2018-19 UEFA Europa League

Mr.Nice Guy · 21-02-2019 9:22pm

Rennes lead! Bensebaini with a header from Grenier's corner. 1-0 on the night (4-3 on aggregate).

Mr.Nice Guy · 21-02-2019 9:30pm

HUNOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

Rennes lead Betis 2-0 in their own back yard! Sarr with the assist. (5-3 on aggregate).

Mr.Nice Guy · 21-02-2019 9:42pm

Lo Celso! You can't keep him out of the picture as he finishes a great low cross from Canales. 2-1 now on the night. (5-4 Rennes on aggregate)

This is turning into another cracking game.

Half-Time now. This is very much in the balance. Rennes were terrific but I expect Betis to come strong by the end.

irishguitarlad · 21-02-2019 9:52pm

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

Lo Celso! You can't keep him out of the picture as he finishes a great low cross from Canales. 2-1 now on the night. (5-4 Rennes on aggregate)

This is turning into another cracking game.

Half-Time now. This is very much in the balance. Rennes were terrific but I expect Betis to come strong by the end.

Great game, can see it ending 3-3 and going to extra time. My god we are **** at the back.

ERG89 · 21-02-2019 9:55pm

irishguitarlad wrote:

Great game, can see it ending 3-3 and going to extra time. My god we are **** at the back.

Good thing it's on BT.....oh wait. :rolleyes:

Mr.Nice Guy · 21-02-2019 10:10pm

Canales is on fire. Rennes struggling to deal with him.

Loafing Oaf · 21-02-2019 10:10pm

What exactly does Sarri do with those cigarette butts (presumably ones he had previously smoked himself)?

Sort of suck on them like a lollipop?

irishguitarlad · 21-02-2019 10:19pm

Jese's having a great game. It sounds weird saying that.

Mr.Nice Guy · 21-02-2019 10:25pm

irishguitarlad wrote: »

Jese's having a great game. It sounds weird saying that.

I'm surprised he was subbed just now. Betis fans don't sound happy with that change.

irishguitarlad · 21-02-2019 10:36pm

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

I'm surprised he was subbed just now. Betis fans don't sound happy with that change.

Yeah you're right, another strange decision with the guardado Lainez sub. I don't like Lainez Up against Sarr. That's Setiens sub decisions though, nearly always bad.

irishguitarlad · 21-02-2019 10:42pm

Niang could have finished It there!!

Mr.Nice Guy · 21-02-2019 10:42pm

Unbelievable! How did Niang not finish it off?!

Amazing end to this tie.

Mr.Nice Guy · 21-02-2019 10:50pm

NIAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

Unbelievable! Rennes have done it!

WHAT. A. TIE!

irishguitarlad · 21-02-2019 10:51pm

He made up for it, some goal to be fair. Rennes were very exciting, fair play. Now can they please sack Setien!

Mr.Nice Guy · 21-02-2019 10:56pm

That was a proper European football tie. If the Champions League 2nd legs finish up as dramatic as that we're in for great drama. I don't think Setien did well with his subs as it looked like Rennes were on the ropes more when Jese was on the pitch.

Looking at the other results tonight and there was another surprise in Germany. In-form Leverkusen have gone out on away goals to Russian side Krasnodar.

citytillidie · 21-02-2019 11:04pm

Round of 32 2nd Leg Results
Sevilla (ESP) 2 V 0 Lazio (ITA) (Agg 3-0)
Arsenal (ENG) 3 V 0 BATE Borisov (BLR) (Agg 3-1)
Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) 3 V 0 Viktoria Plzeň (CZE) (Agg 4-2)
Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) 4 V1 Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) (Agg 6-3)
Napoli (ITA) 2 V 0 Zürich (SUI) (Agg 5-1)
Salzburg (AUT) 4 V 0 Club Brugge (BEL) (Agg 5-2)
Valencia (ESP) 1 V 0 Celtic (SCO) (Agg 3-0)
Villarreal (ESP) 1 V 1 Sporting CP (POR) (Agg 2-1)
Zenit (RUS) 3 V 1 Fenerbahçe (TUR) (Agg 3-2)
Bayer Leverkusen (GER) 1 V 1 Krasnodar (RUS) (Agg 1-1) Krasnodar (RUS) win on away goals
Benfica (POR) 0 V 0 Galatasaray (TUR) (Agg 2-1)
Chelsea (ENG) 3 V 0 Malmö (SWE) (Agg 5-1)
Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) 1 V 0 Olympiacos (GRE) (Agg 3-2)
Genk (BEL) 1 V 4 Slavia Praha (CZE) (Agg 1-4)
Internazionale Milano (ITA) 4 V 0 Rapid Wien (AUT) (Agg 5-0)
Real Betis (ESP) 1 V 3 Rennes (FRA) (Agg 4-6)

