It never stops.

This is going to be the last season in the current setup before the major
overhaul of all three UEFA competitions, so hopefully it's also going to be the
last ever edition of these rather pointless pre-playoffs, as from 2024-25
onwards these four national champions should be back and re-integrated
into the regular qualification process.

https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2021-24-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png

Draw for Champions League Preliminary Round
* = seeded team

Semifinals (June 27, Kópavogur)

1 Atlètic Club d'Escaldes (AND) v FK Budućnost Podgorica (MNE)*
2 SP Tre Penne (SMR) v Breiðablik (ISL)*

Final (June 30, Kópavogur)

Winner 1 v Winner 2

Atlètic are another maiden national champion, they were founded in 2002
and have played their first European matches only last year (losing against
Malta's Gżira United in extra time).

For Breiðablik, the clear favourites to win these pre-playoffs, and a veritable
bogey team for Austrian opponents (they eliminated both Sturm Graz and
Austria Wien in recent years), 2022 was their second ever Icelandic title.
This year they currently sit in second place behind Víkingur halfway through
the regular season.

Ciao,
Werner

On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 12:56:20 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> It never stops.
>
> This is going to be the last season in the current setup before the major
> overhaul of all three UEFA competitions, so hopefully it's also going to be the
> last ever edition of these rather pointless pre-playoffs, as from 2024-25
> onwards these four national champions should be back and re-integrated
> into the regular qualification process.
>
> https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2021-24-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png

Draw for Champions League 1st Qualifying Round (July 11/12 and 18/19)
* = seeded team

Winners go to CLQ2, Losers go to ECLQ2
The two losers of the Red Imps/Qarabağ and Raków/Flora ties will receive a bye to ECLQ3.

BK Häcken (SWE) v The New Saints FC (WAL)*
KF Ballkani (KOS) v PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL)*
Shamrock Rovers FC (IRL)* v Winners of preliminary round (AND/ISL/MNE/SMR)
FK Žalgiris (LTU)* v FK Struga (MKD)
KÍ (FAR) v Ferencvárosi TC (HUN)*

NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO)* v Valmiera FC (LAT)
HJK (FIN)* v Larne FC (NIR)
Lincoln Red Imps FC (GIB) v Qarabağ FK (AZE)*
RKS Raków Czestochowa (POL) v FC Flora (EST)*
ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SLK)* v FC Swift Hesper (LUX)

FCV Farul Constanța (ROM) v FC Sheriff (MDA)*
Ħamrun Spartans F.C. (MLT) v Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR)*
FC Urartu (ARM) v HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (BIH)*
FK Partizani (ALB) v FC BATE Borisov (BLR)*
FC Astana (KAZ)* v FC Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO)

Ciao,
Werner

On Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 2:38:27 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 12:56:20 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > It never stops.
> >
> > This is going to be the last season in the current setup before the major
> > overhaul of all three UEFA competitions, so hopefully it's also going to be the
> > last ever edition of these rather pointless pre-playoffs, as from 2024-25
> > onwards these four national champions should be back and re-integrated
> > into the regular qualification process.
> >
> > https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2021-24-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png
>
> Draw for Champions League 1st Qualifying Round (July 11/12 and 18/19)
> * = seeded team
>
> Winners go to CLQ2, Losers go to ECLQ2
> The two losers of the Red Imps/Qarabağ and Raków/Flora ties will receive a bye to ECLQ3.
>
>
> BK Häcken (SWE) v The New Saints FC (WAL)*
> KF Ballkani (KOS) v PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL)*
> Shamrock Rovers FC (IRL)* v Winners of preliminary round (AND/ISL/MNE/SMR)
> FK Žalgiris (LTU)* v FK Struga (MKD)
> KÍ (FAR) v Ferencvárosi TC (HUN)*
>
> NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO)* v Valmiera FC (LAT)
> HJK (FIN)* v Larne FC (NIR)
> Lincoln Red Imps FC (GIB) v Qarabağ FK (AZE)*
> RKS Raków Czestochowa (POL) v FC Flora (EST)*
> ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SLK)* v FC Swift Hesper (LUX)
>
> FCV Farul Constanța (ROM) v FC Sheriff (MDA)*
> Ħamrun Spartans F.C. (MLT) v Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR)*
> FC Urartu (ARM) v HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (BIH)*
> FK Partizani (ALB) v FC BATE Borisov (BLR)*
> FC Astana (KAZ)* v FC Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO)

Draw for Champions League Second Qualifying Round (July 25/26 and August 1/2)
* = seeded team
Winners go to CLQ3, Losers go to ELQ3.

Champions Path

FK Žalgiris (LTU)/FK Struga (MKD) v Galatasaray SK (TUR)*
KF Ballkani (KOS)/PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL)* v NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO)/Valmiera FC (LAT)
RKS Raków Czestochowa (POL)/FC Flora (EST) v Lincoln Red Imps FC (GIB)/Qarabağ FK (AZE)*

KÍ (FAR)/Ferencvárosi TC (HUN)* v BK Häcken (SWE)/The New Saints FC (WAL)
HJK (FIN)/Larne FC (NIR) v Molde FK (NOR)*
Shamrock Rovers FC (IRL)/Winners of preliminary round (AND/ISL/MNE/SMR) v FC København (DEN)*

FCV Farul Constanța (ROM)/FC Sheriff (MDA)* v Ħamrun Spartans FC (MLT)/Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR)
Aris Limassol FC (CYP) v FK Partizani (ALB)/FC BATE Borisov (BLR)*
FC Urartu (ARM)/HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (BIH) v ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SLK)/FC Swift Hesper (LUX)*
GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)* v FC Astana (KAZ)/FC Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO)

The Polish champions (probably) against Qarabağ for the third year in a row.
Qarabağ have a perfect record so far against Polish opposition (Wisła, Piast, Legia, Lech).

League Path

SC Dnipro-1 (UKR)* v Panathinaikos FC (GRE)
Servette FC (SUI) v KRC Genk (BEL)*

Ciao,
Werner

On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 12:56:20 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> It never stops.
>
> https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2021-24-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png

Champions League Preliminary Round Semifinals
* = seeded team
Teams in CAPITALS go through

Atlètic Club d'Escaldes (AND) v FK BUDUĆNOST PODGORICA (MNE)* 0-3 (0-2)
(Sekulić 14' (pen), 60', Đuričković 21')

Eleven minutes in Spanish midfielder Javi Morales - no Andorrans in Atlètic's team, mostly
Spaniards and the odd Frenchman and Portuguese - clipped Petar Grbić in the box, and Balša
Sekulić despatched the first goal of the new European season from the spot. Atlètic had more
of the game and plenty of chances to equalise, but an efficient Budućnost side soon doubled
their lead through Miomir Đuričković's deflected header from a free-kick.
I was quite surprised to see VAR being used in these matches, but while Grbić's goal was
chalked off for an off-side in the build-up, a couple of minutes later Sekulić made it three by
running onto a long ball and slotting past Atlètic keeper Saúl Gracia.

SP Tre Penne (SMR) v BREIÐABLIK (ISL)* 1-7 (1-3)
(Barretta 31'; Gunnlaugsson 6', 89', Hlynsson 25', 90'+2, Olsen 45'+2, Sigurdarson 67', Einarsson 74')

Four winless matches in a row in the Besta deild have seen Breiðablik slip down to third in their
league behind Víkingur and Valur, but no matter as San Marino sides remain the minnowest of the
minnows. Any small hopes they might have entertained were quashed by Faroese veteran striker
Klæmint Olsen's strike in stoppage time of the first half.

Final (June 30, Kópavogur)

FK Budućnost Podgorica (MNE) v Breiðablik (ISL)

Forecast is about 10 degrees Celsius and pouring rain. Icelandic summer!

Ciao,
Werner

On Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at 11:17:04 PM UTC+1, Werner Pichler wrote:
> On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 12:56:20 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > It never stops.
> >
> > https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2021-24-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png
>
>
> Champions League Preliminary Round Semifinals
> * = seeded team
> Teams in CAPITALS go through
>
>
> Atlètic Club d'Escaldes (AND) v FK BUDUĆNOST PODGORICA (MNE)* 0-3 (0-2)
> (Sekulić 14' (pen), 60', Đuričković 21')
>
> Eleven minutes in Spanish midfielder Javi Morales - no Andorrans in Atlètic's team, mostly
> Spaniards and the odd Frenchman and Portuguese - clipped Petar Grbić in the box, and Balša
> Sekulić despatched the first goal of the new European season from the spot. Atlètic had more
> of the game and plenty of chances to equalise, but an efficient Budućnost side soon doubled
> their lead through Miomir Đuričković's deflected header from a free-kick.
> I was quite surprised to see VAR being used in these matches, but while Grbić's goal was
> chalked off for an off-side in the build-up, a couple of minutes later Sekulić made it three by
> running onto a long ball and slotting past Atlètic keeper Saúl Gracia.
>
>
> SP Tre Penne (SMR) v BREIÐABLIK (ISL)* 1-7 (1-3)
> (Barretta 31'; Gunnlaugsson 6', 89', Hlynsson 25', 90'+2, Olsen 45'+2, Sigurdarson 67', Einarsson 74')
>
> Four winless matches in a row in the Besta deild have seen Breiðablik slip down to third in their
> league behind Víkingur and Valur, but no matter as San Marino sides remain the minnowest of the
> minnows. Any small hopes they might have entertained were quashed by Faroese veteran striker
> Klæmint Olsen's strike in stoppage time of the first half.
>
>
> Final (June 30, Kópavogur)
>
> FK Budućnost Podgorica (MNE) v Breiðablik (ISL)
>
> Forecast is about 10 degrees Celsius and pouring rain. Icelandic summer!
>
>
> Ciao,
> Werner

Feels like Montenegran and Icelandic teams “should” be too good to be playing the preliminary round, but that’s rankings for you.

RM

On Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at 12:17:04 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 12:56:20 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > It never stops.
> >
> > https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2021-24-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png
>
> Forecast is about 10 degrees Celsius and pouring rain. Icelandic summer!

Champions League Preliminary Round Final

FK Budućnost Podgorica (MNE) v BREIÐABLIK (ISL) 0-5 (0-4)
(V. K. Einarsson 5', Sigurðarson 22', Eyjólfsson 29', Gunnlaugsson 33', Svanþórsson 74';
Red Card: Đuričković (Bud) 90'+2)

In the last ever match of these preliminary play-offs, the Icelandic champions on their soaked
artificial home turf proved they were indeed too good to be forced to played in them (the Montenegrin
champions not so much), as they dominated proceedings even more than against Tre Penne. Precise
shots by Viktor Karl Einarsson, Stefán Ingi Sigurðarson, Gísli Eyjólfsson and their captain Höskuldur
Gunnlaugsson gave them an unassailable first-half lead, and Jason Daði Svanþórsson added a fifth
when the overwhelmed Budućnost defence lost the ball in front of their own net.

Breiðablik will now play Shamrock Rovers in CLQ1 while Budućnost (against the loser of
Žalgiris/Struga), Atlètic (against the loser of Partizani/BATE Borisov) and Tre Penne (against
the loser of Olimpija Ljubljana/Valmiera FC) will enter the Champions Path of ECLQ2.

Ciao,
Werner

On Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 2:38:27 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 12:56:20 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> >
> >
> > https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2021-24-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png

Champions League 1st Qualifying Round, 1st leg
* = seeded team

July 11

FC Urartu (ARM) v HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (BIH)* 0-1 (0-0)
(Senić 89')

This is probably already the most important tie of the season for both teams (and
their respective leagues) - win this round, and you get three shots at reaching a
European group phase (and not to forget that it would be a first for long-
suffering Bosnia, while the likes of Armenia, Kosovo, Gibraltar, or Liechtenstein
all have already done it); lose this round, and you need to survive three more
arduous Conference League qualification rounds to make it to the promised land.

In the end it was a mistake by Urartu's Russian keeper Melikhov that decided the
match as two minutes from time he sailed past a corner kick and Zrinjski's
Croatian centre-back Matej Senić nodded in.

Lincoln Red Imps FC (GIB) v Qarabağ FK (AZE)* 1-2 (1-0)
(Gómez 25'; Xhixha 58', Benzia 90'+4)

For one half the Imps could flirt with the idea of another upset, as their striker
Kike Gómez (who's also holding a Philippine passport and might even be in the mix
for a call-up to their NT at some point) ran onto a long ball by Ibrahim Ayew
(André and Jordan's forgotten brother, by now 35 and in his seventh season on the
Rock), muscled his way past Qarabağ's Colombian centre-back Kevin Medina and
expertly sidestepped keeper Məhəmmədəliyev before slotting in:
https://media.giphy.com/media/EioNeeJk0HKBLaQUq5/giphy.gif
But after the break the Azeri champions likewise equalised after the Gibraltarian
defence had made a mess out of a long ball over the top, leaving Albanian
international Redon Xhixha with an easy volley:
https://media.giphy.com/media/KJfhwqTwU0kESCEMUl/giphy.gif
and deep in stoppage time former Lyon and Lille hope (and Fantasy Scout pick)
Yassine Benzia also ran onto Qara Qarayev's lofted ball over the top to beat
Lincoln keeper Dayle Coleing (who should have done better) from a tight angle:
https://media.giphy.com/media/rUANdTHw1awACRvlOD/giphy.gif

FK Žalgiris (LTU)* v FK Struga (MKD) 0-0 (0-0)

Decent away result for the maiden North Macedonian champions from the shores of
Lake Ohrid. Žalgiris ran away with the Lithuanian summer league last year, but
currently find themselves in second behind Panevėžys.

NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO)* v Valmiera FC (LAT) 2-1 (1-0)
(Nukić 42', Rui Pedro 74'; Diop 87')

Olimpija's Argentine winger Agustín Doffo stole the ball off Valmiera's Algerian
midfielder Adel Ghanem and centred for Mustafa Nukić to volley in, and former FC
Porto youth product Rui Pedro headed in a cross by young Austrian Raul Florucz to
make it two, but late on the first-time Latvian champions pulled one back through
Senegalese youngster Meïssa Diop who met a cross by his compatriot Pape Fall with
a bullet header.

RKS Raków Czestochowa (POL) v FC Flora (EST)* 1-0 (0-0)
(Kocherhin 54')

Polish champions Raków were dealt two blows over the summer break - they somewhat
surprisingly parted ways with long-time manager Marek Papszun who had taken them
from the third division all the way to their first ever Polish title, and they
lost their Spanish midfield motor Ivi to a torn cruciate ligament. Still, a
deflected shot by Ukrainian midfielder Vladyslav Kocherhin wrong-footed Flora's
young keeper Evert Grünvald to give them a narrow home win to start the season.

Ħamrun Spartans F.C. (MLT) v Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR)* 0-4 (0-2)
(Pierrot 41', 64', David 45'+3, Khalaili 85')

This match was marred by several long interruptions, caused by clashes between
sets of flare-throwing Maccabi and 'Palestina'-chanting Maltese fans, with the
flares being the bigger problem as those actually started small fires on both the
artificial pitch and in the stands. It appears that the Maltese side were
clamouring with the officials for the match to be abandoned, but in the end the
full 90 minutes were still played, and on the pitch the Spartans had little chance
against the Israeli champions, and not even a former Italian international in goal
could help them - just last week Ħamrun had signed 40-year-old former Lazio keeper
Federico Marchetti. Maccabi's fourth was scored by U20 WC and U21 Euro
semifinalist Anan Khalaili, his debut goal for the senior team.

