Europa League Draw 12.00 Friday

eirebhoy

Since Celtic are in this competition I better get the interest up. UEFA have moved to groups of 4 teams, playing each other twice, like the CL which will improve things.

It looks a strong competition this year with most teams being of similar quality to the Pot 3 and 4 teams in the CL.

Pot 1
Werder Bremen
Villarreal
AS Roma
PSV Eindhoven
Shakhtar Donetsk
Sporting CP Lisbon
Hamburg SV
Benfica
Valencia
Panathinaikos
Ajax
Steaua Bucharest

Pot 2
Fenerbahçe
FC Basel
Lille OSC
Celtic
Everton
Club Brugge
Heerenveen
Galatasaray
Anderlecht
Austria Vienna
FC Copenhagen
Lazio

Pot 3
Hertha Berlin
Sparta Prague
Dinamo Bucharest
AEK Athens
Slavia Prague
Levski Sofia
Athletic Bilbao
Partizan Belgrade
Hapoel Tel-Aviv
FC Twente Enschede
Dinamo Zagreb
Fulham FC

Pot 4
CSKA Sofia
Toulouse FC
CFR Cluj
Genoa
Rapid Vienna
FC Timisoara
BATE Borisov
Nacional Funchal
FC Salzburg
Sturm Graz
FK Ventspils
Sheriff Tiraspol


Villarreal, Everton, Twente, Toulouse could be tasty
or Shakhtar, Celtic, Fulham, Genoa...

No walkovers at all

8-10

I'm an Ajax fan and I'm very very happy we're first seeds, that pot 1 is TOUGH. But there's still the likes of Everton, Galatasaray, Bilbao and Celtic to avoid; although Everton or Celtic drawn with us means I'll probably head to an away game. Either that or Sofia where I have family, CSKA would be a dream draw.

Rapid Vienna must be a danger team too eh?

I'm hoping most of the teams will be feeling like we're one to fear but realistically we're one of the softer draws from pot 1. A pity, but if we want to get playing at the top level in Europe again we've got to beat whoever we're drawn with.

Eire-Dearg

Genoa in Pot 4? Otherwise they'd have a chance of going all the way.

JPA

Eire-Dearg wrote: »

Genoa in Pot 4? Otherwise they'd have a chance of going all the way.

To go all the way they'd have to beat the best teams, yet they can't beat them to get out of their group?

8-10

Eire-Dearg wrote: »

Genoa in Pot 4? Otherwise they'd have a chance of going all the way.

Nah no chance. Crespo a great signing alright but the squad doesn't have enough quality. Plus they sold Milito who was a big reason for them getting into the competition.

Big Ears

The quality, particularly the quality in depth of the Europa league is much grater than that of the UEFA Cup.

There's only a handful of sides there that would look out of place as a team in the Champions League and quite a lot of those teams would probably have been pot 3 teams in the CL if they'd have qualified.

Should make for a great competition this year, and in one sense it's more interesting than the Champions League(although I'm glad the format for that has changed).

JPA

Big Ears wrote: »

The quality, particularly the quality in depth of the Europa league is much grater than that of the UEFA Cup.

The quality is no different then last year really, just the format that is changed.

Big Ears

JPA wrote: »

The quality is no different then last year really, just the format that is changed.

I'd disagree, I think the 6 teams that probably would have made the Champions League that are now in this competition makes it much stronger.

starbelgrade

The Europa League looks like a very interesting propsect to me.

Third_Echelon

As an Everton fan, I'm looking forward to this draw... Lots of very tough teams in Pot 1.

Werder Bremen, Villarreal, AS Roma, PSV Eindhoven, Shakhtar Donetsk, Sporting CP Lisbon, Hamburg SV, Benfica, Valencia, Panathinaikos, Ajax, Steaua Bucharest.

Most of these have been in the Champions League in the last few seasons. Would like to get Villarreal again. We owe them one from 2005

There are going to be some tasty groups indeed...

Warper

Agree that there are some very decent teams in there. Much stronger than Pot 4 of the CL and some of Pot 3. There will be tough groups.

eirebhoy

You can watch the live draw on www.uefa.com or the usual TV channels like Setanta

eirebhoy

Everton drawn against Benfica.

eirebhoy

Hamburg for Celtic

Should be a couple of good games there anyway.

Eirebear

eirebhoy wrote: »

Hamburg for Celtic

Should be a couple of good games there anyway.

The atmosphere will be electric given the Celtic/St Pauli fans and Rangers/Hamburg fans links...

eirebhoy

Jesus tough group so far for Celtic.

Eirebear

Hapoel Tel Aviv....tough away trip,Celtic should win at home though

eirebhoy

Hamburg
Celtic
Hapoel Tel Aviv
Rapid Vienna

8-10

Anderlecht, Dinamo Zagreb and Timisoara....I'm pretty happy with that!

JP Liz

Hamburg
Celtic
Hapoel Tel Aviv
Rapid Vienna

Hopefully Celtic will come through

Eirebear

Its a tough group but i expect Celtic to take at least 7 points from their home games, wether they can pick something else up on their travels remains to be seen.

Could be some very interesting away clashes for off the field reasons though!

Third_Echelon

Tough enough draw for Everton

Benfica
AEK Athens
BATE

Its more the distance away trips to Greece and Belarus that i'd worry about. Should come out of that group though.

therecklessone

Eirebear wrote: »

Hapoel Tel Aviv....tough away trip

They are no great shakes, but it will be a great away trip. Well worth a visit.