Last 16
Sevilla (ESP)
Arsenal (ENG)
Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)
Eintracht Frankfurt (GER)
Napoli (ITA)
Salzburg (AUT)
Valencia (ESP)
Villarreal (ESP)
Zenit (RUS)
Krasnodar (RUS)
Benfica (POR)
Chelsea (ENG)
Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)
Slavia Praha (CZE)
Internazionale Milano (ITA)
Rennes (FRA)

Mr.Nice Guy · 21-02-2019 11:18pm

Draw is at noon tomorrow our time. Virgin Media Sport showing it live. Dunno about other channels.

It's unseeded with no country restrictions so all teams in the pot are potential opponents. Should be some tasty ties on the way.

citytillidie · 22-02-2019 1:18pm

Round of 16 Draw
Chelsea (ENG) V Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)
Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) V Internazionale Milano (ITA)
Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) V Benfica (POR)
Napoli (ITA) V Salzburg (AUT)
Valencia (ESP) V Krasnodar (RUS)
Sevilla (ESP) V Slavia Praha (CZE)
Arsenal (ENG) V Rennes (FRA)
Zenit (RUS) V Villarreal (ESP)

GavRedKing · 22-02-2019 1:21pm

A lot of the bigger sides (favourites) avoided each other.

Mr.Nice Guy · 22-02-2019 1:32pm

A few fun match-ups there. Eintracht Frankfurt vs Inter looks very exciting on paper. I find that tough to call. That's the one that intrigues me the most.

Napoli vs Salzburg also catches the eye. Salzburg are always tough to face and I think they knocked out Lazio last season? Ancelotti will have a plan in store though I'm sure. This could be another one to watch.

Arsenal vs Rennes also looks tasty. Arsenal will be firm favourites but Sarr, Niang and Ben Arfa can hurt that defence. If Rennes aren't overwhelmed in the first leg that could get interesting. Fancy Lacazette will enjoy returning to France.

Not really feeling the other ties.

Edit: Just realised this will mean Ben Arfa going up against Emery. Beautiful. Ben Arfa will be motivated anyway. The two hate each other. Emery froze him out at PSG for about a year.

https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/982276938814210048

citytillidie · 03-03-2019 8:33pm

Round of 16 1st Legs
Thursday 7th March
17:55 Kick-offs
Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) V Benfica (POR)
Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) V Internazionale Milano (ITA) - Live on BT Sport ESPN
Rennes (FRA) V Arsenal (ENG) - Live on BT Sport 3 / Virgin Media 2
Sevilla (ESP) V Slavia Praha (CZE)
Zenit (RUS) V Villarreal (ESP)

20:00 Kick-offs
Chelsea (ENG) V Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) - Live on BT Sport 2
Napoli (ITA) V Salzburg (AUT) - Live on BT Sport ESPN
Valencia (ESP) V Krasnodar (RUS) - Live on BT Sport 3

Mr.Nice Guy · 07-03-2019 6:29pm

Very excited for Rennes vs Arsenal and Eintracht vs Inter in the early games. Teams:

Rennes XI: Koubek; Zeffane, Da Silva, Mexer, Bensebaini; Andre, Grenier; Sarr, Ben Arfa, Bourigeaud; Hunou.

Arsenal XI: Cech; Mustafi, Sokratis, Koscielny, Monreal; Xhaka, Torreira; Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Iwobi; Aubameyang.

Eintracht Frankfurt XI: Trapp; Ndicka, Hasebe, Hinteregger, Da Costa; Rode, Fernandes, Kostic; Gacinovic; Haller, Jovic.

Inter XI: Handanovic; D'Ambrosio, De Vrij, Skriniar, Asamoah; Vecino, Brozovic, Borja Valero; Politano, Lautaro Martinez, Perisic.

