EUROPA LEAGUE LAST 32 DRAW

Porto v Manchester City

Ajax v Manchester United

Lokomotiv Moscow v Athletic Bilbao

Salzburg v Metalist Kharkiv

Stoke City v Valencia

Rubin Kazan v Olympiacos

AZ Alkmaar v Anderlecht

Lazio v Atletico Madrid

Steaua Bucharest v Twente

Viktoria Plzen v Schalke

Wisla Krakow v Standard Liege

Braga v Besiktas

Udinese v PAOK

Trabzonspor v PSV Eindhoven

Hannover v Brugge

Legia Warsaw v Sporting

* First legs to be played February 16, second legs February 23

EUROPA LEAGUE LAST 16 DRAW

FC Salzburg/Metalist v Rubin Kazan/Olympiacos

Legia/Sporting v Porto/Manchester City

Steaua/Twente v Viktoria Plzen/Schalke

Wisla/Standard Liege v Hannover/Brugge

Stoke/Valencia v Trabzonspor/PSV Eindhoven

Alkmaar/Anderlecht v Udinese/PAOK

Lazio/Atletico Madrid v Braga/Besiktas

Ajax/Manchester United v Lokomotiv Moscow/Athletic Bilbao

* First legs to be played March 8, second legs March 15.

By Alan Duffy

It may well be the preserve of Thursday nights and Channel Five, but the Europa League, now ready for the knock-out stages is still peppered with some of Europe's big guns. Probably the biggest in the competition, Manchester United, will face another all-time European great, Ajax, in the last 32, a tie which has more than a hint of glamour.

Jozy Altidore and Sacha Kljestan have both enjoyed individual club success this season, which in turn has led to their teams turning in strong results both domestically and in Europe. All of that will come to a head in the UEFA Europa League Round of 32, when their two teams will square off.

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.

Disappointing midweek arrived for English teams in their Europa League campaign, Fulham have to forget their European ambition as they're journey ended on Wednesday after only picking up a point against Odense BK.

Meanwhile, Stoke City suffered their first defeat in the competition but still secure their passage into the next round although that loss relegated the Potters into runners up position behind Besiktas.

Crushing events as Fulham were 9 seconds away from advancing to the Europa League group stages when Djiby Fall stepped up to score with the last kick of the game. The goal tied the game and allowed Wisla Krakow to advance at the expense of Fulham.

It was a cruel blow for a Fulham side that started preseason training in June, so that they could enter this tournament in the very first round.

Sacha Kljestan's run of form is turning out to be anything but temporary.

Kljestan continued his strong season for Anderlecht, scoring a goal in the club's 5-3 triumph over Lokomotiv Moscow in their UEFA Europa League battle. His curling effort to the far corner dug Anderlecht out of an early 1-0 deficit and helped the Belgian side win its group, which should make for a more favorable result during Friday's knockout round draw.

It's do or die for a number of teams across Europe as the UEFA Europa League winds down.

Half of the teams in the field play their final group games of the tournament today, including Clint Dempsey's Fulham, which can cement a place in the knockout round and set the tone for perhaps another deep tournament run with a win or by getting some help.

By FRANCO PANIZO

If Liverpool is to overcome its less-than-stellar start to the season and get back in contention for a Champions League spot, it will have to do so without one of its top players.

Lucas Leiva has been ruled out for the remainder of the Premiership campaign after sustaining a knee injury in Liverpool's 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Chelsea in the Carling Cup on Tuesday.

GK: Samir Handanovic (Udinese), Jasmin Handanovic (NK Maribor), Vid Belec (Crotone) DEF: Miso Brecko (FC Koln), Bostjan Cesar (Chievo), Branko Ilic (Lokomotiv Moscow), Bojan Jokic (Chievo), Matej Mavric Rozic (KSV Superfund), Miral Samardžić (Sheriff Tiraspol), Marko uler (Gent) MID: Armin Bačinovič (Palermo), Josip Iličič (Palermo), Andraz Kirm (Wisla Krakow), Rene Krhin (FC Bologna), Dejan Lazarevic (Padova), Darijan Matič (Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih), Ales Mertelj (NK Maribor), Dare Pass (Olimpija Ljubljana) FOR: Valter Birsa (Genoa), Zlatko Heir.