But let's wait and see whether UEFA will dish out additional penalties.

KF Ballkani (KOS) v PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL)* 2-0 (1-0)
(Korenica 45'+1, Zyba 55')

Not even that big of a surprise - this Ludogorets side is noticeably weaker than
in previous years, as also evidenced by their close struggle with CSKA- for the
Bulgarian title, and Kosovar club football has improved leaps and bounds in the
last couple of years. Ballkani took the lead just before half-time through Meriton
Korenica who latched onto a loose ball:
https://media.giphy.com/media/SKjIfNzmLmdUCzjyCp/giphy.gif
and Qëndrim Zyba made it two by heading in Korenica's free-kick at the far post.

Shamrock Rovers FC (IRL)* v Breiðablik (ISL) 0-1 (0-1)
(Muminović 39')

Just like for Bosnia, this could become a golden opportunity for an Icelandic team
to reach a first ever European group phase. Naturalized Serbian-born centre-back
Damir Muminović gave Breiðablik the win with a screamer of a free-kick:
https://media.giphy.com/media/sOSwXKS5SiJKhdcGv1/giphy.gif

KÍ (FAR) v Ferencvárosi TC (HUN)* 0-0 (0-0)

KÍ have been completely dominating the Faroe league (16 wins out of 16 matches so
far this year, 25 wins and 2 draws out of 27 matches last year, and just one
defeat in 2021, too) but so far it hasn't really translated into European success
yet as last year they painfully fell on penalties against Ballkani. Still, they
are not to be taken lightly, and the scoreless draw against sluggish Hungarian
champions was absolutely deserved.

FK Partizani (ALB) v FC BATE Borisov (BLR)* 1-1 (0-0)
(Cara 66'; Antilevski 58')

BATE are a far cry from the side that once beat the likes of Bayern and Roma in
the Champions League group stages, and just as last year they will have to play
the return leg in exile (this time they chose Mezőkövesd in Hungary), but at least
they managed to take the lead in Tirana when Dmitry Antilevsky slotted in from
close range after the Albanians had failed to clear a cross:
https://media.giphy.com/media/3oJxpoEsQKKXHpjrok/giphy.gif
Albanian international Tedi Cara stabbed in the equaliser after Valentino Murataj
had flicked on a corner kick:
https://media.giphy.com/media/0IysV8Q8kyCbAf2ca2/giphy.gif

July 12

FC Astana (KAZ)* v FC Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO) 1-1 (1-0)
(Aiymbetov 11'; Sigua 57')

Georgian football has been noticeably on the up recently - there's Kvaratskhelia,
of course, and also a surprisingly good performance at their home U21 Euros where
they won their group ahead of Portugal, the Netherlands, and Belgium - but one
area where they've yet to leave a mark is their club football, which is currently
ranked below Malta and slightly ahead of Luxembourg.
Things didn't start too well for them this season either as already early on Abat
Aiymbetov despite a heavy first touch managed to control a cross and nutmeg Dinamo
keeper Loria from a tight angle:
https://media.giphy.com/media/X1EggQKNZ9Tzyi9wNi/giphy.gif
and just a few minutes later Aiymbetov almost scored a carbon copy of that goal,
but this time around Loria managed to close his legs in time. The Georgian
champions (incidentally, neither Dinamo Tbilisi nor Astana are at the top of their
respective summer leagues at the moment) were improved after the break and got a
deserved equaliser when Astana's new Croatian keeper Čondrić pushed a bobbling
shot by Dutch journeyman midfielder Imrane Oulad Omar onto the post, and Georgia's
latest midfield starlet, 18-year-old Gabriel Sigua, was on hand to volley the
loose ball in: https://media.giphy.com/media/NKrsVyPeujBdWza7NW/giphy.gif

HJK (FIN)* v Larne FC (NIR) 1-0 (1-0)
(Radulović 3' (pen))

Just a minute into the match Cian Bolger bowled over HJK youngster Topi Keskinen,
who's about two heads shorter than Larne's lumbering Irish centre-back, to give
away a penalty that was expertly despatched by Serbian striker Bojan Radulović,
but that pretty much was it as far as goal opportunities went. So not a bad result
at all for the first-time Northern Irish champions, and still everything to play
for in the return leg.

BK Häcken (SWE) v The New Saints FC (WAL)* 3-1 (3-1)
(Sadiq 7', Rygaard 13', Hovland 37'; McManus 32')

'The Hedge Ball Club' from the Gothenburg suburbs, last year national champions
for the first time in their history as well, played one-way football towards the
Welsh net in the first half, which was duly rewarded by two quick goals - Ghanaian
winger Ibrahim Sadiq reacted swiftly to volley the rebound of his own cross into
the gaping net: https://media.giphy.com/media/GWIRolsePjW55tVvvv/giphy.gif and
Danish midfielder Mikkel Rygaard tapped in a cross by his young compatriot
Kristoffer Lund. Out of nowhere TNS pulled one back though, as former Scottish U21
international Declan McManus was left all alone to head in a cross by Jordan
Williams. Häcken's Norwegian centre-back Even Hovland (cousin of world class
golfer Viktor Hovland) headed in a free-kick to restore the two-goal lead, but
after the break the Welsh champions managed to cling on to the result, so despite
the clear superiority shown by the Swedes this tie is not completely done and
dusted just yet.

On 2023-07-12, Werner Pichler <wpichler@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Lincoln Red Imps FC (GIB) v Qarabağ FK (AZE)* 1-2 (1-0)
> (Gómez 25'; Xhixha 58', Benzia 90'+4)
>
> For one half the Imps could flirt with the idea of another upset, as their striker
> Kike Gómez (who's also holding a Philippine passport and might even be in the mix
> for a call-up to their NT at some point)

You can get picked (and have 3 goals in 3 halfs) while playing 6th level
in Denmark, so why not?

> Shamrock Rovers FC (IRL)* v Breiðablik (ISL) 0-1 (0-1)
> (Muminović 39')
>
> Just like for Bosnia, this could become a golden opportunity for an Icelandic team
> to reach a first ever European group phase.

Could be bad for the Vikings' efficiency score.

On Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at 4:34:03 PM UTC+2, Jesper Lauridsen wrote:
> On 2023-07-12, Werner Pichler <wpic...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Shamrock Rovers FC (IRL)* v Breiðablik (ISL) 0-1 (0-1)
> > (Muminović 39')
> >
> > Just like for Bosnia, this could become a golden opportunity for an Icelandic team
> > to reach a first ever European group phase.
>
> Could be bad for the Vikings' efficiency score.

Then you won't like what Klaksvík are currently doing.

Ciao,
(probably jinxed it)
Werner

On Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 11:17:31 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> On Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 2:38:27 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 12:56:20 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2021-24-uefa-club-competitions-scheme..png

Champions League 1st Qualifying Round, 2nd leg
Teams in CAPITALS through to CLQ2, losers go to ECLQ2 (Champions Path), except
Flora and Lincoln, who have a bye to ECLQ3 (Champions Path)
* = seeded team

July 18

FK Struga (MKD) v FK ŽALGIRIS (LTU)* 1-2 (0-0), 1-2 on aggregate
(Ibraimi 76' (pen); Kendysh 78', Radić 84' (og))

I was pleasantly surprised to see that Struga were actually allowed to play this
close to their home near beautiful Lake Ohrid - not in their own Gradska Plaža
(City Beach) ground in Struga, but not far away in Ohrid's Biljanini Izvori
stadium.
The match itself took place in scorching heat and was rather uneventful until a
nothing less than spectacular handball offence:
https://giphy.com/media/7Ko6H5iRXObVljp6Rv/giphy.gif
by former Belarus international Yuri Kendysh gifted the North Macedonian champions
a penalty that was despatched by 36-year-old short-time Schalke and long-time
Shkëndija striker Besart Ibraimi, but Kendysh immediately made amends by latching
onto a loose ball in the Struga box and sending a low drive into the far corner.
Six minutes from time Nigerian striker Mathias Oyewusi barged into the box and
while Struga keeper Kjosevski managed to keep out the initial shot, Serbian
centre-back Sava Radić sent the ball flying into his own net:
https://giphy.com/media/ZYMs8UY67kYuIZozdn/giphy.gif

Žalgiris will probably find their task to be slightly more difficult in the next
round against Galatasaray.

FC Flora (EST)* v RKS RAKÓW CZĘSTOCHOWA (POL) 0-3 (0-0), 0-4 on aggregate
(Zwoliński 47', 59', Papanikolaou 85')

Following a lot of missed chances in the first half, still an easy win for Raków.
New signing from Lechia Gdańsk Łukasz Zwoliński converted Zoran Arsenić's chipped
ball past the Estonian defence, and got a second by tapping in Fran Tudor's cross.
The nicest goal of the evening was scored by Greek midfielder Giannis Papanikolaou
who curled the ball in from the edge of the box:
https://giphy.com/media/ozZAthzH0Mc3f4Vf7T/giphy.gif

Now the Polish nemesis Qarabağ (since 2010 they've eliminated in turn Lech, Legia,
Piast and Wisła) is waiting for Raków, while Flora at least have a bye into ECLQ3.

FC SHERIFF (MDA)* v FCV Farul Constanța (ROM) 3-0 aet (1-0, 1-0), 3-1 on aggregate
(Talal 45'+1, Ngom Mbekeli 99', Ademo 105'+1)

The closest tie on paper also proved to be one of the closest ties on the pitch.
The aggregate score was all square just before the break when Moroccan midfielder
Amine Talal, signed by Sheriff in the winter break from Bastia in Ligue 2, beat
Farul keeper Aioani in two attempts after Henrique Luvannor - as usual the veteran
naturalized Brazilian was the only Moldovan in Sheriff's squad - had managed to
lay off Jerome Ngom Mbekeli's cross:
https://media.giphy.com/media/3tNUmBOuzHHqmtspI7/giphy.gif
and the Cameroonian striker scored what turned out to be the decisive goal in
extra time on the break following Luvannor's great solo run past three Romanian
defenders. The young Nigerian substitute Peter Ademo added a third after the
hapless Farul defence had lost the ball in front of their own net.

Gheorghe Hagi's team (he is both Farul's manager and their majority owner)
continues to have major problems in European away matches - among their last
results abroad are 0-5 and 3-6 losses in Gent, a 0-4 against APOEL and a 0-4 in
Salzburg.

MACCABI HAIFA FC (ISR)* v Ħamrun Spartans F.C. (MLT) 2-1 (0-1), 6-1 on aggregate
(Shuranov 69', Pierrot 84'; Mbong 32')

Following the first-leg crowd troubles the Maltese demanded to play the return leg
on neutral ground, but no such luck. At least they were able to take the lead
through Joseph Mbong (brother of Paul Mbong who had scored the other week for
Birkirkara against Maribor) who initially thought himself offside, but the ball
had come to him off a Maccabi player. No coefficient points for Malta though, as
the young German-Ukrainian striker Erik Shuranov finished off a nice passing move
to equalise: https://giphy.com/media/XlwF3rVaSNbGbRfAMm/giphy.gif
and late on Dolev Haziza's assist left Haiti international Frantzdy Pierrot with
the easiest of finishes: https://giphy.com/media/YMe7zGD9hxeDpE5h9U/giphy.gif

The New Saints FC (WAL)* v BK HÄCKEN (SWE) 0-2 (0-1), 1-5 on aggregate
(Sadiq 19', Sonko 90'+1)

No problems for the Swedish champions in Oswestry either. Just as in the first
leg Ibrahim Sadiq volleyed in the first goal, and very late on 18-year-old forward
Momodou Sonko likewise volleyed in fellow subsitute Tomas Totland's cross:
https://giphy.com/media/2H9px1gDDaTCoc6piO/giphy.gif

HŠK ZRINJSKI MOSTAR (BIH)* v FC Urartu (ARM) 2-3 aet (1-0, 1-2), 3-3 on aggregate, Zrinjski win 4-3 on penalties
(Bilbija 27', Kiš 94' (pen); Grigoryan 74', 90'+1 (pen), Maksimenko 105'+3)

Drama! The tie appeared to be all but decided after Zrinjski captain Nemanja
Bilbija had headed in Josip Ćorluka's cross, but in the second half the Bosnian
champions somewhat needlessly ran into a counter attack that was expertly finished
off by young striker Narek Grigoryan:
https://giphy.com/media/JnE4O3UqOvzuVBR4jb/giphy.gif
and in the last minute Hrvoje Barišić fouled former Ajax youth product Aras
Özbiliz in the box, and Grigoryan also had no problems converting from the spot.
A VAR penalty (I'm still not used to seeing these in the first round of European
qualifiers) gave Zrinjski the lead again, but since Bosnian teams never make it
easy for themselves in Europe Urartu levelled the overall score once more, this
time through the Russian substitute Artyom Maksimenko who collected Özbiliz's
assist and beat Zrinjski's Vienna-born keeper Marko Marić (formerly of the Houston
Dynamo) with a sumptuous shot:
https://giphy.com/media/qtSSrHhc0SrXdCVwXD/giphy.gif
In the shoot-out the first four players converted, then Damir Zlomislić shot wide
while Urartu's new Brazilian Eduardo Teixeira hit the crossbar, and finally Marić
met young centre-back Arman Ghazaryan's spot kick with a great save.

At long last a Bosnian team catches a break in Europe. The next round against
Slovan could already give them a much sought-after European group phase.

At the same time, tough luck for Urartu (formerly Banants), who now have failed to
survive a round in Europe for the 13th consecutive time, and will next have to
play a quite difficult tie in the ECLQ1 against the Romanian champions Farul.

FC BATE BORISOV (BLR)* v FK Partizani (ALB) 2-0 (0-0), 3-1 on aggregate
(Malkevich 71', Shestyuk 90'+12)

Played in an empty stadium in Mezőkövesd in Northern Hungary, this was a bit
reminiscent of the pesky BATE of old, as the Belarusians scored with basically
their first shot on target when after a quick counter attack Dmitry Antilevsky's
cross found Vladislav Malkevich completely unmarked at the far post:
https://giphy.com/media/xd8MVnHgSrDGmr1VpJ/giphy.gif
During an endless stoppage time the Albanians almost sent the match to extra time
but Maguette Gueye's goal-bound header was inadvertently blocked by the knee of
his Senegalese compatriot and Partizani teammate Saliou Sembene. Instead, the
young substitute Aleksandr Shestyuk finished off a two-against-two counter attack
by chesting Dmitry Podstrelov's cross into the empty net.