Shame Hamari Traore and M'Baye Niang are suspended as they were great against Betis. Good to see Ben Arfa involved as he seeks to get one over on his foe Emery. Lacazette banned as well which is a pity as I reckon he'd have played.

Eager to see as well how Skriniar and co. fare against Eintracht's awesome trio of Haller, Jovic and Kostic. I see some similarities between Jovic and Icardi so a good performance from the former might well see the potential for a move in the summer.

I'll go for narrow home wins from both games. Hoping for plenty of goals.

ERG89 · 07-03-2019 6:56pm

Always feel when Borja Valero plays Inter are in trouble & I was a fan of his at Villareal & Fiorentina but he's utterly been rubbish at Inter.
Fancy Frankfurt, tonight at least as Inter's most important player continues to fake an injury.

Mr.Nice Guy · 07-03-2019 6:59pm

1-0 Arsenal after 3 minutes. Iwobi's cross goes all the way in. Keeper should do better there.

Good stop by Koubek from Torreira. All too easy for Arsenal in attack atm.

Mr.Nice Guy · 07-03-2019 7:16pm

Pen to Inter. Clumsy challenge from Fernandes.

Trapp saves the pen from Brozovic!

Mr.Nice Guy · 07-03-2019 7:36pm

Sokratis given a second yellow for fouling Sarr. Don't think the ref had a choice.

Mr.Nice Guy · 07-03-2019 7:37pm

BOURIGEAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUDDDDDDDDDD

WHAT A HIT!

1-1. Double whammy for Arsenal.

https://twitter.com/VMSportIE/status/1103729435235241985

Mr.Nice Guy · 07-03-2019 7:46pm

Sevilla drawing 2-2 with Slavia Prague at Half-Time.

Mr.Nice Guy · 07-03-2019 8:05pm

Rennes starting this half well. Arsenal turning to a Frenchman to steady the ship with Guendouzi coming on. Surprised it's for Iwobi who has looked lively.

Sarr causing Arsenal lots of problems with his pace.

Think Eintracht should have had a pen. Haller nudged in the back by D'Ambrosio. Similar to the one that got Inter a pen in the first half. Still 0-0.

Mr.Nice Guy · 07-03-2019 8:17pm

Monreal O.G.!

2-1 Rennes. And it's deserved.

Mr.Nice Guy · 07-03-2019 8:23pm

Good save from Cech to deny Ben Arfa. Ozil had a chance at the other end but his effort was poor. Now he's off for Ramsey. I think Ozil should have been subbed earlier rather than Iwobi.

Mr.Nice Guy · 07-03-2019 8:33pm

Aubameyang subbed for Kolasinac. No recognised striker up top for Arsenal. Presumably Ramsey up front. Maybe suggests Emery would take this scoreline considering they've ten men. I do think Rennes probably need a two goal cushion to take to London to have a realistic chance of progression.

Xhaka with a clumsy foul there and he's already on a yellow. Gets away with it.

Mr.Nice Guy · 07-03-2019 8:41pm

SAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

3-1 Rennes! Bullet header!

GavRedKing · 07-03-2019 8:44pm

Still fancy Arsenal in the return leg.

Mr.Nice Guy · 07-03-2019 8:51pm

Full-Time and Rennes win the first leg 3-1. Delighted for them and they did Ligue 1 proud. Very likeable team and their coach Julien Stephan is probably the best young coach in France. I thought Ben Arfa was bright and Sarr had a very good second half. Bourigeaud played well too.

Thought Arsenal were awful. Shot themselves in the foot with the sending off, Aubameyang contributed nothing, Ozil likewise, and I thought Emery got his subs wrong.

Still a chance for Arsenal in the second leg but now a very real chance for Rennes too. Should be a cracking game at the Emirates.

Mr.Nice Guy · 07-03-2019 9:11pm

Napoli ahead against Salzburg. Milik rounds the keeper nicely.

2-0 Napoli now. Ruiz on the volley via Callejon's assist. Expected better from the Austrians.

Pedro has put Chelsea 1-0 in front against Dynamo Kiev.

dastardly00 · 07-03-2019 9:19pm

Lovely goal from Chelsea

Mr.Nice Guy · 07-03-2019 10:17pm

O.G. from Salzburg's Onguene. 3-0 to Napoli and as good as Salzburg are at home this tie looks like it's slipping away already.

