[Nerazzurri4life]

For those who care about EL (like me), this thread can be used for what remains of the groupstage up until the final.

Milan, Arsenal, Benfica, Maccabi Tel Aviv, AZ, Hoffenheim, Rangers, Molde, Villarreal, Antwerp, Braga and Leicester City all have 100% records in the groupstage after 2 matchdays.

Result of the day is Antwerp beating Tottenham 1-0.

 

[Roberto41]

Mohamed Elyounoussi with both goals for Celtic against Lille in their 2-2 draw. He is a Norwegian international with Moroccan roots. Quite a few Norwegian-Moroccans have played for the Norwegian national team (ex Palermo fullback Aleesami is among them).

Mohamed is the cousin of Tarik Elyounoussi. Tarik is a 32 year old winger/forward with 60 caps for Norway. He previously played for Olympiacos and Hoffenheim. He is currently playing in Japan.

Btw, Molde is a Norwegian city mostly known for the yearly jazz festival held there, and the fact that current Man U manager Solskjær both played and managed them in the past.

 

[Roberto41]

Mohamed is the cousin of Tarik Elyounoussi. Tarik is a 32 year old winger/forward with 60 caps for Norway. He previously played for Olympiacos and Hoffenheim. He is currently playing in Japan.

This is incidentally the same team former Serie A midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata played for before joining Perugia in 1998. @Jeffrey

 

[Nerazzurri4life]

Didn't watch any of last night's matches but there were some interesting results.

The English clubs look strong in EL this season. Arsenal have a weak group (Molde scored not 1 but 2 own goals at Emirates..) so the Gunners will be tested harder in knockouts, but Spurs and Leicester seem like they will go far. I think we may see an English winner in EL this season. May be even an all-English final like the season before last.

Benfica and Rangers drew 3-3, seems that was a fun game. Both teams will most probably make it from the group as they have beaten Standard Liege and Lech Poznan.

Celtic got destroyed at home by Sparta Prague, and with Celtic travelling to the Czech Republic next and having to play Milan away, their chances of qualification to the knockouts look pretty small. Rangers fans must be enjoying life a lot more nowadays, power shift?

Result of the evening is certainly Lille winning 3-0 at San Siro against Milan. A hattrick from Turkish player Yusuf Yazıcı.

Milan should still make it through but they complicated matters for themselves. Lille's chances of going through look pretty good now, having won in Prague and Milano. If they can beat Milan in France they are pretty much through to the next round.

Roma and Napoli won against weakish opponents, though Napoli had to come from behind and won thanks to an own goal.

Antwerp had beaten Tottenham last week but lost at home to LASK, which is a big result for the Austrians. If LASK can get the full 6 points against Antwerp I can see them qualifying alongside Tottenham to the knockouts.

 

[Roberto41]

Elyounoussi in focus again, apparently used his phone on the bench after being subbed off in Celtic's 1-4 defeat to Sparta Praha. Claims he was checking the result between Milan and Lille. Former Celcic player Chris Sutton wasn't impressed,

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1324480124994150401

I watched small parts of the Molde game, they were leading 1-0 in London until the end of first half, when an own goal made the score level. In the 2nd half Molde fell apart, and lost 1-4. It could have easily been worse, Arsenal missed at least one sitter. Away game against Rapid Wien, in the final round of the group stage, will be key for Molde.

Italian teams unfortunately never do much in Europa League, not enough squad depth to compete on two fronts, due to lack of funds.
I think this will probably be between the English or Spanish teams, with perhaps Leverkusen also having an outside chance. Maybe as you say it will be an all English final (between Tottenham and Leicester).

 

[Nerazzurri4life]

I don't see much of an issue as he was subbed off already, so can't come on again.. Exaggerated reaction from Sutton.

 

[Nerazzurri4life]

Sparta Prague destroyed Celtic again, Rangers fans must like them.

 

[Nerazzurri4life]

Arsenal, Leicester, Hoffenheim and Roma through to the knockouts

 

[Nerazzurri4life]

Curiously, the 3 teams currently leading the top 3 leagues are all playing in the EL this season

Tottenham
Real Sociedad
Milan

 

[Nerazzurri4life]

A lot of teams mathematically qualified earlier this evening

Lille, Milan, Dinamo Zagreb, Rangers, Benfica, Braga, Leverkusen, Slavia Prague, Granada, PSV, Red Star Belgrade, Villarreal, Antwerp and Tottenham are all through to the knockout round with matchday 6 to spare.

They join Arsenal, Leicester, Roma and Hoffenheim.

Remaining spots (without taking the 3rd place teams in CL groupstage into consideration)

Young Boys will host Cluj to decide who finishes 2nd behind Roma. Young Boys only need a draw, Cluj must win in Switzerland.

Rapid Vienna will host Molde to decide who finishes 2nd behind Arsenal. Rapid must win, while a draw would suffice for Molde.

Maccabi Tel Aviv will host Sivasspor to decide who finishes 2nd behind Villarreal. Maccabi just need a draw, while Sivasspor must win.

Wolfsberger will host Feyenoord to decide who finishes 2nd behind Dinamo Zagreb. Wolfsberger just need a point, while Feyenoord must win

Most exciting group is F, where 3 teams are battling for 2 spots in the final matchday next Thursday. Napoli top on 10 points, Real Sociedad on 8 and AZ Alkmaar on 8. Napoli need a point to go through, while Sociedad can qualify with a draw if AZ don't beat Rijeka in Croatia. I watched AZ vs Napoli and AZ look good in attack, they troubled Napoli for sure but AZ's defence is rather vulnerable. While Rijeka are guaranteed to finish last in the group but they will play a serious match against AZ to get their first win in the group.

 

[Nerazzurri4life]

 

[Nerazzurri4life]

No interest in EL ?

Tottenham, Man U (2 of the tournament favorites), Roma, Dinamo Zagreb, Rangers, Villarreal, Shakhtar and Ajax have all effectively qualified after the first legs of the last 32.

I still think an English club will win it this season, and that an all English final like 18-19 is very much possible.