Champions League Qualification 2009/10 Explained!
Monday, 01 June 09, 03:06 AM · Comments(4)
As most of you are probably aware, the guys at UEFA have been told by Michel Platini that he didn't like the current format and that more of the "Champions" should get into the group stages of the competition. The little UEFA men went away and came up with a new qualifications system to ensure Champions from Estonia and Latvia would have more of a chance of reaching the group stages and making it slightly harder for the "big leagues" to get all the places.
As we finished 4th we now go into the 4th qualification round which is part of the "Best Placed Path" - see here for details! 10 teams (runners up of their leagues and the 3rd placed Russian team) from countries such as Greece,Belgium, Scotland and Holland play in the 3rd qualifying round for the right to meet the fourth placed sides from England, Spain and Italy plus the 3rd placed teams from France & Germany - see here for details of the countries.
What this all means (so far) is that the following five:
Arsenal, Athletico Madrid, Genoa (or maybe Fiorentina - see comments), Lyon & Stuttgart
will play the winners of the 5 games between:
3rd Place in Russia (still playing the league), 2nd Place Romanian (Still playing) , Sporting Lisbon, FC Twente, Celtic, Sivasspor (?), Ukranian 2nd place (still playing - probably Shakthar!), Standard Liege, PAOK, Sparta Prague
There is no clear ruling of whether there is any seeding for these games and I've seen contradictory reports on this. The Arsenal games are 18th/19th August and 25/26 August. If we lose we do enter the EUROPA LEAGUE!
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BaselGooner
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4 Comments · Add yours
Genoa have not qualified for this as Fiorentina finished ahead of them on a better head to head. Also while watching the Fiorentina-Milan game yesterday, I heard the commentator say that Fiorentina (or Milan whoever finished fourth) could be paired against Arsenal, Atletico Madrid or Stuttgart. So I think those five you mentioned (apart from genoa ofcourse) could play each other instead of the winners of the previous round.
Am pretty sure there are ways to make it less complicated as this isn't one of them!
Sorry if Genoa was incorrect - the Guardian have them as fourth. I don't know the results between the 2 clubs to determine who finishes ahead!
I can't wait for some Europa league action at The Emirates. Seriously though the club said they don't plan for CL money last summer. Does that mean the 45-50 million we made from TV, gate receipts and sales for this seasons CL was extra money for the manager to spend?