Can see Napoli going all the way.

Johner · 07-03-2019 10:23pm

Stunning free kick from Willian. 2-0.

Mr.Nice Guy · 07-03-2019 10:48pm

That should be tie over for Chelsea. Hudson-Odoi with a cool finish.

Johner · 07-03-2019 10:50pm

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

That should be tie over for Chelsea. Hudson-Odoi with a cool finish.

We were under a bit of pressure there, relief to get the 3rd.

citytillidie · 07-03-2019 10:51pm

Round of 16 1st leg results
Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) 1 V 0 Benfica (POR)
Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) 0 V 0 Internazionale Milano (ITA)
Rennes (FRA) 3 V 1 Arsenal (ENG)
Sevilla (ESP) 2 V 2 Slavia Praha (CZE)
Zenit (RUS) 1 V 3 Villarreal (ESP)
Chelsea (ENG) 3 V 0 Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)
Napoli (ITA) 3 V 0 Salzburg (AUT)
Valencia (ESP) 2 V 1 Krasnodar (RUS)

Mr.Nice Guy · 07-03-2019 10:57pm

Napoli, Chelsea and Villarreal look like they're almost there. Plenty to play for in the other games.

citytillidie · 10-03-2019 6:16pm

Round of 16 2nd legs
17:55 Kick-Offs
Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) V Chelsea (ENG) (Agg 0-3) - Live on BT Sport 3
Krasnodar (RUS) V Valencia (ESP) (Agg 1-2) - Live on BT Sport Extra 4
Salzburg (AUT) V Napoli (ITA) (Agg 0-3) - Live on BT Sport Extra 2

20:00 Kick-Offs
Arsenal (ENG) V Rennes (FRA) (Agg 1-3) - Live on BT Sport 2
Slavia Praha (CZE) V Sevilla (ESP) (Agg 2-2) - Live on BT Sport 3
Internazionale Milano (ITA) V Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) (Agg 0-0) - Live on BT Sport ESPN
Benfica (POR) V Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) (Agg 0-1)
Villarreal (ESP) V Zenit (RUS) (Agg 3-1)

Mr.Nice Guy · 13-03-2019 11:43pm

Krasnodar vs Valencia the pick of the early kick-offs. Other ones look finished already.

Very excited for Arsenal vs Rennes and Inter vs Eintracht. Wish they weren't on at the same time.

ERG89 · 13-03-2019 11:49pm

Inter without Martinez & Icardi is still "injured"

Mr.Nice Guy · 14-03-2019 8:39pm

Krasnodar have scored in the 85th minute against Valencia via a stunner from Suleymanov. Valencia heading out on away goals unless they can find a goal in the final minutes.

stesaurus · 14-03-2019 8:45pm

And Valencia save it

Mr.Nice Guy · 14-03-2019 8:46pm

And Guedes rescues Valencia in the final seconds! What an ending!

Very cool finish.

Mr.Nice Guy · 14-03-2019 8:50pm

Arsenal vs Rennes and Inter vs Eintracht teams:

Arsenal XI: Cech; Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Maitland-Niles, Ramsey, Xhaka, Kolasinac; Ozil; Lacazette, Aubameyang.

Rennes XI: Koubek; Traore, Da Silva, Mexer, Bensebaini; Andre, Grenier; Sarr, Ben Arfa, Bourigeaud; Niang.

Inter XI: Handanovic; D'Ambrosio, de Vrij, Skriniar, Cedric; Vecino, Valero; Candreva, Politano, Perisic; Keita Balde.

Eintracht Frankfurt XI: Trapp; Hinteregger, Hasebe, Ndicka; Willems; da Costa, Rode, Gacinovic, Kostic; Haller, Jovic.

Looks a strong Arsenal side. The lifting of Lacazette's suspension is big, although that it was approved by the authorities is sketchy to me. Think the return of Traore and Niang is a big boost for Rennes as well. I can see Rennes getting a goal but I can see Arsenal getting a few as well. I think Emery may well get the last laugh on Emery when the night's out.

Keita Balde's not a bad option up top for Inter. I thought he looked good at times for Monaco. Hoping for a Haller masterclass. Bundesliga needs a lift in Europe. I'll say Eintracht to edge it.

2018-19 UEFA Europa League

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