CL: Group A: Barcelona Inter Bayer Newcastle Group C: Real Milan Dortmund Lok Moscow UEFA Cup: Hertha vs Fulham Wisla Krakow vs Schalke FC Brugge vs Stuttgart ------------------- In the CL both won't have it easy to advance, but realistically the other groups aren't easier. In the UEFA Cup Schalke should advance, Stuttgart has good chances as well. Don't know how good Fulham is at the moment, but Hertha is favourite though this is the toughest of the German opponents.
Fulham has been playing very well, so I think Hertha will have to play well to advance. Also, Brugge did very well in CL and I would think they'd be a formidable opponent to Stuttgart. But I don't know anything about Stuttgart to say who should be favored.
Re: Re: CL + UEFA Cup Draw Brugge will be a tough opponent but Stuttgart have been playing very good lately in the league. I fancy them to progress. Fulham are bottom half in the premiership, but Tigana is a good coach and they have got some useful players. I can see Fulham being too good at home for Hertha and winning the tie.
Although Leverkusen's group looks tougher initially, I think they will qualify and Dortmund will not. Barcelona have won all eight matches so far in the CL (although against no major teams) but are struggling in Spain. They should get found out now. Inter are flying high in Serie A and will pose a much greater threat, but can be unpredicatble especially away from home. Newcastle scraped through and are will make things difficult but are just not good enough for this stage IMO. Inter and Leverkusen to go through. Moscow may be the weakest team in Dortmund's group but I'm sure Sammer and Co are not looking forward to a trip to Russia. Real will be under pressure to step up a gear after their sluggish start to the season and should advance. If Milan play as well as they did aginst Bayern I can see them taking 6 points off Dortmund too. Real and Milan to progress.
Some opinions: Reiner Calmund, Bayer Head GM: "A difficult group, no question. But we got a realistic chance. We don't have to hide behind anyone. Inter is top ranked in Italy, Barca won all CL games. That's saying everything. With Newcastle we aren't satisfied. It's our fifth game within one year on the island, but meanwhile we got some experience with them. Newcastle is the soccer-craziest town in England." Ilja Keanzig, Bayer Sports GM: "We are very satisfied, it is a very attractive group. Barcelona and Inter with their star ensembles are the favourites, but it is an open group in which we'll have good chances. Against Barcelona we played good last year. We haven't played against Inter yet, we're looking forward to this challenge. Also we seem to play on the island in every round, but the team seems to like it" Peter Hermann, Bayer Assistant coach: "This is a nice group. Everything you need is in and a home game against Barcelona is a optimum start. Thank God we don't have to travel to Moscow in the winter". Oliver Neuville: „I am satisfied with the draw. There was no possibility to get an easy opponent. In the last season we already showed what can happen. Especially interesting for me are the games against Inter and Newcastle as we didn't play against them yet". Michael Zorc, Dortmund Sports GM: "It was to be expected that we'd get a tough group, but Bayer's isn't easier. I expected to meet Real Madrid. These games and the ones against Milan are absolute top his, a big opportunity to prove ourselves. As German champion we don't have to hide". Lars Ricken: "A wonderful draw, this are superb opponents. We can prove ourselves against them. This is good for our team to meet such opponents. Bayern once played in Moscow at -10°C, playing them in the winter is very difficult". Dieter Hoeneß, Berlin GM: "We got the most attractive draw of the four possible opponents Haifa, Lens, Celtic and Fulham. I am especially happy for our fans that we play Fulham. Duels with English teams are always very hot. Fulham is a good team. The club invested a lot in the past years. At the moment they are only on rank 13, but clubs from the EPL are a class of their own. Our aim was to survive the winter in the UEFA Cup and so we've got to defeat Fulham". Huub Stevens, Berlin coach: "The advantage is to have no longer journey. Fulham is a good, but difficult draw. We want to survive the winter in the UEFA Cup and got to get a good result in the home game". Frank Neubarth, Schalke coach: "It could have been better. Especially in the offence Krakow is very dangerous. I think they are more difficult than Legia Warsaw". Rudi Assauer, Schalke GM: "It seems we'll be Poland experts soon. Our two Polish players already told us that the team is technically very good and stronger than Legia. But we got a good chance to advance". Tomasz Hajto: "I had a feeling to get Krakow. Wisla is evidently better than Legia and impressed me against Parma". Felix Magath, Stuttgart coach: "Brugge is a firm name in European soccer and as top ranked team in Belgium in a great shape. As CL participant they are favourites. An advantage for us is to play the second game in the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadium". Rolf Rüssmann, Stuttgart GM: "I am happy about this draw as I played in Brugge in 1973 and still got many friends in this club. The task won't be easy though". Krassimir Balakov: "Brugge is the best opponent in our pot. My aim is to take revenge for 1998/99. I believe in the chance to advance".