SPURS, FULHAM, BRUM, CELTIC OUT OF EUROPA LEAGUE, STOKE THROUGH TO KNOCKOUT STAGES

 

 

Last season Man City and Liverpool represented the Premiership in the Europa League group stages. Both sides made it through to the knockout stages. No English second tier side has ever made the Europa League or UEFA Cup group stages as we know them though and the last English second-tier side to reach the competition proper was Ipswich back in 02/03 who went on to reach the second round but no English second tier team ever made the third round of the old UEFA Cup. The Last English second tier team to be playing European football in the second half of the season was West Ham who were in the old Second Division when they reached the quarter finals of the old Cup Winners Cup in 1980/81. The last SPL side to make the Europa League group stages were Celtic in 09/10 but they failed to make the knockout stages. No SPL side has yet to survive the Europa League knockout stages and the last SPL side to survive the old UEFA Cup group stage was actually Aberdeen in 07/08!

This time around, well the Premiership was represented in the Europa League group stages by three teams: Spurs, who going into their last game needed a win and favours elsewhere to reach the knockout stages. Stoke were already through whatever happened. Fulham either needed a win or favours from elsewhere. Representing the Championship on this occasion was Birmingham who'd had a very impressive campaign just to remain in the picture and now needed a win and favours from elsewhere. Representing the SPL were Celtic who only got into the group stages by the skin of their teeth and hadn't had the great European campaign of all time but still had a slim chance of going through.

In Group A, Spurs faced Shamrock Rovers at the Tallaght Stadium. Steven Pienaar opened the scoring for the Premiership side with Andros Townsend making it two with his first goal of the season and Jermain Defoe making in three before half time. The home side started to have their uses in the second half end even had a penalty claim at one point but the ref wasn't interested and the reality check was completed when Harry Kane got his first goal for Spurs before the end. Things did not go their way elsewhere though so Spurs remained 3rd in the group, one point behind Rubin Kazan and the knockout stages and Harry Redknapp's crew are out of Europe.

In Group E Stoke faced Besiktas at the Inonu Stadium. Ricardo Fuller opened the scoring for the Premiership side but it was the Super Lig side that looked the better team throughout the opening period, though they were unable to hit the net. That changed in the second half though with Manuel Fernndes equalising for the home side, Mustafa Pektemek completing the turnaround and then Goncalves Edu finishing the game off. That meant that Stoke dropped to 2nd in the group, one point behind group winners Besiktas but still four points ahead of Dynamo Kiev and going out of Europe and despite the odds, Tony Pulis's crew are into the knockout stages at the first time of asking.

In Group K, Fulham faced Odense at Craven Cottage. The Premiership side looked very smooth from the start and Clint Dempsey opened the scoring for them with Kerin Frei getting his first goal for the club to make it two before half time. Fulham continued to largely run the show in the second half but ultimately they were undone, first by a dody looking free kick from Hans Hendrik Andreason and then in the dying seconds the visitors equalised through Baye Dijby Fall. Things didn't go Fulham's way elsewhere either so that meant that they dropped to 3rd in the group, one point behind Wisla Krakow and the knockout stages.

In Group H, Birmingham faced Maribor at St Andrews. Adam Rooney opened the scoring for the Blues with the Championship side giving the opponents some serious headaches in the opening period despite being unable to bury them before half time. Brum kept hammering their opponents in the second half and appeared to find at least one star of the future in the meantime. However the visiors' defence stopped them from getting any more goals. Things did not go their way elsewhere however so Birmingham remained third, finishing one point behind Braga at the knockout stages. A very impressive try, but still, that end's the Championship's presence in Europe.

In Group I, Celtic faced Udinese at the Stadio Friulli. Gary Hooper opened the scoring for the Celts and the first half was generally a tight affair in terms of opportunities with the Serie A side equalising through Antonio di Natale just before half time. The home side then started to step it up in the second half but the visitors were able to hold out and though they had their uses as well, neither side was able to find the net again. That meant that Celtic remained 3rd in the group, three points behind Udinese and the knockout stages. That means that a Celtic campaign that needed a fair bit of luck just to get this far is over and the SPL no longer has a presence in European football this season.

In the meantime, the draw for the first knockout round has been made and the big news is that United have been shunted into this competition from the Champions League. We'll face Ajax with the first leg at the Amsterdam Arena. Like us, Ajax have been shunted into the competition from the Champions League and little needs to be said about their pedigree, they're clearly one of the tougher sides we could have drawn. They're currently 4th in the Eredivisie though and have no currently familiar names in their starting lineup. However I would never underestimate any Ajax side. We cannot afford a repeat of some of our more lacklustre Champions League displays. This tie isn't undoable though.

Elsewhere, Man City have also been shunted to in this competition from the Champions League and they face Porto with the first leg at the Estadio de Dragao. Like United, City face a tough opening to the competition but this tie is doable for them. Stoke in the meantime face Valencia with the first leg at the Brittania Stadium. Valencia are another team who've been shunted in from the Champions League and certainly Stoke's toughest test yet in this competition. Tony Pulis's crew are a stubborn bunch of gits but they may find this one a step too far. Overall a very tough draw for the Premiership sides here, fingers crossed at least makes it through to the next round.

Going up a level, the Champions League draw has also been made and there is still a Premiership presence here. Chelsea will face Napoli with the 1st leg at the San Paulo Stadium. Napoli are 5th in Serie A at the moment and should be doable for Andre Villas-Boas's crew. Arsenal face AC Milan with the first leg at the San Siro. The Serie A giants have plenty of history with the Gunners and are currently 3rd in Serie A, this is a less than ideal tie for Arsene Wenger's crew but given that the Gunners were nery impressive in the group stages, maybe not undoable. These two Premiership vs Serie A encounters should be an interesting watch whatever happens.

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