And we continue the story of the Champions League qualifiers with a preview of Omonia Nicosia's third qualifying round opponents Crvena Zvezda:
TEAM PREVIEW: CRVENA ZVEZDA
It is well known that Crvena Zvezda won the European Cup in 1991. What is less well reported is that they did so fielding only one foreign player in the final. Aside from Romanian sweeper Miodrag Belodedici, all other Crvena Zvezda players that day were Yugoslavian, civil war not quite having fragmented the various Yugoslavian republics into independent states by that point. Fast forward 29 years and the only non-Serbian players in Crvena ZvezdarCOs 1-0 Champions League second qualifying round win over Tirana were Ivorian defensive midfielder Sekou Sanogo and Portuguese centre forward Tomane, who scored the winning goal. Despite the passage of time this is still a club largely made up of non-foreign players, albeit in these interconnected multi-national times some of those Serbian players actually have dual nationality.
One of those is 32 year old goalkeeper Milan Borjan. He was born in Knin rCo then in Yugoslavia, now in Croatia rCo and is an ethic Serb who also has Canadian citizenship following on from his family moving to Canada when he was young. He has made 49 international appearances for Canada. Borjan has played in 14 previous Champions League and 18 Champions League qualifying round matches. Another Knin exile is centre back Milos Degenek, who plays international football for Australia, the country where his family moved to after they were displaced from Knin. To the uninformed, it may be helpful to note at this stage that during the Yugoslavian civil war Knin was the capital city of the unrecognised self-declared Republic of Serbian Krajina. When it fell to Croat forces in 1995 the Serbian population fled to what was then called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, but what is now known as Serbia. After a few years some families, such as those of Borjan and Degenek, moved further afield still. Degenek has played in 12 Champions League and 14 Champions League qualifying matches. 26 year old left back Stefan Hajdin was born in Glina, another former unrecognised Republic of Serbian Krajina town which is today part of Croatia. He made one appearance for the Serbian U19 national side. Last season he made 26 Serbian Super League appearances for FC Vozdovac, scoring two goals and making three assists. 26 year old left winger Srdjan Spiridonovic was born in Vienna and has played for both the Austrian U19 and U21 sides. He has previously played for Austria Vienna, Vicenza Virtus of Serie B, Admira Wacker, Panionios and Pogon Szczecin, scoring six goals in 23 matches last season for the latter.
Of the players born in Serbia itself, Radovan Pankov is a 25 year old centre back who appeared 23 times last season, scoring one goal. HerCOs played in three previous Champions League qualifying round matches and one full Champions League match. 31 year old centre back Nemanja Milunovic played 20 times last season and scored twice. HerCOs played in 20 Champions League qualifying round matches and 12 full Champions League matches for both BATE Borisov and Crvena Zvezda. 28 year old right back Marko Gobeljic played 17 league matches last season, scoring twice and making five assists. HerCOs played in 12 Champions League qualifying round matches and 10 full Champions League matches. Milan Pavkov is a 26 year old centre forward who scored 7 goals and made three assists in 20 league matches last season. HerCOs made 9 Champions League qualifying round appearances and 7 full Champions League appearances.
Despite Crvena ZvezdarCOs impressive tally of Serbian players, they do have foreign players who could make the difference against Omonia Nicosia. It seems the victor of Tirana Tomane is being sold to Samsunspor in Turkey, but 29 year old Bologna loanee Diego Falcinelli could be an adequate replacement. He has a wealth of Serie B experience and in the 2016/17 season scored 13 goals in 35 Serie A matches for Crotone. 31 year old Ivorian defensive midfielder S|-kou Sanogo was a regular starter for a number of seasons at Young Boys in Switzerland. HerCOs played in 11 Champions League qualifying matches and 4 full Champions League matches. El Fardou Ben is a 31 year old Comoros international who scored 13 goals and made 4 assists in 21 league matches last season. HerCOs played 19 Champions League qualifying round matches and 8 full Champions League matches for both Crvena Zvezda and his former club Olympiakos. Right winger Mateo Garcia is a 24 year old Argentine-Italian dual national who played 15 times last season scoring 4 goals and making two assists. HerCOs played in six full Champions League matches and two qualifying round matches. 30 year old Gabon international Guelor Kanga was a free transfer from Sparta Prague, where he scored 5 goals in 12 league matches last season. HerCOs an attacking midfielder with 6 Champions League qualifying round appearances to his name. Finally, Richmond Boakye is a well travelled 27 year old Ghanaian forward who has scored 5 goals in 13 international appearances for Ghana.
Crvena Zvezda reached the third qualifying round thanks to a 5-0 first round win over Gibraltarian champions Europa and the aforementioned 1-0 win over Tirana. In winning the Serbian Super League they scored 68 goals in 30 matches and conceded only 18. That record, along with their Champions League experience would suggest they should have too much for Omonia Nicosia, but then werCOve been surprised before.
RM
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On Tuesday, 15 September 2020 00:01:20 UTC+2, Real Mardin wrote:

And we continue the story of the Champions League qualifiers with a preview of Omonia Nicosia's third qualifying round opponents Crvena Zvezda:

TEAM PREVIEW: CRVENA ZVEZDA

It is well known that Crvena Zvezda won the European Cup in 1991. What is less
well reported is that they did so fielding only one foreign player in the final. Aside from Romanian sweeper Miodrag Belodedici,

An ethnic Serb though, who had defected from Ceau+Oescu's Romania.

all other Crvena Zvezda players that day were Yugoslavian, civil war not quite
having fragmented the various Yugoslavian republics into independent states by
that point.

