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O SC Braga não conseguiu o apuramento para a 2ª fase da Champions ao perder com o Shakthar, engrossando deste modo para quatro, o núcleo de equipas portuguesas na Liga Europa, o que neste caso concreto, ou seja, nesta fase da prova, é inédito. Depois de duas presenças positivas do FC Porto e Sporting na primeira fase, a chegada do Benfica e Braga, apesar de reflectirem uma descida, digamos, de classe, devem também ser consideradas como um mal menor, embora os que ficaram de fora nos seus grupos, Hapoel de Telavive e Partizan, não sejam propriamente equipas de nível sequer médio.

It's funny really. Two months ago Chelsea looked unstoppable. In recent weeks they've been crumbling like a Hob Nob. The swagger and confidence is gone, along with Malouda's early season blistering form, and of course Drogba's goals. Yesterday they again stumbled, only managing a goal from the spot and ultimately a 1-1 draw with an Everton team that's resilient but in no way the best toffee side the Prem has seen in recent years.

Morning all, the start of another week and the preparations have to begin for two extremely important games. Firstly there's the Champions League game against Partizan on Wednesday, then a trip to Manchester on Monday.

The focus will be on Europe this week and the permutations are relatively simple.

These teams are competing for the final 5 spots in the knockout stages of the Champions League tournament:

Lyon: Lyon is in strong shape for the second round with a three point edge over Benfica and a five goal advantage overall. Also they will have the good fortune of playing against last place Hapoel Tel Aviv and can officially seal the spot with a win or draw in their final match this week.

With every passing moment, the focus keeps increasing exponentially on Arsenal's massive Premier League visit to Manchester United this coming Monday. The stakes couldn't be higher for the Gunners as they'll be playing their bitter rivals at Old Trafford in a match that could determine the legitimacy of their title credentials.

Well, aside from the Carling Cup matches, this is the first match that can honestly be called a "season decider," simply because it is a match we have to win if we want to ensure our place in the next round. It is a bit of a departure from past seasons, when we've been comfortably through by the sixth group stage fixture and could afford to basically field the Carling Cup side in the final matchday.

Arsenal won their first three Champions League Group games this season, and looked like they were going to comfortably top the group, but successive defeats to both Shakhtar Donetsk and Braga have left the needing a win against Partizan Belgrade to ensure they qualify in second place. Arsene Wenger has admitted that he decided to risk [.

Arsenal will be hoping that they can secure a safe passage into the knockout stages, with the Gunners having made hard work of Group H. Arsene Wenger would have hoped to have had a top-two finish sewn up by now, but the Frenchman knows his side must take three points from a home date with Partizan Belgrade to guarantee scraping through and avoid becoming the most notable scalp of this season's competition.

The final day of group play in the UEFA Champions League has arrived, though much has already been decided among the four groups in action on Wednesday.

Most eyes will be on the surprisingly tight Group H, where Arsenal could be in danger of being eliminated. Fortunately for the Gunners, who are tied for second place with Braga and trail Shakhtar Donetsk by three points, they face point-less Partizan at home.

LONDON, England Arsenal booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League here Wednesday, beating Partizan Belgrade 3-1 in an ultimately comfortable victory at the Emirates. Substitute Theo Walcott and in-form Frenchman Samir Nasri scored the decisive goals for the Gunners after Partizan's Brazilian-born striker Cleo had cancelled out Robin Van Persie's [.

Champions League- Well, Benfica and Braga's Champion's League run was short-lived as they each have been knocked out of the group stage. Benfica had a good chance, but failed to deliver when it counted as they lost to Shalke 2-1 this week. Braga lost to Shakhtar 2-0, but [read more]

Written by kelsey

In all probability most thought it would be a foregone conclusion to sweep Partizan aside and therefore qualify as runner up in our group. What we didn't expect was a flat lacklustre performance, which I can only put down to nerves and the nagging thought in the back of the players mind that to make sure of qualification we just had to win.

The Indonesian Football Association, known as PSSI, continue to play hard ball with the alternate Liga Primer Indonesia. After threatening coaches and referees they are now targeting foreign players who want to come and play here with deportation.
Now I'm not sure they have that in their power, work permits are granted by government departments not the FA.

Liverpool have drawn Sparta Prague in the first knockout round of the Europa League. My first thought is that I'm jealous of the Scousers who'll be traveling to the away match, as Prague is a brilliant city, but the last time I wrote that was last year's Champions League group – where Liverpool traveled to Florence, Lyon, and Budapest.

The Game When the Champions League draw was made last August, many of my non-Gooner friends called me "lucky" and the word was appropriate considering we drew Partizan Belgrade, Braga and Shakhtar Donetsk. Now although I could ...

Portuguese clubs FC Porto, Benfica, Sporting and Braga have had their games in the Round of 32 set as all clubs look to advance and maximize points for Portugal in the UEFA Country Coefficeints where Portugal ranks 5th among European countrys this season and moving into 6th spot in Overall country rankings slighty ahead of Russia and the Ukraine.

Braga got Week 14 off to the right start for the Northern Portugal club as the crush Academica 5-0, obtaining only their second win in the Portuguese league over the last six games played.Braga opened the scoring quick when Paulo Cesar was quick of the mark at the four minute mark, Paulao then made it 2-0 just before the half way point of the first half.

Não me parece que o sorteio tenha sido desfavorável s equipas portuguesas. Se considerarmos estes quatro clubes como difíceis de serem ultrapassados então pouco estaremos a fazer nesta segunda prova da UEFA. Claro que a concentração tem de estar em níveis bem elevados, e os jogos deverão ser encarados com uma atitude bem diferente daquela em que nalguns casos temos vindo a assistir.

Mientras la FIFA hace su votación,que nunca deja contento a nadie Ricardo Filipe da Silva Braga mas conocido como Ricardinho en el fútbol sala ha hecho a mi parecer el mejor gol del año.

Ex-Jugador del SL Benfica, con el cual se consagró campeón reiteradas veces, inclusive hasta levantó la Super Copa De Portugal durante 4 años consecutivos (2003-2006).

Let's hope there is some football to watch this weekend and that the games are not postponed again due to the weather. Because if they are, here's the next best thing we can watch. Arsenal playing in an important Premier League match in the form of stop-motion Lego during Christmas-time.