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Atletico Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao: Five points to consider ahead of the Europa League final
1) An all-Spanish affair
Most people expected an all-Spanish affair final on the European stage this season, but few would have predicted it to come in the form of the Europa League final between Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao.
Due to the fact that Barcelona and Real Madrid appeared to be almost unstoppable with their exploits throughout the season, and with the way things were spanning out everyone and everything pointed to a Champions League final between the Spanish powerhouses.
In the aftermath of Barca and Madrid’s UCL exit: Spanish football and El Clasico
Total disillusion for Spanish club football?
Between Atletico Madrid and Valencia, one team will advance to meet Sporting Lisbon or Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League final. For the sake of Spanish football from a patriotic Spaniard’s point of view, it is believed that the pressure is on Bilbao to assure that the cup will go to Spain whatever happens in Bucharest on May 9.
As things stand, Sporting Lisbon are in a good position to leave Portugal’s Iberian neighbours empty handed in Europe this year. Going into Thursday night’s encounter in San Mames, the Lions lead 2-1 from their first-leg win against Copa del Rey finalists Athletic Bilbao.
Europa League: Big Thursday night with Atletico vs Valencia and Sporting v Bilbao
Atletico Madrid, Valencia, Sporting Lisbon and Athletic Bilbao share the same ambition. There are arguably no favourites.
An all-Spanish affair in the Europa League final is in prospect but Portugal’s Sporting are plotting to destroy it. It is a 3 versus 1 situation for the Lisbon-based side in the competition as the Last 4 stage is dominated by Spanish oppositions.
Having ousted English billionaires Manchester City on their road to the UEFA Europa League semi-finals, the Sporting have a reason to feel confident. Under coach Ricardo Sa Pinto, Sporting look strong – both in the head and on the pitch.
Sporting vs Athletic Bilbao: Iberian challenge once again in the UEFA Europa League semi-finals
Last season, there were four Iberian teams in the semi-finals, and the final was totally Portuguese. This season, Spanish sides will certainly try to achieve the same goal. Sporting’s mission is to prevent this historic achievement from happening.To fulfill the task, Sporting has to maintain their winning strike. In fact, since Ricardo Sá Pinto took charge of the team in mid-February, Sporting have recorded eight victories in a row. They have managed to score 13 goals and concede only one, a penalty in the last home match against FC Metalist Kharkhiv.
Live soccer TV schedule info on mega week with European semis & El Clasico
UEFA Champions League semis on April 17 and April 18, 2012
The stage in midweek belongs to Europe’s best teams. In the UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea and Bayern Munich will battle for tickets to the Grand Finale on May 19.
At the Allianz Arena in Munich, German contenders Bayern will host La Liga leaders Real Madrid. Both teams have not conquered Europe during the last 10 years. This season presents a chance for them to try their luck again.
In 2010, Bayern Munich came second-best behind Internazionale, then coached by Jose Mourinho. The latter has given his team the edge over Bayern ahead of this crucial UEFA Champions League semi-final tie.
Sportsnet Secures Canadian Broadcast Rights for UEFA Europa League
TORONTO, ON (April 16, 2012) – Sportsnet announced today it has secured the Canadian multimedia rights to UEFA Europa League for the next three seasons, solidifying Sportsnet as Canada’s home to the world’s most prestigious soccer events. The new agreement includes 205 UEFA Europa Cup (formerly called UEFA Cup) matches each season, which will be delivered to Canadians on a suite of multimedia rights – television, online and mobile. Additionally, through Sportsnet’s agreement with TVA Sports, the deal also includes expanded French-language coverage across the same platforms with a minimum of 15 matches to be broadcast on TVA Sports per season.
Europa League: Bilbao, Valencia and Atletico hold Spain's pride under the spotlight
It’s interesting to know that 3 of the 8 contenders left are from Spain. The country (which produced the continent and the world’s reigning champions at international level) struts its pride again. In the Europa League, Athletic Bilbao, Valencia and 2009/10 winners Atletico Madrid have proven critics wrong.
The Spanish Primera Division might long remain a two-member affair between Barcelona and Real Madrid for the title but this doesn’t necessarily mean – as many suggest – that the league’s standard is low due to lack of competitiveness. Whatever the truth is, Atletico, Valencia and Bilbao are still in Europe whereas English giants Manchester United and Manchester City are no more.
