Here are the dates for the league phase and finals of the Europa League (B League). Opponents to be determined later today. Round 1: 24-25 September 2025 Round 2: 2 October 2025 Round 3: 23 October 2025 Round 4: 6 November 2025 Round 5: 27 November 2025 Round 6: 11 December 2025 Round 7: 22 January 2026 Round 8: 29 January 2026 Play-off Phase: 19 and 26 February 2026 Eighth Finals: 12 and 19 March 2026 Quarter Finals: 9 and 16 April 2026 Semi Finals: 30 April and 7 May 2026 Final: Wednesday 20 May 2026
Here are VfB's opponents in the league phase. Not in order of schedule, however. That will be issued later. Feyenoord - in Stuttgart Roma - in Italy Maccabi Tel Aviv - in Stuttgart Fenerbahce - in Turkey Young Boys - in Stuttgart Basel - in Switzerland Celta Vigo - in Stuttgart Go Ahead Eagles - in the Netherlands (Deventer, I think) So, not too bad EXCEPT, Feyenoord are my Dutch squad that I have followed since 1996, so that will be a LOSS for VfB.
I had to stick with them. I don't have cable. "Unsettling moment for the goalkeeper" isn't what I wanted to hear in the first couple minutes.
Yeah, not words one wants to hear. I don't have cable either. I followed the advice of someone else here at BS and it suits me well. Anyway, I see where Chema Andres starts again instead of Karazor. I wonder if Atakan is in the Hoeness Doghouse.
That well could be. I got the impression Sebastian was none too happy with Karazor (again) in the Gladbach match, gave him another chance against Freiburg, then decided to make a change. Chema is a bright young talent, too. Hoeness may well have just decided it was time.
Well, that's the half. Celta Vigo have shown no inclination to come out from behind the castle walls, and we haven't done enough to storm the ramparts. Matches like this, I really miss Deniz. It would be great if we still had Nick Woltemade too, although Demirovic is giving a decent enough account of himself. We're just not dynamic enough. If we continue to allow Celta to keep their shape like this, we could be in for a shock.
I thought we might lose that second goal, but it stood. Bilal El Khannouss makes it 2-0. That's two good young players making an immediate impact. I'm starting to feel much better about this campaign. LOL
Well that was fairly comfortable, until Karazor came on the pitch. He has been poor in possession so Hoeness was right to bench him.
I hate to say it, but it sure looks that way. He was oblivious to the threat behind him. Not good. Back for the next one. Furchtloss und Treu!
Feyenoord's match is on at the same time. So I guess I won't be watching the VfB match, but will check out any highlights later. I don't have Paramount+ anymore so cannot get a delayed broadcast. Have to watch these matches live.
We'll hold down the fort, @Teak. By the way, we were joking on the Arsenal forum about how much alike Viktor Gyökeres and Ermedin Demiroviç are in age, size, build and style of play. They even look alike. To be honest, I've never seen both of them in the same place at the same time, so ...
That was a frustrating, fruitless half. Not only did we fail to score despite having the run of play, but Demiroviç missed a pen, and both Ajeti and Shaqiri came perilously close to making it 2-0 (maybe even 3-0) in stoppage time. We must play better than this or it's going to be a short competition for us.
I wonder what's the matter with these guys to start so slow? I hope Hoeness lights a fire under them at half-time, and they come out blazing!
It looks for all the world like we took Basel lightly. Very, very low energy start. We picked up the pace after getting smacked in the teeth, but we didn't make anything of it. Ludovic "Filet" Mignin must be having the time of his life on the touch line. LOL
Unbelievable. 2-0 at 84'. And of all people, Xherdan Shaqiri with the dagger (I think Broschinski officially got the goal, though). This is clearly revenge for all the times I mocked him in MLS for looking like the guy who owns the corner pizza place.
And that's the final. Very, very disappointing performance. We had more than enough chances but squandered them like an amateur side.