2020-21 Champions and Europa League

[andyt]

The Group Stage kicks off today. CBS has the US broadcast rights in the forst year of a 3 year deal. The picked up the end of last season’s when TBS/Bleacher Report bailed early. Like last season, they’re putting the majority on their streaming service, CBS All Access. There are no matches on the CBS Sports Network today, the do have The Golazo Show, that will provide whip-around coverage of all the day’s matches. Think NFL Red Zone for a comparison.

Juventus and Barcelona were drawn into Group G, a consequence of Barcelona not winning LaLiga. Man U and PSG were also drawn into the same group, and RB Leipzig is there too. In the other groups that kick off tomorrow, Man City looks to have gotten an easy draw, with Porto, Olympiacos and Marseille. Liverpool has Ajax and sneaky Atalanta.

 

[andyt]

There were 5 Americans in action today

Ethan Horvath was solid in goal for Club Brugge in their 2-1 win. The lone goal against was an unfortunate Horvath own goal, a shot hit the post and ricocheted in off his head.

Gio Reyna came on as a 2nd half sub and assisted on Dortmund’s lone goal in a 3-1 loss to Lazio.

Sergiño Dest played 90 for Barcelona in their 5-1 win over Ferencvaros.

Christian Pulisic started and was subbed off at 90+1 in Chelsea’s scoreless draw with Sevilla.

Tyler Adams came on in the 58th minute in Leipzig’s 2-0 win over Istanbul Basaksehir

Weston McKennie probably would have played in Juventus’ match against Dynamo Kyiv but he tested positive for Covid last week.

 

[andyt]

The Europa League kicks off today. Of the Premier League clubs, Arsenal looks to have the easiest travel schedule. They’re in a group with Rapid Wien, and they travel to Vienna today, Dundalk in Ireland and Molde in Norway. Leicester have Zorya in Ukraine, Braga in Portugal and AEK Athens. Spurs have LASK in Austria, Ludogorets Razgrad in Bulgaria and Royal Antwerp. Celtic have AC Milan, Sparta Prague and Lille

 

[jeffbear]

Two players and three staff from AC Milan tested positive for Covid following their recent Serie A game and a Europa League game against Celtic last week. Donnarumma, their wonderful goalkeeper is one of the players.

Tighten your news belts guys ... another Italian league team had an outbreak and things are looking bumpy in Italy again. This winter is gonna be ... something.

 

[andyt]

Two players and three staff from AC Milan tested positive for Covid following their recent Serie A game and a Europa League game against Celtic last week. Donnarumma, their wonderful goalkeeper is one of the players.

Tighten your news belts guys ... another Italian league team had an outbreak and things are looking bumpy in Italy again. This winter is gonna be ... something.

Juve had positives too, Ronaldo and McKennie both missed their UCL match last week. Ronaldo will miss Wednesday’s match against Barcelona for an additional positive. He’s also under investigation for breaking Italy’s protocols after flying back from the international break in an air ambulance. McKennie was cleared and was an unused sub yesterday in their match against Hellas Verona.

 

[jeffbear]

Yeah, there's apparently been some early talks of Italy potentially going back into some form of modified restrictions. Ireland started a 5 week course of modified lockdowns over the weekend and the UK is looking like they may be forced to take some steps as well. The Fall Covid rebound is already a thing in Europe, and headed this way if the original timeline holds.

 

[andyt]

The Group Stages are complete.

Group A: Bayern, Atletico, RB Salzburg, Lokomotiv
Group B: Real Madrid, Borussia M’gladbach, Shakhtar, Inter (M’gladbach advances on goal differential)
Group C: Man City, Porto, Olympiacos, Marseille
Group D: Liverpool, Atalanta, Ajax, Midtylland
Group E: Chelsea, Sevilla, Krasnodar, Rennes
Group F: Dortmund, Lazio, Brugge, Zenit
Group G: Juventus, Barcelona, Dynamo Kyiv, Ferencvaros (Juve wins group on away goals)
Group H: PSG, RB Leipzig, Man U, Istanbul Bakasehir

In the Europa League, Arsenal, Leicester, Spurs and Rangers all advanced as group winners. Celtic finished last in their group, with a 1-1-4 record, earning their points with a win and draw against Lille.

the Knockout Round draws are Tuesday with play resuming in February

 

[andyt]

I was wrong, the draws were today.

In the Champions League, Man City drew Borussia M’Gladbach, Chelsea drew Atletico Madrid and Liverpool drew RB Leipzig. But a real heavyweight battle between Barcelona and PSG is in the round of 16. Barca finished 2nd in their group to Juve on head to head goal difference, PSG won their group on away goals with RB Leipzig

In the Europa League, Arsenal drew Benfica, Spurs drew Wolfsberg (Austria), Leicester drew Slavia Praha, Man U drew Real Sociedad and Rangers drew Royal Antwerp.

 

[HNIM]

Interesting factoid I saw a little while ago but have not verified. There are no league leading sides in the final 16 of the Champions League if you accept that Liverpool are second in the PL on GD (and of course, they can take care of that on Wednesday). There are 13 in the final 32 of the Europa League.

 

[andyt]

Interesting factoid I saw a little while ago but have not verified. There are no league leading sides in the final 16 of the Champions League if you accept that Liverpool are second in the PL on GD (and of course, they can take care of that on Wednesday). There are 13 in the final 32 of the Europa League.

Atletico and Real Sociedad are tied on points and goal difference at the top of La Liga but Atletico has played 2 fewer matches. But LaLiga’s website lists Sociedad first, they’ve scored 2 more goals.

The 4 Bundesliga clubs are 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 8th. The 4 LaLiga clubs are 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 8th (Barca!). The 3 Serie A clubs are 4th, 8th and 9th. The 3 Premier League clubs are 2nd, 5th and 9th. Porto and PSG are 3rd in their leagues.