Slovenia has released its roster for the Nov. 15 game against the U.S. MNT in Ljubljana. The squad of new head coach Slavisa Stojanovic features 10 players who played in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Group match against the USA, including goalscorers Valter Birsa and Zlatan Ljubijankič. There are also two teammates of Michael Bradley's from Chievo Verona: Bostjan Cesar and Bojan Jokic.

Photo by Joe Toth/ISIphotos.com

Slovenia announced its squad for its Nov. 15 friendly against the United States, and while there are some familiar names on the roster, perhaps the most recognizable one is missing.

Captain and Hull City midfielder Robert Koren will not participate in the match, but the two players who scored for Slovenia against the United States in the 2010 World Cup, Valter Birsa and Zlatan Ljubijankič, were called in.

Dempsey helped Fulham to a 4-1 win against Wisla Krakow

With the second half of the 2011-12 Europa League Group Stage underway, the picture for advancement to the knockout phase is becoming much clearer for the U.S. internationals. One has already clinched, a couple are on the doorstep and others will go down to the wire .

There's a bit of noise about how the defence isn't so good now.

People are really pleased with AJ's form.

Under Roy Hodgson we never had these problems in defence.

But the forwards really suffered.

All of the above is not a coincidence!

Under Hodgson we rarely committed men ahead of the ball.

Clint Dempsey and Fulham scored a huge win over Wisla Krakow to stay in the knockout-round race while Jonathan Spector and Birmingham battled back for a home draw against Brugge.

By Chris Wright

Presenting our pick of last night's Europa League g-g-g-g-g-goooooalllllss!!!

5. Luis Seijas, Vorskla vs STANDARD LIEGE

Ping!

4. Bibras Natcho, RUBIN KAZAN vs Tottenham

An expertly clipped free-kick to give the Russians the win.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Jozy Altidore's red-hot start to the season with AZ Alkmaar cooled off a bit in October, but Thursday should give him an opportunity to get back on track.

Having failed to find the back of the net last month, Altidore will look to get back on the scoresheet when AZ face Austria Vienna in a Europa League match.

The Kids are Alright Gornik Zabrze ME 2-1 Polonia Warszawa ME (16:10:11) A little bruised but still buoyant from his trip to Wisla Krakow, Ryan Hubbard continues on his ultimate Polish footballing adventure... Gornik's stadium is currently in the process of being demolished to make way for a new 33,000 seater ground; leaving three sides as a building site, and the fourth with just a 70-year

Moussa Dembele was ridiculously sent-off after a meagre push on Wisla Krakow's Gervasio Nunez, although Dembele should not have risen his hand to his opponent nor should his opponent have acted as if shot down by a sniper.

Kljestan has played every minute in Anderlecht's Europa League campaign
The Group Stage of the 2011-12 Europa League has reached the halfway point, and several of the U.S. internationals are on teams well-positioned to advance to the knockout phase. Of the 48 teams, only three have won all of their matches to date, and two of them have U.

By Chris Wright

RAT!

He's probably not the worst, he's definitely not the first and he sure as excreta won't be the last, but Wisla Krakow's Gervasio Nunez showed his true rat colours in getting Moussa Dembele sent-off in the Europa League last night.

Really shocking dive from Argentine footballer Nunez in the Fulham vs Wisla Krakow match, Moussa Dembélé raised an arm and pushed Nunez on the shoulder only for the player to fall down and roll around on the floor. The referee obviously thought Moussa Dembélé had punched Nunez and so gave him a straight red card.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Sacha Kljestan has been in good form as of late, and he'll attempt to carry that over as Anderlecht continues its Europa League run.

Coming off a weekend performance that earned high praise, Kljestan should start again when Anderlecht plays its third match in Group L against Austria's SK Sturm Graz.

Wilson Palacios was one of the standout players in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying
Luis Fernando Suarez has called in 22 players for Honduras' game against the USA on Oct. 8 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami. Three players from MLS get the call: Marvin Chavez, Roger Espinoza and Carlo Costly.

Honduras released their roster for the October 8th friendly against the United States and the October 11th friendly against Jamaica. GK: Donis Escober (Olimpia), Donaldo Morales (Motagua) DEF: Osman Chávez (Wisla Krakow), Bryan Beckeles (Olimpia), Mauricio Sabillón (Marathón), Erick Norales (Marathón), Johnny Leverón (Motagua), Maynor Figueroa (Wigan Athletic) MID: Oscar García (Olimpia), Julio César León (Shandong Luneng), Wilson Palacios (Stoke City), Roger Espinoza (Sporting Kansas City), Alfredo Mejía (Real España), Mario Martínez (Real España), Marvin.