BREIÐABLIK (ISL) v Shamrock Rovers FC (IRL)* 2-1 (1-0), 3-1 on aggregate
(Svanþórsson 16', Gunnlaugsson 58'; Burke 65')

A nice solo run by Jason Daði Svanþórsson during which he nutmegged Cape Verdean
international Roberto Lopes gave the team from Kópavogur the early lead:
https://giphy.com/media/uCf1BZ2os3jF9lqOS0/giphy.gif
and following a short corner kick their captain Höskuldur Gunnlaugsson surprised
Rovers' German keeper Léon Pöhls with a curled shot:
https://giphy.com/media/tB55fCprnaVkh6K9fB/giphy.gif
Graham Burke pulled one back from the spot thanks to handball penalty, but too
little too late for the Irish league leaders.

Just as for Zrinjski, a hugely important win for the Icelandic champions in their
bid to make a first-ever group phase. Also, it's the first time a team from the
Preliminary Round survives the 1st Qualifying Round as well.

July 19

Valmiera FC (LAT) v NK OLIMPIJA LJUBLJANA (SLO)* 1-2 (0-1), 2-4 on aggregate
(Mena 82'; Rui Pedro 33', Muhamedbegović 64')

Last year's surprise champions from the Latvian province* this year are back to
being a distant third behind the capital clubs Riga and RFS, so it wasn't a huge
surprise that they weren't really able to challenge the much more experienced
Slovenians. Rui Pedro shovelled in a loose ball the Valmiera defence had failed to
clear, and Olimpija's Austrian centre-back Ahmet Muhamedbegović headed in a corner
kick to put the result out of reach for good. Valmiera's young Colombian striker
Camilo Mena at least was able to pull one back when he likewise was first to a
loose ball in the box.

Quoting Werner Pichler in rec.sport.soccer:
>The New Saints FC (WAL)* v BK HÄCKEN (SWE) 0-2 (0-1), 1-5 on aggregate
>(Sadiq 19', Sonko 90'+1)
>
>No problems for the Swedish champions in Oswestry either. Just as in the first
>leg Ibrahim Sadiq volleyed in the first goal, and very late on 18-year-old forward
>Momodou Sonko likewise volleyed in fellow subsitute Tomas Totland's cross:
>https://giphy.com/media/2H9px1gDDaTCoc6piO/giphy.gif

The New Saints got asswiped!

--
Manchester United FC - CHAMPIONS
Latest: England '13 (20th) Europa '17, UEFA '08, World '08

On Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 4:15:53 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> On Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 11:17:31 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > On Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 2:38:27 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 12:56:20 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2021-24-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png

Draw for Champions League Third Qualifying Round (August 8/9 and 15)
* = seeded team

Winners go to CLPO, Losers in the Champions Path go to ELPO, Losers in the League Path go to EL Group Phase

Champions Path

RKS Raków Czestochowa (POL)/Qarabağ FK (AZE)* v Aris Limassol FC (CYP)/FC BATE Borisov (BLR)
HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (BIH)/ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SLK)* v FC Sheriff (MDA)/Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR)
AEK FC (GRE) v GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)/FC Astana (KAZ) (GEO)*

PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL)/NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO) v FK Žalgiris (LTU)/Galatasaray SK (TUR)*
Breiðablik (ISL)/FC København (DEN)* v AC Sparta Praha (CZE)
KÍ (FAR)/BK Häcken (SWE) v HJK (FIN)/Molde FK (NOR)*

Continuing with the northern theme, I see.

League Path

SC Braga (POR)* v FK TSC (SRB)
Rangers FC (SCO)* v Servette FC (SUI)/KRC Genk (BEL)
SC Dnipro-1 (UKR)/Panathinaikos FC (GRE) v Olympique de Marseille (FRA)*
PSV (NED)* v SK Sturm Graz (AUT)

To be honest, I'd have preferred any other of the four possible opponents.

Ciao,
Werner

On Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 4:15:53 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> On Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 11:17:31 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > On Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 2:38:27 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 12:56:20 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2021-24-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png

Champions League Second Qualifying Round
* = seeded team

July 25

Champions Path

FK Žalgiris (LTU) v Galatasaray SK (TUR)* 2-2 (0-0)
(Oyewusi 48', Kazlauskas 90'+2; Bardakcı 75', Dervişoğlu 78';
Red Card: Kazlauskas (Žal) 90'+2)

Both sides had already missed huge opportunities in the first half before just
after the break Galatasaray's Danish centre-back Victor Nelsson was duped by
Žalgiris's Nigerian striker Mathias Oyewusi:
https://giphy.com/media/vuFxi65V8dXdvVkWoX/giphy.gif
Dries Mertens came on for Gala after an hour, and he soon made an impact as he
delivered the cross that Abdülkerim Bardakcı headed in for the equaliser, and
three minutes later it was again Mertens who let loose a shot that Žalgiris keeper
Gertmonas could only palm away, with the substitute Halil Dervişoğlu on hand to
volley the ball into the empty net:
https://giphy.com/media/kB6KvUwxSRIZcRH1Dz/giphy.gif
But there was still enough time left for Donatas Kazlauskas to enjoy an eventful
stint - having been subbed in after eighty minutes he got a yellow for a flying
elbow just seconds later, volleyed in Joël Bopesu's looping cross in stoppage
time: https://giphy.com/media/nv9UholOMFKheCncLY/giphy.gif
and received a second yellow for taking off his jersey in celebration. There's
also a return leg, dimwit.

HJK (FIN) v Molde FK (NOR)* 1-0 (1-0)
(Keskinen 25')

Following a corner kick the Norwegians were caught on the break, and HJK youngster
Topi Keskinen raced clear and pushed the ball past Molde keeper Karlstrøm:
https://giphy.com/media/WwEQZxeq8yfYFfBeaf/giphy.gif

GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)* v FC Astana (KAZ) (GEO) 4-0 (3-0)
(Špikić 36', Ivanušec 41', 43', 56')

The Croatian qualifying machine only needed one hour to deal with harmless Kazakh
champions. Dario Špikić deflected Bruno Petković's shot in with his shoulder:
https://giphy.com/media/ck8VqsFi36u9lxtkXM/giphy.gif
and Luka Ivanušec got a hat trick with a precise shot from the edge of the area:
https://giphy.com/media/kgucNQ8maDH9HvtQJC/giphy.gif
a header from Sadegh Moharrami's cross on the break:
https://giphy.com/media/0ZyqciU7I81nRrAeqV/giphy.gif
and another sumptuous shot from 25 metres after a corner kick wasn't cleared:
https://giphy.com/media/R1iNuwAqZm6s6CHsIq/giphy.gif

HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (BIH) v ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SLK)* 0-1 (0-0)
(Zuberu 53')

Zrinjski and Slovan had already met in last year's Europa Conference League Play-
Offs where the Slovakians prevailed on penalties, and it looks good for them this
year, too, as their Ghanaian forward Sharani Zuberu headed in a free-kick by the
Brazilian Lucas Lovat.

Breiðablik (ISL) v FC København (DEN)* 0-2 (0-2)
(Larsson 1', Falk 32')

After just 44 seconds Breiðablik keeper Anton Ari Einarsson was a fraction late to
a long ball, leaving Jordan Larsson with an empty-netter:
https://giphy.com/media/nWQu1CShgyRsQoqJk2/giphy.gif
and Henrik Larsson's son was also instrumental in Copenhagen's second, his back-
heel assist for Rasmus Falk allowing the latter to finish one-on-one with
Einarsson: https://giphy.com/media/i7E2CckS26iHMjqhnM/giphy.gif

League Path

SC Dnipro-1 (UKR)* v Panathinaikos FC (GRE) 1-3 (0-1)
(Tanchyk 90'; Šporar 10', Đuričić 74', Ioannidis 84' (pen))

Like last season, Dnipro-1 are playing their international matches in Košice in
Eastern Slovakia, and just like last season against Larnaca they fell behind early
when Panathinaikos's Spanish left-back Juankar nutmegged two defenders and centred
for Slovenian striker Andraž Šporar to tap in:
https://giphy.com/media/ov9XkAuCBtrAzmI24q/giphy.gif
Serbian midfielder Filip Đuričić added a second on the break:
https://giphy.com/media/CqZgLewWD7kDIxlYhY/giphy.gif
and young striker Fotis Ioannidis added a third from the spot after Juankar had
been unceremoniously clipped by Dnipro-1's newly signed rightback Denys
Miroshnichenko. Late on Volodymyr Tanchyk tapped in a consolation goal after a
goalmouth scramble: https://giphy.com/media/aobGzBIaVW8bh2LLv1/giphy.gif

Servette FC (SUI) v KRC Genk (BEL)* 1-1 (0-1)
(Rouiller 78'; Arokodare 21')

An open match with two goals from set-pieces - Nigerian youngster Tolu Arokodare
rose highest to head in Patrik Hrošovský's corner kick, and Steve Rouiller
likewise nodded in Timothé Cognat's free-kick.

July 26

Champions Path

FC Sheriff (MDA)* v Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR) 1-0 (1-0)
(Talal 28')

With one clever move Amine Talal collected a cross, side-stepped his marker and
wrong-footed Maccabi keeper Nitzan to give a workmanlike Sheriff side the narrow
win. Both sides hit the woodwork in stoppage time.

Aris Limassol FC (CYP) v FC BATE Borisov (BLR)* 6-2 (3-0)
(Gomis 17' (pen), 60', Bengtsson 32', Bane 40' (og), Montnor 83',
Stępiński 90'+1 (pen); Kontsevoy 48', Khadarkevich 65')

As if there was still any proof needed that this BATE team is a shell of its
former self they ran into a heavy defeat against the maiden Cypriot champions
(their surprise 2022-23 title having been financially helped along by a Russian
oligarch owner).
Former Guingamp striker Yannick Gomis opened the rout from the spot, Swedish
midfielder Leo Bengtsson made it two following nice work by Brazilian in the
Mediterranean Caju: https://giphy.com/media/G2CWKUJcYasehQLIKK/giphy.gif
and BATE's young Senegalese centre-back Sidi Bane steered Gomis's centre into his
own net: https://giphy.com/media/jbrGBMUR1fl0Cd7ohg/giphy.gif
A fast route one attack coupled with Swedish centre-back Franz Brorsson taking a
stumble (those Swedes came to Limassol with the Russian) allowed Artem Kontsevoy
to pull one back for BATE, and Gomis's header from another Caju cross was likewise
answered with Ruslan Khadarkevich heading in Valery Gromyko's corner kick. So for
a while the first-leg deficit didn't appear to be insurmountable for the
Belarusians in the return match, but late on they ran into a counter attack at the
end of which young Dutchman Jaden Montnor, freshly signed from the Austrian second
division, rifled past BATE keeper Kudravets:
https://giphy.com/media/kflKnFFj0jXHSUrMk8/giphy.gif
Polish substitute Mariusz Stępiński added a sixth, again from the spot.

RKS Raków Czestochowa (POL) v Qarabağ FK (AZE)* 3-2 (0-0)
(Cəfərquliyev 55' (og), Piasecki 71', Kittel 90'+1; Xhixha 73', 75')

A fun open match with plenty of chances on both sides, and while Qarabağ had the
more creative attack they also had the worse keeper. A very curious scene led to
Raków's opener - Marcin Cebula's cross created chaos in the Azeri defence, and in
the end centre-back Elvin Cəfərquliyev and goalkeeper Məhəmmədəliyev crashed into
each other, leading to Cəfərquliyev dislodging the ball from Məhəmmədəliyev's
arms and straight into his own net:
https://giphy.com/media/aLJCKp2LIluqeUySBS/giphy.gif
Then a completely harmless header by the substitute Fabian Piasecki slipped
straight through Məhəmmədəliyev's palms:
https://giphy.com/media/l8iekooJG2F9sq2bW2/giphy.gif
but just when it appeared as if Raków might have exorcized the Polish nemesis of
so many recent European fights, Qarabağ hit back with two goals in two minutes -
Albanian striker Redon Xhixha first headed in Toral Bayramov's pin-point cross
from the left side, then chested in Hamidou Keyta's centre from the right. Qarabağ
could have won it at the death, but the otherwise excellent Abdellah Zoubir
preferred a habitual extra dribble when he found himself alone on goal and should
simply have taken the shot, and instead it was Sonny Kittel at the other end who
in his first match for the Polish champions let loose a shot that flew straight
over the outstretched arms of a surprised-looking Məhəmmədəliyev:
https://giphy.com/media/BMyS54WxwT7NNjoD8y/giphy.gif

PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL)* v NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO) 1-1 (1-1)
(Yankov 44'; Elšnik 14')

Olimpija took a somewhat surprising early lead thanks to Timi Max Elšnik's
perfectly placed shot after the Ludogorets defence had lost the ball in front of
their own area: https://giphy.com/media/9CxctbR9BUuIymCm79/giphy.gif
Canada-born and Sunderland-trained youngster Dominik Yankov got the equaliser
just before the break when he powered past Olimpija defenders Marcel Ratnik and
Jorge Silva: https://giphy.com/media/G94mM0Q5z7EMX0OIhp/giphy.gif

KÍ (FAR)* v BK Häcken (SWE) 0-0 (0-0)

KÍ predictably parked the bus, and Häcken could not find any openings - VAR
correctly disallowed two goals for offside in the first half - and late on
Klaksvík even missed a sitter. In the end, the Faroese will be reasonably happy
with their third European match in a row without conceding.

On Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 12:47:25 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> On Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 4:15:53 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > On Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 11:17:31 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > On Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 2:38:27 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 12:56:20 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2021-24-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png

Champions League Second Qualifying Round, 2nd leg
Teams in CAPITALS (except HJK) through to CLQ3, losers go to ELQ3
* = seeded team

August 1

Champions Path

NK OLIMPIJA LJUBLJANA (SLO) v PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL)* 2-1 (1-1), 3-2 on aggregate
(Elšnik 19', 90'+2; Despodov 15'; Red Card: Son (Lud) 82')

Both sides exchanged early goals as Kiril Despodov, one of the few bright spots
in Bulgarian football currently, scored with a direct free-kick:
https://giphy.com/media/MXWYb8rVbpKa8EcfDQ/giphy.gif
and Timi Elšnik volleyed in a free-kick by former Paços de Ferreira right-back
Jorge Silva. Olimpija subsequently had a bit more of the match, but things only
got really spicy beginning about ten minutes from time. Ludogorets's Spanish
right-back Son, newly signed from Levante, despite his La Liga experience saw an
idiotic red card for getting suckered into what looked like a headbutt on another
of Olimpija's Portuguese contingent, Rui Pedro, but despite being reduced to ten
Ludogorets could have won it in the 89th minute when Spas Delev on the break got
off a shot from the edge of the box that came off the right post. Instead, in the
92nd minute Elšnik rifled in from a corner kick routine that evidently surprised
the Bulgarian defence: https://giphy.com/media/pkdzIicnHhFM5HJ6j0/giphy.gif
but the end to the match wasn't yet dramatic enough as in the 12th minute of
stoppage time, and after a lengthy VAR check, Ludo were awarded a fully justified
penalty - and Despodov, of all people, saw his spot kick saved by Olimpija keeper
Vidovšek: https://giphy.com/media/8SCEaFNv1rBcb5Jjgr/giphy.gif
Cue quite insane celebrations on part of the Slovenians and their fans.

The first time in their history that Olimpija reach a European group phase (at
least Conference League is guaranteed now), following the example of Maribor and
Mura.

On the other hand, Bulgarian football still deep in the doldrums.

