a lot of chances. It is often said that playing the second leg at home is an advantage, but football is not an exact science and we will have to look at this tie as a whole. I do not think they will underestimate us because the stakes are so high. Lyon have the right to think that Anderlecht was a good draw, that might be true, but they will have to prove it on the pitch.

Key facts
• The two sides traded 1-0 home wins in their only previous encounters in the 2003/04 UEFA Champions League group stage. Brazilian midfielder Juninho Pernambucano decided the first game from the penalty spot before Finnish defender Hannu Tihinen avenged the loss in Brussels.
• Sidney Govou and Anthony Réveillère contested both games for Lyon, while Daniel Zítka and Olivier Deschacht featured twice for Anderlecht. Current assistant coach Besnik Hasi also appeared for the Belgian outfit.
• Anderlecht's record in France reads two wins, four draws and one loss. Paris Saint-Germain FC are the only French side to have eliminated Anderlecht in Europe, in the UEFA Cup in 1992/93.
• Anderlecht's most recent group stage appearance came in 2006/07 and since then they have succumbed to Fenerbahçe SK (2007/08) and FC BATE Borisov (2008/09) in qualifying.

How they reached the play-offs
• After winning the Ligue 1 title seven years in succession, Lyon relinquished their crown to Bordeaux last term, finishing third and having to settle for a play-off round place. Les Gones have only failed once previously in UEFA Champions League qualifying, losing 3-0 on aggregate to NK Maribor in the third qualifying round in 1999/2000. The following season, they overcame FK Inter Bratislava to reach the group stage for the first time, going on to earn an automatic place every year since.
• A dramatic season in the Eerste Klasse ended with Anderlecht finishing level on points with R. Standard de Liège at the summit, necessitating a title play-off decider that Standard clinched 2-1 on aggregate. Defeat set up Jacobs' team with a third qualifying round tie against Turkish side Sivasspor. They promptly recorded a 5-0 home win, with Tom De Sutter twice on target, before Jelle Van Damme scored in a 3-1 away loss.

Team news
• Lyon
Out: Sidney Govou (thigh), Anderson (groin), Mensah (calf), Clerc (thigh)
Suspended: none
Misses next game if booked: none
• Anderlecht
Out: Daniel Zítka (ankle), Sébastien Bruzzese (shoulder)
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: Jelle Van Damme

Previous competitive results
15/08/09 Lyon 1-0 Valenciennes FC (French Ligue 1)
(Gomis 37)
15/08/09 Anderlecht 3-0 KVC Westerlo (Belgian Eerste Klasse)
(Van Damme 28, Suarez 44, Boussoufa 73)

Did you know?
Lyon are looking to book their tenth consecutive UEFA Champions League group-stage place.

Thank God the Chmapions League is back and I believe my team Real Madrid would emerge Chmapions of Europe!!!