2024/25 Champions/Europa/Conference League Qualifying Rounds

[Savi]

Now that the EURO is finished it's about time to focus back on the endless fun that are the European qualifying rounds and the obscure clubs playing in them

We're actually already halfway through the first qualifying rounds, with the first legs having been played last week, and the return games taking place this week.

Couple of shocks already in the CL with Finnish champions HJK Helsinki brushed aside handily by FK Panevėžys from Lithuania, and Kosovo champions Ballkani (who were in the Conference League group stage for the past two seasons) going out on pens against Andorra's Santa Coloma who have won a round in European football for the first time ever!

Riveting stuff!

Click to read more...

 

[robertmac43]

One of the cooler things I have seen in a while here:

https://x.com/i/web/status/1813921931038732735

 

[gary69]

Old man Dzeko with a hattrick today in Fenerbahce's away win against Lugano.

Sought-after Ferdi Kadioglu scored their 4th goal, but I don't his appearance in this match cup-ties him yet for the CL league phase.

 

[Evilo]

Fener is a tough team to beat and unfortunately Lille will have to in order to reach the CL. Tough draw really.

 

[HajdukSplit]

Ballkani (who were in the Conference League group stage for the past two seasons) going out on pens against Andorra's Santa Coloma who have won a round in European football for the first time ever!

Good start for Andorran clubs, saw one of them absolutely hammered Velez Mostar 5:1. Looks like the manager survived it but he was close getting sacked after only two games in charge

 

[Wee Baby Seamus]

Fener is a tough team to beat and unfortunately Lille will have to in order to reach the CL. Tough draw really.

Fenerbahce + Mourinho seems like a recipe for a deeply frustrating team who will be a banana peel in Europe. This could be fun!

 

[HajdukSplit]

The same Andorran team who hammered Velez got a respectable 4:3 loss away to AEK Athens. PAOK also take a slim lead away to Banja Luka next week but it’s tough for Greek sides this early, their season starts much later than most European leagues

 

[HajdukSplit]

Whole load of games today, not too many surprises, probably the most notable one is Azeri side Sabah beating Maccabi Haifa 3:0 but the game was played at a neutral venue. Zrinsjki, who played in the group stages last season lost at home to Slovenian side Bravo who are making their Euro debut

Ajax got a minimal win at home against Vojvodina in the EL as they look to rebound from a horror season last year

 

[HajdukSplit]

Champions League 2nd round qualifying complete, no real surprises, though close calls for the likes of Fenerbahce and Ludogorets against teams they probably should have beaten more easily. Dynamo Kiev with an eye opening 9-2 aggregate victory over Partizan Belgrade

Here is the third round draw
CHAMPIONS PATH
Qarabag (AZE) vs. Ludogorets Razgrad (BUL)
Slovan Bratislava (SVK) vs. APOEL (CYP)
Sparta Prague (CZE) vs. Steaua Bucharest (ROU)
Malmo (SWE) vs. PAOK (GRE)
FC Midtjylland (DEN) vs. Ferencvaros (HUN)
Jagiellonia Bialystok (POL) vs. Bodo/Glimt (NOR)

LEAGUE PATH
Slavia Prague (CZE) vs. Union SG (BEL)
Lille (FRA) vs. Fenerbahce (TUR)
Dynamo Kiev (UKR) vs. Rangers (SCO)
Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) vs. FC Twente (NED)

 

[HajdukSplit]

Whole load of games today, not too many surprises, probably the most notable one is Azeri side Sabah beating Maccabi Haifa 3:0 but the game was played at a neutral venue. Zrinsjki, who played in the group stages last season lost at home to Slovenian side Bravo who are making their Euro debut

Zrinjski managed to turn it around in Slovenia with two 2nd half goals. Haifa took it to penalties scoring 6 goals in Azerbaijan (game ended 6:3 ) but they lost on penalty kicks

 

[maclean]

Draw for the fourth round of the CL has been done:

Malmö / PAOK vs. SPARTA / FCSB
Lille / Fenerbahce vs. SLAVIA / Union SG
Young Boys vs. Galatasaray
Dinamo Zagreb vs. Karabach / Ludogorec
Midtjylland / Ferencvárosi vs. Slovan / APOEL
Jagiellonia / Bodø/Glimt vs. Crvena zvezda
Dynamo Kyjev / Rangers vs. Salzburg / Twente

 

[HajdukSplit]

AEK Athens lost 3:1 away to some anonymous team from Armenia, will probably turn it around in Greece though

 

[Evilo]

Lille has dominated Fener and opened the scoring.
But Fener tied the game on a great FK at the 80th.

2-1 Zhegrova

 

[luiginb]

AEK Athens lost 3:1 away to some anonymous team from Armenia, will probably turn it around in Greece though

Game offered this beauty of a goal:

 

[HajdukSplit]

Ajax with an impressive win in Athens, 1:0 over Panathinaikos

Serbia is having a rough season so far, considering they built they coefficient up to have an extra team in Europe and a runner-up spot in the CL qualifying, but like Croatia a few years back they don't have the depth for that many teams in Europe (+ add to the fact a much weaker Partizan than usual) and you immediately drop in the rankings few years down the line. Think I read a stat they have lost something like 35 games combined this season and last

 

[Evilo]

Lille controlling the play rather easily and of course own goal at the 81st minute.
Overtime needed.

So f***ing typical of French teams in Europe.

 

[luiginb]

FCSB vs Sparta Praga, with a Danish ref, while Sparta have a Danish coach and 3 Danish players. Unsurprisingly it's highway robbery so far.

 

[Evilo]

Lille through after Mandi got a stupid red card in OT and David got a pen and scored it.

 

[PanniniClaus]

Lille through after Mandi got a stupid red card in OT and David got a pen and scored it.

How did David play?

 

[Evilo]

How did David play?

Not very well offensively but his team refused to attack most of the game.
As usual huge workrate defensively and in the pressing.
He managed to get the pen by himself and shot it very well.

 

[ScottishCanuck]

Tee hee.

Cheers Dynamo.

 

[luiginb]

Tee hee.

Cheers Dynamo.

Philippe Clement is an awful coach. Rangers need Gerrard back.

 

[ScottishCanuck]

Philippe Clement is an awful coach. Rangers need Gerrard back.

No, Baldemort must stay.

 

[Ceremony]

Philippe Clement is an awful coach. Rangers need Gerrard back.

If they have an awful coach they should get a good one, no?

 

[luiginb]

If they have an awful coach they should get a good one, no?

Such as the one that led them to a title without a loss and a long European run?