European League, Viertelfinal, Ruckmatch
Juventus - Arsenal 0:0 (0:2)Villarreal - Inter 1:0 (2:2)
Villarreal wins 1:0 on away goals
AC Milan - Lyon 3:1 (4:2)
Barcelona - Benfica 2:0 (2:0)
UEFA Cup, Viertelfinal, Ruckmatch
Zenit - Seville 1:1 (2:5)Schalke 04 - Levski Sofia 1:1 (4:2)
Steaua - Rapid 0:0 (1:1)
Steaua wins 1:0 on away goals
Middlesbrough - Basel 4:1 (4:3)
Middlesbrough pulled off an amazing recovery, scoring their fourth goal to go ahead in the last minute of normal time in a match where both keepers went to the opposite end for set-pieces. Lyon may have fallen out of the contest this week in the most unfortunate circumstances - conceding two goals in injury time - but they'll be back in the group phase of next year's edition. Celtic, as winners of the Scottish League, would take the unused Defending Champ's Place if it's available - ie if Barca or AC wins the tourney - otherwise will start in the Sorting Hat Round.
Hearts currently head Rangers by three points for second place. If Hearts remain second, they will take the second EuroLeague place (entry in the Second Qualifying Round), and the UEFA Cup representation will be those well-known giants of football, Rangers and Gretna. Better of the two will gain access to the Final Qualifying Round; worse will be in the Second Qualifying Round. However, if Rangers manage to finish second, and Hearts win the Scottish Cup final, then the side finishing fourth in Division A - probably Hibs - will take the second UEFA Cup spot. Are we going to see Hibs playing to lose to the 'Gers, and thus increase their chances of making Europe?
Of course, all this is completely academic if - nay, when! - Gretna beats Hearts in the Cup.
What do the various successes and failures mean for the country rankings, which determine entry for the 2007-8 contests?
Spain, Italy, and England remain a mile clear at the top. France will remain ahead of Germany in fourth place, with Portugal and the Netherlands in 6th and 7th. Zenit's tame exit means that Russia remains behind Greece. Romania will move ahead of both Greece and Russia if Steaua can beat Middlesbrough with a win and a draw or better, or winning by two draws and then drawing or winning the final. Eighth place entitles the country to a 3rd European League slot and an additional UEFA Cup spot. Basel's loss means that Switzerland remains in 16th, and misses out on a second EL place.
Over in the Netherlands, we have an entertainingly complex series of play-offs for four UEFA Cup spots, and one Intertoto place. It even makes the San Marino Championship look simple. The Dutch champions go through to the European League, and aren't involved in any of this nonsense. Ajax is guaranteed at least a place in the UEFA Cup through its national cup success against champions PSV. Here's the schedule:
If Ajax finishes in the top five:
1st round (22/23 April and 25/26 April)
A.2-5 -- loser UEFA-cup
B.3-4 -- loser UEFA-cup
C.6-9
D.7-8
E.10-13
F.11-12
2nd round (29/30 April and 2/3 May)
G.winner A-winner B -- winner CLQ, loser UEFA-cup
I.winner C-winner D -- winner UEFA-cup
J.winner E-winner F
3rd round (11 and 14 May)
L.loser I-winner J -- winner Intertoto
If Ajax does not make the top five:
1st round (22/23 April and 25/26 April)A.2-5
B.3-4
C.6-9
D.7-8
E.10-13
F.11-12
2nd round (29/30 April and 2/3 May)
G.winner A-winner B -- winner CLQ, loser UEFA-cup
H.loser A-loser B -- winner UEFA-cup
I.winner C-winner D
J.winner E-winner F
3rd round (11 and 14 May)
K.loser H-winner I -- winner UEFA-cup, loser Intertoto
(Unless winner I is Ajax, in which case the Dutch FA have screwed up.)
Hope that's perfectly clear.
One other domestic result of note - Birmingham beat Bolton 1:0 (38 upset points) to move out of the relegation zone, and leave Bolton scrabbling for a UEFA Cup spot.
Celtic may have soaked up all the pressure, but they won, so the Hearts bet is lost. Arsenal's draw is worth +0.65, so it's -0.85 on the mid-week, -0.25/7.5 this month. Something for the week-end?
Tottenham - MAN CITY (4.75 / 3.40)
Leeds - PLYMOUTH (4.85 / 3.50)
Monaco - MARSEILLE (2.90 / 3.10)
