Veikkausliiga update

Last month I did a blog post about the most competitive title race in Europe which turned out to be Finland's Veikkausliiga. At the time the top seven in the league were extremely close to each other with just seven points separating seventh place and top spot.

In the month since the contenders have been whittled down from seven to four. The race has ended for KuPS, who have lost every single game they have played in the past month and RoPS whose hopes ended by picking up just four points in that time. VPS are currently fifth and astoundingly still could, in theory at least, win the league. They sit five points off leaders IFK Mariehamn with two games to play. However realistically their hopes depend on an odd combinations of results. That leaves the four contenders being leaders IFK Mariehamn, traditional powerhouse HJK Helsinki, defending champions SJK and outsiders Ilves.

The league enters it's final two rounds of games after Friday's results. A day that saw none of the final four contenders win their games. Ilves were held to a 1-1 draw at home by lowly HIFK, SJK rescued a late point against mid-table Lahti while there was a top two clash with HJK Helsinki and IFK Mariehamn playing out a 1-1 draw at Sonera Stadium.

Those results mean IFK Mariehamn remain just about on course for a first ever league title. The side from Åland which lies just south of the gulf of Bothnia between Finland and Sweden are a solitary point ahead of HJK Helsinki. 
In third is defending champions SJK who are a point behind HJK. SJK also have a resurgent streak on their side and are actually the form team in Finland right now. In fourth a further point behind is Ilves. They are also reaching peak form at just the right time. 

The penultimate round of fixtures take place on Monday. IFK Mariehamn are away to Lahti, SJK host already relegated PK-35 Vantaa while Ilves host HJK in a massive clash between two contenders. Defeat for Ilves ends their hopes but a victory puts them above HJK and puts their title hopes in their own hands. 

This leads me onto the best part of this epic title race. The final day is next Sunday on October 23rd. In that round of games the fixture computer has given fans a pair of massive fixtures. All four contenders, should Ilves remain in the running until then, face another contender. HJK Helsinki host SJK while IFK Mariehamn are at home to Ilves. So it's pretty much set up for an almighty conclusion to what has been an utterly insane season. 

The run-in

The massive title swing that was October 8th

October 8th was a massive night in the League of Ireland title race. The scene that afternoon had Dundalk with a four point buffer ahead of Cork City with seven games to play, which includes a head-to-head between the two, more on that in a bit.

Dundalk also had the superior goal difference which was +40 with City on +34 large enough to effectively be an extra point in the title race.
Cork City were away on Saturday in Galway while Dundalk hosted a Sligo Rovers side that had their European ambitions still burning although getting quite feint so needed a result. Both games kicking off simultaneously at 7:45pm. Nobody including myself could've foreseen what was to unfold in those two hours on Saturday night.

It began when Sligo's French striker Achille Campion capitalized upon Gary Rogers fluffing a clearance to give his side the lead in the first minute. A minute later on the opposite coast Sean Maguire kept up his scoring run by putting City in front against a Galway side that sacked manager Tommy Dunne the previous week. Not even 7:50pm and already movement in the table. By 8:10pm the picture got rosier for City as goals from first Stephen Dooley and then Garry Buckley had City coasting at 3-0 while Dundalk were still 1-0 down but probing.
8:21pm and a massive moment in the title race. Philip Roberts, who had replaced the injured Campion minutes previously planted a low shot past Rogers after he evaded Andy Boyle and the Dundalk defense to put Sligo 2-0 up in Oriel park, Dundalk stunned. A moment of magic from the Sligo substitute. That is how it stayed until half-time. Forty five minutes of football, City moving to just a solitary point behind Dundalk in the table but crucially a five goal swing in goal difference. It was now Dundalk +38 and City +37.
To the second half and much like the first, no waiting around for the action. 8:48pm and Maguire got his second goal of the night to put City 4-0 up. Game set and match for City the only thing not certain was on the east coast at this point. That game was to have another turn on 8:54pm when Liam Martin was given his marching orders for Sligo. Not what Sligo needed and early enough in the half for Dundalk to still turn the deficit around. Just after 9pm and massive title swing number two as Rafael Cretaro finishes off a Sligo counter attack to put the visitors 3-0 up. Sensational stuff from the ten men of the Bit o'Red.
Dundalk failed to register even a consolation goal in the final half hour while for City there was still enough time for them to register a fifth when substitute Chidozie Ogbene slotted coolly past Sam Ramsbottom. A 5-0 victory for City coupled with a 3-0 defeat for Dundalk, a massive night in the title race. That eight goal swing in goal difference also wiping out the advantage Dundalk had and actually giving City the edge in that column.

