A to D: at least two
A funny coincidence: rivals in all eight matches played on November 29 in groups A to D met for the first time in the European Cup lists. Dating turned out to be boring. 28 goals in 8 matches - while less than two did not score! An average of 3.5 goals per match. If the teams of four other groups that play on Thursday do not fail, the tour will definitely be the most productive in the current draw.
In the presence of another sign of increased militancy. Exactly in half of the meetings, the victory turned out to be strong-willed. Having conceded first, then the winners were Auxerre (4: 1 visiting Partizan), Besiktas (2: 1 over Brugge), Bucharest Dynamo (2: 1 over Bayer) and Parma "(2: 1 visiting Lance).
Lost profit
On Wednesday there were dramatic goals added minutes. So in Lance, the Parmesan ball Daniele Paponi turned his team from just an early immigrant in the 1/16 finals to the guaranteed winner of the group. But for the owners, it meant the abolition of the almost coming triumph. Now the French club’s exit in the playoffs (recall, three clubs from the group qualify there) depends on the outcome of his visit to the Dutch Heerenveen. In the projection to the finish, the situation in Quartet D looks very confusing. For two unreplayed tickets - four applications at once. Moreover, it is likely that at the finish “Lance”, “Osasuna”, “Odense” and “Heerenveen” will gain 4 points. And then (another feature of the tournament regulations) will have to immediately consider the difference between goals scored and conceded. Then, if necessary, only those who were clogged, then who were clogged away ... Did Lance need this?
Maccabi in conjunction with the Rangers
In a similar way, Livorno complicated his life. He in his field allowed the Haifa Maccabi to recoup in the minute designated in the minutes as “90 + 4”. It is doubly offensive to the Apennines because minutes earlier, with a score of 1: 0, their forward Ibrahima Bakayoko from a favorable position lit up the crossbar. Well, the Argentinean Roberto Colautti, recently assimilated in Israel, dealt a precious blow to the guests. He made Maccabi second, followed by the Scottish Rangers, a lucky player from Group A. Auxerre now has the best chance to become the third. He played great in Belgrade, and now, in two weeks, even a home draw with the same Livorno is enough for him.
Near hat tricks
And in group B, the strike company that solved the problem and missed the Tottenham tour was made up of Dynamo, Bucharest. He succeeded in defeating Bayer thanks to the excellent game of the Belarusian goalkeeper Vladimir Gaev and the double of captain Claudi Nikulescu. The veteran with two blows canceled the starting advantage of the guests after the goal of Sergey Barbares and, by the way, almost made a hat-trick. But in the end, a cool kick from the penalty kick, Niculescu opposed at the gate of the guests Hans-Jörg Butt.
Along the way, we note that the problem of the third goal was originally solved that evening in another group by the Osasuna midfielder Pachi Punial. First, he twice took the gate of the Odense, and then, in the mood, his own. Fortunately, this did not spoil the Spaniards result and in the end only amused the audience.
"Seville" with his
The third scoring of the evening was also Spanish. Or, if you will, Brazilian. This Sevilla midfielder Daniel Alves laid the foundation for the defeat (0-4), which the spring winner of the UEFA Cup led in Zurich to the now helpless Grasshopper. By the way, the Sevilians after three games keep their gates “dry” - bravo, Andres Palop!
Group C, where Sevilla is registered, decided on Wednesday with two delegates to the playoffs at once. Another was Alkmaar. He snatched happiness from the hands of a courageously daring, just like visiting Spartak, Liberian Slovan. The Czech club was ahead twice and missed the victory only in the 89th minute after a strike by Julian Jenner. Now the situation of Slovan is worse than the governor’s. He played his and now in third place. But it will remain there only if in the last round the hopeless Grasshopper will qualify at least for a draw visiting Braga.
Sergey NOVIKOV