To highlight the madness that was about to follow, in that 1991 final Red Star fielded (including one substitute):
3 Serbians born in Serbia (Jugovi-c, Bini-c, Sto+ii-c)
1 Serbian born in Croatia (Mihajlovi-c)
1 Serbian born in Kosovo (Stojanovi-c)
1 Serbian born in Montenegro (Marovi-c)
1 Serbian born in Romania (Belodedici)
1 Croatian born in Germany (Prosine-iki)
1 Bosnian born in Montenegro (+aabanad++ovi-c)
1 Montenegrin born in Montenegro (Savi-cevi-c)
2 Macedonians born in North Macedonia (Pan-iev, Najdoski)
Not accounting for the fact that players like Prosine-iki and Mihajlovi-c came from mixed families, with one parent Croatian and the other Serbian.

Fast forward 29 years and the only non-Serbian players in Crvena ZvezdarCOs 1-0
Champions League second qualifying round win over Tirana were Ivorian defensive midfielder Sekou Sanogo and Portuguese centre forward Tomane, who scored the winning goal. Despite the passage of time this is still a club largely made up of non-foreign players, albeit in these interconnected multi- national times some of those Serbian players actually have dual nationality.

One of those is 32 year old goalkeeper Milan Borjan. He was born in Knin rCo then in Yugoslavia, now in Croatia rCo and is an ethic Serb who also has Canadian citizenship following on from his family moving to Canada when he was
young. He has made 49 international appearances for Canada. Borjan has played in 14 previous Champions League and 18 Champions League qualifying round matches. Another Knin exile is centre back Milos Degenek, who Plays international football for Australia, the country where his family moved to after they were displaced from Knin. To the uninformed, it may be helpful to note at this stage that during the Yugoslavian civil war Knin was the capital city of the unrecognised self-declared Republic of Serbian Krajina.

Whose first order of business, not to forget, had been the ethnic cleansing of Croatians from the area. At least Milan Babi-c was one of the only ones who seemed to show actual remorse in The Hague.
But of course Operation Oluja and its aftermath are one of the most lasting bones of contention of that accursed war.

When it fell to Croat forces in 1995 the Serbian population fled to what was then called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, but what is now known as Serbia. After a few years some families, such as those of Borjan and Degenek, moved further afield still. Degenek has played in 12 Champions League and 14 Champions League qualifying matches. 26 year old left back Stefan Hajdin was born in Glina, another former unrecognised Republic of Serbian Krajina town which is today part of Croatia. He made one appearance for the Serbian U19 national side. Last season he made 26 Serbian Super League appearances for FC Vozdovac, scoring two goals and making three assists. 26 year old left winger Srdjan Spiridonovic was born in Vienna and has played for both the Austrian U19 and U21 sides. He has previously played for Austria Vienna, Vicenza Virtus
of Serie B, Admira Wacker, Panionios and Pogon Szczecin, scoring six goals in 23 matches last season for the latter.

'Speedy' has had a bit of a strange career. A lot of early promise, but there were alleged disciplinary problems at Austria, and then followed all those sideways transfers throughout Eastern and Central Europe.

Of the players born in Serbia itself, Radovan Pankov is a 25 year old centre back who appeared 23 times last season, scoring one goal. HerCOs played in three
previous Champions League qualifying round matches and one full Champions League match. 31 year old centre back Nemanja Milunovic played 20 times last season and scored twice. HerCOs played in 20 Champions League qualifying round
matches and 12 full Champions League matches for both BATE Borisov and Crvena Zvezda. 28 year old right back Marko Gobeljic played 17 league matches last season, scoring twice and making five assists. HerCOs played in 12 Champions League qualifying round matches and 10 full Champions League matches. Milan Pavkov is a 26 year old centre forward who scored 7 goals and made three assists in 20 league matches last season. HerCOs made 9 Champions League qualifying round appearances and 7 full Champions League appearances.

Despite Crvena ZvezdarCOs impressive tally of Serbian players, they do have foreign players who could make the difference against Omonia Nicosia. It seems
the victor of Tirana Tomane is being sold to Samsunspor in Turkey, but 29 year
old Bologna loanee Diego Falcinelli could be an adequate replacement. He has a
wealth of Serie B experience and in the 2016/17 season scored 13 goals in 35 Serie A matches for Crotone. 31 year old Ivorian defensive midfielder S|-kou Sanogo was a regular starter for a number of seasons at Young Boys in Switzerland. HerCOs played in 11 Champions League qualifying matches and 4 full
Champions League matches. El Fardou Ben is a 31 year old Comoros international
who scored 13 goals and made 4 assists in 21 league matches last season. HerCOs
played 19 Champions League qualifying round matches and 8 full Champions League matches for both Crvena Zvezda and his former club Olympiakos. Right winger Mateo Garcia is a 24 year old Argentine-Italian dual national who played 15 times last season scoring 4 goals and making two assists. HerCOs played in six full Champions League matches and two qualifying round matches. 30 year old Gabon international Guelor Kanga was a free transfer from Sparta Prague, where he scored 5 goals in 12 league matches last season. HerCOs an attacking midfielder with 6 Champions League qualifying round appearances to his name. Finally, Richmond Boakye is a well travelled 27 year old Ghanaian forward who has scored 5 goals in 13 international appearances for Ghana.

Interesting array of foreign players. In the last decade CZ have assiduously worked to regain a certain status, culminating in their return to the Champions League in the last two seasons, and it also shows with regards to their transfer
activities. Boakye, Garc|!a and Degenek have been some of their most expensive buys to date.

Crvena Zvezda reached the third qualifying round thanks to a 5-0 first round win over Gibraltarian champions Europa and the aforementioned 1-0 win over Tirana. In winning the Serbian Super League they scored 68 goals in 30 Matches
and conceded only 18. That record, along with their Champions League experience would suggest they should have too much for Omonia Nicosia, but then werCOve been surprised before.