The events of Saturday night set up a mouth watering head-to-head between the top two tonight. Dundalk with home advantage with a win will put daylight between them and their challengers with five to play after tonight.
City will go top with a victory and really put the pressure on their county Louth opponents.

There will be points dropped by both sides in the remaining games. The pair have after tonight five league games which will be squeezed in before the final day of the league season on October 28th. This means games every three-four days between now and then,
Dundalk have an extra game due to their Europa league exploits with them hosting Zenit St Petersburg in between league games with Longford and Bohemians. So ahead of tonight, Come on City!.

"Maybe the switch will do us good? "

In 2017 Georgia's top division, the Umaglesi Liga, will become the twelfth spring-to-autumn league in Europe. The decision taken earlier this year means that there will be a transitional season for the rest of this calendar year to decide who represents the country in next season's European competitions. The transitional campaign isn't a normal league campaign and does require a bit of a breakdown.

Transitional Format
The league has fourteen clubs which for this short season are divided into two groups of seven. Each side plays each other home and away against the sides in their own group. The two group winners will then play each other at the end in a championship play-off to decide who gets the champions league place. 2nd and 3rd place finishers in both groups enter play-offs against each other to decide who gets the Europa League berth. The winners of the Georgian cup will take a Europa League berth as usual.
The teams finishing bottom of both groups are relegated to the second tier Pirveli Liga with 5th and 6th place finishers in both groups entering play-offs to keep their top flight status, the two losers here are relegated.

The change:
The league originally started out as a spring-to-autumn season after independence. The Georgian Football Federation (GFF) then decided to go with the autumn-to-spring season from the 1991-92 season up until last season. In that time the league has switched around league formats with a sixteen team home and away format, a championship and relegation pool system after a general season and a ten team home and away format with a twenty team format and oddly a seventeen team format also used.
The reason for this switch in calendar can probably be put down to European performance. Georgian clubs enter European competition in early July which is a good month and a half before domestic football resumes. The hope is that by switching the calendar the clubs will be match fit and sharp heading into these games giving them a slight edge of potentially out of season opponents, thus improving European results.

Dinamo Tbilisi were outclassed by PAOK
source: enallaxnews.gr

This season only Dinamo Tbilisi made any sort of run in Europe. They beat Alashkert from Armenia in the champions league before defeat by Dinamo Zagreb sent them into the Europa League play-off round which ultimately ended in a 5-0 aggregate defeat to PAOK. For the past two seasons all other Georgian clubs haven fallen at the first hurdle.

There have been notable runs such as Chikura Sachkhere in 2014 when they reached the third qualifying round in the Europa League after beating Bursaspor from Turkey and of course Dila Gori's runs to the play-off round in successive seasons, beating sides such as AaB Aallborg, Hajduk Split and Anorthosis. Zestafoni have also reached the play-off round in recent years. However those runs remain exceptions as opposed to rule and as of yet Dinamo Tbilisi remain the only Georgian club to have qualified for a group stage of European competition (2004-05 UEFA Cup).

By getting Georgian teams match fit and in season when these qualifying games come around the GFF hope to replicate the success neighboring Azerbaijan is currently having. For the second season is succession, Azerbaijan have two sides competing in the Europa League group stage.
The case point for a change in calendar having better results is Ireland. In 2002 the league of Ireland made the decision to press ahead with a switch in calendar to play through the summer with the aim of improving European results. That switch was made it 2003 and only a year later Shelbourne made serious inroads of getting into the champions league group stage. Results in Europe did improve but only for a few years until the lack of money impacted on the standard of Irish sides. Results are only now starting to pick up after that lull with Shamrock Rovers in 2011 and Dundalk this season making the group stage of the Europa League.

