Europa League getting more competitive

due to various play styles, hidden talents, travelling, determination from small teams, and over-confidence/calculations from big teams, improvements from continental clubs (tks to Platini!).

Even though Europa League hasn't got back the reputation of its ancestors C2/C3 (CWC & EUFA Cup), it's seemingly getting more competitive now.

Remembering how big teams fell off in recent years, and look at this season EL group stage, these big clubs failed at the hands of smaller teams from small leagues, happened in every group, notably with the rise of Eastern European clubs:

Udinese, OUT - 4th in its table, (Anji 2nd)
Athletico Madrid - 2nd (Plzen 1st)
Marseille, OUT - 3rd (Fenerbahce 1st)
Club Brugge, OUT - 4th (Neukettle 2nd)
PSV, OUT - 3rd (Dnipro 1st)
Sporting Lisbon,OUT - 4th (Genk 1st)
Inter Milan - 2nd (Rubin 1st)
Athletic Bilbao, OUT - 3rd (Sparta 2nd)
Panathinaikos, OUT - 3rd (Totalhowl Spurds 2nd)
Rosenborg, OUT - 3rd (Metalist 1st)
Manchester City, OUT - 4th (Steaua Cluj 1st)

Also the next knock-out round may see some good match-ups, pot 1 have teams like: Liverpool, Lyon, Lazio, Chelsea, Benfica, Ajax against the pot 2 of A.Madrid, Napoli, Inter, Leverkusen, Zenith.

However I hope that Chelsea and Liverpool will put some decent efforts in to win this time (or both against each other again in Europe)? They're capable and need it. Since both teams are in crisis, winning this European cup will be the good kick for them, helping the confidence of the players & fans, the trust from the boards, and drawing good transfers from abroad. Imagine Chelsea with CL cup one season and EL cup the next one would be quite a successful period of history when looking back (no one then will care about the manager sackings).

Like everyone still remember Franco Zola winner for Chelsea in the Cup Winner Cup? or the McAllister's golden goal in the 5-4 UEFA Cup final thriller in Liverpool's "treble" season? or Aguero's last minute goal in the crazy Final against MU last time?

Let's revive the victorious spirit!

(Liverpool to be tagged by admin)

comment by Boris 'Inky’ Gibson (U5901)

posted on 7/12/12

Have you just spent an hour in an opium den?

comment by Darren The String Fletcher (U10026)

Pot 2 in the Europa actually looks stronger than pot 1.

comment by it'sonlyagame (U6426)

McAllister's golden goal in the 5-4 UEFA Cup
--

It was a Delfi Geli o.g. I think.

And so it was, I just checked. Geli o.g. just 4 mins before penalties and right after Alavés had gone down to 9 men after the sending off of captain Antonio Karmona.

Such a tragic way to end their cup dream after some famous victories on the way to the final and an amazing fightback on the night from 2-0, then 3-1 and finally 4-3 right at the death.