Most of all CZ's qualifying record in the last three seasons speaks for
itself. Their streak currently stands at 14 won ties in a row, and the scalps include Sparta Prague, Krasnodar, Salzburg, FC Copenhagen and Young Boys.
Ciao,
Werner

RM

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* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at 11:30:28 AM UTC+1, Werner Pichler wrote:

Most of all CZ's qualifying record in the last three seasons speaks for itself. Their streak currently stands at 14 won ties in a row, and the scalps
include Sparta Prague, Krasnodar, Salzburg, FC Copenhagen and Young Boys.

Of course, two rss'ers having built up Crvena Zvezda's chances there could only be one outcome today.........

.....Omonia Nicosia win on penalties!

Sorry Crvena Zvezda, we meant well :(

RM
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On 2020-09-16, Real Mardin <real_mardin@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

Of course, two rss'ers having built up Crvena Zvezda's chances there
could only be one outcome today.........

.....Omonia Nicosia win on penalties!

Well, CZ don't have to receive 9 goals from us this year then :-)

--
ciao, Bruce
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On Monday, 31 August 2020 12:22:26 UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:

3rd Qualifying Round

One leg (extra time/penalties if needed; no Away Goal Rule)

--
September 15
League Path
FC DYNAMO KYIV (UKR) v AZ (NED) 2-0 (0-0)
(Rodrigues 50', Shaparenko 87')
AZ were clearly the better team in the first half, but when it seemed only a matter of time until they would make their superiority count the Dutch
defence needlessly lost the ball and Vitaliy Buyalskyi set up Luxembourg midfielder Gerson Rodrigues for an easy finish. Late on Babyface Shaparenko added another the break, heading into the empty net after AZ keeper Bizot
had failed to punch out Tomasz K-Odziora's cross.
PAOK FC (GRE) v SL Benfica (POR) 2-1 (0-0)
(Giannoulis 64', A. ++ivkovi-c 76'; Silva 90'+5)
A big surprise, and a huge disappointment for Benfica who've invested
heavily in the summer break. PAOK parked the bus in the first half, and the Portuguese only came close when Pizzi's free-kick came off the woodwork. In
the second half Benfica new arrival |everton also missed a good chance, but
it was PAOK left-back Dimitris Giannoulis who became man of the match by
first turning in Akpom's cross (although it appeared as if Vertonghen had
got the last touch for an own goal in his first match for his new club),
then setting up Andrija ++ivkovi-c on the break for PAOK's second. ++ivkovi-c had been one of the players that Benfica had let go during their summer re-vamp. Rafa Silva's header came too late.
Benfica's loss pushes Ajax into Pot 2 of the CL group phase draw.
KAA GENT (BEL) v SK Rapid Wien (AUT) 2-1 (1-0)
(Dorsch 37', Yaremchuk 60' (pen); Demir 90'+4)
A disappointment, not so much for the result but for how it was obtained.
Gent are in disarray, having just fired coach B||l||ni following a bad start
to their domestic season, but in a really poor match they were still the
less bad team. New signing Niklas Dorsch, a former Bayern youth prospect, headed the Belgians in front, and an unnecessary penalty gifted them the second. 17-year-old Yusuf Demir, one of Rapid's highest-rated talents who
had come on far too late, made things interesting very late on with a nice shot, but in the 96th minute fellow youngster Leo Greiml, who had previously caused the penalty, put a free header agonisingly wide.
--
September 16
Champions Path
AC OMONIA (CYP) v FK Crvena Zvezda (SRB) 1-1 aet (1-1, 1-1), Omonia win 4-2 on penalties
(L|+ftner 32'; Ivani-c 45'+2)
And just like that Red Star's qualification streak ends. A ping-pong goal
from a corner gave Omonia the lead https://gfycat.com/shortselfishafricanelephant
and the Serbians likewise equalised with a header. Not much happened afterwards, and so just as Omonia's previous two CL qualification matches
their third also went into extra time. This time though all the way to penalties, where the Cypriots converted all their penalties while Red Star's new signings Falcinelli and Degenek saw their spot kicks saved by Omonia's Brazilian keeper Fabiano.
The first time that Omonia reach a European group phase, the last of the
big Cypriot clubs that so far had failed to do so.
FERENCV|UROSI TC (HUN) v GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) 2-1 (1-1)
(Lovrencsics 2', Uzuni 65'; Uzuni 23' (og))
Having ousted Djurg|Nrden and Celtic, Ferencv|iros continued their miraculous CL run with an early goal when Gerg+a Lovrencsics stabbed in Tokmac Nguen's cross at the far post. Dinamo equalised soon when Myrton Uzuni unluckily deflected a corner kick into his own net, but the Albanian, a new signing
from Dinamo's farm team Lokomotiva Zagreb, made amends by getting the
winning goal one-on-one with Dinamo keeper Livakovi-c after the Croatian defence had made a hash out of a long ball. https://media.giphy.com/media/eL9c5KdqZGJe4T6Qd1/giphy.gif
This loss was the end of Dinamo Zagreb's nine years and 24 matches long unbeaten run in away matches in UEFA qualifiers .
MACCABI TEL AVIV FC (ISR) v FC Dynamo Brest (BLR) 1-0 (0-0)
(Biton 50' (pen))
In a rather uneventful match a penalty awarded for a shirt pull was enough
to win it for the Israeli champions. Maccabi are the only seeded team in the Champions Path that have survived this round.
Qaraba-f FK (AZE) v MOLDE FK (NOR) 0-0 aet (0-0, 0-0), Molde win 6-5 on penalties
This one wasn't played in Azerbaijan but in Larnaca on Cyprus due to Corona travel restrictions between the two countries. Nevertheless, Qaraba-f had the bigger chances in the regular ninety minutes, yet in extra time it was Molde who were awarded a penalty but Magomedaliyev saved against Etzaz Hussain. Still, the Norwegians did better in the shootout where all penalties were converted until Molde keeper Andreas Linde parried B+Odavi H|+seynov's spot kick.
FC MIDTJYLLAND (DEN) v BSC Young Boys (SUI) 3-0 (0-0)
(Lefort 51' (og), Dreyer 62', Mabil 84')
So FCM are really a no-nonsense team now. They should already have been
awarded a handball penalty in the first half, but clinically finished off
the Swiss champions after Jordan Lefort had chested a cross into his own
net.
--
Champions League Play-off
Two legs (September 22/23 and 29/30)
* = seeded team
Champions Path
SK Slavia Praha (CZE)* v FC Midtjylland (DEN)
Maccabi Tel Aviv FC (ISR) v RB Salzburg (AUT)*
Olympiacos FC (GRE)* v AC Omonia (CYP)
Molde FK (NOR) v Ferencv|irosi TC (HUN)*
Molde and Ferencv|iros have both played in the Champions League once, Molde
in 1999 and Ferencv|iros in 1995. Hungary last sent a team to the CL in 2009 (Debrecen, now in the 2nd division), Norway in 2007 (Rosenborg).
Huge opportunity for both.
League Path
FC Krasnodar (RUS) v PAOK FC (GRE)*
KAA Gent (BEL) v FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)*
Between Krasnodar and PAOK, there will definitely be a new face in the CL.
--
Ciao,
Werner
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On 16.9.2020. 23:11, Real Mardin wrote:

Of course, two rss'ers having built up Crvena Zvezda's chances there could only be one outcome today.........

Thank you... their megalomaniac fans even put a tank in front of their
stadium last year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op975Xzlz0Y

Right next to a mural of a general cap/hat of a war criminal Ratko Mladic.

https://www.24sata.hr/sport/sramotna-provokacija-zvezda-ispred-stadiona-stavila-tenk-645681

Also, one of the most popular Serbian sports commentator Milojko Pantic
said "goodbye Red Star forever"
after Red Star's president and director (Dzajic and Terzic) gave Red
Star jersey to a war
criminal Dragan Vasiljkovic, also known as Captain Dragan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKusUiSUdfY

Captain Dragan is recently released from Croatian prison and now he is a
media star
on a Serbian TV, he is often guest on TV HAPPY, for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDBntDJ6gag
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On 2020-09-16, Werner Pichler <wpichler@gmail.com> wrote:
[...]

Olympiacos FC (GRE)* v AC Omonia (CYP)

This looks like an interesting tie... too bad no fans.

--
ciao, Bruce
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On 2020-09-16, vedran <nema@je.vise> wrote:

On 16.9.2020. 23:11, Real Mardin wrote:

Of course, two rss'ers having built up Crvena Zvezda's chances there
could only be one outcome today.........

Thank you... their megalomaniac fans even put a tank in front of their stadium last year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op975Xzlz0Y

Of course everyone wanted a picture. I can see Americans doing it like
that too. Even the guy with the red t-shirt "ambition". Maybe that
could be something for Trump.

[...]
Captain Dragan is recently released from Croatian prison and now he is a media star
on a Serbian TV, he is often guest on TV HAPPY, for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDBntDJ6gag

They have to face this stuff if they want to join the EU.

Can you imagine that from Germans? Sadly, there are those here who
would if they falt safe to show it. The big issue here has been the
discovery of some of that sentiment pretty deep in a few places in the
military and the police.

--
ciao, Bruce
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* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On 17.9.2020. 10:03, Bruce Scott wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op975Xzlz0Y

Of course everyone wanted a picture. I can see Americans doing it like
that too.

The old guy at 0:28 said he doesn't understand the message and that
it shouldn't be here...

They have to face this stuff if they want to join the EU.

I doubt, they never will. This whole exYu area is cursed, normal people leaving due to bad economy and
corruption, young generations being brainwashed by fascist ideologies,
their idols are criminals...

They'll probably have to give up on Kosovo though.
Trump will certainly be remembered here :) I don't know if you have seen
this, but Trump administration
invited Vucic and Hoti (Kosovo PM) and made them sign an agreement.
Tricky part is involving Israel... Kosovo and Israel are supposed to
recognize each other and Serbia
is supposed to move it's embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Carl Bildt
posted a tweet showing surprised Pikachu face by Vucic
at the moment Trump said that: https://twitter.com/carlbildt/status/1302339768538324994

They've been used so Trump can look good before the elections... Kosovo
is mostly Muslim country
and this way it looks like another Muslim country will recognize Israel although it's far from Middle East :) https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1301924019147616257
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
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On 2020-09-17, vedran <nema@je.vise> wrote:

Tricky part is involving Israel... Kosovo and Israel are supposed to recognize each other and Serbia
is supposed to move it's embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Carl Bildt posted a tweet showing surprised Pikachu face by Vucic
at the moment Trump said that: https://twitter.com/carlbildt/status/1302339768538324994

He looked sheepish and then looked at the document to try to see if
that was in there :-)

There once was an agreement-in-making that was opened at the right
time... After the US and USSR make the first deal about 1990, that it
would be 2+4 more than 4+2, and even the Brits and French were informed
when it was done, that there were some faces[*] like that :-) The Dutch representative said we would have to look at the text, the Italians said
we would have to discuss... but then Bush said this was between parties
that had sovereign rights in Berlin and not the EU or NATO... then the
looks on the faces got juicier :-))))))) Of course we can only imagine
it. This was reported by journalists (eg, Herald Tribune) and there was
no social media, no smart phones, no micro cameras that everyone had,
etc

[*] Helmut Kohl has described the reactions of FR and GB (Thatcher) many
times, with great glee

They've been used so Trump can look good before the elections... Kosovo
is mostly Muslim country
and this way it looks like another Muslim country will recognize Israel although it's far from Middle East :) https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1301924019147616257

Typical Trump. Since quite a while he hasn't done anything that wasn't
about a play to get re-elected. First he doesn't care (early 2017), and
then he gets obsessed (2018 elections at the latest).