The season so far:
So far this season it's a free for all. The biggest and most successful club, Dinamo Tbilisi are off the pace. The defending champions are six points off top spot in Group 2. The country's second most successful side, Torpedo Kutaisi are bottom of the same group.

The struggles of the bigger sides have opened a window of opportunity. Leading both groups are sides that have never won the league title before. Samtredia lead Group 1 by two points ahead Dinamo Batumi, who themselves haven't won the title before. Chikhura Sachkhere lead Group 2 by five points from Locomotivi Tbilisi.

The group games will be concluded on November 25th by which time the play-offs for the European places will take center stage so still a bit of time for the bigger sides to sort themselves out.

Well that's Nice to see

After seven rounds of games in Ligue 1 someone other than Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is top of the table. It's not even Monaco either, or Lyon, or Marseille. Nope, instead it's the unexpected name of Nice that are sitting top of the tree.
From the outside looking in, Ligue 1 these past few years has been, well let's be honest, a bit of a bore when it comes to title races. PSG since their Qatar investment in 2011 have basically ran free with the title with the notable exception of 2014-15 which I blogged about a number of months ago. For a recap the 2014-15 Ligue 1 season was actually a three horse race up until April with Lyon and Marseille pushing PSG. In the end both chasing sides fell away in the final few games but it did provide some competition. Then came last season's procession.
Prior to PSG getting that Qatar investment the league was mightily competitive. Lyon's run of dominance ended with Bordeaux claiming the title in 2008-09 and after that no fewer than three different sides claimed the title in the successive three seasons. Then came the start of the current run of dominance of PSG.
Despite the runs of dominance by PSG in this decade and Lyon in the last, Ligue 1 still has produced more different league champions than all the other so called big leagues since the turn of the century. Eight to be precise.(England, Germany, Spain and Italy all have five different champions since 99-00).

Back to this season and well Nice are not one of those eight sides to have claimed at least one title since 2000. In fact Nice have only ever won the title four times and the last of those was in 1958-59. The rise of Nice for followers of French football shouldn't be that much of a shock considering they had a superb campaign last season. Sure they may have missed out on the prize of champions league football by two points but under Claude Puel they secured European football for the first time since 1997-98. Puel departed in the summer for Southampton and their star performer was the familiar name of Hatem Ben Arfa, he also left. Nice did however replace one troubled genius in Ben Arfa with another one this summer. Step forward one Mario Balotelli. Nice raised eyebrows when they signed the Italian from Liverpool with even Jaime Carragher saying that the free transfer was Nice paying over the odds. Balotelli made his debut in the home game against Marseille and he responded with two goals, a penalty and close range header. He added two more goals in Nice's 4-0 demolition of Monaco last Wednesday. That big victory over Monaco put Nice top of the league and the narrow 1-0 success away to Nancy on Sunday maintained their position at the top.

PSG's rather indifferent start has opened up the table in these early weeks of the season, with the champions already suffering two league defeats which is the same total they suffered last season in it's entirety. Although it is early days one does hope that they are challenged this season. Can it be Nice? well so far the signs are pretty good. They have the best defense in France after seven games with just four put past them and much will depend how they juggle their European commitments, which began two weeks ago with a defeat at home to struggling Schalke. Coach Lucien Favre has the side playing lovely stuff at times and with the experienced head of Dante at the back they have the foundations of a reliable defense that could see them have an even better season than last season.

