Champions League Play-off Round 1st Leg Preview

The Champions League play-off round gets underway tonight with key games. The battle of Britian plus Four other ties.
Celtic v Arsenal: Tonight 19:45pm
Dubbed the battle of Britian who ever wins this tie will get Champions League football while the loser has Europa League to contain with. This first-leg is in Celtic Park which has been a fortress in Europe over the years. Celtic are without injured pair Barry Robson and Stephan McManus while Arsenal are without Johan Djourou, Łukas Fabiański, Samr Nasri, Tomáš Rosický and Theo Walcott.
Celtic opened their domestic campaign last Saturday with a 3-1 away sucess over Aberdeen, while Arsenal were 6-1 winner at Everton.

FC Timişoara v Stuttgart: Tonight 18:45pm:
Stuttgart will be looking to return to the Group stage after a year away. Their Romanian hosts will be aiming to join Unirea Urzceni in the group stage. Timişoara overcame UEFA Cup holders Shakhtar in the last round. Timişoara are without Winston Parks and Srgian Luchin for tonight's game while Stuttgart are playing without Khalid Boulharouz, Roberto Hilbert, Martin Lanig, Ricardo Osorio, Jan Šimák, Alexander Stolz and Christian Träsch.
Timişoara opened their domestic league season with a 1-0 win over Rapid Buchareşti on Friday while Stuttgart recorded a 4-2 win over SC Freiburg.

Sporting Lisbon v Fiorentina: Tonight 19:45pm
Sporting Lisbon go into tonight's first leg having needed a last minute own goal in the last round against FC Twente to see them through. Sporting Lisbon are injury free bare Marat Izmailov for tonight's game and could win if Fiorentina fail to get into their style. The Italians are without José Castillo who is suffering from a meniscus injury.
Sporting Lisbon were held to 1-1 draw in their League opener by Nacional on Saturday while Fiorentina are still in pre-season.

FC Sheriff v Olympiakos: Tonight 19:45pm
Moldovan champions Sheriff will create history if their manage to oust Olympiakos over two-legs. They will become the first Moldovan club to play in the group stage. Olympiakos missed out on the group stage last year and will be desperate to make amends. Sheriff have made new signings over the past month as they look to qualify. They will be without Leonid Kuchuk who is suspended while Abdul Mamah and José Nadson, who are injured for tonight's game while their Greek visitors are injury free.
Both sides are still in pre-season.

FC København v APOEL: Tonight 19:45pm
A difficult game for both sides tonight as FC København will be looking to take a lead to Cyprus next week. Their Cypriot opponents are planning to do what Anorthosis did last year by qualifing for the Group stage. København who knocked-out Norway's Stabaek in the last round will be up for any surprises that might come against them. APOEL meanwhile knocked-out much-fancied Partizan Belgrade. Kobenhavn have no injury news or suspended players but APOEL have two players suspended, Joost Broerse and Savvas Poursaitdis.
FC København lost 1-0 to AGF Århus last Saturday. APOEL haven't started their league campaign yet.

European Domestic Leagues Round-Up:

Holland:
PSV recorded a big 4-3 win over title rivals Ajax. Martin Jol's side suffered defeat while champions AZ Alkmaar ran to a 6-0 win over RKC.
Saturday 15th August 2009:
Sparta Rotterdam 2-1 Willem II
ADO Den Haag 0-1 FC Twente
RKC 0-6 AZ Alkmaar
Heerenveen 1-0 Vitesse

Sunday 16th August 2009:
PSV 4-3 Ajax
Roda JC 1-0 NEC
Heracles 0-1 Feyenoord
Utrecht 2-2 VVV Venlo
FC Groningen 1-2 NAC

Portugal:
The new Superliga season got under way on Friday night with Leixões getting a point at home to Belenenses. FC Porto were held away to Pacos Ferreira while Benfica were also held at home to Marítimo. Sporting Lisbon were also held.
Friday 14th August 2009:
Leixões 0-0 Belenenses

Saturday 15th August 2009:
Nacional 1-1 Sporting Lisbon
Sporting Braga 1-0 Académica

Sunday 16th August 2009:
Naval 0-0 Olhanense
Uniao Leiria 1-1 Rio Ave
Paços Ferreira 1-1 FC Porto
Benfica 1-1 Marítimo

Monday 17th August 2009:
Vitória Setúbal 0-0 Vitória Guimareas

Turkey:
All of the big three were victorious with Fenerbahçe 3-0 winner over Sivasspor whiloe Galatasaray beat Denizlispor 4-1 while Beşiktaş recorded a 2-0 win over Antalyaspor.
Saturday 15th August 2009:
Trabzonspor 1-2 Diyarbakirspor
Ankaragücü 1-1 Manisaspor
Galatasaray 4-1 Denizlispor

