2023-24 UEFA Europa League/Europa Conference League Discussion Thread

[Baphomet]

Discuss the Europa League and Europa Conference League here. Current holders are Sevilla(Europa League) and West Ham United (Conference League).

[Baphomet]

Not looking like a good start to Brighton's first European campaign. Losing 2-0 to a dismal Marseille side after losing the first week to AEK Athens. Still time to come back.

[magik9113]

I was going to ask what's going on with them lately, but looks like they secured the 2-2 draw.

Besiktas meanwhile blew a 2-0 lead and lost 3-2 in the final 10 minutes in their Conference League match vs Lugano

[Baphomet]

I was going to ask what's going on with them lately, but looks like they secured the 2-2 draw.

Besiktas meanwhile blew a 2-0 lead and lost 3-2 in the final 10 minutes in their Conference League match vs Lugano

I saw that. My first thought was that Turco's going to be annoyed about Turkey's coefficient.

[MetalFingaz]

Lol Anfield is just Union supporters at the moment.

[Baphomet]

Really entertaining game in Rome between Roma and Feyenoord right now.

It's 1-1 after 15 minutes, Pellegrini just equalised with a delightful curled effort. 2-2 on aggregate.

[MetalFingaz]

Qarabag scoring at 120+2' with 10 men to see off Braga and secure their place in the Round of 16. Europa League > Champions League, no question.

[Baphomet]

Roma vs. Brighton
Ajax vs. Villa

Tasty draws for two of the English teams. Ajax vs. Villa is like a classic 70s/80s European cup tie. Liverpool should make light work of Sparta, you'd think.

[Baseline81]

Roma vs. Brighton
Ajax vs. Villa

Tasty draws for two of the English teams. Ajax vs. Villa is like a classic 70s/80s European cup tie. Liverpool should make light work of Sparta, you'd think.

I imagine the lineup in the first leg would be similar to the Luton Town match.

[Baphomet]

Pretty poor showing by the English sides, Liverpool aside.

I'm on coefficient watch, so I could really stand to see the English teams progress so that 5th place might allow Spurs to qualify for the CL, should they not be able to upend Villa for 4th, while also holding off United. Brighton look finished, West Ham and Villa could still get something. It's in the balance.

[MetalFingaz]

Leverkusen with 2 goals in stoppage time to squeeze past Qarabag. Wow!

[magik9113]

Leverkusen with 2 goals in stoppage time to squeeze past Qarabag. Wow!

That was fun stuff. Happy it turned out that way, as although Qarabag proved to be a good team, this competition is much stronger with the 1st place Bundesliga team still in it.

It has shaped out to be a good tournament going forward: Liverpool, Milan, Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Benfica, Marseille, Roma and West Ham
The draw is today for Europa and Conference leagues.

[magik9113]

The race for which league gets 5 spots in the UCL next season is heating up.
On one hand I'm rooting for the Italian teams in the EL, but on the other hand I'm feeling pretty certain that the world doesn't need that. I still stand by Inter being the only legit Italian team at the moment, despite their L vs Atletico...and while Bologna making their first ever UCL would be nice, they would get absolutely abused.

[magik9113]

Europa:
Benfica - Marseille
Leverkusen - West Ham
Liverpool - Atalanta
Milan - Roma

Conference:
Aston Villa - Lille
Olympiacos - Fenerbache
Plzen - Fiorentina
Club Brugge - PAOK

[MetalFingaz]

Olympiacos is playing Fenerbache in the Conference League after Villa smoked Ajax, fwiw.

It'll be close between Italy and Germany for that 2nd coefficient spot. Both leagues could use the revenue. It'll be interesting to see if Atalanta and Roma can both catch Bologna down the stretch.

As for Liverpool, I'm happy to avoid Milan/Roma/Leverkusen until the Final. I think Atalanta will be more of a test than either Benfica or Marseille.

[magik9113]

Olympiacos is playing Fenerbache in the Conference League after Villa smoked Ajax, fwiw.

It'll be close between Italy and Germany for that 2nd coefficient spot. Both leagues could use the revenue. It'll be interesting to see if Atalanta and Roma can both catch Bologna down the stretch.

As for Liverpool, I'm happy to avoid Milan/Roma/Leverkusen until the Final. I think Atalanta will be more of a test than either Benfica or Marseille.

Thx. was real sleepy this morning when posting these.

the Liverpool - Atalanta matchup is the one I'm looking forward to watching the most. I expect Liverpool to go through with ease, but they are probably the two most attacking teams in the whole tournament.

Also, as things stand, Italy is above both Germany and England in the coefficient

[magik9113]

still 20 minutes left, but Atalanta is playing a damn near perfect match... up 2-0 at Anfield

[Baphomet]

It's rare to see Liverpool done like this at Anfield. Very good performance by Atalanta.

Meanwhile Roma still winning at Milan. Would end a long winning streak for Milan.

[MetalFingaz]

I had to watch the game in bits and pieces around work, but Liverpool have looked tired since Klopp decided to play the starters at Anfield against Prague 5-1 up (and really since the Carabao Cup final). We're getting some players back soon, most notably Trent, but I'm not confident for the away leg or the rest of the run-in.

[magik9113]

after the first leg:

Milan 0 - 1 Roma
Liverpool 0 - 3 Atalanta
Bayer Leverkusen 2 - 0 West Ham United
Benfica 2 - 1 Olympique Marseille