The Europa League moan

José Mourinho at the press conference this week
source: getty

"It's embarrassing to be in Europa League", "This is not a competition Man United want", "I think it's a killer..to be frank". Just some of the quotes from English football on the Europa League from Rio Ferdinand, José Mourinho and Harry Redknapp.
I'll start of this post by addressing those quotes. Rio Ferdinand made the "It's embarrassing to be in Europa League" comment after Man United finished 3rd in their champions league group last season. Whats embarrassing here is that Man United failed to get through a group containing Wolfsburg and PSV Eindhoven. For a club from the self proclaimed "best league in the world" you would expect an awful lot better.
"This is not a competition Man United want" well José, suck it up because Man United were not good enough to finish in the top 4 of a very weak premier league last season. Also a bit hypocritical of a man whose managerial career really began to take off by his successful Porto side in this competition's previous guise, the UEFA cup in 2003.
"I think it's a killer..to be frank" Harry Redknapp actually said this about the Europa League when Spurs were gunning for the premier league title. Redknapp's side were eliminated from the Europa league in the group stage that season and guess what, they still didn't win the title.

Other instances of English clubs not being particularly bothered about Europe happened last year when West Ham fielded a team of kids against Astra Giurgiu in Romania. The unfortunate part of that was West Ham had fans that traveled out to Romania to watch their side in Europe, instead they got to see a manager completely disregard them and the competition. Justice prevailed when Astra got through.

What I will never get my head around is you would expect utter arrogance from the likes of United, Liverpool, Chelsea and City, you know teams that are in Europe most years. It's the likes of West Ham, Stoke City and Aston Villa turning their nose up at this competition that baffles me. Despite the propaganda the premier league sends out, these teams haven't a glimmer of winning the league (Leicester's title last season is at the moment an outlier, no trends or conclusions can be made from that). Their best chances of trophies are cup competitions and they turn their noses up at them. Last season Swansea's Ashley Williams was "relived" to miss out on the Europa league because he wanted to "concentrate on the league". Why not concentrate on doing well in both competitions?
This excuse that Thursday-Sunday fixtures are hampering teams is pathetic as well. Thursday-Sunday is the exact same as Wednesday-Saturday fixtures for champions league sides. Ah but the champions league has the glamour, money and prestige to be taken seriously.These Premier League sides have a bumper new TV deal to hoover up as many players from around Europe as they want yet they can't get a big enough squad to compete in a few cup competitions alongside the league.
Also this isn't a recent phenomenon. Going back about ten years now when Reading were newly promoted and looking good for a UEFA cup place, their manager at the time said had they qualified for the UEFA cup he would've played the reserves. Needless to say Reading haven't been remotely close to qualifying for Europe since.
The argument of letting the bigger sides forgo taking part in the Europa League is dead in the water because even the small English sides don't even see the point in showcasing themselves in what is at the end of the day a European competition.
Up until the August revelation of the new format for the European competitions (more on that in another blog post) all national leagues in Europe were ranked on performance in the past five years in European competitions. This table has now pretty much been nullified with the plans in place but it was the system used to decided how many places in the champions league a nation got. English clubs with their disdain for the Europa League had slipped to 3rd in the table and were under threat of losing their 4th champions league spot until Italy had lost it's representatives in Europe early. Losing that champions league spot has hit Italy hard and Italy are a good case point here. For years Italian clubs were like the English clubs, they viewed the UEFA Cup/Europa league as a hindrance. Only after Italy lost their 4th champions league place in 2011 have Italian sides began to embrace the Europa League. Perhaps the English losing their 4th place would've changed their mindset?

This is the pathetic attitude of English sides towards this competition and you have the English media banging the anti-Europa league drum as well. What's even more incredible is even the fans are dismissing the Europa League. Some suggesting they'd rather their clubs sacrifice a European run for finishing two-three places higher in the league, like really, are you serious?
The arrogance in English football towards anything non-Premier league is astounding. One only has to flick through comments on match reports of the various English clubs on Europa league nights to see this in black and white. "oh it's only the Europa league", "not even arsed about the result" etc,
There is a lot wrong with modern football but what is really strange is that fans are valuing different competitions their teams play in on the monetary value. Oh the prize money for finishing 10th in the premier league is better than winning the Europa league. As a fan are you seeing any of that prize money?

