Comments on: Champions League: Who Needs Group Stages?

By: Julian

Julian — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:17:13 +0000

Alessio- I think that was Standard Leige

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 07:46:27 +0000

I was at the Slavia game and when Sherrif scored the equalizer like that it was amazing how quiet it became. I’d really put the blame on Slavia though- they didnt generate the chances you’d expect the home side to generate, and they didnt score more than one at as a result.

Here are highlights of the game:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyNVD1-vQjo

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 22:16:22 +0000

I have no idea why, but Twente going out really irritated me. Sporting were really awful over both legs, and they always offer some sustained mediocrity in the Champions League. Hopefully, they won’t go through to the group stages.

Also, Twente got knocked out by Arsenal last season. It was Standard Liege that came very close to hilariously ruining Liverpool’s season.

By: Joel

Joel — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:35:09 +0000

I watched that game on Iraq Goals. Rui Patrico lol. I was in shock when it happened. Celtic are through but, I can’t see them beating another good team. Shaktar lost Brandao and haven’t truly replaced him. Luiz Adriano is overrated and AGahowa is terrible.

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:30:47 +0000

Twente coach Steve McLarren also was the one running his gums, saying he hoped they drew Celtic. Celtic’s throug, Twente’s out! hahaha

By: alessio

alessio — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:10:50 +0000

Twente is the team that barely lost to Liverpool last season, right?

By: Daryl

Daryl — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:06:08 +0000

Flor is correct, all losing teams from the Champions League third qualifying round are entered into the Europa League play-off round. Post has been updated to reflect that.

By: Flor

Flor — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:49:24 +0000

Come on, do some research. Shaktar Donetsk (and the other teams who lost their fixture at this stage) qualified for the Europa League play-off stage. It will have been disappointing for sure, but they are not “out of Europe entirely” by any means.

By: matt

matt — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:14:37 +0000

thanks for this, chris. now i’ll be repeating “THE CHAMPIONS” about 500 times in my head for the next 2 weeks. so pumped.