FC BATE Borisov (BLR)* v ARIS LIMASSOL FC (CYP) 3-5 (1-3), 5-11 on aggregate
(Gromyko 25' (pen), Martynov 48', Laptev 90'+3 (pen); Babicka 8', Gomis 26',
Caju 35', Bengtsson 56', Stępiński 74')

Now that's not an aggregate score you see every day.
In the usual Belarusian base of Mezőkövesd in Northeastern Hungary, Gabonese
international striker Shavy Babicka punished the simply terrible Belarusian
defence already early on, converting one-on-one with BATE keeper Kudravets, and
things only went downhill from there. Yannick Gomis volleyed in a Babicka cross,
Caju tapped in the rebound after Kudravets had parried yet another shot by the
Gabonese, Leo Bengtsson curled one in from the edge of the box, and Jaden
Montnor's cross found Mariusz Stępiński for Aris's fifth. Two penalties and a
header from a corner made the end result a little bit more palatable for BATE.

ŠK SLOVAN BRATISLAVA (SLK)* v HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (BIH) 2-2 (1-0), 3-2 on aggregate
(Čavrić 5', Zuberu 66'; Barišić 75', Ivančić 90'+3)

On occasion of an early corner kick Zrinjski's defence completely forgot about
Slovan's target striker Aleksandar Čavrić:
https://giphy.com/media/50ccIFJBaYbPlrx3lN/giphy.gif
Amateurish defending. Ghanaian striker Sharani Zuberu made it two following some
deft passing: https://giphy.com/media/S8vc2hoP3WGcJfFujT/giphy.gif
but despite being 3-0 up on aggregate at that point Slovan were surprisingly still
made to suffer a bit as Hrvoje Barišić rose highest to likewise head in a corner
kick, and in stoppage time Dario Čanađija's volley crashed off the left post and
Antonio Ivančić tapped into the empty net:
https://giphy.com/media/yL9ilIdIU3hqW0eCqK/giphy.gif
But too little too late, as usual for teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina. After
all, Zrinjski had the chance to secure a first ever group stage right here, and
now they're basically back to square one.

League Path

PANATHINAIKOS FC (GRE) v SC Dnipro-1 (UKR)* 2-2 (1-1), 5-3 on aggregate
(Šporar 15', 70'; Dovbyk 24', Sarapiy 54'; Red Card: Tanchyk (Dni) 75')

The tie appeared to be all but decided already early on - Tin Jedvaj, back in
Europe from a stint in Abu Dhabi, sent a speculative long ball towards the
Ukrainian net, and Dnipro keeper Volynets hesitated a moment too long to claim it,
allowing Andraž Šporar to push the ball past him and lob into the empty net:
https://giphy.com/media/djrT8QRfoQjz083TeV/giphy.gif
Still, the Ukrainians were much improved compared to the first leg and equalised
when Artem Dovbyk, heavily linked with a move to Girona and the Primera División,
took on the entire Panathinaikos defence by himself and from a tight angle pushed
the ball through the legs of Pana's Italian keeper Brignoli:
https://giphy.com/media/WIlRbZf99NrXrifoVk/giphy.gif
Volynets then made amends for his earlier mistake and risked life and limb to deny
Sebastián Palacios from close range (and subsequently had to be carted off the
pitch with a severe concussion), and early in the second half Dnipro-1 were only
one goal away from extra time after centre-back Eduard Sarapiy had headed in a
corner kick. Panathinaikos were seriously on the ropes at that point, but an
energetic solo run by Filip Đuričić ended with the former Sampdoria and Sassuolo
winger centring for Šporar to tap in his second:
https://giphy.com/media/csiknPQj3fhfVVXEUL/giphy.gif
and Volodymyr Tanchyk's sending off for a leg-breaking tackle against Juancar
settled matters for good.

August 2

FC Astana (KAZ) v GNK DINAMO ZAGREB (CRO)* 0-2 (0-1), 0-6 on aggregate
(Marochkin 24' (og), Marin 89')

Dinamo had no problems in Kazakhstan either. Aleksandr Marochkin when trying to
interfere with Mahir Emreli's solo run instead beat his own keeper Čondrić with a
perfect shot into the bottom corner of the net:
https://giphy.com/media/Z1XIHRxykDqr03MLeg/giphy.gif
and late on youngster Antonio Marin (no relation to Marko) tapped in a loose ball
from close range.

Qarabağ FK (AZE)* v RKS RAKÓW CZĘSTOCHOWA (POL) 1-1 (0-0), 3-4 on aggregate
(Xhixha 60'; Tudor 52')

Not as fun and open as the first match between the two, but finally a Polish club
managed to overcome their Azeri nemesis. Croatian winger Fran Tudor, a distant
cousin of Igor's, opened the scoring with a powerful shot into the far corner of
the net: https://giphy.com/media/XlArZNKlfWKev8qf1x/giphy.gif
and even though Redon Xhikha soon equalised by volleying in Cəfərquliyev's cross:
https://giphy.com/media/hUe6mhQ85LrSfFjfOI/giphy.gif
Raków held on to the result until the final whistle, also because fifteen minutes
from time Marko Janković's shot came off the right post.

BK Häcken (SWE) v KÍ (FAR)* 3-3 aet (1-1, 2-2), 3-3 on aggregate, KÍ win 4-3 on penalties
(Sana 24', Layouni 48', Sadiq 105'+1; Frederiksberg 17', 53',
Abrahamson 109' (og))

Amazing part II. Following last year's maiden championship, Häcken are again
fighting for the Swedish title this year.

Árni Frederiksberg eventually became the Faroese hero, and he opened the scoring
already early on by volleying in from close range after Häcken captain Samuel
Gustafson had failed to cut out a cross:
https://giphy.com/media/LIt4ZyAObyZMhf2iT1/giphy.gif
Former Ajax prospect Tobias Sana equalised with a sumptuous shot from distance
that left KÍ's Swedish keeper Johansson rooted to the spot:
https://giphy.com/media/i6G1VIz1H5RF2mspZu/giphy.gif
After the break Amor Layouni, newly signed from Vålerenga, headed Häcken in front
from close range: https://giphy.com/media/QI5TagmJmVIfwRrJEk/giphy.gif
but right afterwards Frederiksberg's deflected free-kick agonizingly bounced past
Häcken keeper Abrahamsson: https://giphy.com/media/9nhu3mgopbAZ6ySqdt/giphy.gif
KÍ could have ended it right there as in the third minute of stoppage time Luc
Kassi volleyed a free-kick against the crossbar, but instead they fell behind once
more in extra time when Johansson failed to punch away a cross far enough, and
Momodou Sonko sent the loose ball back towards goal where Ibrahim Sadiq tapped in
from close range. But the stubborn Faroese still weren't beaten, and right after
Abrahamsson had pulled off a great save to deny Kassi's point-blank header,
Häcken's keeper under pressure from the Norwegian substitute Sivert Gussiås
bungled the following corner kick, delivered by who else but Frederiksberg, over
his own goal line. Soon afterwards Abrahamsson at least made amends and managed to
deny Gussiås one-on-one.

In the shoot-out, the first three players on both sides converted their penalties,
then Mikkel Rygaard sent his spot kick high and Johansson saved against Simon
Sandberg, while on Klaksvík's side Gussiås shot against the crossbar, but KÍ's
Norwegian defensive stalwart Vegard Forren drilled in qthe decisive effort:
https://giphy.com/media/EYegBm135wsIf6FuUX/giphy.gif

On Thursday, August 3, 2023 at 2:06:31 AM UTC+1, Werner Pichler wrote:
> On Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 12:47:25 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > On Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 4:15:53 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > On Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 11:17:31 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > On Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 2:38:27 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 12:56:20 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2021-24-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png
> Champions League Second Qualifying Round, 2nd leg
> Teams in CAPITALS (except HJK) through to CLQ3, losers go to ELQ3
> * = seeded team
>
>
>
> August 1
>
>
> Champions Path
>
>
> NK OLIMPIJA LJUBLJANA (SLO) v PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL)* 2-1 (1-1), 3-2 on aggregate
> (Elšnik 19', 90'+2; Despodov 15'; Red Card: Son (Lud) 82')
>
> Both sides exchanged early goals as Kiril Despodov, one of the few bright spots
> in Bulgarian football currently, scored with a direct free-kick:
> https://giphy.com/media/MXWYb8rVbpKa8EcfDQ/giphy.gif
> and Timi Elšnik volleyed in a free-kick by former Paços de Ferreira right-back
> Jorge Silva. Olimpija subsequently had a bit more of the match, but things only
> got really spicy beginning about ten minutes from time. Ludogorets's Spanish
> right-back Son, newly signed from Levante, despite his La Liga experience saw an
> idiotic red card for getting suckered into what looked like a headbutt on another
> of Olimpija's Portuguese contingent, Rui Pedro, but despite being reduced to ten
> Ludogorets could have won it in the 89th minute when Spas Delev on the break got
> off a shot from the edge of the box that came off the right post. Instead, in the
> 92nd minute Elšnik rifled in from a corner kick routine that evidently surprised
> the Bulgarian defence: https://giphy.com/media/pkdzIicnHhFM5HJ6j0/giphy.gif
> but the end to the match wasn't yet dramatic enough as in the 12th minute of
> stoppage time, and after a lengthy VAR check, Ludo were awarded a fully justified
> penalty - and Despodov, of all people, saw his spot kick saved by Olimpija keeper
> Vidovšek: https://giphy.com/media/8SCEaFNv1rBcb5Jjgr/giphy.gif
> Cue quite insane celebrations on part of the Slovenians and their fans.
>
> The first time in their history that Olimpija reach a European group phase (at
> least Conference League is guaranteed now), following the example of Maribor and
> Mura.
>
> On the other hand, Bulgarian football still deep in the doldrums.
>
>
> FC BATE Borisov (BLR)* v ARIS LIMASSOL FC (CYP) 3-5 (1-3), 5-11 on aggregate
> (Gromyko 25' (pen), Martynov 48', Laptev 90'+3 (pen); Babicka 8', Gomis 26',
> Caju 35', Bengtsson 56', Stępiński 74')
>
> Now that's not an aggregate score you see every day.
> In the usual Belarusian base of Mezőkövesd in Northeastern Hungary, Gabonese
> international striker Shavy Babicka punished the simply terrible Belarusian
> defence already early on, converting one-on-one with BATE keeper Kudravets, and
> things only went downhill from there. Yannick Gomis volleyed in a Babicka cross,
> Caju tapped in the rebound after Kudravets had parried yet another shot by the
> Gabonese, Leo Bengtsson curled one in from the edge of the box, and Jaden
> Montnor's cross found Mariusz Stępiński for Aris's fifth. Two penalties and a
> header from a corner made the end result a little bit more palatable for BATE.
>
>
> ŠK SLOVAN BRATISLAVA (SLK)* v HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (BIH) 2-2 (1-0), 3-2 on aggregate
> (Čavrić 5', Zuberu 66'; Barišić 75', Ivančić 90'+3)
>
> On occasion of an early corner kick Zrinjski's defence completely forgot about
> Slovan's target striker Aleksandar Čavrić:
> https://giphy.com/media/50ccIFJBaYbPlrx3lN/giphy.gif
> Amateurish defending. Ghanaian striker Sharani Zuberu made it two following some
> deft passing: https://giphy.com/media/S8vc2hoP3WGcJfFujT/giphy.gif
> but despite being 3-0 up on aggregate at that point Slovan were surprisingly still
> made to suffer a bit as Hrvoje Barišić rose highest to likewise head in a corner
> kick, and in stoppage time Dario Čanađija's volley crashed off the left post and
> Antonio Ivančić tapped into the empty net:
> https://giphy.com/media/yL9ilIdIU3hqW0eCqK/giphy.gif
> But too little too late, as usual for teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina. After
> all, Zrinjski had the chance to secure a first ever group stage right here, and
> now they're basically back to square one.
>
>
>
> League Path
>
>
> PANATHINAIKOS FC (GRE) v SC Dnipro-1 (UKR)* 2-2 (1-1), 5-3 on aggregate
> (Šporar 15', 70'; Dovbyk 24', Sarapiy 54'; Red Card: Tanchyk (Dni) 75')
>
> The tie appeared to be all but decided already early on - Tin Jedvaj, back in
> Europe from a stint in Abu Dhabi, sent a speculative long ball towards the
> Ukrainian net, and Dnipro keeper Volynets hesitated a moment too long to claim it,
> allowing Andraž Šporar to push the ball past him and lob into the empty net:
> https://giphy.com/media/djrT8QRfoQjz083TeV/giphy.gif
> Still, the Ukrainians were much improved compared to the first leg and equalised
> when Artem Dovbyk, heavily linked with a move to Girona and the Primera División,
> took on the entire Panathinaikos defence by himself and from a tight angle pushed
> the ball through the legs of Pana's Italian keeper Brignoli:
> https://giphy.com/media/WIlRbZf99NrXrifoVk/giphy.gif
> Volynets then made amends for his earlier mistake and risked life and limb to deny
> Sebastián Palacios from close range (and subsequently had to be carted off the
> pitch with a severe concussion), and early in the second half Dnipro-1 were only
> one goal away from extra time after centre-back Eduard Sarapiy had headed in a
> corner kick. Panathinaikos were seriously on the ropes at that point, but an
> energetic solo run by Filip Đuričić ended with the former Sampdoria and Sassuolo
> winger centring for Šporar to tap in his second:
> https://giphy.com/media/csiknPQj3fhfVVXEUL/giphy.gif
> and Volodymyr Tanchyk's sending off for a leg-breaking tackle against Juancar
> settled matters for good.
>
>
>
> August 2
>
>
> FC Astana (KAZ) v GNK DINAMO ZAGREB (CRO)* 0-2 (0-1), 0-6 on aggregate
> (Marochkin 24' (og), Marin 89')
>
> Dinamo had no problems in Kazakhstan either. Aleksandr Marochkin when trying to
> interfere with Mahir Emreli's solo run instead beat his own keeper Čondrić with a
> perfect shot into the bottom corner of the net:
> https://giphy.com/media/Z1XIHRxykDqr03MLeg/giphy.gif
> and late on youngster Antonio Marin (no relation to Marko) tapped in a loose ball
> from close range.
>
>
> Qarabağ FK (AZE)* v RKS RAKÓW CZĘSTOCHOWA (POL) 1-1 (0-0), 3-4 on aggregate
> (Xhixha 60'; Tudor 52')
>
> Not as fun and open as the first match between the two, but finally a Polish club
> managed to overcome their Azeri nemesis. Croatian winger Fran Tudor, a distant
> cousin of Igor's, opened the scoring with a powerful shot into the far corner of
> the net: https://giphy.com/media/XlArZNKlfWKev8qf1x/giphy.gif
> and even though Redon Xhikha soon equalised by volleying in Cəfərquliyev's cross:
> https://giphy.com/media/hUe6mhQ85LrSfFjfOI/giphy.gif
> Raków held on to the result until the final whistle, also because fifteen minutes
> from time Marko Janković's shot came off the right post.
>
>
> BK Häcken (SWE) v KÍ (FAR)* 3-3 aet (1-1, 2-2), 3-3 on aggregate, KÍ win 4-3 on penalties
> (Sana 24', Layouni 48', Sadiq 105'+1; Frederiksberg 17', 53',
> Abrahamson 109' (og))
>
> Amazing part II. Following last year's maiden championship, Häcken are again
> fighting for the Swedish title this year.
>
> Árni Frederiksberg eventually became the Faroese hero, and he opened the scoring
> already early on by volleying in from close range after Häcken captain Samuel
> Gustafson had failed to cut out a cross:
> https://giphy.com/media/LIt4ZyAObyZMhf2iT1/giphy.gif
> Former Ajax prospect Tobias Sana equalised with a sumptuous shot from distance
> that left KÍ's Swedish keeper Johansson rooted to the spot:
> https://giphy.com/media/i6G1VIz1H5RF2mspZu/giphy.gif
> After the break Amor Layouni, newly signed from Vålerenga, headed Häcken in front
> from close range: https://giphy.com/media/QI5TagmJmVIfwRrJEk/giphy.gif
> but right afterwards Frederiksberg's deflected free-kick agonizingly bounced past
> Häcken keeper Abrahamsson: https://giphy.com/media/9nhu3mgopbAZ6ySqdt/giphy.gif
> KÍ could have ended it right there as in the third minute of stoppage time Luc
> Kassi volleyed a free-kick against the crossbar, but instead they fell behind once
> more in extra time when Johansson failed to punch away a cross far enough, and
> Momodou Sonko sent the loose ball back towards goal where Ibrahim Sadiq tapped in
> from close range. But the stubborn Faroese still weren't beaten, and right after
> Abrahamsson had pulled off a great save to deny Kassi's point-blank header,
> Häcken's keeper under pressure from the Norwegian substitute Sivert Gussiås
> bungled the following corner kick, delivered by who else but Frederiksberg, over
> his own goal line. Soon afterwards Abrahamsson at least made amends and managed to
> deny Gussiås one-on-one.
>
> In the shoot-out, the first three players on both sides converted their penalties,
> then Mikkel Rygaard sent his spot kick high and Johansson saved against Simon
> Sandberg, while on Klaksvík's side Gussiås shot against the crossbar, but KÍ's
> Norwegian defensive stalwart Vegard Forren drilled in qthe decisive effort:
> https://giphy.com/media/EYegBm135wsIf6FuUX/giphy.gif
>
> It's always been their home strength that made them difficult opponents, but KÍ
> have now scored three goals away against both the Hungarian and the Swedish
> champions.
>
> Klaksvíkar Ítróttarfelag reach a European group phase, the first for a team from
> the Faroe Islands. Still waiting: San Marino, Andorra, Iceland, Malta, Montenegro,
> Northern Ireland, Wales, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. One of Iceland and Bosnia-
> Herzegovina is certain to make it this year because Breiðablik and Zrinjski play
> each other in ELQ3.
>
>
> MOLDE FK (NOR)* v HJK (FIN) 2-0 (0-0), 2-1 on aggregate
> (Öst 74' (og), Brynhildsen 89')
>
> The Norwegian champions, who are this year trailing behind Bodø/Glimt once again,
> levelled the overall score when Kristian Eriksen's point-blank header came off the
> crossbar and unluckily bounced off HJK keeper Öst, and in:
> https://giphy.com/media/qvn2BwepZHAER18gjP/giphy.gif
> Two minutes from time the unfortunate Öst likewise did well to parry Veton
> Berisha's close-range effort, only for Ola Brynhildsen to slide the rebound into
> the empty net for the decisive goal:
> https://giphy.com/media/tg4LwMgFcnO2cehkLh/giphy.gif
>
>
> MACCABI HAIFA FC (ISR) v FC Sheriff (MDA)* 4-1 aet (1-1, 2-1), 4-2 on aggregate
> (Chery 33', Jaber 85', David 105'+2, Shuranov 107'; Talal 20' (pen);
> Red Cards: Luvannor 86' (She, on the bench), Talal 90'+4 (She, on the bench))
>
> Suriname international Tjaronn Chery's penchant for brilliant long-distance goals
> should be well-known by now to anyone who reads these write-ups, and he added
> another in this one: https://giphy.com/media/Tme24Awb9DIsH0BhGY/giphy.gif
> and so helped the Israeli champions back on track after they had conceded an
> early penalty, but they had to wait until five minutes from time to level the
> overall score when a shot by the substitute Mahmoud Jaber was deflected in:
> https://giphy.com/media/piyBMZhOJGQXJ2DJab/giphy.gif
> Things got a bit heated after this between two benches, resulting in a second
> yellow and a red for Sheriff players who had already been subbed out.
>
> In extra time, Dean David got the decisive goal with a lovely lob over Sheriff's
> Ukrainian keeper Koval: https://giphy.com/media/bQ5LuK2dIEtxJLRyG5/giphy.gif
> and former Nürnberg striker Erik Shuranov added a fourth with a precise low shot
> from outside the area: https://giphy.com/media/mQAz2hdVnQ8PuFshcJ/giphy.gif
>
>
> FC KØBENHAVN (DEN)* v Breiðablik (ISL) 6-3 (4-1), 8-3 on aggregate
> (Gonçalves 33', Achouri 35', Larsson 37', Óskarsson 45'+1, 47', 56';
> Svanþórsson 9', Steindórsson 51', Gunnlaugsson 75')
>
> The Icelandic champions might have entertained a little hope after Jason Daði
> Svanþórsson had volleyed them into an early lead, but three goals in four minutes
> put that notion quickly to rest, beginning with a great free-kick from FCK's new
> Portuguese signing Diogo Gonçalves:
> https://giphy.com/media/fZIwIE9ppA1Insd1jD/giphy.gif
> and ending with Jordan Larsson's lovely chip:
> https://giphy.com/media/ziwfvcrJJasTZE4n3k/giphy.gif
> Speaking of sons, Copenhagen's 18-year-old Icelandic striker talent Orri Óskarsson
> evidently was quite fired up to play against the team coached by his dad Óskar
> Hrafn Þorvaldsson, and so he went out and scored a hat trick. (BTW this is not the
> right place, but on behalf of all Sturm Graz fans I still wanted to thank FCK once
> more for selling us Rasmus Højlund at a really very reasonable price.. Too bad they
> probably won't do the same with Óskarsson.)
> Kudos to Breiðablik though who continued to play their somewhat suicidal pressing
> style and at least scored two more, one thanks to Kristinn Steindórsson's
> deflected shot and one through their captain Höskuldur Gunnlaugsson's free-kick:
> https://giphy.com/media/kb9WkqYOi1OGuyyC8j/giphy.gif
>
>
> GALATASARAY SK (TUR)* v FK Žalgiris (LTU) 1-0 (1-0), 3-2 on aggregate
> (Mertens 31')
>
> Dries Mertens saved a rather minimalist Gala side the blushes with a trademark
> volley from outside the box:
> https://giphy.com/media/zd02WHipkUQKAO7CWl/giphy.gif

