European cups 2009/10

[2mas]

New format for the Champions League:

22 teams go through directly to the group stage instead of 16. The six additional clubs will be the third-placed sides from the associations ranked between 1 and 3 in the ranking list, and the champions of countries ranked from 10 to 12.

Ten teams will qualify through a double qualifying route – one is reserved for the champions of the associations ranked from 13 to 53, with the exception of Liechtenstein. Five clubs will qualify via this route. The other path is reserved for the non-champions of associations rated between 1 and 15.

The UEFA Cup is also changed:

The UEFA Cup between 2009 and 2012 will feature 48 sides, split into 12 groups of four; the top two teams in each group will qualify for the knockout phase and be joined by the eight clubs that finish the group stage of the UEFA Champions League in third place.

More details: UEFA Executive Committee approves changes to UEFA club competitions

This change is good for Rosenborg and Norway ranked 18th. Now RBK don't have to meet giant clubs from Spain, England, Italia, France and Germany in the UCL qualification.

The chance of being seeded in the draw for the 3rd qualifying round has also increased, even though there now are just 5 instead of 16 spots. In 2009/10 we will most likely be fighting with champions of Czech rep., Belgium, Greece, Switzerland and Bulgaria for the 5 spots; no other clubs will have better coefficient than Rosenborg. Most likely the Bulgarian champion (i.e. Levski Sofia) will be ranked after Rosenborg.

It is not advantageous that the Norwegian champions now have to play three insted of two qualifying rounds, but the opponents in the two first round should be of pretty mean quality, consisting of players with real lack of European cup experience. In double leg fights Rosenborg should cope with them.

The 3rd round will still not be a walk-over, but even if Rosenborg are not seeded, the opponent will be possible to beat. After all it is far better to face Anderlecht than AC Milan in the final test before the group stage.

[Skotten]

Good news for RBK, sadly it won't matter for us in the next two years at least.

[2mas]

UEFA Cup via Fair play award?

[mrstpatsfc]

its a strong possibility that our fair play record will get us into the uefa cup.

will be hard watching champions league without rosenborg,although the wannabe tronderans,cluj,have qualified

[Gerrit]

They didn't need to qualify, they were seeded and did not need qualifiers. Romanian league on the rise, they even have 2 teams in the CL now with Steaua qualifying vs Galatasaray...
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Rosenborg, forever pride of the North!

[2mas]

It's official: UEFA Cup to become UEFA Europa League

[2mas]

Seems like the regulations after all won't be changed:

Having originally assured journalists that a recommendation to scrap cup runners-up competing in the newly named competition had sailed through, the proposal was in fact quashed. UEFA's top brass, it seems, was over-ruled by its own members. And that makes bad reading for the SFA and SPL who had made it clear they were in favour of as many European places as possible reverting to league placings.

"The fact is that the executive committee did not accept the change proposed by our club competitions committee," UEFA general secretary David Taylor told Scotland on Sunday.

"That means we stick with the current position. The feeling is there is a better opportunity, through these means, for smaller clubs to sample European competition since many of them will find it very difficult to finish third, fourth or fifth."

Taylor denied that preserving the cup runners-up policy would fly in the face of the entire rebranding principle, designed to boost the status and stature of the UEFA Cup. But he admitted that Scotland was among "a significant minority" who had wanted domestic cup runners-up to stay out.

"A number of countries, including Scotland, were concerned that weaker clubs were getting access to the competition, not performing well and dragging down the national co-efficient. But they are out of step with the rest of Europe."

Read more: UEFA Cup revamped and rebranded with a surprise reprieve for Scottish Cup runners-up

As Stabæk win the league, it seems like Vålerenga get the third Europa League spot. What had happen if Stabæk finished second but won the cup, I don't know. The old rule said 4th place gets the cup spot...

[2mas]

"We are very happy to get this opportunity. Since Norway historically has done well in UEFA's Fair Play competition, I estimate the chance for Rosenborg to play in Europe next year to about 50 percent," says managing director Nils Skutle to RBK.no.

Read more: Europa League still possible

The first FP update will most likely be published in January.

I especially like the removal of regional groups in the draw for the EL qual. rounds. Since RBK had not played in UC qualifiers since 1994, I never had focused hard on this, but it was really irritating that UEFA behind close doors removed the possibilities of some "easy draws".

