2022-23 UEFA Europa League

Amazing result in Berlin - huge for Union to knock out Ajax, 3-1. Some incredible season so far.

It was definitely more than two.

Union Berlin having a fairytale season.

Rennes vs Shakhtar going to a shootout after a Rennes OG in the 119th minute. It's live on the BT Sport goals show.

And Shakhtar win the shootout. Rennes join Monaco in going out on pens. Some achievement for Shakhtar considering everything going on in Ukraine.

Never heard of R.Union SG before but here is an interview with their Irish sporting director.

Fascinating how this turned into Utd v Liverpool. It's exhausting.

Does anyone reasonably think Liverpool are playing as well as Utd this season? So why is anyone comparing their performances against Spanish sides? It's moot.

Last night was about Ten Hag. The Rashford switch of position, putting Antony wide (pushing Balde back) solved Utd's biggest issue. Then they took their chances.

The most impressive thing about Ten Hag isn't necessarily the style of play or anything. It's his proactive substitutions. He's nearly always impacting games.

United also needed to hit rock bottom.

A few years back Ten Hag wouldn't have been given any time to get his project in place.

Great win for United ,

Barcelona very good in midfield but my god there forward line is so poor, Lewi is what 34 ? & the rest aren't up to much at all , How are they so far ahead in Spain ,

To be fair Casemiro made the exact same foul about 2 minutes later ,The Barca player didn't do 6 rolls holding his face but he was chasing the game so of course he was straight up ,

iv no doubt he would have done what Garnacho did if Barcelona where winning, But still doesn't make it right ,

Garnacho rolling around - my assumption is it was basic time wasting. 2-1 with 5 minutes of normal time to go, with Barca pushing? Take any excuse to slow the game down. Its what they would have done.

Because La Liga isn't strong.

Liverpool have fooled everyone with their capitulation the other night. Real Madrid are good, but would likely be beaten by any of the current top 3 teams in England - even City for all their relative hiccupping.

(and yes, I know what happened last season)

Liverpool were porous centrally, so I'd say we were bad. But I take your point.

Overall odds included here

28/1 1. FC Union Berlin (GER) V 150/1 R. Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL)

20/1 Sevilla FC (ESP) V 100/1 Fenerbahçe SK (TUR)

9/1 Juventus (ITA) V 33/1 SC Freiburg (GER)

40/1 Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER) V 200/1 Ferencvárosi TC (HUN)

40/1 Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR) V 7/2 Arsenal FC (ENG)

5/2 Manchester United (ENG) V 25/1 Real Betis Balompié (ESP)

16/1 AS Roma (ITA) V 20/1 Real Sociedad de Fútbol (ESP)

50/1 FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) V 50/1 Feyenoord (NED)

Too early for a punt with the draw open after this. On Paddy's day the last 8 get drawn for both the QFs and SFs.

Here's a look at who "needs" to win this to go "up" a competition next season.

Juventus are currently 7th, 12 points outside CL places. AS Roma are 3rd, and in a 5 way competition for 3 places.

In Portugal, Sporting are 4th, but 8 points off the CL spots.

In Germany Freiburg hold the last CL position, 11 points ahead of Bayer Leverkusen.

Finally, in Spain, Real Sociedad are in 3rd place sandwiched between Madrid's two biggest clubs. Real Betis are 5th, 4 points off Atlético.

Sevilla, the 6 times winners are 12 points behind Betis !

Ye it's an interesting one. You'd have expected Dynamo Dresden or Berliner Dynamo to rise up the divisions moreso than Union Berlin

Ye don't know much about East German football but Union seemed to be a minnow. Not sure what state the other two I mentioned are in these days, who dominated the league.

Apparently Union and Hertha fans used to be close when the wall was up, and after Hertha helped Union get on their feet and organise in the amalgamated German league structure, but since Union have surpassed them things very bitter now I hear.

Like Royal Union, the history of clubs fascinating I think

El Shaarawy puts Roma ahead against Sociedad. Nice bit of play from Abraham for the assist.

Second goal for Roma. Looks a good lead for Mourinho to bring to Spain if they can see this out.

Joaquin still playing, he was on the bench for Spain in the WC match vs Ireland in 2022!

Great goal by Betis. Deserved equaliser. That goal gets better with every replay. Struck on the outside of his right foot bent in off the foot of the left post.

The keeper and Betis should have known what Antony was going to do there.

That's awful from Betis. Completely free header from Fernandes on the corner.