2011/12 Champions League & Europa League quarter-finals draw: Full fixtures
Football fans are anxiously waiting for the calendar to hit March 27. This is when the first leg of the first two UEFA Champions League quarter-finals matches will take place. In Cyprus, underdogs APOEL will host pre-tournament favourites Real Madrid.
Simultaneously, Benfica and Chelsea will lock horns in Portugal. The Blues will be confident of progressing into the semis following their miraculous comeback in the Round of 16 against Napoli. Likewise, Benfica will be fired up to go further in the Champions League as the only Portuguese team remaining.
Europa League draw: No Manchester team as Bilbao and co carry Spanish pride
The UEFA Europa League’s last two English contenders crashed out of the competition on Thursday night. Manchester United suffered back-to-back defeats to the flying Bilbao in the Round of 16. In the first leg of their tie, the Red Devils lost 3-2 in controversial circumstances. They needed a 2-0 margin victory away to Athletic Bilbao but they suffered defeat again.
At Eastlands, Manchester City secured a 3-2 win over Sporting Lisbon. However, the Portuguese knocked out the Citizens thanks to their 1-0 first leg advantage. City and United can therefore concentrate on their domestic battles and leave the UEFA Europa League to other European teams.
Europa League: Will Man United and Man City make comebacks to reach Last 8?
Firstly, the Red Devils and the Citizens are probably not on the same page. It seems as if City are more likely to crash out from the competition than their local rivals. A simple look into Mancini’s injury list and available squad could reveal it all.
The team will miss Lescott and Kompany in defence while Pablo Zabaleta and Gareth Barry will also not play due to injury. With these crucial absences, Manchester City may opt for an ultra-offensive approach. When you have players like Mario Balotelli and David Silva playing on a pitch in a must-win game, it’s normal to expect a generally good reaction.
Liverpool vs Everton: Reds must win or almost forget Champions League spot
The 2011/12 Carling Cup champions haven’t won in the English Premier League since January this year. It’s incredible, it’s unbelievable but it is absolutely true. Their 3-0 defeat of Wolves–in reply to a string of poor results against Manchester City, Stoke City and Bolton Wanderers–stands as Liverpool’s last win thus far.The Merseyside Reds opened the month of February with a 0-0 game against Tottenham Hotspur, their eighth draw at Anfield in the league this season. Liverpool later went on to lose 2-1 to Manchester United in a battle marked by the Luis Suarez-Patrice Evra rivalry.
Manchester United & Manchester City poised to reach new heights on Sunday
Manchester United will remain at Old Trafford where they finished on the losing side of a 5-goal thriller against Athletic Bilbao. The Theatre of Dream is also where they encountered humiliating defeats to current league leaders Manchester City and to relegation fighters Blackburn Rovers earlier last year.
This will remind Alex Ferguson and his players to take West Bromwich Albion very seriously. After all, the Baggies are fresh from a 1-0 upset of Chelsea. They are plotting to embarrass yet another monster – not blue, but red this time.
Europa League: Advantage Spain as Man United and Man City lose
On Thursday night, both United and City suffered defeat. The Citizens went down 1-0 in Lisbon due to Xandao’s back heel goal in the second period. Sporting are the only contenders from Portugal left in this season’s Europa League competition and they made the most of their home factor on Thursday night.
They now stand a chance to follow Benfica’s stride in the Champions League by reaching the Europa League quarter-final stage. Manchester City should set their minds on securing nothing less than a 2-0 goal margin win in the return leg.
Their home form and record is remarkable enough to find confidence ahead of this task. However, better than anyone now, they understand that Sporting Lisbon are a force to fear.
2011/12 Champions League title not for arrogant and disgraceful English teams
Arsenal suffered total disgrace in the hands of AC Milan in the first leg of their Round of 16 tie. It would take strength from above for the Gunners to snatch Last 8 tickets away from the Rossoneri’s hands. Chelsea also went on to lose 3-1 against UEFA Champions League surprise package Napoli. Of course, the door to turn the tables around is not closed for the Blues as the score line can suggest.
