Litex Lovech - Racing Straßburg VfB Stuttgart - FC Middlesbrough Slavia Prag - US Palermo SC Heerenveen - Steaua Bukarest Lokomotive Moskau - FC Sevilla Bolton Wanderers - Olympique Marseille Hertha BSC - Rapid Bukarest FC Basel - AS Monaco Udinese Calcio - RC Lens Rosenborg Trondheim - Zenit St. Petersburg FC Brügge - AS Rom FC Schalke 04 - Espanyol Barcelona OSC Lille - Schachtjor Donezk FC Thun - Hamburger SV Real Betis - AZ Alkmaar Artmedia Bratislava - Levski Sofia
1/8 finals: Hertha/Rapid Bukarest - Thun/Hamburg Basel/Monaco - Lovech/Straßburg Stuttgart/M'brough - Brügge/AS Rom Heerenveen/Steaua - Betis/Alkmaar Slavia Prag/Palermo - Schalke/Espanyol Bolton/Marseille - Rosenborg/Zenit Udinese/Lens - Artmedia/Levski Lille/Donezk - Lok Moskau/FC Sevilla
I think this is good news. While obviously it is hard to predict ahead of time what shape the respective teams will be in, there's no reason why all four can't secure progression. If both Hertha and Hamburg play to their potential they really ought to win, Stuttgart continue to improve and Schalke impressed in the final games of the Champions League group phase. Besides which, the winter break should see all the Bundesliga clubs in good condition for ties in mid to late February. Best of luck to all those involved.
If all goes to well, we will see Hertha v. Hamburg...NOOOOOOO!! I wanted to meet them in the final...errrrrrrrr Well...it'll create a good atmosphere for sure, but I shudn't look ahead to that. Both Hamburg and Hertha have good draws, the best draw of the entire group IMHO is Vfb-Middlesborough, that should be a cracker. Schalke 04-Espanyol is the 2nd best IMHO, all of these are winnable, but in reality, I only see about 2-3 wins here. Some other really good draws here. Bolton-Marseille, Lok Moscow-Sevilla, Betis-Alkmaar, Udinese-Lens all top draw ties.
We were the unluckiest in my opinion. HSV were lucky as they missed all the champions league stars, and Hertha have also got it easy(after seeing Rapid play on Wednesday, i think i can say this). Schalke won't gain a walkover, but i do think they'll win. For us and Middlesbrough, it'll be about 50-50. Should be real interesting. I'm irritated.
You would??! I'd rather face Litex Lovech personally... Having said that, if we do manage to win this, which is gonna be real tough, then we could play Roma, and that i would love!
I said later in the competition...like quarters or semis. It would be a fun match. I think this will be a fun match too, but that is a bad draw for you guys. Right now is a bit early. And you guys came in 3rd, you couldn't face Litex Lovechs anyway. Out of all the 1st placed teams you could face...Middlesborough are among the hardest for sure. THe possibility that you may get either Roma or Club Brugge next too...wow you guys have a tough road to the finals. But it all starts with one game Good luck to all German teams. Oh yea Marko Pantelic should be available for these games...some good news I guess, but considering his form right now, I shouldn't be too happy bout that. Well I'm concerned about my entire team now, they're not really doing too well.
Which Champions league stars did HSV miss? Artmedia? Seriously, the 3rd placed teams were not that strong this season. Udine? Betis? Just bring em on
Udine are a strong side, they just neeed to get rolling again since they lost their form since Spalletti left them at the end of last season. As for Betis, well no one should underestimate them - after all, they DID beat Chelsea in a group stage game this year. Whatever, i think its good no German teams got either of those sides.
Of course they are good teams, but nothing I'd call "Champions league stars". Could've been worse. Btw. HSV and Thun are the teams in europe with the most regular games so far in this season (32 and 30 or something like that, Köln e.g. has one 17).