On Monday, July 24, 2023 at 1:15:24 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> On Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 4:15:53 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > On Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 11:17:31 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > On Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 2:38:27 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 12:56:20 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2021-24-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png

Draw for Champions League Play-Off (August 22/23 and 29/30)
* = seeded team
Winners go to CL group phase, Losers go to EL group phase

Champions Path

ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SLK)/Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR) v BSC Young Boys (SUI)*
Royal Antwerp FC (BEL) v AEK FC (GRE)/GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)*
RKS Raków Czestochowa (POL)/Aris Limassol FC (CYP) v FC København (DEN)/AC Sparta Praha (CZE)*
KÍ (FAR)/Molde FK (NOR) v NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO)/Galatasaray SK (TUR)*

League Path

Rangers FC (SCO)/Servette FC (SUI)* v PSV (NED)/SK Sturm Graz (AUT)
SC Braga (POR)/FK TSC (SRB)* v Panathinaikos FC (GRE)/Olympique de Marseille (FRA)

Ciao,
Werner

On Thursday, August 3, 2023 at 3:06:31 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> On Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 12:47:25 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > On Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 4:15:53 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > On Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 11:17:31 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > On Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 2:38:27 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 12:56:20 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2021-24-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png

Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round, 1st leg
* = seeded team

August 8

Champions Path

RKS Raków Częstochowa (POL)* v Aris Limassol FC (CYP) 2-1 (1-0)
(Kocherhin 7', Piasecki 63' (pen); Mayambela 89')

A quick break at the end of which Vladyslav Kocherhin tapped in Fran Tudor's
cross put the Polish champions in front early. Raków then defended well, and
doubled their lead when Burkinabé international Steeve Yago tripped Marcin Cebula
in the box, with Fabian Piasecki converting from the spot. Late on former
Superettan and Liga Portugal 2 winger Mihlali Mayambela still deservedly pulled
one back for the Cypriot champions, the South African unleashed a strike from
outside the box that left Raków's Bosnian keeper Kovačević rooted to the spot:
https://giphy.com/media/zi0QXBW5YenEK6RRam/giphy.gif

FC København (DEN)* v AC Sparta Praha (CZE) 0-0 (0-0)

Big chances on both sides, but no goals. In the first half, Lukáš Haraslín took a
stumble when alone in on FCK keeper Grabara, and at the other end 17-year-old
Swedish talent Roony Bardghji volleyed against the crossbar from close range.
After the break Bardghji's compatriot Viktor Claesson did the same with his chest:
https://giphy.com/media/sFyAMRUUXQBW4O8YIa/giphy.gif
and Sparta's new Danish keeper Vindahl Jensen pulled off a miraculous save to deny
Orri Óskarsson: https://giphy.com/media/eulG5SOOixFjjBTEfi/giphy.gif

AEK FC (GRE) v GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)* postponed

Away fans had been banned in advance, but a convoy consisting of several hundred
of Dinamo's hardcore Bad Blue Boys hooligans despite warnings from the Montenegrin
police still made their way unhindered across the Greek border and into the
suburbs of Athens where they teamed up with their Panathinaikos 'brothers' to
start up clashes with AEK supporters, and in the fighting one young Greek was
stabbed to death and a couple more severely injured.

So far UEFA's only reaction apart from a statement 'deploring the appalling
incidents' has been to postpone the match to Saturday August 19th.
https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/news/0284-18af7f742586-87cde98a7089-1000--uefa-statement-on-aek-athens-vs-gnk-dinamo/

This doesn't bode well at all for Hajduk Split against PAOK on Thursday.

KÍ (FAR) v Molde FK (NOR)* 2-1 (0-0)
(Frederiksberg 64', 86'; Eikrem 49')

What made this tie extra-interesting is that Klaksvík's coaching staff consists
of manager Magne Hoseth, who has played 332 matches with Molde (#4 in their all-
time ranking) and assistant manager Daniel Berg Hestad, 587 matches with Molde
(#1); what's more, KÍ's Norwegian tower in defence Vegard Forren is Molde's all-
time #2 (369 matches). Forren's story is also a bit more intricate than just that
number of games - back in spring 2020 he was fired by the Norwegians after it had
turned out that he had stolen money out of the dressing room cash kitty (alimented
by internal fines) in order to finance his gambling debts (he has since entered
therapy), and one year later at his next job in Bergen he allegedly organised a
no-holds-barred late-night party (the press called it an 'orgy') on the club
grounds - among the general brouhaha surrounding the incident Brann later got
relegated that year. Lots of good reasons to try and rebuild your life and career
on some remote Atlantic island. The same also applies to former Danish under-21
international Patrick da Silva, but I'll leave that one to google for yourselves.

Also, having now reached the third CL qualifying round, KÍ are no longer allowed
to play in their Við Djúpumýrar home stadion and so moved into the Faroe national
stadium Tórsvøllur.

As for the game itself - as has almost become expected, this tie between the
Faroese and the Norwegian champions was very evenly contested, but Molde finally
took the lead just after the break when Magnus Wolff Eikrem volleyed in an assist
by former Galatasaray right-back Martin Linnes:
https://giphy.com/media/2ff1cOifjz27SN9cI7/giphy.gif
But the Árni Frederiksberg show (he has been involved in all but one KÍ goal in
their campaign so far) was just about to begin - he first duped Molde keeper
Karlstrøm at his near post: https://giphy.com/media/hAtlSFuXlotzQ0q9WF/giphy.gif
and just before the end raced clear and fired into the top corner for the winner:
https://giphy.com/media/cV3qdqwOUuHq3VZEBW/giphy.gif

Frederiksberg is 31 by now, has a day job in the Faroe Islands food industry and
has played nowhere else but in the Betri-deildin (and only got 11 caps for the
NT), but seeing him perform on such a level against the Hungarian, Swedish and
Norwegian champions makes you wonder whether he'll still give it a try and leave
the Faroes for a chance in a bigger league. Or maybe he's just happy with being a
local hero. As I keep repeating, those islands are simply gorgeous.

NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO) v Galatasaray SK (TUR)* 0-3 (0-1)
(Aktürkoğlu 9', Mertens 48', Dervişoğlu 90'+1)

Kerem Aktürkoğlu swept in Barış Yılmaz's centre for the early lead:
https://giphy.com/media/BhW2p9u2aOlNYAA4nr/giphy.gif
and just after the break Dries Mertens rolled the ball into the empty net after
Olimpija keeper Vidovšek had saved against Yılmaz:
https://giphy.com/media/Ym0kjOUJgZ3jxR3Ys8/giphy.gif
Galatasaray then had a goal chalked off by VAR for a close offside, but in
stoppage time they still all but secured their passage to the CL playoffs against
Molde or Klaksvík when Halil Dervişoğlu headed home a corner kick.

League Path

PSV (NED)* v SK Sturm Graz (AUT) 4-1 (3-1)
(Babadi 4', De Jong 22', 32', Sangaré 73'; Gorenc Stanković 40')

Could have been 8-2, disappointingly Sturm were a defensive mess all match long.
Isaac Babadi started the rout with a precise shot after young Belgian Johan
Bakayoko had perhaps inadvertently duped David Schnegg:
https://giphy.com/media/gLCULNfB6l6CfHJdpu/giphy.gif
and Bakayoko then likewise fooled David Affengruber on the right wing and
delivered a perfect cross that Luc de Jong headed in:
https://giphy.com/media/LO0RoRwwBR4sAYwsLm/giphy.gif
De Jong then got his second on the rebound after Sturm's new Dutch keeper Kjell
Scherpen had only slapped away Noa Lang's shot:
https://giphy.com/media/eD3XIMiWJDnLIsFeEv/giphy.gif
Out of nowhere Jon Gorenc Stanković heading in William Bøving's corner kick gave
Sturm some hope, and for a little while after the break the match looked a bit
more even, but PSV soon put the foot down again, and after they had missed a ton
of good opportunities Ibrahim Sangaré headed in Joey Veerman's free-kick for the
fourth.