From a personal point of view Europe is where I aspire my club to be. There is something magical about European games. Your club is testing itself against your counterparts from other countries. The away trips to cities that you never thought existed is part of the charm. I can tell you the memories I got from following Cork City in Europe to Belfast, Gothenburg and Genk this year will stay with me for the rest of my life, hell even our 2015 trip to Reykjavík had it's moments. Sure the club got rewarded for that European run, but as a fan I didn't give a toss. I was more concerned about where we might be going in the 4th round had we got past Genk, not drooling over the €800k the club would get for progressing.
You see I don't get this whole fans turning into accountants for their clubs. The clubs have people employed to look after the finances and make decisions accordingly. As a fan you are there to support the team not count the notes.

Twists, turns and more in Europe's most competitive title race

It's that time of the season where the end is in sight, no not in most European leagues that have only just started up but for the summer leagues. In Europe there are eleven leagues that play during the summer (Belarus, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden) and it's in these leagues that the finish line is in sight. For one league in particular it's been an extraordinary season at the top of the table.

That league is Finland's Veikkausliiga, which is Europe's most compelling title race this season. On Saturday 2nd placed IFK Mariehamn had the opportunity to claim top spot with a victory over SJK away from home. However it was last season's champions that claimed a 1-0 win to close within seven points off top spot themselves, SJK currently lie 7th in the table. Yes you read that right, SJK in 7th are seven points off top spot. It's been a fascinating season and one that really wasn't foreseen.

Last season saw HJK Helsinki, the country's most successful club, knocked off their perch by SJK from Seinäjoki, who claimed their first ever league title. However it probably was a little teaser of what was to come as the final day of the 2015 season saw three sides (SJK, RoPS Rovaniemi and HJK) tussle for the title. SJK went into that final day top and both RoPS and HJK needed them to drop points to have a chance of landing the title. In the end all three won their games which was enough for SJK. 

Previous to that 2015 success for SJK, the league was dominated by HJK who between 2009 and 2014 won every title on offer. So this latest bout of competitiveness has been very much unforeseen. What makes it even more astounding is HJK were Europa League group stage participants in 2014-15 so with all the money earned from that this really does add to the mystery of this insane season. 

HJK have been very inconsistent in 2016 which has opened the door to some sides that haven't tasted league glory in quite some time. In order of how the table reads aside from HJK these are when the contenders last tasted glory; IFK Mariehamn (never), RoPS (never), Ilves (1983), KuPS (1976), VPS (1948) and SJK (2015). So this season really is a fantastic opportunity for some of these clubs to seize the moment and end their title droughts. 

HJK only reclaimed top spot last week with a 2-0 win away at mid-table PS Kemi. Since that victory they have lost twice on the bounce. A 4-1 hammering by Lahti at home was followed by a 3-2 loss away at struggling Inter Turku which offered IFK Mariehamn that chance to reclaim top spot this weekend, which was spurned. The form teams are actually those catching up behind HJK and Mariehamn. Ilves are unbeaten in five, VPS likewise with draws being their problem in recent weeks. SJK have recovered from an absolute disaster of a start in which they were winless after the first month of the season and have since clawed themselves up into contention, just. 

HJK have also played a game more than all of the other six contenders. All the others play their games in hand before September is out which will have the capital side sitting nervously seeing what will unfold. They could however relinquish top spot again before those sides even play their games in hand as they host RoPS in a delicious looking clash on Wednesday when the next round of games will be played. At the same time IFK Mariehamn will host Inter Turku with the other four contenders face each other with VPS hosting SJK and KuPS facing Ilves. 
The league concludes on October 23rd by which time seven contenders will be whittled down somewhat but in the six rounds of games before that expect twists, turns and more in Europe's most competitive title race. 

Europa League group stage predictions

For the first time in five years there will be Irish interest in the Europa League group stages and for only the second time ever. It's a big deal, even if the side in question are direct trophy rivals for my own club. Dundalk make their group stage debut having dropped down from the champions league play-offs which saw them unable to get the better of Legia Warszawa. Victories over Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar of Iceland and BATE Borisov of Belarus gave them a guaranteed group stage place at least before doing battle with the Polish champions. 
Dundalk thus became only the second side from this island to reach the group stages. Shamrock Rovers, the most successful side here were the first to break the barrier after a dramatic extra-time victory over Partizan Belgrade in 2011. Rovers went on to lose all six group games in what was a very difficult group and Dundalk will be obviously hoping to better that performance. Dundalk however are in a tricky group make no mistake. Pitted against AZ Alkmaar from the Eredivisie in Holland, Russian giants Zenit St Petersburg and Israeli powerhouse Maccabi Tel-Aviv it offers it's own challenges. More on Dundalk's group later. 

