By Chris Wright

In which, coming back from an advert break at half-time during Fulham's game against Odense, Jim and Stan get 'caught' signing a rousing, tongue-in-cheek rendition of 'Thursday Nights, Channel Five!' the new wave football chant used to mock big clubs that suffer untimely Champions League exits and which, depending on who you choose to believe, may be the song that got Ashley Cole a slapping after he sung it in the tunnel when Chelsea beat Man City on Monday.

Martin Jol was trying to take the positives from his side's Europa League group stage exit, but the reality is, there are very little.
True, it now means his side are free to concentrate on improving their league position, currently a below par 14th.
But given their participation in the competition began in June and incorporated 14 matches it does seem like a huge waste of time given they are now out of it before Christmas.

By Chris Wright

Fulham were dumped out of the Europa League with the very last touch of the game when Odense slung in a deep cross and substitute Baye Djiby Fall nodded in an equaliser at the far post with roughly four seconds left to play (the referee blew for full-time during the goal celebration), thus robbing the Cottagers of the points they needed to edge out Wisla Krakow, who beat table-toppers FC Twente on the night to finish second in Group K -just one point ahead of Martin Jol's side.

Liverpool visit Craven Cottage tomorrow and a Fulham side that's struggled to piece together any sort of positive results domestically, winning only twice thus far on the season. They've got nearly identical records home and away, with their first and only win at home coming in early October.

By Alan Duffy

A late goal from FC Twente sub Marc Janko secured a 1-0 away win for the Dutch side against FUlham last night, a result that leaves the Londoners needing a victory from their final group game if they are to make it to the last 32.

Andy Johnson's hat-trick and ongoing contract talks got me thinking. Should we renew? Tough call, but my instinct is that if we do it should be very much on our terms. He's been a good player to have around, but the time he's spent off the pitch should be a red herring flag (herring indeed!

Villareal midfielder Borja Valero has had his 3 game ban reduced to 2 following his red card v Odense in last months Champions League qualifier.

Valero whos Zidane like head-butt seen him red carded will only receive the extra game suspension should he reoffend in his 2 year probation period.

Conor O'Brien earned his first start and netted his for goal for SonderjyskE in a big win over Odense while Michael Parkhurst picked up an assist for Nordsjaelland as they demolished Lyngby.

Villarreal will play in the Champions League group stages for the third time thanks in part to two second-half goals from Giuseppe Rossi against Odense.

For 50 minutes at El Madrigal it was the Stefan Wessels show as the goalkeeper did his utmost to preserve OB's 1-0 first-leg lead. Once Rossi scored for the sixth successive European home game, however, the hosts' momentum proved impossible to resist.

Danish side Odense stunned Villareal in to-nights Champions League qualifier 1st leg, when Hans Henrik Andreason scored the winner 6 minutes from time at TRE-FOR Park.

Odense were founded in 1887 and were making their Champions League debut having finished second in the Danish Superliga 26 points behind FC Copenhagen last season.

Regarded as one of the smallest club's competing in the Champions League, OB Odense surprised the world during the 1994/95 UEFA Cup, by overturning a first leg home defeat to beat Spanish giants, Real Madrid on aggregate.

It will forever be known as the 'Miracle of Madrid' – but OB's current crop of players have made their own history this week.

UEFA Champions League on Fox Soccer: Bayern Munich - Zurich at 2pm and Odense - Villarreal at 5pm. Fox Soccer Plus has Dinamo Zagreb - Malmo at 2pm and Wisla Krakow - Apoel at 9pm. Spanish Super Cup 2nd-leg on GolTV and ESPN Deportes: Barcelona - Real Madrid at 5pm. CONCACAF Champions League on Fox Soccer: Colorado - Metapan at 10pm and UNAM Pumas - Dallas at 12:30am (11pm on Galavision).

Chris Rolfe and Aalborg have their eye on a jump into the Superliga's top two spots when they host Odense and Conor O'Brien will look to help SonderjyskE earn a result on their trip to Clarence Goodson's Brondby.

So, earlier today, the CL play-off draw took place
While I'm pretty sure most of us were hoping for some nice Odense action and praying to avoid the dark, cold depths of Kazan, the reality resulted, as it is always, somewhere in the middle.

Arsenal got Udinese Calcio in today's draw for the CL play-offs, with the matches to be played on August 16/17 and the return legs to be played a week later.

Newcastle (A) – Udinese (H) – Liverpool (H) – Udinese (A) – Manchester United (A)

Five games in 16 days, each with its unique degree of significance. I don't like dramatizing the consequences of each match, especially at the start, but one gets the feeling, before the end of August Doodh ka doodh, paani ka paani ho jayega.

As everybody else continues to wonder how the heck Arsenal are going to find a positive end to the transfer season and manage to get a positive start to the season, an important set of games regarding Arsenal's future in the Champions League finished today, and we finally have a clear look at who Arsenal will be facing to get into the CL Group Stage.

Michael Parkhurst and Nordsjaelland saw their season get off on the wrong foot with a loss at Odense while both Conor O'Brien and Brad Rusin were forced to watch their teams' losses from the bench.

Liverpool will this summer look to follow up their purchase of Luis Suarez from Ajax by attempting to lure teenage playmaker Christian Eriksen to Anfield. The promising Danish international has impressed many with his mature performances for the Eredivisie club and many have tipped the youngster to be a big star in the future.

Manchester United's new goalie, Anders Lindegaard, has revealed there is footage of him from a few years ago saying that he wanted to play for a club. Since signing, he has reiterated that he has been a United fan since he was a little lad, with posters of our players, including fellow Dane, Peter Schmeichel, on his bedroom wall.