E.g. in the 2nd qual. round this year, these were the two groups in the Northern region:

Gr. 1

Rosenborg BK (NOR) 35,400
Manchester City FC (ENG) 30,996
Viking FK (NOR) 12,400
Queen of the South FC (SCO) 11,013
KAA Gent (BEL) 8,810
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FC Midtjylland (DEN) 6,748
FC Nordsjælland (DEN) 6,748
Djurgårdens IF (SWE) 6,518
Kalmar FF (SWE) 4,518
FC Honka (FIN) 3,176

Gr. 2

Aston Villa FC (ENG) 24,996
Stade Rennais FC (FRA) 24,380
FC København (DEN) 23,748
Brøndby IF (DEN) 18,748
IF Elfsborg (SWE) 8,518
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Lillestrøm SK (NOR) 7,400
Stabæk IF (NOR) 7,400
FC Haka (FIN) 3,176
FH Hafnarfjördur (ISL) 2,980
St. Patrick's Athletic FC (IRL) 2,420

Haka, FH and St. Pats would have been far better draws than Djurgården, but UEFA removed these alternatives without anyone outside knowing how.

I therefore appreciate that the EL draws will be as open and transparent as the ones in the CL.

[2mas]

Europa League, here we come!

UEFA has changed the rules, and compared to earlier seaons, top three instead of only the winner is automatically awarded a place in the 1st qualifying round to the Europa League.

Standings of 31 December:

1. Norway 8,325 (57 matches)
2. Denmark 8,201 (69)
3. Scotland 8,186 (51)
4. Netherlands 8,132 (81)
5. Wales 8,122 (32)
6. Sweden 8,104 (60)
7. France 8,101 (89)

Read more: Heading for Europa League!

[Skotten]

Lucky us, thanks Stabaek!

By the way, this might not be RBK/Europe specific but is there any UEFA rules that will affect Stabaek's new arena i.e playing indoors?

[2mas]

We played indoors at Schalke, so it already is accepted.

[Bakklandia]

Isn't there a difference between an outdoor stadium with roof contra an all-indoor stadium?
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Det er bedre å stupe ut i smørøyet enn å gå rundt grøten!

[2mas]

Should it be? Neither I nor UEFA think so.

[Bakklandia]

I don't know. That's why I asked!
_________________
Det er bedre å stupe ut i smørøyet enn å gå rundt grøten!

[2mas]

As I know, UEFA approved Telenor Arena after the original height was increased. This is also one of the reasons why there are bad-looking metal walls behind the stands.

[alphacento]

this is a very good news. Europe competitions would not be the same without rosenborg!!

[2mas]

I also hope this will help us buying players until the Norwegian transfer window closes 31 March.

[Skotten]

[2mas]

Scotland will have a sixth team in Europe next season, with Uefa confirming that a Fair Play berth will go to a Scottish Premier League side.

(...)

Norway, Denmark and Scotland will all get an extra place in the first qualifying round of the Europa League.

Read more: Scots win Fair Play European spot

Still no confirmation at uefa.com but: Hurray!

Draws:

1st and 2nd qual. round: 22 June
3rd qual. round: 17 July
4th qual. round: 7 August

Fixtures:

1st qual. round: 2 and 9 July
2nd qual. round: 16 and 23 July
3rd qual. round: 30 July and 6 August
4th qual. round: 20 and 27 August

I.e. European matches six consecutive Thursday this summer. Lot's of travelling both for me as a supporter and the team.

Possible opponents:

1st qualifying round (25 clubs):

Vardar Skopje Mac 1.032
Simurq Zaqatala Azb 0.899
Khazar Lenkoran Azb 0.899
TVMK Tallinn Est 0.866
Trans Narva Est 0.866
Dinamo Tirana Alb 0.799
Teuta Durrës Alb 0.799
Irtysh Pavlodar Kaz 0.649
Alma-Ata Kaz 0.649
Gandzasar Kapan Arm 0.599
Mika Yerevan Arm 0.599
The New Saints Wal 0.465
Carmarthen Town Wal 0.465
Crusaders Nir 0.432
Cliftonville Nir 0.432
B36 Tórshavn Far 0.432
NS� Runavik Far 0.432
Jeunesse d'Esch Lux 0.266
Grevenmacher Lux 0.266
Sutjeska Niksic Mon 0.200
Grbalj Radanovici Mon 0.200
Engordany And 0.100
Birkirkara Mlt 0.099
Sliema Wanderers Mlt 0.099
Tre Fiori San 0.050

2nd qualifying round (40 clubs):