SC Braga (POR)* v FK TSC (SRB) 3-0 (2-0)
(Bruma 17', Pizzi 19', Djaló 87')

Two early and one late goal were enough for the Portuguese favourites to despatch
the Hungaro-Serbian Champions League debutants from Bačka Topola/Topolya
(reminder that, like DAC in Slovakia and Sepsi in Romania, TSC - Topolyai Sport
Club - are one of the Orbán-sponsored teams abroad to showcase the Hungarian
minority in these countries, and like DAC they picked the acronym in order to not
have to use a non-Hungarian place name). Bruma capped off a solo run with a fierce
shot past TSC keeper Ilić: https://giphy.com/media/iOCDfqwtsM4yttFiy3/giphy.gif
Abel Ruiz sent a ball over the defence for longtime Benfica striker Pizzi:
https://giphy.com/media/8Zad2muqlBeRXOIv8H/giphy.gif
and after TSC had lost a ball in front of their own area the substitute Álvaro
Djaló calmly rolled the ball into the corner of the net:
https://giphy.com/media/M8bDc9Jz8wbJuvQ7fe/giphy.gif

August 9

Champions Path

ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SLK)* v Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR) 1-2 (1-2)
(Seck 12' (og); Pierrot 5', Sabia 15')

Everything happened inside the first quarter of an hour - Haiti international
Frantzdy Pierrot tapped in Dia Saba's centre:
https://giphy.com/media/20ZPmxQeb0dtraG02O/giphy.gif
Maccabi's Senegalese centre-back Abdoulaye Seck deflected Lucas Lovat's insidious
corner kick into his own net: https://giphy.com/media/DOcZHCZmDLoDZZsgks/giphy.gif
and Saba unleashed a great strike from outside the box that flew past an
outstretched Borjan: https://giphy.com/media/Wp2kzDLyq2rgSE4taR/giphy.gif
Both sides had very good opportunities after that as well, but Borjan and Nitzan
kept everything out.

League Path

Panathinaikos FC (GRE) v Olympique de Marseille (FRA)* 1-0 (0-0)
(Bernard 83'; Red Card: Kondogbia (Oly) 65')

Following the riots the day before AEK supporter groups swore 'revenge' against
Panathinaikos, but for once the Greek police didn't drop the ball and - as of the
time of writing - managed to prevent any riots around Pana's stadium.

On Wednesday, 9 August 2023 at 23:31:09 UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
>
> FC København (DEN)* v AC Sparta Praha (CZE) 0-0 (0-0)
>
> Big chances on both sides, but no goals. In the first half, Lukáš Haraslín took a
> stumble when alone in on FCK keeper Grabara, and at the other end 17-year-old
> Swedish talent Roony Bardghji volleyed against the crossbar from close range.
> After the break Bardghji's compatriot Viktor Claesson did the same with his chest:
> https://giphy.com/media/sFyAMRUUXQBW4O8YIa/giphy.gif
> and Sparta's new Danish keeper Vindahl Jensen pulled off a miraculous save to deny
> Orri Óskarsson: https://giphy.com/media/eulG5SOOixFjjBTEfi/giphy.gif

Many Danish links with Sparta. In addition to Vindahl there was RB product Asger Sørensen in defense, manager Brian Priske, and currently injured Casper Højer Nielsen. The later two with additional FCK links. Priske is mainly associated with rivals Midtjylland, but did have a stint as assistant in FCK. Casper Højer played there as a kid, and his father Lars was a prominent feature of the first FCK teams, with his legendary free kick skills. Was active for FCK and predecesssor B1903 for 15 years, and is their head scout today.

Lars in action:
https://youtu.be/HEoSJtcJf68?t=31
(Context: it's the second leg, aggregate score is 2-3 and it's the last kick of the match)

> KÍ (FAR) v Molde FK (NOR)* 2-1 (0-0)
> (Frederiksberg 64', 86'; Eikrem 49')
>
> But the Árni Frederiksberg show (he has been involved in all but one KÍ goal in
> their campaign so far) was just about to begin - he first duped Molde keeper
> Karlstrøm at his near post: https://giphy.com/media/hAtlSFuXlotzQ0q9WF/giphy.gif
> and just before the end raced clear and fired into the top corner for the winner:
> https://giphy.com/media/cV3qdqwOUuHq3VZEBW/giphy.gif

Before the WWC a video was doing the rounds, where French male stars has been edited into highlight footage of the French woman's team. You could the same with Messi or whatever, and these goals.

On Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at 11:31:09 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> On Thursday, August 3, 2023 at 3:06:31 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > On Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 12:47:25 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > On Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 4:15:53 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > On Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 11:17:31 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > On Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 2:38:27 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > > On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 12:56:20 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2021-24-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png

Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round, 1st leg
* = seeded team

GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)* v AEK FC (GRE) 1-2 (1-0)
(Bulat 39'; Zuber 59', Galanopoulos 90')

Marko Bulat scored the opener with a smashing free-kick that left AEK's Austrian
keeper Cican Stanković on his knees:
https://giphy.com/media/yYnMsd5HImvnGTv3m3/giphy.gif
The Croatian champions appeared to have everything under control, that is until
Josip Mišić needlessly lost the ball in front of his own area, and two quick
passes and one shot by Swiss midfielder Steven Zuber later AEK were level:
https://giphy.com/media/Vm74FwVzFsCB1BEb9W/giphy.gif
To make things worse for Dinamo, in the very last minute AEK mainstay Kostas
Galanopoulos emphatically volleyed in fellow substitute Petros Mantalos's cross
for the winner: https://giphy.com/media/3hoImRvFCYwYWQAlk3/giphy.gif

The postponed 2nd leg in Athens is going to be played on Saturday, and this time
around hopefully without any fan violence. But the war of words that has in the
meantime developed between AEK and Dinamo officials in particular, and Greek and
Croatian media in general doesn't exactly fill me with confidence.

Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round, 2nd leg
Teams in CAPITALS through to CLPO (except KÍ and TSC), losers go to ELPO
(Champions Path) or EL group stage (League Path)
* = seeded team

August 15

Champions Path

Aris Limassol FC (CYP) v RKS RAKÓW CZĘSTOCHOWA (POL)* 0-1 (0-0), 1-3 on aggregate
(Tudor 49')

Aris's best chance of the first half fell to a Polish player, but just before the
half-time whistle Mariusz Stępiński's volley came off the right post. In the usual
sweltering conditions on Cyprus the Polish champions mostly focussed on defending
their slim first-leg lead, but with only their second shot on target they scored -
Fran Tudor's perfectly struck free-kick from twenty metres left Aris's Brazilian
keeper Vaná rooted to the spot. At the other end Raków's Bosnian goalie Kovačević
kept out everything the increasingly desperate Cypriot champions threw at him.

The first lost tie for a Cypriot team this season, but one that hurts.

MACCABI HAIFA FC (ISR) v ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SLK)* 3-1 (2-0), 5-2 on aggregate
(Pierrot 29', Saba 45'+2, David 90'+3; Tolić 86')

Maccabi's two CONCACAF stars combined for the opener, Haiti international Frantzdy
Pierrot emphatically headed in Tjaronn Chery's perfectly weighted cross:
https://giphy.com/media/su8xnVOduuduTp0yL6/giphy.gif
Chery also provided the excellent assist for Dia Saba's second:
https://giphy.com/media/9bIoViH6HDPJYFM66D/giphy.gif
and while Slovan pulled one back when Dinamo Zagreb loanee Marko Tolić fired in
from the edge of the box, late on Chery completed his hat trick of assists by
getting the ball to Dean David, who, truth be told, then did most of the work:
https://giphy.com/media/xmvkiHBoN1oBzzew5t/giphy.gif

AC Sparta Praha (CZE) v FC KØBENHAVN (DEN)* 3-3 aet (0-1, 1-1), 3-3 on aggregate, København win 4-2 on penalties
(Birmančević 80', Laçi 105', Olatunji 107'; Larsson 1', Claesson 105'+2, 112';
Red Card: Friis (Spa, assistant manager) 88')

Just fifteen seconds in Jordan Larsson's shot was deflected past a helpless
Vindahl: https://giphy.com/media/gPVbwyFXNyNXKM6VNC/giphy.gif
and the keepers on both sides were subsequently called into action several times -
Kamil Grabara saved Ladislav Krejčí's header (as of this season there's only one
Ladislav Krejčí left in Sparta's squad, the older one went to Hradec Králové) as
well as dangerous shots by Lukáš Haraslín, Lukáš Sadílek and former Malmö
midfielder Veljko Birmančević, while at the other end Vindahl parried one-on-one
with Diogo Gonçalves and also met Elias Achouri's close-range effort with a
reaction save. Early in the second half Sparta thought they had equalised when
Krejčí headed in a corner kick, but VAR disallowed the goal for what appeared like
a slight push in the box. Grabara then once more had to save one-on-one when he
calmly smothered the ball at the feet of a bemused Victor Olatunji, but Sparta
nevertheless scored the highly deserved equaliser when Birmančević powered past
Elias Jelert on the left wing, and with everyone waiting for the cross he instead
fired the ball in through the legs of an unlucky Grabara:
https://giphy.com/media/0KR7TxQlhPouy57ZQ5/giphy.gif

In extra time Sparta took the lead twice - first through Albanian international
Qazim Laçi's perfect free-kick (the third direct free-kick scored on that matchday): https://giphy.com/media/MwdHZ3aG1oAkvwIvKs/giphy.gif
and then through Olatunji's empty-netter after Martin Minchev's header had come
off the right post: https://giphy.com/media/zzBXKMhjnFZvZsv55T/giphy.gif
but twice Viktor Claesson managed to equalise, once from a long throw-in:
https://giphy.com/media/givTm7DPMivf0IBe9i/giphy.gif
and once from a free-kick: https://giphy.com/media/soggN3bP6vqhy9JCjp/giphy..gif

Penalties then, and Krejčí smashed the first one against the crossbar while man of
the match Grabara also saved a poor effort by Sparta's Danish left-back Asger
Sørensen.

MOLDE FK (NOR)* v KÍ (FAR) 2-0 aet (1-0, 1-0), 3-2 on aggregate
(Eriksen 17', Linnes 110')

VAR had already cancelled an early Molde goal for a close offside, but Kristian
Eriksen still headed in the aggregate equaliser from Magnus Wolff Eikrem's corner
kick: https://giphy.com/media/yfpLFUGKtbkDe4bqo5/giphy.gif
The moment that could have continued the fairy tale story for the Faroese
champions came fifteen minutes from time when after another corner kick Luc
Kassi's header came off the underside of the crossbar:
https://giphy.com/media/a0tQApZ7N5ZjcrTULp/giphy.gif
At the other end Markus Kaasa should have won it for Molde in injury time, but he
fired wide of the empty net: https://giphy.com/media/tl6aIGeWSg9NEnc5jP/giphy.gif
In extra time, following some sustained pressure, Klaksvík finally yielded when a
loose ball fell to Martin Linnes outside the box, and the former Galatasaray
right-back rifled in a precise shot:
https://giphy.com/media/7m944ZlejRgSSa8y4f/giphy.gif

GALATASARAY SK (TUR)* v NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO) 1-0 (1-0), 4-0 on aggregate
(Icardi 24'; Red Card: Torreira (Gal) 64')

Mauro Icardi punished some lax Slovenian defending with a powerful turn-and-
volley: https://giphy.com/media/RmCMx58EjgUflZ6ZCb/giphy.gif
and a comfortable evening for Galatasaray was only marred by Lucas Torreira's
dismissal for stepping on the ankle of Rui Pedro.

League Path

FK TSC (SRB) v SC Braga (POR)* 1-4 (1-4), 1-7 on aggregate
(Rakonjac 40'; Pizzi 9', Bruma 13', Djaló 16', Al-Musrati 20')

Absolutely ruthless first twenty minutes by Braga. Pizzi rolled in Victor Gómez's
assist: https://giphy.com/media/xS4VYRees8Nr5sL0kf/giphy.gif
Bruma side-footed one in from Ricardo Horta's feed:
https://giphy.com/media/rikCj90PCnFb51eV8s/giphy.gif
Horta also provided the cross that Álvaro Djaló tapped in:
https://giphy.com/media/cWOKs4NKOl3ntIhxNU/giphy.gif
and finally Lybian international Al-Musrati fired in from twenty metres:
https://giphy.com/media/frAlGTp9ilzoMxXACV/giphy.gif
Marko Rakonjac saved TSC's honour at least a bit when he rifled into the top
corner on the break: https://giphy.com/media/oc02WlCtlQMOPsy99n/giphy.gif

So far Serbia's non-Red Star clubs have picked up five defeats in five matches in
the qualifiers. It already appears as if they chose a rather bad season to have
three guaranteed group spots.

Servette FC (SUI) v RANGERS FC (SCO)* 1-1 (1-0), 2-3 on aggregate
(Kutesa 22'; Tavernier 51')

Dereck Kutesa levelled the aggregate score with a perfectly curled shot into the
far corner: https://giphy.com/media/6sCjW8XSUgqfqs0vdU/giphy.gif
but the Swiss winger did do less well a bit later when he was denied one-on-one
by Rangers's new keeper Jack Butland. Butland's counterpart Joël Mall in the
Servette net also didn't look great either when he flapped at Borna Barišić's
looping cross, and James Tavernier at the far post nodded in what proved to be the
decisive goal: https://giphy.com/media/s00g1SRu7u2ub0SuT0/giphy.gif
Subsequently the Scottish chances on the break were more dangerous than anything
the Swiss got going.

SK Sturm Graz (AUT) v PSV (NED)* 1-3 (1-2), 2-7 on aggregate
(Bøving 26'; Veerman 32', De Jong 39', Pepi 85' (pen))

On Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at 6:32:45 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> On Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at 11:31:09 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > On Thursday, August 3, 2023 at 3:06:31 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > On Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 12:47:25 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > On Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 4:15:53 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > On Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 11:17:31 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > > On Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 2:38:27 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > > > On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 12:56:20 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2021-24-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png
>
> Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round, 1st leg
> * = seeded team
>
> GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)* v AEK FC (GRE) 1-2 (1-0)
> (Bulat 39'; Zuber 59', Galanopoulos 90')
>
> Marko Bulat scored the opener with a smashing free-kick that left AEK's Austrian
> keeper Cican Stanković on his knees:
> https://giphy.com/media/yYnMsd5HImvnGTv3m3/giphy.gif
> The Croatian champions appeared to have everything under control, that is until
> Josip Mišić needlessly lost the ball in front of his own area, and two quick
> passes and one shot by Swiss midfielder Steven Zuber later AEK were level:
> https://giphy.com/media/Vm74FwVzFsCB1BEb9W/giphy.gif
> To make things worse for Dinamo, in the very last minute AEK mainstay Kostas
> Galanopoulos emphatically volleyed in fellow substitute Petros Mantalos's cross
> for the winner: https://giphy.com/media/3hoImRvFCYwYWQAlk3/giphy.gif
>
> The postponed 2nd leg in Athens is going to be played on Saturday, and this time
> around hopefully without any fan violence. But the war of words that has in the
> meantime developed between AEK and Dinamo officials in particular, and Greek and
> Croatian media in general doesn't exactly fill me with confidence.

Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round, 2nd leg
Team in CAPITALS through to CLPO, loser goes to ELPO
* = seeded team

August 20

AEK FC (GRE) v GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)* 2-2 (0-1), 4-3 on aggregate
(Araujo 90'+2, Vida 90'+10; Šutalo 45'+2, Ljubičić 65')

Dinamo levelled the overall score in the last second of the first half when Josip
Šutalo tapped in after AEK's Austrian keeper Cican Stanković had parried Bohdan
Mykhaylichenko's header from close range:
https://giphy.com/media/ePS382nJ4rSbkyNRWw/giphy.gif
Robert Ljubičić even gave the Croatian champions the aggregate lead by latching
onto Bruno Petković's perfect through ball:
https://giphy.com/media/bJDY8SzOANNZ6clLPt/giphy.gif
But, as I've written on occasion of the PAOK/Hajduk clash, Greek teams are
Croatia's cryptonite in Europe, and things went completely wrong for Dinamo in
injury time - after a corner kick AEK's Argentine captain Sergio Araujo volleyed
in a loose ball to level the aggregate score:
https://giphy.com/media/iLE8GVJKfeQWkic1r9/giphy.gif
and just minutes later Ljubičić handled the ball in the box, leading to a VAR
penalty. Dominik Livaković, who had had an inspired game in what might have been
one of his last performances in the Dinamo net, also parried Trinidadian striker
Levi Garcia's spot kick, but a Croatian still destroyed the Croatian CL hopes
because Domagoj Vida - 34 by now and still looking like (I'll never forget that
description) a badly rendered Witcher NPC, was fastest to the rebound and headed
it in: https://giphy.com/media/BSSzCYphVeB354uz5Q/giphy.gif
As Dinamo fans were quick to remember, eleven years ago Vida had scored a 98th-
minute goal in the CL qualifiers to help Zagreb progress against Ludogorets..

The Croatians are also livid because Vida - like a couple of Dinamo players, truth
be told - appeared to have entered the area a millisecond early, and we have
indeed seen goals like this cancelled by VAR, but I really cannot fault the refs
for letting it stand. It's such a minute thing.

AEK will now play Royal Antwerp for a Champions League place while Dinamo will
face Sparta Prague in the EL playoff.

An interesting stat from Bert's forum - since Croatia is an independent country,
the record of their 'Big 4' (Dinamo, Hajduk, Rijeka, Osijek) against Greek
opposition is now 0-7-15. Not a single win in 22 attempts.

Ciao,
Werner

On Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at 6:32:45 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> On Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at 11:31:09 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > On Thursday, August 3, 2023 at 3:06:31 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > On Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 12:47:25 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > On Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 4:15:53 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > On Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 11:17:31 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > > On Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 2:38:27 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > > > On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 12:56:20 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2021-24-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png

Champions League Play-Off, 1st leg
* = seeded team

August 22

Champions Path

Royal Antwerp FC (BEL) v AEK FC (GRE)* 1-0 (1-0)
(Janssen 16'; Red Card: Bataille (Roy) 50')

Mark van Bommel's side scored with one of their first opportunities - a great pass
by Antwerp's 18-year-old midfield talent Arthur Vermeeren beat AEK's offside trap,
and Vincent Janssen expertly slotted the ball past Georgios Athanasiadis (who had
once more taken over goalkeeping duties from former Salzburg keeper Cican
Stanković): https://giphy.com/media/Akc9q0jcX1ZnBypMXq/giphy.gif
AEK subsequently had more and better chances, especially after Antwerp right-back
Jelle Bataille had been sent off for a leg-breaking tackle on Mijat Gaćinović,
but the Belgians defended tooth and nail, with their French keeper Jean Butez also
standing tall, and despite a flurry of crosses they managed to keep the Greek
champions at bay until the final whistle.

RKS Raków Czestochowa (POL) v FC København (DEN)* 0-1 (0-1)
(Racoviţan 9' (og))

At this stage Raków are no longer allowed to play this in their rather tiny home
stadium in Częstochowa, and instead moved into the brand-new ArcelorMittal Park
in Sosnowiec, roughly sixty kilometres to the south.

FCK had the perfect start to the game as they scored with their first foray into
the Polish box - Raków's French-Romanian defender Bogdan Racovițan unluckily
deflected a cross by Mohamed Elyounoussi, newly signed from Southampton, past his
own keeper Kovačević: https://giphy.com/media/MUPuu6xClJXi1tGClC/giphy.gif
Five minutes before half-time Raków's would-be equaliser through Giannis
Papanikolaou's header was disallowed by VAR for a hair's breadth offside, and in
the second half Raków's toothless attack never actually managed to trouble the
Danish defence.

League Path

Rangers FC (SCO)* v PSV (NED) 2-2 (1-0)
(Sima 45', Matondo 76'; Sangaré 61', De Jong 80')

Who knows if the persistent transfer rumours surrounding Ibrahim Sangaré (Bayern?
PSG?) might not have distracted PSV's Ivorian midfielder, because he contrived to
lose the ball in front of his own area, which led to Brighton loanee Abdallah Sima
giving Rangers the lead with a great curler into the top corner:
https://giphy.com/media/Ptd7qH8uhU8h0nOJCU/giphy.gif
In the second half Sangaré kind of redeemed himself by sweeping in Johan
Bakayoko's cross, also thanks to Ismael Saibari's clever dummy:
https://giphy.com/media/zROUIqTNiPh3YQFhhs/giphy.gif
A clinical Rangers side (Sturm Graz should take notes on how to properly set up
against PSV) again took the lead on the break, with Welsh substitute Rabbi Matondo
finishing off the move from Cyriel Desser's assist:
https://giphy.com/media/7fxdsDl2cFxoz7mKRB/giphy.gif
VAR took a long hard look at the build-up, and then surprisingly didn't chalk the
goal off - those hair's breadth decisions can also go the attacker's way. Still,
PSV got the somewhat lucky, but overall deserved, equaliser when Luuk De Jong in
typical Luuk De Jong fashion shouldered in Joey Veerman's corner kick:
https://giphy.com/media/0N9ZauHiSpSrgscyTt/giphy.gif

The same first-leg result between the two as last season at the same stage. A year
ago Rangers then followed it up by shocking PSV with a 1-0 win in Eindhoven (with
the goal coming from a huge blunder by centre-back Ramalho and keeper Benítez). I
could totally see them repeating that feat, the Scots appear to have a real knack
for getting their best out of these qualifiers.

August 23

Champions Path

Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR) v BSC Young Boys (SUI)* 0-0 (0-0)

No efforts on target for YB (and just two for Maccabi), as the Swiss champions
managed to get the result they had come to Israel for. Haifa's biggest chance was
a shot by Tjaronn Chery that YB keeper Racioppi only managed to tame at the second
attempt.

Molde FK (NOR) v Galatasaray SK (TUR)* 2-3 (1-2)
(Ellingsen 8', Haugen 56'; Oliveira 25', Icardi 29', Midtsjø 90'+3)

In a very open match the Norwegian champions took the early lead through Martin
Ellingsen's well-placed header from Emil Breivik's corner kick:
https://giphy.com/media/aOYuyzUkbRP4SrVRh6/giphy.gif
but Gala soon hit back with two goals of their own - Sérgio Oliveira's free-kick
was unluckily deflected in by the Molde wall, and Mauro Icardi met Yunus Akgün's
ball over the top with a great volley:
https://giphy.com/media/o9F5QCciKaph21o1aJ/giphy.gif
Just before the break another Galatasaray goal by Akgün was chalked off by VAR for
a foul in the build-up, and Molde got a deserved equaliser when Kristoffer Haugen
stole in at the far post to volley in Erling Knudtzon's cross:
https://giphy.com/media/icgl13WnIEfcUvO8wt/giphy.gif
The Norwegians subsequently had good opportunities to score a third, but a route
one attack in stoppage time still gave the Turkish champions the away win, with
Icardi setting up the Norwegian substitute Fredrik Midtsjø to tap into the empty
net: https://giphy.com/media/6XZNqosHhS9kdwQtXB/giphy.gif

League Path

SC Braga (POR)* v Panathinaikos FC (GRE) 2-1 (0-0)
(Ruiz 51', Djaló 73'; Mancini 90'+5)

The first half was very balanced and quite poor, even though the Greeks were lucky
that VAR surprisingly chalked off a Braga penalty, but in the second the
Portuguese were very much improved and took the lead when a hard shot by their
Spanish forward Abel Ruiz went through the legs of two Panathinaikos defenders:
https://giphy.com/media/rgX9PtVDjTiIYoiUsQ/giphy.gif
Andraž Šporar then missed a huge chance for the Greeks when alone in front of the
empty net he failed to connect with a cross, and instead a quickly executed
throw-in caught the Greek defence on the wrong foot (I always enjoy it when an
offside trap is beaten that way), and Álvaro Djaló fired in Braga's second:
https://giphy.com/media/eni6BwbCVRKiAzv5Fu/giphy.gif
But just as in the two previous rounds Panathinaikos showed remarkable resilience
in the end, and just after Braga had wasted a huge chance to make it 3-0 on the
counter in stoppage time, with Pana keeper Brignoli saving one-on-one against Rony
Lopes, at the other end Fotis Ioannidis's perfectly timed pass beat Braga's high
line and Argentine winger Daniel Mancini slotted past Braga keeper Matheus at his
near post: https://giphy.com/media/cyhL7KyHgojznCb4Ku/giphy.gif

Everything to play for in Athens, then.

Ciao,
Werner

On Thursday, August 24, 2023 at 1:41:00 PM UTC+1, Werner Pichler wrote:
> On Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at 6:32:45 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > On Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at 11:31:09 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > On Thursday, August 3, 2023 at 3:06:31 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > On Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 12:47:25 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > On Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 4:15:53 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > > On Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 11:17:31 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > > > On Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 2:38:27 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > > > > On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 12:56:20 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2021-24-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png
> Champions League Play-Off, 1st leg
> * = seeded team
>
>
> August 22
>
>
> Champions Path
>
>
> Royal Antwerp FC (BEL) v AEK FC (GRE)* 1-0 (1-0)
> (Janssen 16'; Red Card: Bataille (Roy) 50')
>
> Mark van Bommel's side scored with one of their first opportunities - a great pass
> by Antwerp's 18-year-old midfield talent Arthur Vermeeren beat AEK's offside trap,
> and Vincent Janssen expertly slotted the ball past Georgios Athanasiadis (who had
> once more taken over goalkeeping duties from former Salzburg keeper Cican
> Stanković): https://giphy.com/media/Akc9q0jcX1ZnBypMXq/giphy.gif
> AEK subsequently had more and better chances, especially after Antwerp right-back
> Jelle Bataille had been sent off for a leg-breaking tackle on Mijat Gaćinović,
> but the Belgians defended tooth and nail, with their French keeper Jean Butez also
> standing tall, and despite a flurry of crosses they managed to keep the Greek
> champions at bay until the final whistle.
>
>
> RKS Raków Czestochowa (POL) v FC København (DEN)* 0-1 (0-1)
> (Racoviţan 9' (og))
>
> At this stage Raków are no longer allowed to play this in their rather tiny home
> stadium in Częstochowa, and instead moved into the brand-new ArcelorMittal Park
> in Sosnowiec, roughly sixty kilometres to the south.
>
> FCK had the perfect start to the game as they scored with their first foray into
> the Polish box - Raków's French-Romanian defender Bogdan Racovițan unluckily
> deflected a cross by Mohamed Elyounoussi, newly signed from Southampton, past his
> own keeper Kovačević: https://giphy.com/media/MUPuu6xClJXi1tGClC/giphy.gif
> Five minutes before half-time Raków's would-be equaliser through Giannis
> Papanikolaou's header was disallowed by VAR for a hair's breadth offside, and in
> the second half Raków's toothless attack never actually managed to trouble the
> Danish defence.
>
>
> League Path
>
>
> Rangers FC (SCO)* v PSV (NED) 2-2 (1-0)
> (Sima 45', Matondo 76'; Sangaré 61', De Jong 80')
>
> Who knows if the persistent transfer rumours surrounding Ibrahim Sangaré (Bayern?
> PSG?) might not have distracted PSV's Ivorian midfielder, because he contrived to
> lose the ball in front of his own area, which led to Brighton loanee Abdallah Sima
> giving Rangers the lead with a great curler into the top corner:
> https://giphy.com/media/Ptd7qH8uhU8h0nOJCU/giphy.gif
> In the second half Sangaré kind of redeemed himself by sweeping in Johan
> Bakayoko's cross, also thanks to Ismael Saibari's clever dummy:
> https://giphy.com/media/zROUIqTNiPh3YQFhhs/giphy.gif
> A clinical Rangers side (Sturm Graz should take notes on how to properly set up
> against PSV) again took the lead on the break, with Welsh substitute Rabbi Matondo
> finishing off the move from Cyriel Desser's assist:
> https://giphy.com/media/7fxdsDl2cFxoz7mKRB/giphy.gif
> VAR took a long hard look at the build-up, and then surprisingly didn't chalk the
> goal off - those hair's breadth decisions can also go the attacker's way. Still,
> PSV got the somewhat lucky, but overall deserved, equaliser when Luuk De Jong in
> typical Luuk De Jong fashion shouldered in Joey Veerman's corner kick:
> https://giphy.com/media/0N9ZauHiSpSrgscyTt/giphy.gif
>
> The same first-leg result between the two as last season at the same stage. A year
> ago Rangers then followed it up by shocking PSV with a 1-0 win in Eindhoven (with
> the goal coming from a huge blunder by centre-back Ramalho and keeper Benítez). I
> could totally see them repeating that feat, the Scots appear to have a real knack
> for getting their best out of these qualifiers.
>
>
>
> August 23
>
>
> Champions Path
>
>
> Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR) v BSC Young Boys (SUI)* 0-0 (0-0)
>
> No efforts on target for YB (and just two for Maccabi), as the Swiss champions
> managed to get the result they had come to Israel for. Haifa's biggest chance was
> a shot by Tjaronn Chery that YB keeper Racioppi only managed to tame at the second
> attempt.
>
>
> Molde FK (NOR) v Galatasaray SK (TUR)* 2-3 (1-2)
> (Ellingsen 8', Haugen 56'; Oliveira 25', Icardi 29', Midtsjø 90'+3)
>
> In a very open match the Norwegian champions took the early lead through Martin
> Ellingsen's well-placed header from Emil Breivik's corner kick:
> https://giphy.com/media/aOYuyzUkbRP4SrVRh6/giphy.gif
> but Gala soon hit back with two goals of their own - Sérgio Oliveira's free-kick
> was unluckily deflected in by the Molde wall, and Mauro Icardi met Yunus Akgün's
> ball over the top with a great volley:
> https://giphy.com/media/o9F5QCciKaph21o1aJ/giphy.gif
> Just before the break another Galatasaray goal by Akgün was chalked off by VAR for
> a foul in the build-up,

It was a clear foul - in basketball! In a football match I fail to see how the minimal contact (hand on the back) could trouble the VAR panel to ask the referee to consider chalking off the goal, frankly stranger still that the referee with the benefit of a replay showing the clear oversell by the Molde player chose to give a foul to Molde and not book the Molde player for simulation. The other odd thing about the position is if the Molde player had just stayed on his feet instead of trying to "win" a free kick the ball wouldn't have rolled to give Galatasaray the goal scoring chance in the first place.