Sunday 16th August 2009:
Ankaraspor 1-1 Gençlerbirliği
Eskişehirspor 3-2 Bursaspor
Kayserispor 1-1 Gaziantepspor
Kasimpaşa 1-3 İstanbul B.B
Fenerbahçe 3-0 Sivasspor

Monday 17th August 2009:
Beşiktaş 2-0 Antalyaspor

Ligue 1 Round-Up Day 2:

Day 2 in France saw Bordeaux looking to add another win after last week's sucess against Lens. The Champions went to Sochaux and came away with a fine 3-2 win. Elsewhere deposed champions Lyon won narrowly at home to Valenciennes whiel Marseille and PSG were also victorious.
Saturday 15th August 2009:
Lens 2-0 Auxerre
Lorient 2-2 Montpellier
Lyon 1-0 Valenciennes
Nancy 4-0 Monaco
PSG 3-1 Le Mans
Sochaux 2-3 Bordeaux
Toulouse 3-1 Saint Étienne

Sunday 16th August 2009:
Boulogne 2-1 Grenoble Foot
Nice 1-1 Rennes
Marseille 1-0 Lille

Nancy, Bordeaux and Marseille all have 100% records after two games. Lyon and Rennes are two of five teams with four points. Saint Étienne join Lille, Grenoble Foot, Valenciennes and Auxerre with no points from two games.

Bundesliga Round-Up Day 2

The big game of the weekend saw Werder Bremen travel to Munich and got a point with Mesut Özil on target before Michael Görtlitz levelled.
Elsewhere Felix Magath's Schalke secured a 3-0 win over VFL Bochum. Champions Wolfsburg made it two wins out of two with a 1-3 win away to Köln.
Saturday: 15th August 2009:
Bayern Munich 1-1 Werder Bremen
VFB Stuttgart 4-2 SC Freiburg
Hamburg 4-1 Borussia Dortmund
Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Hoffenheim
Hannover 1-1 Mainz
Eintract Frankfurt 1-1 FC Nürnberg
FC Köln 1-3 Wolfsburg

Sunday 16th August 2009:
Borussia Monchengladbach 2-1 Hertha Berlin
Schalke 3-0 VFL Bochum

Both Schalke and Wolfsburg have 100% records after two games. Bayern Munich are down in 11th with two draws in their two games. FC Köln bottom with no points from two games.

Premiership Day 1:

Day 1 of the new Premiership season began at 12:45pm on Saturday afternoon when Chelsea hosted Hull City.
Chelsea were expected to win but went behind to a Stephen Hunt goal on 28 minutes. Didier Drogba converted a free-kick before a cross-cum-shot found its way into the net from Drogba.

Wigan began life under Roberto Martínez with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park. Hugo Rodalega scored a wonder goal before Jason Koumas wiggled past the defence and past Friedel.

Sunderland needed just one goal to win against Bolton at the Reebok. Darren Bent's header on 5 minutes securing the win.

Man City recorded a 2-0 win over Blackburn at Ewood Park with Emmanuel Adebayor getting a goal on his debut before Stephen Ireland secured the win late-on.

Stoke City made the Britannia Stadium count as they beat newly promoted Burnley 2-0 with Ryan Shawcross and an own goal form Michael Jordan.

Wolves suffered a 2-0 defeat at home to West Ham. Robert Green was in good form as Wolves threatend their goal.

Everton suffered a record home defeat when Arsenal ran riot in a 6-1 win. Thomas Vermaelen got a debut goal with Denilson also on target. Eduardo got a goal and Cesc Fábregas hit a double.

Sunday:
Man United secured a 1-0 win over promoted Birmingham at Old Trafford. Life without Ronaldo saw Wayne Rooney head the only goal of the game.

Liverpool suffered defeat when Tottenham secured a 2-1 win at sunny White Hart Lane. Sebastien Bassong scored the winner.

2009-10 Premiership begins

The 2009-10 premiership kicks off today with Chelsea hosting Hull City while Arsenal go to Everton. Tomorrow Man United host Birmingham and Liverpool go to Tottenham.

Title Race:
Obivously the big question is can Man United survive without Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese star has jumped to Real Madrid and United have snapped up Luis Valencia from Wigan plus Michael Owen and Gabriel Obertan. I think they will finish 2nd but not by much.

Chelsea had a difficult 1st half to the season under Luis Scolari and this year under Carlo Ancelotti it could promise great things. No big names have left with Yuri Zhirkov arriving from CSKA Moskva while Daniel Sturridge and Ross Turnbull have arrived. My favourites for the Premier league. Didier Drogba will need a good season as will Petr Cech and co.

