After last night's excellent showing by Oguchi Onyewu in Standard's 1-0 Champion's League loss to Liverpool, his stock is peaking at just three days before the transfer deadline. Another American defender in Europe is also on the rise as young Neven Subotic continues to show he is a force to be reckoned with in the Bundesliga. Click to continue reading...

I'll have more analysis and comments later but for now just a quick update on the results of today's drawing. Some of the groupings, as in past seasons, was almost a bit too predictable but there are some interesting matchups ahead (Real Madrid - Juventus springs to mind as does Manchester United - Celtic and [. Click to continue reading...

A: Chelsea, Roma, Bordeaux, Cluj B: Internazionale, Werder Bremen, Panathinaikos, Anorthosis Famagusta C: Barcelona, Sporting Lisbon, Basel, Shaktar Donesk D: Liverpool, PSV Eindhoven, Marseille, Atlético Madrid E: Man Utd, Villarreal, Celtic, Aalborg BK F: Lyon, Bayern Munich, Steaua Bucharest, Fiorentina G: Arsenal, Porto, Fenerbahce, Dynamo Kiev H: Real Madrid, Juventus, Zenit St Petersburg, FC BATE Borisov Click to continue reading...

A: Chelsea, Roma, Bordeaux, Cluj
B: Internazionale Milan, Werder Bremen, Panathinaikos, Anorthosis
C: Barcelona, Sporting Lisbon, Basel, Shakhtar Donetsk
D: Liverpool, PSV Eindhoven, Marseille, Atletico Madrid
E: Manchester United, Villarreal, Celtic, Aalborg
F: Lyon, Bayern Munich, Steaua Bucharest, Fiorentina
G: Arsenal, Porto, Fenerbahce, Dynamo Kiev
H: Real Madrid, Juventus, Zenit St. Click to continue reading...

The draw for the 08-09 Champions League group stages will take place today in Monaco to pick groups at random (I suppose the drama makes for good viewing on TV, eh). Soccerlens will cover the draw LIVE and give you the groups as they unfold. Also, we will get to see who wins the 2008 UEFA [...] Click to continue reading...

We're rapidly moving towards the end of the summer transfer window, and the mad dash to get deals done continues. Still waiting for news on a couple of big names, but there's plenty to report as is, so let's get to it, shall we? England The Sun says that Arsenal are interested in Feyenoord midfielder Jonathan [. Click to continue reading...

This week's Top 25 is delayed because we wanted to wait for the outcome of the Manchester United - Portsmouth game. It's largely more of the same, though (which can be expected at this early stage of the season). But because we know how badly you want it, we're going to give it to you now rather than withhold gratification any longer:

1. Click to continue reading...

I've put a photo up of Phil in the 04/05 kit because I feel that was his best time at the club.

After a rather unimpressive opening couple of games, Phil came in against Bayern Munich at Highbury and was absolutely superb. He was so good after this that he kept Sol Campbell out of the team for the remainder of the season, even keeping his place for the 2005 FA Cup final (some of you may remember this as the last time we won a trophy). Click to continue reading...

Being likened to Franz Beckenbauer is not a comparison which many footballers could honestly admit to, but for one Belgian defender it is a justified truth and one he can be honoured about. Vincent Kompany, once described by Belgium legend Paul Van Himst as being able to "beat three opponents with one pass", has switched life in the German Bundesliga for the starry lights of the Premiership with Manchester City. Click to continue reading...

We've just finished week two of the Bundesliga season and even after reviewing two week's worth of matches and reintroducing myself to the sides, I'm left wondering what team to support. I've ruled out my adopted hometown because they're playing in the Bundesliga's second division -- and probably will be for some time. Click to continue reading...

Chelsea's Under-16 showcase, The Cobham Cup, kicked off today. And Marko Mitrovic stole the show.

In his Chelsea debut, the highly-touted Swede signed by Chelsea last December found himself on the scoresheet less than a minute into the Blues' tournament opener with River Plate. Mitrovic drove home a penalty, which he had won by latching onto an errant loose ball just 10 seconds into the game.

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TORONTO, August 21, 2008 – Below is a list of soccer matches that will air live or on tape delay on GolTV from August 23-29, 2008. The second week of the 2008-09 Bundesliga season continues with a trio of matches including Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayern Munich, LIVE on Saturday, August 23 at 9:30 a.m. Click to continue reading...

