UEFA Europa League Preview
After a goal glut in the Champions League on match day 1 the focus now turns to Europa League as 48 clubs look to achieve their dream of lifting a European Tophy.
The Europa League starts tonight with Groups I, J, K and L in focus as European Powerhouses like Liverpool, Sevilla, Porto, along with Sampdoria, Napoli, Dortmund and Besiktas embark on their European journey tonight.
Sevilla V PSG: Sevilla won the UEFA Cup back to back in 2006 and 2007 and after a dismal last season in Europe will be looking to put things right this term. Sevilla have not won a single one of their last four European fixtures and will
look to end the disappointing run against a tricky opposition tonight.
PSG come into the tournament on the back of 6-3 thrashing of Tel Aviv in the qualifying and will be confident going into the match.
Stalwarts like Gregory Coupet, Claude Makelele and Mateja Kezman will try and help their side with their vast European experience against an out of sorts but talented Sevilla outfit.
PSV V Sampdoria: In what is definitely one of the glamour ties of the night, Dutch powerhouse PSV take on Italian Sampdoria in Eindhoven. PSV are on the back of a seven match unbeaten run in Europe but will have to pull every trick out of
their hats tonight if they are to progress past their opponents.
Sampdoria are coming into the game after a shock exit from the Champions League at the hands of Werder Bremen but the Italians will be looking to put the disappointment behind them as they travel to the Netherlands.
The fixture is the Italian side’s first ever against a Dutch opponent and although their star striker Antonia Cassano is in sublime form but tonight’s game will not be an easy one for the Italians.
Debrecini V Metalist Kharkiv: Debrecini were the form side in Hungary last season as they won their League, Hungarian Cup, League Cup and the Super Cup in an excellent season. The Hungarians open their European journey tonight against Ukranian
outfit FC Metalist tonight at home.
Kharkiv progressed to the quarter finals of the 2009 competition and will look to repeat their exploits this season again as they take on a Hungarian opponent for the first time in their history.
Karpaty Lviv V Borussia Dortmund: Ukranian outfit Lviv are on the back of an 8 game unbeaten run in Europe and their last home defeat in Europe came 40 years ago when they lost to Steau Bucharest in 1970. Tonight the task at hand for the
Ukranians is a difficult one as they take on German giants Dortmund.
Borussia Dortmund were the first ever side from Germany win a continental competition when they won the competition in 1966 and in 1997 they went one better as they landed the UEFA Champions League trophy. But since then their history has not been as glorious
as they have lived under the shadows of Bayern Munich and Schalke.
Tonight’s game in Ukraine will not be an easy one for the Germans as both teams are looking to restore glory days back to their club and will not be taking anything for granted tonight.
Liverpool V Steau Bucharest: It is disappointing for 5 time European Champions to be playing in the Europe’s second tier competition but after making it to the semi finals of the same competition last year Liverpool will be looking to go
one better this time around as they host the Romanian outfit Steau.
Roy Hodgson was the hero for Fulham last season as he guided an unfancied side to the final of the competition last season and will be looking to repeat the feat again this year with a much better side.
Liverpool will be without Dirk Kuyt, who has been ruled out with a shoulder injury and there are rumors circulating that stars like Gerrard and Torres will be rested from tonight’s game in order to have them fresh for the weekend clash against Manchester
United.
Steau have failed to register a win in their last 4 European outings and it will not be any easy for them tonight as they visit the den of the only side in the competition with a Champions League Badge of Honour.
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