Draw for the Europa League group stage is tomorrow. We are in Pot 2, narrowly missing out on Pot 1. Draw takes place at 12 PM EST tomorrow. Source: https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/newsid=2568277.html?iv=true Pot 1 Sevilla (ESP) Arsenal (ENG) Chelsea (ENG) Zenit (RUS) Bayer Leverkusen Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) Beşiktaş (TUR) Salzburg (AUT) Olympiacos (GRE) Villarreal (ESP) Anderlecht (BEL) Lazio (ITA) Pot 2 Sporting CP (POR) Ludogorets (BUL) København (DEN) Marseille (FRA) Celtic (SCO) PAOK (GRE) AC Milan (ITA) Genk (BEL) Fenerbahçe (TUR) Krasnodar (RUS) Astana (KAZ) Rapid Wien (AUT) Pot 3 Real Betis (ESP) BATE Borisov (BLR) Qarabağ (AZE) Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) RB Leipzig (GER) Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) Malmö (SWE) Spartak Moskva (RUS) Standard Liège (BEL) Zürich (SUI) Bordeaux (FRA) Rennes (FRA) Pot 4 Apollon (CYP) Rosenborg (NOR) Vorskla Poltava (UKR) Slavia Praha (CZE) Akhisar Belediyespor (TUR) Jablonec (CZE) AEK Larnaca (CYP) Vidi (HUN) Rangers (SCO) Dudelange (LUX) Spartak Trnava (SVK) Sarpsborg (NOR)
I got the time of the draw wrong... anyways we were drawn in Group E: Arsenal Sporting CP Qarabag FC Vorskla Poltava Arsenal are favourites, and we have long trips to Azerbaijan and Ukraine, but we should qualify in 2nd. Fun fact: in 2014 the president of Vorksla was shot three times in his car by a guy with a silencer gun.
I think we should concentrate on going as far as possible in the Europa League and forget the league. We don't have the depth, quality, or coaching staff to compete in every competition, might as well focus on one specific thing.
First match tomorrow at home vs. Qarabag. Hopefully we put in a good performance. We shouldn't also underestimate this team - they tied Atletico Madrid twice last year in the CL. Hopefully Gudelj gets the start in midfield, I was impressed when he came on last game.
Starting XI: Salin; Ristovski, Coates, Mathieu, Acuña; Battaglia, Gudelj; Raphinha, Bruno Fernandes, Nani; Montero Gudelj starting and Acuna at LB, other than Dost missing this is probably our strongest line-up, with Jovane and Diaby as impact subs
0-0 halftime 1 way traffic, but we need to produce more chances. We're playing too much long ball and crosses from deep to Montero who isn't really suited to it. We need to have more attacks through the middle.
What a revelation Raphinha has been. Jovane has gotten all the attention but he's been our best player so far.
Oh great Mathieu injured. Guy is quality but made of paper.... definitely looks like he pulled something.
Actually looks like a new injury. I think its on the other leg. Qarabag team is playing open. Jovane and Diaby would be excellent now.