Honduras has announced its roster for the Oct. 8 friendly against the United States in Miami, a roster that does not include a few regulars while carrying a bit of an MLS feel to it.

Sporting Kansas City's Roger Espinoza, FC Dallas' Marvin Chavez and Houston's Carlo Costly were all summoned for the match.

Wisła Kraków is a soccer club based in Kraków, Poland. Nicknamed Biała Gwiazda (The White Star), Wisla is one of Poland's most successful and popular clubs with 14 Ekstraklasa (the top tier of Polish soccer) titles and 4 Polish Cups to its credit. Wisła's 2011/12 league title earned it a spot in the UEFA Champions [.

The Pot 4 Club APOEL FC is a post from: Just Football

We all know everything about the major clubs that play Champions League football year-in, year-out, right? Pot 1 with its Chelseas, Arsenals and Real Madrids is old news. Pot 4 is where the fun's at. Introducing a new feature on Just Football: The Pot 4 Club.

Mais um jogo da Champions League 2011/2012, foi realizado no dia 26/07/2011, na cidade de Lovech-BUL, onde jogaram os clubes, Litex Lovech-BUL e Wisla Krakow-POL.
O árbitro desse jogo, foi: Tommy Skjerven (NOR)

Five spots in the UEFA Champions League group stage will be claimed on Tuesday as the final play-in round winds down in Europe.

Bayern Munich will look to hold on to its 2-0 aggregate lead over FC Zurich, while Villarreal will try and overturn a 1-0 deficit to Odense BK in two of the more intriguing second-leg matches.

Mais um jogo da Champions League 2011/2012, foi realizado no dia 19/07/2011, na cidade de Cracóvia-POL, onde jogaram os clubes, Wisla Krakow-POL e Skonto Riga-LAT.
O árbitro desse jogo, foi: Milorad Mažić (SRB)

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).

Today, The Champions League formally returns. It's the last step for a few European giants to reach the Group Stage of Europe's elite competition or be relegated into the Europa League.

Matches this afternoon include: Arsenal v. Udinese. BATE Borisov v. SK Sturm Graz.

The fields for the groups stages of the UEFA Champions League and Europa League are nearly set, with just one play-in round remaining in each competition.

The 10 Champions League play-in ties are highlighted by an Arsenal-Udinese matchup. The teams that win those 10 ties will be entered into the draw for the UCL group stage, while the 10 losers will drop to the Europa League group-stage draw.

Mais um jogo da Champions League 2011/2012, foi realizado no dia 13/07/2011, na cidade de Riga-LAT, onde jogaram os clubes Skonto Riga (LAT) e Wisla Krakow (POL).
O árbitro desse jogo, foi: Menashe Masiah (ISR)

O Wisla Krakow, foi campeão polonês em 2011, pela 13ª vez, e será o representante da Polônia, na 2ª fase da Champions League 2011/2012.
Além disso, ganhou 4 copas da Polônia, 1 supercopa da Polônia e 1 copa da Liga da Polônia.
Sua campanha na história da Champions League 2011/2012, foi de:
26 jogos, 10 vitórias, 4 empates e 12 derrotas.

Guess what has two thumbs and inadvertently dozed off before posting last night...Let's kick it off with the MLS Goal of the Week nominees - admittedly, not the juiciest bunch ever.Both goals from CSKA Sofia's win were scored beautifully by a young lad named Michel Platini - no, I'm not joking. I also have no explanation for the goal celebrations in Bulgaria.

Mais um representante já está classificado para a Champions League 2011/2012, sendo sua 13ª participação na Champions League.
O Malmo já foi 20 vezes campeão sueco, sendo 14 vezes campeão da Copa da Suécia.
O seu melhor resultado na história da Champions League, foi Malmo 4x1 Wisla Krakow, na temporada de 1978.

Inspired by the recent attempts by others to map which soccer teams people in London support as well as which teams people in Wales support, I wondered what a map of the United States would like broken down by which European teams residents support.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that it's almost impossible.