Lahti Fin 1.957
Kaunas Lit 1.933
Sudova Marijampole Lit 1.933
Vetra Vilnius Lit 1.933
Sligo Rovers Irl 1.899
Daugava Daugavpils Lat 1.832
Metalurgs Liepaja Lat 1.832
Skonto Riga Lat 1.832
Celje Slo 1.816
Rudar Velenje Slo 1.816
Dinamo Minsk Bls 1.733
MTZ-Ripo Minsk Bls 1.733
Shakhtyor Soligorsk Bls 1.733
Sloboda Tuzla Bos 1.732
FK Sarajevo Bos 1.732
Slavija Istocno Sarajevo Bos 1.732
Újpesti Hun 1.633
Zalaegerszegi Hun 1.633
Dacia Chisinau Mol 1.332
Iskra Stali Ribnita Mol 1.332
KR Reykjavik Isl 1.332
Zimbru Chisinau Mol 1.332
Keflavik Isl 1.332
Fram Reykjavik Isl 1.332
Olimpi Rustavi Geo 1.332
Zestafoni Geo 1.332
Vaduz Lie 1.100
Renova Dzepciste Mac 1.032
Milano Kumanovo Mac 1.032
Inter Baku Azb 0.899
Flora Tallinn Est 0.866
KF Tirana Alb 0.799
Tobol Kustanai Kaz 0.649
Pyunik Erevan FC Arm 0.599
Llanelli Wal 0.465
Glentoran Nir 0.432
HB Torshavn Far 0.432
Differdange Lux 0.266
Mogren Budva Mon 0.200
FC Valletta Mlt 0.099

3rd qualifying round (35 clubs):

Lokomotiv Sofia Bul 8.250
Universitatea Craiova Rom 7.781
Larissa Gre 7.632
Elfsborg Swe 6.938
Young Boys Sui 6.050
Dundee United Sco 5.575
Falkirk Sco 5.575
Tsjerno More Varna Bul 5.250
Westerlo Bel 5.065
FC Midtjylland Den 4.890
Randers DenUCFP 4.890
VÃ¥lerenga Nor 4.760
Sigma Olomouc Cze 4.150
Fredrikstad Nor 3.760
Sturm Graz Aut 3.565
Dinamo Tbilisi Geo 3.332
Vojvodina Novi Sad Srb 3.050
Javor Ivanjica Srb 3.050
Beitar Jeruzalem Isr 3.050
Maccabi Netanya Isr 3.050
Omonia Nicosia Cyp 3.016
AEL Limassol Cyp 3.016
IFK Göteborg Swe 2.938
Spartak Trnava Svk 2.932
MFK Kosice Svk 2.932
St. Patrick's Irl 2.899
Derry City Irl 2.899
Gorica Slo 2.816
GKS Belchatów Pol 2.583
Hajduk Split Cro 2.466
Slaven Belupo Cro 2.466
Rijeka Cro 2.466
HJK Helsinki Fin 1.957
Honka Fin 1.957
Györi Hun 1.633

4th qualifying round (37 clubs):

Lech Poznan Pol 12.583
Genoa Ita 12.581
Slovan Liberec Cze 12.150
Grasshoppers Sui 12.050
Røde Stjerne Srb 12.050
Anorthosis Famagusta Cyp 12.016
Groningen Ned 11.825
Hears Sco 11.575
Aberdeen ScoUCFP 11.575
Krylia Sovetov Samara Rus 11.525
Brøndby Den 10.890
Trabzonspor Tur 10.445
Metallurg Donetsk Ukr 10.120
Helsingborg Swe 9.938
PAOK Saloniki GreCL2 9.632
Wisla Kraków Pol 9.583
Amkar Perm Rus 9.525
Dinamo Moskva RusCL3 9.525
Metallurg Zaporizhzhya Ukr 9.120
MSK Zilina Svk 8.932
Unirea Urziceni RomCL2 8.781
Tromsø Nor 8.760
Rapid Wien Aut 8.565
Paços Ferreira Por 8.292
Politechnica Timisoara Rom 7.781
Nacional Madeira Por 7.292
Gent Bel 5.065
Kalmar Swe 4.938
APOEL Nicosia Cyp 4.016
Stabæk IF Nor 3.760
Legia Warschau Pol 3.583
Slovan Bratislava Svk 2.932
Ventspils Lat 2.832
Maribor Slo 2.816
FH Hafnarfjördur Isl 2.332
Inter Fin 1.957
Ekranas Panevezys Lit 1.933

We got 28.76 points but the calculations are to change due to new regulations; 20% instead of 33% country coefficient and bonus points in the qualification etc.

[Skotten]

It's going to be fun.

[2mas]

Norway confirmed as Fair Play winners

[Green Apes]

Why are Maccabi Netanya and Beitar in there?

If its CL then you can remove them because Maccabi Haifa are 99% champions we only need 2 points out of 6, its either Maccabi or Hapoel Tel-Aviv..
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~GA

[2mas]

It's not CL, it's the new Europa League.

[Green Apes]

[2mas]

The Europa League first qualifying round line-up is almost complete — and Llanelli are targeting the big boys.

(...) instead of keeping their fingers crossed for one of the smaller teams in the seeded group, the Reds are hoping to pluck out a big name.

And with the possibility of being paired with Scottish Fair Play winners Motherwell, along with Irish outfit Sligo Rovers and Norwegian side Rosenborg, their preference could be met.

Read more: Reds target big guns in new-look Euro challenge