And here we go: Sheva to Milan is back on. Again. After the early summer speculation and "imminent" move (the press does love that word), everything fell apart. Until now, as it seems Big Phil shares the feelings of his predecessors Avram and Jose: Sheva's just not cut out for the Prem. Serie A definitely, [. Click to continue reading...

The Good Brazilians in London: Yeah yeah, Portsmouth ain't exactly on their level, but Big Boss is going to be mighty pleased this season with Luiz & Deco running the show at Stamford Bridge. See, money can buy happiness. HSV: Hamburger just lost their most bestest player and quite possibly the finest WAG in the Bundesliga, only [. Click to continue reading...

And so, it begins. The offseason, if we even had one, is now officially over. EPL clubs are back at it, the Champions League qualifiers are in the final round and the hottie interns have left the office to return to campus. The signs, in other words, are everywhere: summer is ending. But don't be sad. Click to continue reading...

A native of the United States, Sean has relished in the ever-present glow of first-rate soccer since moving to Europe nearly six years ago. A national team devotee, he is still working to develop fervor for the Bundesliga that approaches that of a German male's. As a traditional supporter of the underdogs, Sean has spent the past two seasons trying to think of reasons not to like Bayern Munich and is running out of reasons -- suggestions are welcome. Click to continue reading...

Apologies for starting this year's Bundesliga blog off with an entry based on ugly rumours (by which I mean allegations and not ex-British PM Tony Blair's ill-fated Stones-esque college band).
Since Euro 2008 ended, I've been feeding my soccer hunger by trawling my favourite sites for any morsel of information that can keep me sated. Click to continue reading...

Jürgen Klinsmann will wake up in the morning to a warm Danish and frothy cappucino to find out it was all a nightmare. He'll swing himself out of his king-size bed, stretch in his cotton PJs before enjoying a leisurely frühstuck. He'll then grab the leash and go wandering along the golden sands with a happy retriever bounding in the surf and a light heart beating in his tanned, relaxed chest. Click to continue reading...

The Bundesliga's main schedule gets underway today after Bayern Munich and Hamburg hammered out a 2-2 draw in the Allianz Arena last night in the opening salvo of the season.
Most Germans with an interest in soccer will either be readying themselves for journeys to the four corners of the land in support of their team or will have their eyes peeled for the results on TV screens and live tickers all over the nation. Click to continue reading...

Chelsea striker Claudio Pizarro has returned to Germany to join Werder Bremen on a year's loan.

The 29-year-old Peruvian moved to Stamford Bridge from Bayern Munich only last summer on a free but he failed to make an impact.

Pizarro was a complete flop in his first season at Chelsea but maybe just maybe, this move could kick start his career again. Click to continue reading...

So over the last few weeks, Football league fever has hit the streets as the pre seasons began... So we have been looking at who's going to be lifting which title and who's going to be sacking their managers within 2 months of the season kick off. But we haven't had a look at the contenders throughout the European major leagues. Click to continue reading...

Defending Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich kicked off the new Bundesliga season with a 2-2 tie with Hamburg. Bayern who were playing without Luca Toni and Franck Ribery wasted a 2 goal lead. Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski scored to give Bayern a 2-0 lead only 19 minutes into the game. However, Guerrero scored for Hamburg in the 25th minute, and Trochowski scored in the 57th minute Click to continue reading...

The 1. Bundesliga beat the English Premier League to the big kick-off today, opening with a Friday night game between Bayern Munich and Hamburg. New Bayern boss Juergen Klinsmann must have thought he'd made the perfect start - even without the injured Luca Toni and Franck Ribery - when his team raced into 2-0 lead through [. Click to continue reading...

Mark van Bommel is back. New team manager Bert van Marwijk has selected the skipper of Bayern Munich for next Wednesday's friendly against Hiddink's Russia. The 31 year old played his last international at the WC2006 in Germany. Bert van Marwijk said, when he presented his selection for the friendly, that the Click to continue reading...

The Allianz Arena at night when Bayern Munich play their home games. The Allianz Arena at night when Bayern Munich play Hamburg. Hamburg drew tonight's Bundesliga opener against Bayern (2-2). They extended their unbeaten record in the Allianz Arena to two wins and two draws. Hamburg are the only unbeaten Bundesliga team in this stadium. Click to continue reading...