Europa League 2012/13 - Now NOT Featuring Falcao

Benfica's an interesting one... we ideally need a result at the Stadium of Light, like we normally get.

Chelsea
Spurs
Fenerbache
Benfica

Newcastle will have played more European games at The Stadium of Light than Sunderland have.

Shame we didn't draw Newcastle, their an hour or so down the road from me and I'd definitely have been there. Still, Fenerbache isn't a bad draw, our first 11 is better than theirs but if we're too focused on the league it could get tricky given our lack of depth in some places.

It also seems our lanky Czech striker Libor Kozak is now the leading Europa League scorer with 8, not bad for a guy that can't score in Serie A to save himself.

Chelsea, Spurs, Nazio and Benfica (although I wouldn't write Newcastle off) I think.

Don't know too much about Rubin Kazan though, they may be able to knock Chelsea out. I'm sure they'll be better than Steaua and Chelsea made a meal of that tie.

Going back a little Torres does way more for Chelsea than Shevchenko did.

Not in terms of effort, which was the point I was making.

He does, Torres runs around and pressures more than Sheva did.

I wouldn't bet on us making the Semi finals. Rubin are pretty good.

Chelsea are probably the 2nd favourites now, with Spurs being favourites.

Rubin Kazan are 6th in the Russian league while Anjhi are sitting in 2nd - and they didn't really do much to impress me bar 30 minutes in the 2nd leg first half.

Chelsea should have no problem.

Before the draw the bookies had the last 8 in this order:

Chelsea
Spurs
Benfica
Lazio
Newcastle
Fener
Ruben
Basle

Newcastle 1-0 up. Cisse

And Torres just scored for Chelsea

Fantastic run by Torres there although his finish was a little awkward.

Newcastle 1-1

Cracking finish by Moses there.

Chelsea 2-0 Rubin Kazan

Lol at Spurs

How the fuck did Scott Parker miss that?

Chelsea won 3-1, so they should go through. Likewise Fenerbahce, Lazio will struggle without an away goal

Not sure about Spurs, could go either way. Haven't seen Basel since last season (although they're obviously pretty good) and if Bale's injured that could be significant.

Newcastle are up against it, at 3-1. Not sure why the ref made Cardozo take his penalty again, only looked like Newcastle players encroaching.

Game of two halves for us, arguably the better side in the first 45 then things started to go wrong. Onazi was sent off in the first few minutes of the second, Ederson, our best player all game, got injured then we gave away a silly penalty and a poor goal from a freekick at the end.

I can't see us turning this around or even trying that hard, the focus will go back to the league and the key players may be rested in the second leg.

Broken? Ligament damage? Sprained? To early to call? Looks extremely sore.

\o/

Apparently he should be back for when Spurs play Man City.

I was out so missed the Toon game but I'm aware of the gist - got a goal, unlucky with other attempts, then undone by lousy defending (Santon again). 2-0 is not beyond us but their attack is amazing.

Now... to hopefully beating Fulham.

Super Torres

Spurs just scored thanks to a complete fuck up by Basel's defence

And Basel equalise after a fuck up from Spurs \o/

What a fuck up from Benfica, really want Newcastle to win this though

Gonna be a good last 15 mins.

Spurs heading out at this rate, still 2-1 down.

2-2 now, heading to extra time