Elsewhere the group stages have a decent spread of team across the continent. However two regions are without teams in this season's group stage. Scandinavia have no teams competing with only FC København the last remaining Scandinavian side left in either European competition. The Balkans is the other area without a team with Dinamo Zagreb the last team standing in either competition. 
What we lack in Scandinavia and the Balkans we make up for in other areas. Cyprus' APOEL Nicosia return for the second successive season in the Europa League group stage, Israel have two sides competing, as do Azerbaijan and Romania. The Czechs have a trio of hopefuls alongside the same number of Turkish sides. Even Kazakhstan have a side competing with Astana having dropped down from the champions league qualifiers. It all makes for an interesting group stage. 

Group A

Believe it or not I'm actually having a tricky assignment predicting this group. Yes Manchester United should be getting through but it's balanced out with not exactly easy away games. United's strength in depth should be enough to nab one of the top two spots but the other one is very tricky. Feyenoord have the atmospheric De Kuip to get them over the line at home as do Fenerbahçe with the Şükrü Saracoğlu. Zorya Luhansk have an unknown element about them that could fall in their favour. I'm not exactly a Ukrainian football guru but playing games in Odessa as opposed to Luhansk might be the difference in them getting through or not. I'll plum for Fenerbahçe to join United in getting through here. 

1. Manchester United
2. Fenerbahçe
3. Feyenoord
4. Zorya Luhansk

Group B

I like the look of this group. The Greek-Cypriot clashes do give it a spicy flavor which is tasty and qualification doesn't look beyond any of the teams. Olympiacos will no doubt be favorites to at least get through and they should do. APOEL have the warm conditions to their advantage but do face a chilling trip to Astana in November. Astana themselves will be travelling quite a lot which is a factor. Young Boys will be a tricky side to overcome. I'm going to side with APOEL here.

1. Olympiacos
2. APOEL Nicosia
3. Astana
4. Young Boys

Group C

Again another tricky group to predict. A decent grouping of sides that you could make a case for all to get through. Anderlecht's European record compared to their excellent domestic record have been a constant let down. Saint-Étienne I do think will get through. Playing in front of France's most passionate fans they will be a tough nut to break. Mainz have a small European sample size to go off of but I do think they'll be close in this group. The wildcard in this group is Qəbələ. The Azeri side are making their second ever group appearance after last season and will be a tricky opponent especially at home. I can see them coming very close this time but I'll play it safe and go with Anderlecht to join Saint-Étienne. 

1. Saint-Étienne
2. Anderlecht
3. Qəbələ
4. Mainz

Group D

Here we are. Irish eyes will be (well the should be) glued to this group. Dundalk being honest are up against it but that could be their advantage. No fear, no expectation. I'll go on record and say they will at least get a point, how much remains the joy of this competition, unfortunately for them I can't see them getting through. Zenit have quality dripping through the squad and should be favorites to top this group. AZ Alkmaar were a disaster in the group last season finishing 4th and I do think they'll miss out with Maccabi Tel-Aviv nabbing that second spot behind Zenit. The Israelis have lost their free scoring Eran Zahavi but do have a decent attacking threat about them. 

1. Zenit St Petersburg
2. Maccabi Tel-Aviv
3. AZ Alkmaar
4. Dundalk

Group E

Roma surely can't muck up this group. I would be amazed if they didn't get through. Joining them is where it gets tricky to predict. Astra Giurgiu were resolute in overcoming West Ham to get here and look fairly good in keeping teams out on that evidence. Austria Wien are a side that have a very decent shot at getting through. Currently 4th in the concertina at the top of the Austrian league do they have enough to get the better of Viktoria Plzeň. Czechs sides have began to improve in Europe after a doldrum period and I'm inclined to side on their side in this case. 