--
ciao, Bruce
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On Tuesday, 1 September 2020 17:54:45 UTC+2, Futbolmetrix wrote:

On Tuesday, September 1, 2020 at 9:09:49 AM UTC-4, Werner Pichler wrote:

SK Slavia Praha (CZE)* v FC Midtjylland (DEN)/BSC Young Boys (SUI)
Maccabi Tel Aviv FC (ISR)/FC Dynamo Brest (BLR) v RB Salzburg (AUT)*

And there I was thinking that maybe this was the year Maccabi would make it to
the group stage...

Will there even be a match on Tuesday? :/

Ciao,
Werner
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Sunday, September 20, 2020 at 10:41:15 PM UTC-4, Werner Pichler wrote:

Will there even be a match on Tuesday? :/

Maybe. There was some loophole in the lockdown regulations that allowed the match to go ahead, and Salzburg has landed in Israel. On the other hand, it's not clear who they will play against. Apparently, 7 Maccabi players (a 6 staff members) have tested positive over the weekend, so there could very well be a forfeit.
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On 2020-09-16, Werner Pichler <wpichler@gmail.com> wrote:

FC MIDTJYLLAND (DEN) v BSC Young Boys (SUI) 3-0 (0-0)
(Lefort 51' (og), Dreyer 62', Mabil 84')

So FCM are really a no-nonsense team now. They should already have been awarded a handball penalty in the first half, but clinically finished off
the Swiss champions after Jordan Lefort had chested a cross into his own
net.

I saw the second half. Apparently YB had a few chances in the first
half, but the second was all FCM. And Fassnacht should have seen red
for a very late from behind assault on my home town boy Dreyer.

Very impressive performance.

SK Slavia Praha (CZE)* v FC Midtjylland (DEN)

On one hand, Slavia is as good a shot at the CL as Midtjylland will
ever get. On the other hand, 2 years ago Slavia knocked out *Sevilla*
to reach the EL QF, and last year they held Barca and Inter in the
group stage.
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On Monday, 21 September 2020 16:25:45 UTC+2, Futbolmetrix wrote:

On Sunday, September 20, 2020 at 10:41:15 PM UTC-4, Werner Pichler wrote:

Will there even be a match on Tuesday? :/

Maybe. There was some loophole in the lockdown regulations that allowed the match to go ahead, and Salzburg has landed in Israel. On the other hand, it's not clear who they will play against. Apparently, 7 Maccabi players (a 6 staff members) have tested positive over the weekend, so there could very well be a forfeit.

Salzburg are moving as if they were stuck in molasses. The curse is real.

Ciao,
Werner
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* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Monday, September 21, 2020 at 10:25:45 AM UTC-4, Futbolmetrix wrote:

On Sunday, September 20, 2020 at 10:41:15 PM UTC-4, Werner Pichler wrote:

Will there even be a match on Tuesday? :/

Maybe. There was some loophole in the lockdown regulations that allowed the match to go ahead, and Salzburg has landed in Israel. On the other hand, it's not clear who they will play against. Apparently, 7 Maccabi players (a 6 staff members) have tested positive over the weekend, so there could very well be a forfeit.

Match on: seven Maccabi players unavailable, HT score 1-0.
A couple of years ago, I would have said that this is a clash between an unstoppable force and an immovable object, but I thought that Salzburg were over their CL jinx?
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Tuesday, 22 September 2020 22:05:13 UTC+2, Futbolmetrix wrote:

On Monday, September 21, 2020 at 10:25:45 AM UTC-4, Futbolmetrix wrote:

On Sunday, September 20, 2020 at 10:41:15 PM UTC-4, Werner Pichler wrote:

Will there even be a match on Tuesday? :/

Maybe. There was some loophole in the lockdown regulations that allowed the match to go ahead, and Salzburg has landed in Israel. On the other hand, it's not clear who they will play against. Apparently, 7 Maccabi players (a 6 staff members) have tested positive over the weekend, so there could very well be a forfeit.

Match on: seven Maccabi players unavailable, HT score 1-0.

A couple of years ago, I would have said that this is a clash between an unstoppable force and an immovable object, but I thought that Salzburg were over their CL jinx?

I guess both our streams are a little behind? Daka for once uses his wheels and Baltaxa, one of the replacement guys, commits the foul.

Szoboszlai equalises from the spot, but even so the penalty kick felt jittery. Daniel Tenenbaum almost got a hand to it.

Ciao,
Werner
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On Tuesday, 22 September 2020 22:09:22 UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:

On Tuesday, 22 September 2020 22:05:13 UTC+2, Futbolmetrix wrote:

On Monday, September 21, 2020 at 10:25:45 AM UTC-4, Futbolmetrix wrote:

On Sunday, September 20, 2020 at 10:41:15 PM UTC-4, Werner Pichler wrote:

Will there even be a match on Tuesday? :/

Maybe. There was some loophole in the lockdown regulations that allowed the
match to go ahead, and Salzburg has landed in Israel. On the other hand, it's not clear who they will play against. Apparently, 7 Maccabi players (a 6 staff members) have tested positive over the weekend, so there could very well be a forfeit.