> and Molde got a deserved equaliser when Kristoffer Haugen
> stole in at the far post to volley in Erling Knudtzon's cross:

Drawing a Scandinavian team in the qualifiers is always a dangerous prospect for any team from a country who plays an August to May season as the Scandinavian team are already well into their season so are match fit and have good team cohesion, whereas you're not because you're either in pre-season or only a couple of games into the season. It therefore wasn't a surprise to me that Molde had a number of good chances and could have got more out of the game had some close chances not gone wide.

> https://giphy.com/media/icgl13WnIEfcUvO8wt/giphy.gif
> The Norwegians subsequently had good opportunities to score a third, but a route
> one attack in stoppage time still gave the Turkish champions the away win, with
> Icardi setting up the Norwegian substitute Fredrik Midtsjø to tap into the empty
> net: https://giphy.com/media/6XZNqosHhS9kdwQtXB/giphy.gif

Perhaps a fortunate goal purely based on the balance of play, but I couldn't help but think it made up for the injustice of Yunus' "goal" being ruled out on a VAR.

RM

>
> League Path
>
>
> SC Braga (POR)* v Panathinaikos FC (GRE) 2-1 (0-0)
> (Ruiz 51', Djaló 73'; Mancini 90'+5)
>
> The first half was very balanced and quite poor, even though the Greeks were lucky
> that VAR surprisingly chalked off a Braga penalty, but in the second the
> Portuguese were very much improved and took the lead when a hard shot by their
> Spanish forward Abel Ruiz went through the legs of two Panathinaikos defenders:
> https://giphy.com/media/rgX9PtVDjTiIYoiUsQ/giphy.gif
> Andraž Šporar then missed a huge chance for the Greeks when alone in front of the
> empty net he failed to connect with a cross, and instead a quickly executed
> throw-in caught the Greek defence on the wrong foot (I always enjoy it when an
> offside trap is beaten that way), and Álvaro Djaló fired in Braga's second:
> https://giphy.com/media/eni6BwbCVRKiAzv5Fu/giphy.gif
> But just as in the two previous rounds Panathinaikos showed remarkable resilience
> in the end, and just after Braga had wasted a huge chance to make it 3-0 on the
> counter in stoppage time, with Pana keeper Brignoli saving one-on-one against Rony
> Lopes, at the other end Fotis Ioannidis's perfectly timed pass beat Braga's high
> line and Argentine winger Daniel Mancini slotted past Braga keeper Matheus at his
> near post: https://giphy.com/media/cyhL7KyHgojznCb4Ku/giphy.gif
>
> Everything to play for in Athens, then.
>
>
>
> Ciao,
> Werner

On Thursday, August 24, 2023 at 2:41:00 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> On Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at 6:32:45 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > On Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at 11:31:09 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > On Thursday, August 3, 2023 at 3:06:31 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > On Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 12:47:25 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > On Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 4:15:53 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > > On Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 11:17:31 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > > > On Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 2:38:27 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > > > > On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 12:56:20 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2021-24-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png

Champions League Play-Off, 2nd leg
Teams in CAPITALS (except AEK) through to CL group phase, losers go to EL group phase
* = seeded team

August 29

Champions Path

BSC YOUNG BOYS (SUI)* v Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR) 3-0 (2-0), 3-0 on aggregate
(Itten 23', Seck 28' (og), Ugrinić 46')

YB scored twice from their first two attacks - one cross by Meschak Elia was met
with a bullet header by former Rangers flop Cedric Itten:
https://giphy.com/media/lmnPmgi0QJnSBNtS1y/giphy.gif
and another resulted in a ludicrous own goal by Abdoulaye Seck:
https://giphy.com/media/VcqusRvWNGtNiaunKK/giphy.gif
while at the other end Maccabi hit first the post and then the crossbar. In the
second half Filip Ugrinić immediately made it three with a deflected shot:
https://giphy.com/media/7MJHXz5Ys3kNCR0yEl/giphy.gif
and the supremely unlucky Israeli once more hit the post.

Football is a game of fine margins.

GALATASARAY SK (TUR)* v Molde FK (NOR) 2-1 (1-0), 5-3 on aggregate
(Icardi 7' (pen), Angeliño 90'+3; Hestad 66')

Already early on Galatasaray were awarded a rather soft penalty for Martin
Ellingsen's shoulder grab on Icardi, and the Argentine converted the spot kick
himself. The Turkish champions appeared to have everything under control, and
Molde also had rotten luck when after just twenty-two minutes they had to sub off
both Markus Kaasa and Erling Knudtzon following a nasty head collision between the
two, but in the second half a great dribble by Emil Breivik set up Eirik Hestad
(who had come on for Kaasa) for the equaliser:
https://giphy.com/media/cyGGWwyW0NUaJakLo9/giphy.gif
and suddenly it was squeaky bum time. Ten minutes from the end the Norwegians for
a short moment thought they had equalised the aggregate score, but VAR correctly
determined Veton Berisha's goal to have been a clear offside, and late on, just as
in the first leg between the two, a deflected free-kick proved crucial for Gala,
this time it was Leipzig loanee Angeliño who saw his strike curve past a helpless
Karlstrøm: https://giphy.com/media/2OpSHPZ2g7bCnYM6TX/giphy.gif

League Path

Panathinaikos FC (GRE) v SC BRAGA (POR)* 0-1 (0-0), 1-3 on aggregate
(Bruma 83'; Red Card: Juankar (Pan) 90'+1)

Panathinaikos had a couple of opportunities to get the aggregate equaliser, but
Braga's veteran keeper Matheus was on his guard the few times they actually became
dangerous, and one late counter attack decided the tie for good, with Bruma
finishing off the move from Ricardo Horta's assist:
https://giphy.com/media/mC2hBAhu4we96K9g8P/giphy.gif
In stoppage time Pana's Spanish left-back Juankar got sent off with a second
booking for going through the back of Frenchman Simon Banza in frustration.

August 30

Champions Path

AEK FC (GRE)* v ROYAL ANTWERP FC (BEL) 1-2 (0-0), 1-3 on aggregate
(Araujo 90'; Kerk 73', Balikwisha 90'+5)

The match was mostly one-way football towards the Belgian net, but the Greeks
consistently made the wrong decisions in the attacking third, and Antwerp stood
firm in defence and were themselves dangerous on occasion of their few breaks.
They should have taken the lead when Arbnor Muja completely alone in front of the
gaping net tried a fancy back-heel and utterly failed to connect with Michel-Ange
Balikwisha's cross: https://giphy.com/media/Nb21u21YYusg3xIEht/giphy.gif
but not long afterwards Antwerp still managed to score when a quickly executed
long throw-in by US Boy Sam Vines undid the Greek defence, and Balikwisha centred
for the Dutch substitute Gyrano Kerk to tap in:
https://giphy.com/media/Nfq7YUhFRCgzM7Kusa/giphy.gif
Just like in the previous round against Dinamo Zagreb AEK managed to find a goal
in the last minute, and just like against Dinamo it was their Argentine forward
Sergio Araujo who got on the scoresheet as he chested down Niclas Eliasson's cross
and slotted in: https://giphy.com/media/YzQxvekZxRwNHzlvLF/giphy.gif
But unlike against Dinamo a second goal eluded them despite eight minutes of
stoppage time, and with all Greek field players pushing up the Belgians picked
them off on the break instead, with Balikwisha making no mistake one-on-one with
AEK's badly positioned Austrian keeper Cican Stanković:
https://giphy.com/media/1feumqdSMmjArdmTpa/giphy.gif

FC KØBENHAVN (DEN)* v RKS Raków Czestochowa (POL) 1-1 (1-0), 2-1 on aggregate
(Vavro 35'; Zwoliński 87')

In a rather cagey affair, a strange goal gave the Danish champions the lead - a
speculative volley by FCK's Slovakian centre-back Denis Vavro from more than
thirty metres out surprised Vladan Kovačević at his near post, as Raków's Bosnian
keeper had strayed a bit too far off his line:
https://giphy.com/media/cxUz3aLrGN5dDrPYEQ/giphy.gif
Copenhagen a bit later also hit the crossbar, and in the second half little seemed
to indicate a possible comeback for a toothless Polish side, until three minutes
from time Fran Tudor cushioned down Deian Sorescu's looping cross for the
substitute Łukasz Zwoliński to slot in from close range:
https://giphy.com/media/I1PrTIspSR3OhgPOfu/giphy.gif
But the second goal that would have sent the tie to extra time was too much to
ask for.

League Path

PSV (NED) v Rangers FC (SCO)* 5-1 (1-0), 7-3 on aggregate
(Saibari 35', 53', De Jong 66', Veerman 78', Goldson 81' (og); Tavernier 64')

PSV took a fully deserved lead when Noa Lang played in Joey Veerman on the left
wing, and Ismael Saibari met his cross with a bullet header:
https://giphy.com/media/mLbjYOxJtrFItAg2jn/giphy.gif
Saibari also tapped in PSV's second after Luuk de Jong had volleyed Jordan Teze's
cross back across goal: https://giphy.com/media/ndPGPjxYRtKbMcqNH8/giphy.gif
Rangers found a little hope again when out of nowhere they pulled one back, with
James Tavernier sliding in at the far post to steer in Sam Lammers's low cross:
https://giphy.com/media/Vjoq2zHgwzm8VzoXdX/giphy.gif
but De Jong immediately replied by heading in Veerman's free-kick:
https://giphy.com/media/SYcIXremF3fMkTeSzu/giphy.gif
Rabbi Matondo then hit the woodwork once more for Rangers, and again PSV replied
in style, with Veerman capping off his great performance by rifling in another
Teze cross: https://giphy.com/media/C7zE5H4O7BZS7vvoEl/giphy.gif
and a broken Rangers side even gifted the Dutch a fifth when Connor Goldson sent a
back pass straight into his own net:
https://giphy.com/media/DnxS7iukAdEJ4yrdkS/giphy.gif

Very reminiscent of PSV's matches in the previous round against Sturm Graz. They
may have their defensive frailties, as always with Peter Bosz's teams, but if
you're not able to trouble their set-up they can be scary good in attacking mode.

Pots for CL Group Stage Draw / August 31 18h00 CEST

(taking place once more at the same time as several EL and ECL qualifiers; and to
repeat myself from last year, and the year before - UEFA could have easily avoided
that if they cared about anything else but their flagship competition)

Pot 1

Manchester City FC (ENG/CH/TH-CL) 145.000
Sevilla FC (ESP/TH-EL) 91.000
FC Barcelona (ESP/CH) 98.000
SSC Napoli (ITA/CH) 81.000
FC Bayern München (GER/CH) 136.000
Paris Saint-Germain FC (FRA/CH) 112.000
SL Benfica (POR/CH) 82.000
Feyenoord (NED/CH) 51.000

Pot 2

Real Madrid CF (ESP) 121.000
Manchester United FC (ENG) 104.000
FC Internazionale Milano (ITA) 96.000
BV Borussia 09 Dortmund (GER) 86.000
Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP) 85.000
RB Leipzig (GER) 84.000
FC Porto (POR) 81.000
Arsenal FC (ENG) 76.000

Pot 3

FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR/CH) 63.000
FC Salzburg (AUT/CH) 59.000
AC Milan (ITA) 50.000
SC Braga (POR) 44.000
PSV (NED) 43.000
SS Lazio (ITA) 42.000
FK Crvena Zvezda (SRB/CH) 42.000
FC København (DEN/CH) 40.500

Pot 4

BSC Young Boys (SUI/CH) 34.500
Real Sociedad (ESP) 33.000
Galatasaray SK (TUR/CH) 31.500
Celtic FC (SCO/CH) 31.000
Newcastle United FC (ENG) 21.914
1. FC Union Berlin (GER) 17.000
Royal Antwerp FC (BEL/CH) 17.000
RC Lens (FRA) 12.232

Ciao,
Werner

On Wednesday, August 30, 2023 at 11:01:14 PM UTC+1, Werner Pichler wrote:
> On Thursday, August 24, 2023 at 2:41:00 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > On Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at 6:32:45 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > On Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at 11:31:09 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > On Thursday, August 3, 2023 at 3:06:31 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > On Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 12:47:25 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > > On Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 4:15:53 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > > > On Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 11:17:31 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > > > > On Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 2:38:27 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > > > > > On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 12:56:20 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2021-24-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png
> Champions League Play-Off, 2nd leg
> Teams in CAPITALS (except AEK) through to CL group phase, losers go to EL group phase
> * = seeded team
>
>
> August 29
>
>
> Champions Path
>
>
> BSC YOUNG BOYS (SUI)* v Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR) 3-0 (2-0), 3-0 on aggregate
> (Itten 23', Seck 28' (og), Ugrinić 46')
>
> YB scored twice from their first two attacks - one cross by Meschak Elia was met
> with a bullet header by former Rangers flop Cedric Itten:
> https://giphy.com/media/lmnPmgi0QJnSBNtS1y/giphy.gif
> and another resulted in a ludicrous own goal by Abdoulaye Seck:
> https://giphy.com/media/VcqusRvWNGtNiaunKK/giphy.gif
> while at the other end Maccabi hit first the post and then the crossbar. In the
> second half Filip Ugrinić immediately made it three with a deflected shot:
> https://giphy.com/media/7MJHXz5Ys3kNCR0yEl/giphy.gif
> and the supremely unlucky Israeli once more hit the post.
>
> Football is a game of fine margins.
>
>
> GALATASARAY SK (TUR)* v Molde FK (NOR) 2-1 (1-0), 5-3 on aggregate
> (Icardi 7' (pen), Angeliño 90'+3; Hestad 66')
>
> Already early on Galatasaray were awarded a rather soft penalty for Martin
> Ellingsen's shoulder grab on Icardi, and the Argentine converted the spot kick
> himself. The Turkish champions appeared to have everything under control, and
> Molde also had rotten luck when after just twenty-two minutes they had to sub off
> both Markus Kaasa and Erling Knudtzon following a nasty head collision between the
> two, but in the second half a great dribble by Emil Breivik set up Eirik Hestad
> (who had come on for Kaasa) for the equaliser:
> https://giphy.com/media/cyGGWwyW0NUaJakLo9/giphy.gif
> and suddenly it was squeaky bum time. Ten minutes from the end the Norwegians for
> a short moment thought they had equalised the aggregate score, but VAR correctly
> determined Veton Berisha's goal to have been a clear offside, and late on, just as
> in the first leg between the two, a deflected free-kick proved crucial for Gala,
> this time it was Leipzig loanee Angeliño who saw his strike curve past a helpless
> Karlstrøm: https://giphy.com/media/2OpSHPZ2g7bCnYM6TX/giphy.gif

Molde were impressive over the two legs but the TNT Sports commentators went overboard in their praise, suggesting that the wrong team had progressed over two legs and even that Galatasaray should have given Molde a guard of honour (!!!). The way they were carrying on you would have thought Galatasaray were the only team in history to have won a match with a deflected goal.. Besides, as I mentioned after last week's match, Galatasaray had a perfectly legitimate goal ruled out for a "foul", so if anything the aggregate score should have been 6-3.

I wish Molde the best of luck in the Europa League but a bit of credit for a team who've had to play through three qualifying rounds to get to the Champions League wouldn't have gone amiss.

RM