Screens shows the draw results for the 2015/2016 UEFA Europa League at Monaco's Grimaldi Forum in Monte Carlo, Monaco, on Friday. Photograph: Eric Gaillard/Reuters Former European champions Ajax Amsterdam and Celtic, who both suffered the indignity of being knocked of the Champions League qualifiers by underdogs this season, will meet in the Europa Leagueafter being drawn together in the group stage on Friday.Four-times European champions Ajax, beaten by Rapid Vienna in the premier competition, and Celtic, who were ousted by Malmo, were placed in Group A alongside Turkey's Fenerbahce and Norwegian side Molde. Anderlecht will meet Tottenham Hotspur in a repeat of the 1984 final after they were drawn in Group J alongsideMonaco and Qarabag. The English Premier League side won the UEFA Cup 31 years ago on penalties after both legs against Anderlecht ended 1-1. Napoli were draw with Club Bruges, Legia Warsaw and Midtjylland in Group D while Borussia … [Read more...] about Former European champions Ajax, Celtic meet in Europa League
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Woeful nine-man Roma miss out on Champions League group stage spot
IMAGE: Edin Dzeko with his teammates of AS Roma protest to the the referee Szymon Marciniak during the UEFA Champions League qualifying playoff round second leg match against FC Porto at Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Tuesday. Photograph: Paolo Bruno/Getty Images AS Roma suffered another European humiliation on Tuesday when they had two players sent off, lost 3-0 at home to Porto and missed out on the Champions League group stage. After drawing 1-1 in Portugal in the first leg of the playoff tie, Roma started as favourites but never recovered after Felipe gave the visitors an eighth-minute lead.They imploded completely when Daniele De Rossi and his replacement Emerson Palmieri were shown straight red cards either side of halftime. Roma became the third successive Serie A team, and the sixth in the last eight seasons, to lose in the playoff round, leaving Italy with only two representatives -- Juventus and Napoli -- in Thursday's group-stage draw. Their initial confidence was shattered when … [Read more...] about Woeful nine-man Roma miss out on Champions League group stage spot
Champions League PIX: Barca drub Roma; Arsenal’s hopes alive
Barca's Suarez and Messi hit doubles in Roma rout IMAGE: Barcelona's Gerard Pique, second left, celebrates with Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar during the UEFA Champions League Group E match against AS Roma at Camp Nou. Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images Barcelona’s Luis Suarez hit a brace and set up a double for a spritely Lionel Messi to score in his first start after injury in a rampant 6-1 Champions League victory over AS Roma on Tuesday. The win ensured Barca go through to the last 16 in first place in Group E. They have 13 points from five games, Roma and Bayer Leverkusen both have five and BATE Borisov have four. Barcelona are in the last 16 for the 12th consecutive season following another blistering attacking display that comes hot on the back of their 4-0 destruction of Real Madrid in La Liga last Saturday. Gerard Pique and Adriano also scored for Barcelona with Roma striker Edin Dzeko, who had a penalty saved, netting a consolation goal in stoppage time. Sanchez … [Read more...] about Champions League PIX: Barca drub Roma; Arsenal’s hopes alive
Nations League: Spain humiliate Croatia with thumping win
IMAGE: Spain's Isco, left, celebrates scoring their sixth goal with team mates as Croatia's Mateo Kovacic looks dejected. Photograph: Heino Kalis/Reuters Spain showed their remarkable potential under new coach Luis Enrique by destroying World Cup runners-up Croatia 6-0 on Tuesday to hand the visitors their biggest ever defeat and take control of their Nations League group. Midfielder Saul Niguez scored in his home city of Elche by heading home midway through the first half, giving Spain the lead against the run of play after Croatia had made a bright start and missed two good chances. The hosts soon increased their lead with two thumping strikes from Marco Asensio, the second of which was given as an own goal to Croatia goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic as it bounced off him after crashing against the crossbar.Rodrigo Moreno completed a fine team move after the interval before captain Sergio Ramos headed the fifth while a strike from Isco saw Spain become the first team to score six … [Read more...] about Nations League: Spain humiliate Croatia with thumping win
Leipzig’s unleashed goal-giant Werner allowing bold Champions League dreams
Video PlayerClose By Oliver Trust BERLIN, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- RB Leipzig's goals have been clearly stated in advance of their last challenge in Group G of the Champions League against the French side of Olympique Lyon. Nothing less first place in the group and the 2.7 million Euros bonus offered by UEFA is what the prospering East-German team is aiming at this Tuesday evening. For a good reason, the club's ambitions currently seem to know no borders. No other name embodies Rasenballsport's enchanting upswing more than striker Timo Werner. Having scored his 15th league goal, the forward is on his way to new heights. Werner is only the fourth German international having scored 15 goals after 14 rounds of matches in the Bundesliga's 56-year history. Pundits see the 23-year-old in the footsteps of the country's striker legend Gerd Mueller. The media call the Leipzig forward the best German striker. His goals not only secured Leipzig's first participation in the Champions League's … [Read more...] about Leipzig’s unleashed goal-giant Werner allowing bold Champions League dreams