European Weekly – Week Two
It has been a big past week in football with Real Madrid, Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund all taking out the silverware on offer. The Ligue 1 season has kicked off, as has the Eredivisie, Scottish Premier League and the Football Leagues. Some big results included Reims holding giants PSG to a 2-2 draw and Dundee United thumping Aberdeen 3-0.
This week is huge with the Champions League Play-off round getting underway, as well as the English Premier League, Spanish Super Cup and the Portuguese Primeira Liga. Ligue 1 continues and the best of the rest around Europe. All in this weeks From the Stands European Preview.
UEFA Champions League Playoff Round – Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st of August
As the powerhouses of world football set their sights on Olympiastadion in Berlin for the Champions League Final next year, 10 places are still up for grabs in the group stages.
The pick of the Wednesday matches which will be shown live on ESPN1 from 4.45am is Besiktas vs. Arsenal. It will be compelling viewing as Besiktas new signing Demba Ba goes up against his previous club biggest rival in Chelsea. Being wedged between two Premier League fixtures, Arsene Wenger may opt to play an under strength side which could be costly against the 13 time Turkish champions.
The other live game on ESPN2 is Napoli at home to Athletic Bilbao. The other games are Red Bull Salzburg vs. Malmo which ESPN1 will show on delay at 7am, Steaua Bucuresti vs. Ludogorets Razgrad which will be only delay on ESPN2 from 6.45am. Kobenhavn at home Bayer Leverkusen is the other game on the Wednesday.
On the Thursday at 4.45am ESPN1 will be showing Celtic away to Maribor after the Scottish champions were controversially redrafted into the Champions League despite losing to Legia Warsaw 6 – 1 in the previous round because of an ineligible player for the Polish side playing the final three minutes of the two legged tie. Live on ESPN2 at 4.45am French side Lille hosting Portuguese side Porto.
Aalborg vs. Apoel Nicosia will be shown via ESPN1 on delay at 7 am while Zenit away to Standard Liege will be shown on ESPN2 on delay at 6.45am. The game that won’t be shown on ESPN is Belarusian side Bate away to Slovakia’s SK Slovan Bratislava.
English Premier League
Debate rages about what league is the best in the world. Some say the Premier League, some say La Liga, and others say Bundesliga. I have little doubt that the most exciting league is the English Premier League which is BACK!
While Chelsea and Manchester City are the favourites but Manchester United under Louis van Gaal could be contenders, a reinvigorated Arsenal is in with a shot and it would be foolish to rule out last year’s runners up Liverpool. The relegation scrap is a story of its own with half the league at some stage fearing the worst last campaign, the same can be said this time around with newly promoted Burnley the favourites to go straight back down.
The action begins this Saturday night at 9.45pm with Manchester United hosting Welsh club, Swansea City. The two teams met on the opening weekend last season with United winning 4-2. There are 5 games on at midnight with the pick being West Ham at home to Tottenham. West Bromwich Albion vs. Sunderland could also mean the Premier League debut for Socceroos Jason Davidson who signed for the Midlands club a fortnight ago.
The action continues at 2.30am with Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace at the Emirates. Arsenal will have one eye on their Champions League Playoff match midweek and Tony Pulis’ side will look to capitalise. Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak is expected to be fit and wear the armband for the south London club.
Sunday night at 10.30pm Liverpool host Southampton which could see Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren all going up against their former south coast club. Southampton has had many critics, rightly or wrongly, over their open door transfer policy but an upset could be on the cards with a youthful Saints side with nothing to lose. *This week’s game to watch*
Monday morning at 1am Newcastle host Manchester City who will be hell bent on reclaiming their Premier League crown as well as silencing the doubters after their poor showing in the Community Shield. The action of the opening weekend wraps up with newly promoted Burnley hosting Chelsea at Turf Moor on Tuesday at 5am. Burnley will be hoping for a solid display in their top flight return with their manager Sean Dyche labelled the “Ginger Mourinho”. No doubt he will be primed for a solid showing against the original “Special One”.
Spanish Super Cup First Leg – Wednesday 20th of August
La Liga champions Atletico Madrid will go up against Copa del Rey winners Real Madrid in a replay of the Champions League final. The first leg kicks off at 7am and will be hosted by Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Atletico Madrid has only lost one game so far in their preseason, however this will be their first competitive match. It will be intriguing to see how Atletico can cope without Diego Costa, Felipe Luis or keeper Thibaut Courtois.
Real Madrid has had a mixed preseason with a below par showing at the International Champions Cup but they avenged this with a solid 2-0 win over Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup. The Galacticos look like real world beaters and Gareth Bale has already stated that the super club aims to win the quadruple this season.
Real Madrid is favourite, but you can never write off a Diego Simeone led Atletico. Since it’s the first leg, Atleti will aim to keep it tight.
Ligue 1
Newly promoted SM Caen had a good win first up and will hope to continue their good fortunes when they host Lille on Saturday morning at 4.30am. PSG host Claude Makelele’s Bastia and will be hoping to record their first win of the season after being held to a draw in their first match.
Some of the other games that could be interesting with Toulouse vs. Lyon, Marseille vs. Montpellier and Saint Etienne vs. Reims.
The big game in Ligue 1 this weekend is Monaco away to Bordeaux. Monaco lost their opening match to Lorient and their match against 2008-09 champions could be the last for Colombian striker Radamel Falcao as Real Madrid hope to sign him in the coming week.
Portuguese Primeira Liga
The Primeira Liga gets underway this weekend with Porto backed as favourites to finish champions after an underwhelming third place last season. Their two main rivals are the Lisbon based clubs; Benfica and Sporting who will both be aiming for league glory.
The first match will be Porto hosting Maritimo at 5am on Saturday morning. Sporting Lisbon travel away to Academica on Sunday morning at 5.30am, while Benfica host Pacos Ferreira on Monday morning at 4.15am. The big game of the round is Braga who hosts Boavista who are historically the fourth biggest club in Portugal making return to the top flight after a five year absence.
The Best of the Rest
- Leeds vs. Middlesbrough on Saturday at 9.15pm in the Championship
- Celtic vs. Dundee United on Saturday at 9.45pm in the Scottish Premier League
- AZ Alkmaar vs. Ajax on Sunday at 8.30pm in the Eredivisie
- Hearts vs. Hibernian on Sunday at 9.30pm in the Scottish Championship
- Prussia Münster vs. Bayern Munich on Monday at 12am in the DFB Pokal
Who says there is no money in football? (Bet365 odds which fluctuate)
Mega Multi
If you are thinking about placing a multi this week, you will be able to get some healthy returns backing this lot.
– Stoke City to beat Aston Villa @1.95
– Porto to beat Lille @2.87
– Real Madrid to beat Atletico Madrid @1.50
– Bordeaux to beat Monaco @2.80
– Hearts to beat Hibernian @1.95
Return = $45.91
Best Bet
Southampton to beat Liverpool @7.50
With the return of the English Premier League and the Champions League, normality is beginning to return to football lovers lives. There is sure to be some amazing action across all the big competitions so make sure you catch some of it. Be sure to come back next week to preview the next 7 days of European action.
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