However, problems such as Andre Villas-Boas’ poor management of the team and Napoli’s natural hunger and potential to triumph make Chelsea’s progress into the Last 8 look more like a wish than a realistic possibility. Let teams from Italy, Spain and Germany (without omitting giant killers FC Basel) be left to seriously vie for this year’s UEFA Champions League trophy!
UEFA Europa League: Porto v Manchester City & the value of England’s pride
We’ve all heard of, if not witnessed, Arsenal’s total collapse in the hands of AC Milan. The 4-0 defeat they encountered at the San Siro on Wednesday night was shocking, more so because everyone was expecting living legend Thierry Henry to end his loan spell on a high. What happened is not something that crossed the mind of pundits as a prospect before the game. What is actually going on with English teams in Europe this season?
The Blues of Chelsea are the only representatives from England left in the UEFA Champions League. Manchester United shocked the world when they suffered the biggest upset of all: demotion to the Europa League as Benfica and Basel secured tickets for the Last 16 of the Champions League.
GolTV signs with Kentaro and Torneos y Competencias to offer viewers wide coverage
It was announced on January 17 that GolTV and Kentaro have come to an agreement which will GolTV to broadcast Gillette Brazil World Tour games and top international soccer matches. Commenting on this feat, GolTV COO Rodrigo Lombello explained:“As all eyes turn to Brazil and excitement builds for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, this agreement allows GolTV to showcase premier friendly and qualifier matches, connecting fans and reinforcing that GolTV is the exclusive destination for those who are just as obsessed with soccer as us.”
In addition to the partnership with Kentaro, GolTV has signed an agreement with Torneos y Competencias. Constantino Voulgaris, executive vice president of programming and business development at GolTV, declared the following:
Errors to Basel, Palace, Blackburn & now the Toons: Where are Man United heading?
No more Champions League glory hopes
Already, their hunt for UEFA Champions League glory is dead. The Red Devils’ new generation of players couldn’t survive the existing pressure in the group phase of the tournament. Dropping points to Portuguese giants Benfica in the process seemed understandable, but losing to FC Basel in the Round of 16 decider was something too alarming to believe.
This defeat relegated Fergie’s team to the UEFA Europa League and provoked jeers among the Red Devils’ army of haters. But in typical fashion, battered Manchester United fans vowed to cheer their lads all the way to Europa League glory.
Shocking: Manchester United and Man City fail to reach Champions League Last 16
The Red Devils needed a positive result in Switzerland. Instead, they lost 2-1 against a daring FC Basel team. Marco Streller scared Manchester United early on as Patrice Evra and David de Gea had no chance inside the defensive area. Nani and Wayne Rooney were hoping to turn the tables around for Manchester United but their efforts couldn’t answer the fans’ calls. Even the experience of Ryan Giggs didn’t influence the result for the Red Devils. Xherdan Shaqiri, however, displayed a man-of-the-match performance as FC Basel’s attacking line appeared too strong for Manchester United’s backline.
2011/12 UEFA Europa League groups revealed: Spurs in Group A with Rubin Kazan
In arguably the most interesting group, Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham Hotspur will have to affront Russian giants Rubin Kazan. Group I could however compete against Group A as the most exciting. 2010 champions Atletico Madrid have been drawn alongside 2011/12 UEFA Champions League playoffs losers Udinese. Meanwhile, 2011 runners-up Sporting Braga fell in Group H with English side Birmingham City.
For Fulham, Dutch contenders FC Twente might also present a tough challenge in Group K. The 12 UEFA Europa League groups have been ranged as follows:
Barcelona vs FC Porto: Team news, players to watch & lost stars ahead of the UEFA Super Cup 2011
Barcelona last participated in the annual contest in 2009, when they narrowly edged past then-Europa League winners Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 in extra time thanks to a Pedro goal. For FC Porto, one will have to go back in 2003 to recall their last appearance, which saw them lose by a goal to nil to then-Champions League title holders AC Milan.
Barca obtained their Super Cup tickets after defeating Manchester United 3-1 at the Wembley Stadium on28 May 2011, while the Dragons turned into their opponents subsequent to their 1-0 triumph in last season’s all-Portuguese Europa League final against Sporting Braga on May 18.
Certainly, the teams have enough weapons to hurt each othe. But somehow, it is Porto who appear to have the less advantage.