Liverpool had a good season last year finishing 2nd but i have my doubts about them this year. Fernando Torres is the dangerman, but how effectiv is he if he is not getting service from midfield. Xabi Alonso suplied Torres with the passes last year and Gerrard acted as times as a second striker. Glen Johnson is a good signing for Benítez and for me a 3rd place finish.

Arsenal are definetly weaker this year than in previous seasons. Kolo Touré is a massive loss in central defense. Thomas Vermaelen has been bought in from Ajax and he is a good defender but it will be difficult to replace Touré. Andrei Arshavin will be key after impressing in the 2nd half of last season. Robin Van Persie is destined for a good season and Eduardo will be massive in his 1st full season since breaking his leg in 2008. I think 5th is the best bet but don't rule out 4th place.

Man City! What else can i say about the richest-club in the world. They are in the same situation as Real Madrid yes they have bought great players but can they gel? Kolo Touré has signed as has Emmanuel Adebayor plus Roque Santa Cruz and Gareth Barry. Carlos Tévez has a work ethic about him to win games but who is going to be the 1st XI. Add the signings to current crop Robinho, Stephan Ireland and Shaun Wright-Philips, Mark Hughes will need to find his best 11 quick. 4th place is the target but i think a top 6 is very much within reach.

European Battle:
Aston Villa pushed the top 4 last year until March, when they fell off the radar and finished 6th. So what will Artin O'Neil be doing this year. Fabian Delph has arrived from Leeds and Stewart Downing from Middlesbrough but Downing is out until December. Aston Villa also have Europa League fixtures with long trips which could interupt their premier league campaign. 7th place for me.

Everton are the dark-horses this year for the top 4. Finishing 5th last year, Everton are also the last club other than the top 4 to finish 4th back in 2004-05. Joleon Lescott has to stay if they are to challenge and Mikel Arteta has to get back from injury quickly. Tim Cahill is a massive player for Everton and will be key. 6th place and the odd chance of finishing 5th.

Tottenham have the players to get the Europa League places but they often start slowly and don't deliver. By October 2008 they had just 2 points from 8 games until Harry Redknapp came in. A good strikforce is what they have with Defoe, Keane, Pavlyuchenko and Crouch, who will start though? 8th place.

Mid-Table:
Blackburn will be safe. Sam Allardyce is a good manager. Despite selling Roque Santa Cruz, Blackburn have signed highly rated Nikola Kalinic from Hajduk Split. Blackburn will be around 11th or 9th place.

West Ham won't be doing anything special this season. A mid-table finish last year is likely to be repeated. Gianfranco Zola worked wonders last year despite losing key players to injury.

Relegation Battle:
Hull City in my opinion were very lucky to stay up last season. They had a fantastic start which is ultimately what saved them. Phil Brown has signed Jozy Altidore and Seyi Olofinjana. The signing of Stephan Hunt could be the greatest one. Hunt will bring a good work load to help the Tigers in their quest to survive.

Stoke City survived quiet comfortably last season due to Tony Pulis' man-management. The Rory Delap long throw also helped. The goals of James Beattie and Ricardo Fuller will be needed this time around again for Stoke to survive. They should survive again.

Portsmouth are in crisis at the moment with a takeover on and off. Paul Hart has taken the reins on a permanent basis and has to do without Peter Crouch and Glen Johnson. It will be tough, so i think they will finish 18th.

Sunderland surived and will be looking forwards under Steve Bruce. Lorik Cana and Darren Bent have been snapped up. 15th place for me.

Burnley are in for a tough season. They need to grind out results against teams that will be around them. Owen Coyle's side are favourites to go down. Chris Eagles will be needed this season.

Wolves look the most likely of the three promoted sides to survive having added Kevin Doyle to their ranks that also includes Sylvian Ebanks-Blake. They should survive.

Birmingham look like they will definetly be involved in this dog-fight. Barry Ferguson has signed bt Christian Benítez is unproven in the Premiership.

Leeds United 2-1 Exeter City 8th August 2009

Leeds secured a 2-1 win over newly promoted club Exeter City in the opening match of the 2009-10 league 1 campaign.
A good performance overall from the Whites against an Exeter side that gave us a run for the money after going down to 10 men after Barry Corr was sent-off, Corr being a former Leeds Trainee!.
Jermaine Beckford gave us the lead with a lovely dink off the post before Exeter levelled through Alex Russell.
But Jermaine headed in the winner two minutes from the end!!

Predictions:
It is a tough looking League this year with Norwich, Charlton and Southampton joining from the Championship plus MK Dons, Millwall and Huddersfield making this year's race for promotion very interesting. Leeds though i think if we keep getting these kind of results we will be up there and maybe this is finally the year we get promoted after the disappointment of 2007-08 and 2008-09.