Schedule for champions league 07-08 (next season)

[jameseyla]

I know it's really early to ask about the schedule for NEXT season's champions league, but I might as well ask.

My father and I are going to Spain in either October or November and our goal is to see 3 soccer games. One on the weekend we arrive (a sunday La Liga match), one on Wednesday (champs league) and one on the following Saturday before we leave (a Saturday La Liga match).

The earlier we can book tickets, the better, but when we go depends on which weeks in October or November have champions league matchdays. I can't find any info on the uefa site so I don't think they plan that far ahead.

Am I missing the info or is an official champions league schedule not released until the summer or spring?

[Timanfaya]

This guy's site is always good for info, he has a provisional schedule:

http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/uefa/calendar2007.html

I've got a feeling it'll be May/June before it gets confirmed, but won't you need to wait for the draw anyway, to see when/where there are games on in Spain?

[Forza AZ]

This guy's site is always good for info, he has a provisional schedule:

http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/uefa/calendar2007.html

I've got a feeling it'll be May/June before it gets confirmed, but won't you need to wait for the draw anyway, to see when/where there are games on in Spain?
Half of the Spanish teams play at home each matchday, so there will always be a Spanish team at home in each week (they have at least 2 teams in the groupstage).

PS: The weeks listed on the site you give will not change any more. The schedule for Euro 2008 qualifiers is already known, so that will also fix the CL and UEFA-cup schedule.

[Timanfaya]

Half of the Spanish teams play at home each matchday, so there will always be a Spanish team at home in each week (they have at least 2 teams in the groupstage).

Well, it's likely there will be more than two, but... if there are only two Spanish teams I don't think it's guaranteed to be possible to arrange the schedule so that there is always one at home each week.

However, jameseyla shouldn't worry about that small possibility too much, in practical terms you're right and he doesn't need to wait for the draw after all.


PS: The weeks listed on the site you give will not change any more. The schedule for Euro 2008 qualifiers is already known, so that will also fix the CL and UEFA-cup schedule.

That makes sense.

[leg_breaker]

Summer: qualifying
Autumn: first round
Spring: knockout rounds

There you go.

[jameseyla]

thanks guys

Ideally we'd want to see Barca or Madrid in the champs league, but the whole point of the trip is to spend time with my dad lounging around Spain and catching some good matches. I know the odds are pretty good that one of those teams will be home, but if not, the trip won't be ruined. If it comes down to seeing Seville or Valencia (or whoever else may qualify) in the CL, so be it. I've never been to any match in Europe so I'll take what I can get.

[Forza AZ]

Well, it's likely there will be more than two, but... if there are only two Spanish teams I don't think it's guaranteed to be possible to arrange the schedule so that there is always one at home each week.
Yes, it is. In the draw 2 teams from the same country are coupled. They are placed in different halves of the schedule (1 in group A-D, the other in group E-H; so they play on different days). And the computer draw also makes sure that the 1 plays at home in 3 weeks and the other plays at home in the other 3 weeks.
Only exception was Russia this year, as they can't play at home on the last matchday. But for Spain it's also certain that in every week there will be a team at home.

[Timanfaya]

...Only exception was Russia this year, as they can't play at home on the last matchday.

Ah.

I noticed the Russia thing with two Moscow teams playing at home sometimes. I mistakenly assumed it was just a case of there being so many restrictions on the draw, that something had to give.

You're obviously convinced that it *is* always possible to arrange, so maybe I'd better just try and get my head round it...

[geego]

You're obviously convinced that it *is* always possible to arrange, so maybe I'd better just try and get my head round it...

The schedule for all the groups is the same:

Day 1: 1-2 3-4
Day 2: 4-1 2-3
Day 3: 1-3 2-4
Day 4: 3-1 4-2
Day 5: 2-1 4-3
Day 6: 1-4 3-2

Note that teams 1 and 4 are always opposed, same with teams 2 and 3. So if Barcelona goes to group A and Valencia to B, You assign Barcelona to be A3 and Valencia B2, for instance.

[Timanfaya]

...You assign Barcelona to be A3 and Valencia B2, for instance.

Cheers geego - I knew that bit though, honest :)

The next bit I need you to demonstrate (and it might not be that tricky, when you get down to looking at it) is that if all 32 teams happen to be formed of 16 national pairs, they can still all be fitted into opposing slots, whatever groups they might happen to be drawn into.

When you've got a minute, thanks ;)

[BocaFan]

Only exception was Russia this year, as they can't play at home on the last matchday. But for Spain it's also certain that in every week there will be a team at home.

Barcelona and Real Madrid never both play away on the same matchday (during group-stage). So you will always get one - and only one - playing at home on a particular matchday.

Of course we're talking as if Spain is the size of Andorra so this thread is a bit weird.