The Tuesday Champions League Wrap of Liverpool Woe

I gather I speak for many, if not most, when I say that seeing the best teams in the knockout stages is preferable – ’tis the Champions League after all.

But I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t thrilled at the prospect of not having to hear the British media bang on about the possibility of an all-English semifinal and their ever-present superiority in depth. I don’t particularly care which team is was headed to the Europa League dungeons, just so long as it was one.

And I know I’m not the only one.

Now the only league with the potential for four knockout participants is recent disappointments of epic European – not just Champions League – proportions, Serie A. Who knew?

Tuesday’s fun shakes out like this:

Group E

In: Lyon, Fiorentina
Out: Liverpool, Debrecen

Debrecen 0 – Liverpool 1
Fiorentina 1 – Lyon 0

Lyon are not Liverpool’s favorite team right about now.

Cue the ZOMG!#!!@ They shud sak RAFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!! pandemonium.

Group F

In: -
Out: -

Barcelona 2 – Inter 0
Rubin 0 – Dynamo 0

If the results are any indication, Barcelona’s walkthrough against Inter should put them into the kayo’s to defend their title, but it doesn’t. (Though will Dynamo beat them by 2+ goals? Unlikely.) Incredibly, neither of these games decided jack, which is actually quite excellent, and sets up…

Dynamo v Barcelona
Inter v Rubin

Inter hold the tie-break against the Russians on, ridiculously enough, goals scored (5 to 4), which means Rubin need a win at the San Siro. Barca merely need to no lose by three or more. Despite it “all being left to play for“, don’t expect anything but Barca and Inter going through.

Group G

In: Sevilla
Out: Rangers

Unirea Urziceni 1 – Sevilla 0
Rangers 0 – Stuttgart 2

U2 kinda sorta pulled off the upset – they won via an own goal against a team well qualified – ensuring they need a solitary point in Germany next go around. Fortunately for them, before today Stuttgart hadn’t won a game since September – and this against a very weak Rangers. Romanian Cinderella is looking more and more likely by the minute.

Group H

In: Arsenal*
Out: AZ

* – Arsenal win the group and a #1 seed.

Arsenal 2 – Standard 0
AZ 0 – Olympiacos 0

Olympiacos did Standard the might big favor of not winning in Alkmaar, and this sets up a nice big match for them at home on the final day at Arsenal which will require a lone point for qualification against whatever youth side Arsene Wenger runs out. Meanwhile Standard will host AZ and they’ll need a win and a Greek loss to pip second on a tie-breaker.

I still vote the second spot from groups G & H should go to the third and fourth finishers from Group F.

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Category: Champions League, World Football