Match on: seven Maccabi players unavailable, HT score 1-0.

A couple of years ago, I would have said that this is a clash between an unstoppable force and an immovable object, but I thought that Salzburg were over their CL jinx?

I guess the Godz viewed this as a Weauxf?

I guess both our streams are a little behind? Daka for once uses his wheels and Baltaxa, one of the replacement guys, commits the foul.

Szoboszlai equalises from the spot, but even so the penalty kick felt jittery.
Daniel Tenenbaum almost got a hand to it.

Much more urgency in the second half, and Salzburg turn it around in twelve minutes.
S|-kou Ko|>ta on at HT for the terrible M|2rgim Berisha made a big difference. A
bit hard to believe that the latter is a German U-21 international.
Ciao,
Werner
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 4:17:22 PM UTC-4, Werner Pichler wrote:

A couple of years ago, I would have said that this is a clash between an unstoppable force and an immovable object, but I thought that Salzburg were
over their CL jinx?

I guess the Godz viewed this as a Weauxf?

Probably. Futbolmetrix Jr., who has become an ardent Hapoel TA supporter, owes me one.
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Tuesday, 22 September 2020 22:35:45 UTC+2, Futbolmetrix wrote:

On Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 4:17:22 PM UTC-4, Werner Pichler wrote:

A couple of years ago, I would have said that this is a clash between an unstoppable force and an immovable object, but I thought that Salzburg were over their CL jinx?

I guess the Godz viewed this as a Weauxf?

Probably. Futbolmetrix Jr., who has become an ardent Hapoel TA supporter, owes me one.

I might have committed a counterweauxf. Last 10 minutes were all Maccabi TA,
as depleted as they are.

Honestly, this is really quite hard to explain.

Ciao,
Werner
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

Olympiakos beat Omonia 2-0 in their playoff round first leg.
One of the most unfair penalties I've ever seen for the opener. Olympiakos player basically fouls the Omonia defender in the box, Omonia defender falls over and his hands touch the ball accidentally as he lands. I appreciate on a literal interpretation of the rules this was legiitmate, but surely this can't be what the rule makers had in mind when they amended the handball rule? Valubena converted the spot kick.
No arguments with the second, a stunning long distance effort from El Arabi. Thiago came close with a long distance shot in injury time which the BT Sport commentator said was Omonia's first shot on target, which other than the aforementioned unjust penalty kind of sums up the night (the game stats actually say Omonia had two shots on target but who's counting?).
RM
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* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Thursday, 17 September 2020 00:08:12 UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:

Champions League Play-off

First Legs
--
September 22
Champions Path
Maccabi Tel Aviv FC (ISR) v RB Salzburg (AUT) 1-2 (1-0)
(Biton 9'; Szoboszlai 49' (pen), Okugawa 57')
The Israeli champions were without nine players (about four of them
regulars) due to COVID, but they took a shock lead when they punished Salzburg's naive high line and Dan Biton lobbed over an indisposed
Stankovi-c. Fifteen good minutes after the break were good enough though to turn the match around - Patson Daka, for once using his speed, was stopped inside the area by Matan Baltaxa, one of the replacement guys, with a
challenge that perhaps not every referee in the world would whistle as a
foul, and S|-kou Ko|>ta, a breath of fresh air in the second half instead of the listless M|2rgim Berisha, set up Masaya Okugawa for the second. Then it
was all nerves again until the final whistle, but a shaky Salzburg side held on.
The best thing about this match was undoubtedly the result, but it has been
so often the other way round with Salzburg in CL qualifiers, so I'll take
it.
SK Slavia Praha (CZE) v FC Midtjylland (DEN) 0-0 (0-0)
These two very similar teams really neutralize each other very well.
--
League Path
FC Krasnodar (RUS) v PAOK FC (GRE) 2-1 (1-1)
(Claesson 39' (pen), Cabella 70'; Pelkas 33')
PAOK were awarded a handball penalty after five minutes, but Dimitris
Pelkas' penalty down the middle was easily blocked by up-and-coming keeper Matvei Safonov. Pelkas did better half an hour later when he turned in
Andrija ++ivkovi-c's low cross, but Krasnodar soon were level when Giannoulis, PAOK's hero in the Benfica match, felled R|-my Cabella in the box. The match was wide open after that, but while the Greeks only hit the post through
Omar El Kaddouri halfway through the second half, just two minutes later
Marcus Berg lobbed PAOK keeper ++ivko ++ivkovi-c (no relation to Andrija) and Cabella fired into the empty net. https://gfycat.com/livemadeuphuemul
--
September 23
Champions Path
Olympiacos FC (GRE) v AC Omonia (CYP) 2-0 (0-0)
(Valbuena 69' (pen), El-Arabi 90'+2)
Despite VAR, Olympiacos' penalty was an absolute joke as Lazar Ran-aelovi-c basically grabbed Jan Lecjaks' hand and dragged it towards the ball on the floor. https://gfycat.com/finishedqualifiedcarpenterant Their second in stoppage time though was a class finish by long-time Granada forward Youssef El-Arabi. https://gfycat.com/warygleamingcaracal
Omonia defended really well for the most part, but just two shots on target
was too little.
Molde FK (NOR) v Ferencv|irosi TC (HUN) 3-3 (0-1)
(James 55', Wolff Eikrem 65', Ellingsen 83'; Boli 7', Uzuni 52',
Kharatin 87' (pen))
Now that was an entertaining match. Fradi took an early lead when Franck
Boli, who had long plied his trade in Norway, turned in Endre Botka's cross, and Botka also provided the cross for Myrto Uzuni who headed in their
second. Molde replied immediately though through Leke James who headed in
a corner kick, and their skipper Magnus Wolff Eikrem, whose struggles with diabetes seem to have become worse recently so that he rarely lasts an
entire match anymore, volleyed in the equaliser. Ferencv|iros were then lucky there wasn't a handball penalty called against them (contact with the ball
was adjudged to have occurred above the 'bottom of the armpit', as
stipulated by IFAB in April), but Molde still went in front when Martin Ellingsen headed in Fredrik Aursnes's free-kick. Minutes before the end the Hungarians were awarded a penalty of their own as the substitute Ola Brynhildsen unluckily blocked Oleksandr Zubkov's shot with his arm at the
edge of the box, and Fradi, who are truly blessed in this campaign, go home
to Budapest with a distinct advantage.
--
League Path
KAA Gent (BEL) v FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) 1-2 (1-1)
(Kleindienst 41'; Supryaha 9', De Pena 79'; Red Card: Bezus (Gen) 53') Vladyslav Supryaha's early goal was initially chalked off for offside, but
the linesman was overruled by VAR. Gent's two German summer signings from Heidenheim combined to give them the equaliser as Tim Kleindienst headed in Niklas Dorsch's corner kick, but following the dismissal of De Buffalo's Ukrainian midfielder Roman Bezus with a second yellow, Dynamo controlled the match, and got a deserved winner through their Uruguayan winger Carlos de
Pena who beat Davy Roef with an angled shot.
--
Second legs: September 29/30
--
Ciao,
Werner
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
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On 2020-09-24, Werner Pichler <wpichler@gmail.com> wrote:

SK Slavia Praha (CZE) v FC Midtjylland (DEN) 0-0 (0-0)

These two very similar teams really neutralize each other very well.

From what I saw Midtjylland was the better team, and really should
have scored. They're are now paying the price for that. So predictable.
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On 2020-09-30, Jesper Lauridsen <rorschak@sorrystofanet.dk> wrote:

On 2020-09-24, Werner Pichler <wpichler@gmail.com> wrote:

SK Slavia Praha (CZE) v FC Midtjylland (DEN) 0-0 (0-0)

These two very similar teams really neutralize each other very well.

From what I saw Midtjylland was the better team, and really should
have scored. They're are now paying the price for that. So predictable.

The good people of Prag has just been introduced to the suckiness of
football.
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

Watched some of the Casino Salzburg vs Tel Aviv match, I thought Red Bull looked good ( is it worse to be sponsored by vodka mixer drinks or a Casino?) considering how many players they have sold, they actually have some good young prospects again. Somehow they have been seeded in pot 3, which also gives them a glimmer of hope advancing-interestingly, the other vodka mixer drinks club is also in pot 3.
I wont even bother looking up why teams like Zenit or Porto are in pot 1 while Barca, Man City or Atletico are in pot 2
Thursday 1st October, 2020 - 6pm (BST)
Pot 1
Bayern Munich
Sevilla
Real Madrid
Liverpool
Juventus
PSG
Zenit
Porto
Pot 2
Barcelona
Atletico Madrid
Man City
Man Utd
Shakhtar Donetsk
Borussia Dortmund
Chelsea
Ajax
Pot 3
Dynamo Kiev
RB Leipzig
Inter Milan
Olympiacos
Lazio
Atalanta
Krasnodar
RB Salzburg
Pot 4
Club Brugge
Borussia Monchengladbach
Istanbul Basaksehir
Rennes
Ferencvaros
Lokomotiv Moscow
Marseille
Midtjylland
On Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at 4:48:43 PM UTC-4, Jesper Lauridsen wrote:

On 2020-09-30, Jesper Lauridsen <rors...@sorrystofanet.dk> wrote:

On 2020-09-24, Werner Pichler <wpic...@gmail.com> wrote:

SK Slavia Praha (CZE) v FC Midtjylland (DEN) 0-0 (0-0)

These two very similar teams really neutralize each other very well.

From what I saw Midtjylland was the better team, and really should
have scored. They're are now paying the price for that. So predictable.

The good people of Prag has just been introduced to the suckiness of football.

--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Wednesday, 30 September 2020 22:48:43 UTC+2, Jesper Lauridsen wrote:

On 2020-09-30, Jesper Lauridsen <rors...@sorrystofanet.dk> wrote:

On 2020-09-24, Werner Pichler <wpic...@gmail.com> wrote:

SK Slavia Praha (CZE) v FC Midtjylland (DEN) 0-0 (0-0)

These two very similar teams really neutralize each other very well.

From what I saw Midtjylland was the better team, and really should
have scored. They're are now paying the price for that. So predictable.

The good people of Prag has just been introduced to the suckiness of football.

And today Copenhagen crash out thanks to one of the most hilarious own goals I've seen in recent times. You're on a roll!

Ciao
Werner
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

Far be it for a Turkish person to point this out but I can't help but think PAOK had a tough break. To beat Besiktas and Benfica and somehow still not make it to the group stage. Qualifying round football sucks! I suppose it's good evidence for changing the format to some kind of group or mini-league system.
To be fair Benfica, Besiktas and PAOK could be three quarters of a Champions League group in any other season.
RM
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

On Thursday, 24 September 2020 20:03:22 UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:

On Thursday, 17 September 2020 00:08:12 UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:

Champions League Play-off

Second Legs
--
September 29
Champions Path
FERENCV|UROSI TC (HUN) v Molde FK (NOR) 0-0 (0-0), 3-3 on aggregate, Ferencv|iros through on away goals
Nerves, nerves, nerves. Considering what was at stake, both sides were extremely cautious in the first half, but after the break Fradi rode their
luck numerous times, but promising efforts by Hussain, Hestad, and Brynhildsen all went just wide.
Ferencv|iros had to eliminate, in order, (and with tons of luck as well as ability) the champions of Sweden, Scotland, Croatia, and Norway - just to
reach the Champions League group stages for the first time since 1995/96.
That would have been the road to a European semifinal, in the olden days.
AC Omonia (CYP) v OLYMPIACOS FC (GRE) 0-0 (0-0), 0-2 on aggregate
A couple of half-chances for Omonia, but not nearly enough to trouble the
Greek champions.
League Path
FC DYNAMO KYIV (UKR) v KAA Gent (BEL) 3-0 (2-0), 5-1 on aggregate
(Buyalskiy 9', De Pena 36' (pen), Rodrigues 49' (pen))
Vitaliy Buyalskyi gave the Ukrainians an early lead with a goal reminiscent of the great Dynamo sides https://gfycat.com/ImmenseParchedBlackandtancoonhound and they never looked back against overmatched Gent side, hitting the post through Shaparenko before scoring twice from the spot, once because of a
clumsy handball by Gent's Ukrainian centre back Plastun, once due to N||rio Fortuna's shirt pull against Supryaha.
--
September 30
Champions Path
FC RB SALZBURG (AUT) v Maccabi Tel Aviv FC (ISR) 3-1 (1-1), 5-2 on aggregate (Daka 16', 68', Szoboszlai 45'+4 (pen); Karzev 30')
As in the first match, Maccabi were basically without a bench due to their COVID cluster, but their starting XI was mostly intact. S|-kou Ko|>ta's forceful
backcheck led to the ball luckily breaking for Patson Daka, and the Zambian beat Maccabi's excellent keeper Daniel Tenenbaum with a low shot. Salzburg's defence still isn't really CL-worthy though, and one of the weak points is goalie Cican Stankovi-c who awkwardly punched Eden Karzev's shot straight back to the Israeli who rifled in at the second attempt. AT this point Salzburg's eleven consecutive qualification failures reared their ugly head again, and they were visibly nervous and shaky until Matan Baltaxa, who had already
caused a penalty in the first leg, did them the same favour again when he caught Okugawa's foot while attempting a clearance. Szoboszlai made no mistake from the spot, and while Salzburg didn't play at all well in the second half, they were still rarely in danger anymore, at least after Daka had headed in
his second of the night.
FC MIDTJYLLAND (DEN) v SK Slavia Praha (CZE) 4-1 (0-1), 4-1 on aggregate
(Kaba 65', Scholz 84' (pen), Onyeka 88', Dreyer 90'+1; Olayinka 3')
Things looked really good for the Czechs for a long time as already after
three minutes Nigerian striker Peter Olayinka, who I remember having seen play in Albania a long time ago, volleyed in a loose ball after FCM keeper Hansen had spilled a corner kick. Guinea international (with Naby Ke|>ta leading them, shouldn't they have a really good national team by now?) Sory Kaba headed in Awer Mabil's cross for the equaliser, but Slavia still seemed to have things under control and had chances to score a second until ten minutes from time a looping deflection fell onto the hand of the hapless Tom|i+i Hole+i https://gfycat.com/exaltedhilariousimpala and Midtjylland were awarded a penalty. Ond+Oej Kol|i+O expertly saved Kaba's spot kick but VAR was used to determine he had left his line by a centimetre and the penalty was retaken. Ridiculous: https://gfycat.com/naivealivechinchilla Midtjylland changed the penalty taker, which seems a bit chicken to me, and Alexander Scholz blasted one in. Slavia fell apart after that, and chasing a goal they were instead punished twice on the break.
As far as I know, the Czech for 'football sucks' is 'fotbal je hnus'. Perhaps Salzburg's CL curse just moved a bit to the north? This match was the kind of thing that would regularly happen to them.
League Path
PAOK FC (GRE) v FC KRASNODAR (RUS) 1-2 (0-0), 2-4 on aggregate
(El Kaddouri 77'; Michailidis 73' (og), Cabella 78')
Following a tight and hard-fought first half, in the frantic closing stages of the match Krasnodar got the invaluable away goal thanks to a lovely own goal
by PAOK's young centre back Giannis Michailidis https://gfycat.com/focuseddiscretearrowana but PAOK rekindled their hopes soon afterwards when Omar El Kaddouri headed in former Rapid captain Stefan
Schwab's free-kick. Those hopes were soon extinguished though as PAOK keeper ++ivkovi-c deflected Tonny Vilhena's shot somewhat awkwardly against the post and R|-my Cabella tapped into the empty net for the win. https://gfycat.com/pettypeskyhoneyeater
My reports regarding the downfall of the Russian Premier League might have
been slightly premature, as they bring three teams to the Champions League for the first time ever.
--
New teams in the Champions League Group Stage:
Krasnodar, Ba+fak+fehir, Midtjylland and Rennes
--
Ciao,
Werner
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
* Origin: SportNet Gateway Site (24:150/2)

Real Mardin <real_mardin@yahoo.co.uk> writes:

Far be it for a Turkish person to point this out but I can't help but
think PAOK had a tough break. To beat Besiktas and Benfica and somehow
still not make it to the group stage.

There is another question in there.

Maybe PAOK wouldn't have made it through both Besiktas and Benfica if
this was a home-and-away round, like with Krasnodar (and also with
spectators in the stands.)

Yesterday Rio Ave almost knocked out Milan, which would also be
surprising (Milan tied it in a deliberately very silly ball handling
penalty in virtually the last play of extra time, then proceeded to win
9-8 in PKs, 12 shots taken, with Rio Ave failing three times to win
after Milan missed.)

So maybe a COVID side effect, which brought some other unlikely teams to
both UCL and EL group stages this year.

-- HASM
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