1. Roma
2. Viktoria Plzeň
3. Austria Wien
4. Astra Giurgiu

Group F

One team in particular I'll be following in this group and no prizes for guessing are our conquerors in the third qualifying round, Genk. Genk were a class or two above City in July/August and I'll be keeping an eye on their progress here for sure. Athletic Bilbao should be getting through without too much trouble. Sassuolo are in their debut European campaign so it's hard to see how much of a challenge they will otherwise have been had they been a seasoned Italian side in Europe. Rapid Wien have a passionate home support which will be their strength. I'm going to be bold here and go for Genk to join Athletic Bilbao in the next round, why not, it'll look better for City. 

1.  Athletic Bilbao
2. Genk
3. Sassuolo
4. Rapid Wien

Group G

A tasty looking group this. Celta de Vigo have began the season in disasterous form with three defeats from three, they have lost Nolito who at times last season was unplayable and could be the first Spanish side to exit Europe this season. Ajax well dumped out of the champions league by Rostov shows they are not in the finest of health. Panathinaikos like most Greek sides whose name is not Olympiacos have no money and Standard Liége well they had the utterly bizarre play-off system domestically to thank for them being in Europe in the first place. All sides have problems so makes for a really interesting battle. Ajax I think will go through alongside Panathinaikos but this group will be tight and don't be surprised to see Celta get through. 

1. Ajax
2. Panathinaikos
3. Celta de Vigo
4. Standard Liége

Group H

Playing away from Donetsk isn't ideal for Shakhtar but they have pedigree in this competition. The final winners of the UEFA cup and semi-finalists last season they are a side you just can't bet against in this group. Again a tricky group to predict given that Braga have started quite well in the league and Gent were among the last 16 in the champions league last season. Konyaspor are making their debut in European competition this season having finished an impressive 3rd domestically last season. I'll go with Braga to join Shakhtar in getting through.

1. Shakhtar Donetsk
2. Sporting Braga
3. Gent
4. Konyaspor

Group I

A very difficult group to predict. Schalke will be favorites to get through and I'd expect them to. Salzburg have in the past been ruthless in groups and have gone through on numerous occasions so will be a tough team to shift. Krasnodar were in the last 32 o this competition last season and won't be a pushover. Nice likewise will fancy their chances in this group. They have started quite well in Ligue 1 and should they carry that form over they have to be considered. I'll stick my neck out and go with Nice and Schalke here. 

1. Schalke
2. Nice
3. Salzburg
4. Krasnodar

Group J

Fiorentina will top this group without too much difficulty I think. The other three will be an interest fight for that second spot. Slovan Liberec are a side that could pose a threat to the more fancied PAOK. The Greeks will be my favorite to get through this group but it could very well be a close run thing. With the experience of the past few years under their belts Azeri side Qarabağ can't be dismissed from the discussion either. 

1. Fiorentina
2. PAOK
3. Qarabağ
4. Slovan Liberec

Group K

The trend of tricky groups continues here with three teams on a similar level and one potential wildcard team. Inter Milan obviously being the biggest name in the group and one would imagine should be getting through. I'm not so confident about the second team to go through. Southampton have in recent years punched above their weight and under a new manager this season are not the same side of those years. Sparta Praha obviously had a very impressive run in this competition last season. Hapoel Be'er Sheva have shown to be strong at home and are a banana skin in this group. I'll stick my neck out and side with Sparta to get through. 

1. Inter Milan
2. Sparta Praha
3. Southampton
4. Hapoel Be'er Sheva

Group L

I would be fairly confident that Villarreal will coast this group. Semi-finalists last season they have much more quality than their group rivals. Steaua București have their own off the pitch problems but were fairly outclassed by Manchester City in the champions league. FC Zürich are actually the only non top division side in the competition having suffered relegation last season but won the Swiss cup. Turkish side Osmanlıspor are in only their second ever European campaign and did overcome FC Midtjylland in the play-offs. I actually think the Turks have a really good chance here so I'll go with them to get through. 

1. Villarreal
2. Osmanlıspor
3. Steaua București
4. FC Zürich