European Opponents 2012-2013

[Orange14]

@SPL - we cannot draw ManCity as they would be eliminated if we progress. However, we could get Liverpool and for me that would be a great match up. Two teams that go forward with abandon and are suspect on defense.

[SPL]

sorry how stupid of me.

[Tom_]

I am also suspicious that PSV and Twente crashed out so easily but are doing better than us in the Eredivisie. No one cares about the UEFA Cup and there is no real prestige to winning it so I would also not be too upset if we don't go into it. We have acquitted ourselves respectably by beating City 5–3 over two legs and I'd be happy to focus on the league.

[aveslacker]

We are now the only Dutch team still 'alive' in Europe after Twente and PSV have now crashed out of the Europa League. Maybe they learned from their experience last season that it's not worth competing in since the money is not much and it distracts from the league competition. I don't give a hoot about coefficient points and part of me hopes that we don't qualify for the knockout stage in the EL as it will continue to be a distraction.

Totally agree. I'd just as soon we focused on the league from here on out.

[Orange14]

I'm fine with the EL as long as we get either Spurs or Liverpool in the first match. Think about playing against either of our former captains!!!

[Kowalczyk]

I changed the title of this thread: from 'Champions League Opponents' to 'European Opponents'.

Which obviously makes this the place for remarks and discussions about Ajax's upcoming Europa League safari.

Draw is on Thursday 20 December, 14:00 CET. Ajax are unseeded, just like last year, because we're the worst #3 from all Champions League groups to enter the competition.

Our opponent will be one of the following:

Chelsea (via CL)
Cluj (via CL)
Olympiakos (via CL)
Benfica (via CL)
Metalist Kharkiv
Fenerbahce
Dnjepr
Rubin Kazan
Olympique Lyon
Liverpool
Vitoria Plzen
Bordeaux
Steaua Boekarest
Racing Genk
Lazio Roma
Hannover

I would quite fancy a trip to Plzen (beer town of the Czech Republic), Bucharest or Lisbon, but Hannover or Genk would be fine by me also.

K.

[ofey]

Out of that list, I know I wouldn't want us to get:

Chelsea
Lazio
Rubin Kazan
and
Fenerbache

I reckon everyone else on that list we have a chance to beat.

[Venezuelan Ajacied]

I really think we should go for gold in this one. With the final being in Amsterdam, that would just be magnificent. I truly believe we have the talent to go far in this competition.

But we'll see

[aveslacker]

I hope we get Chelsea and continue our good run of form against English opposition. However, I wouldn't mind if we lose and are able to devote all our efforts to winning a third straight Eredivisie title.

[Kowalczyk]

For your information: the draw on the 20th will be for the round of 32 and the round of 16.

So we'll kind of know what we're playing for, if you know what I mean.

K.

[paladinby]

It looks like Patrick Kluivert will be a man to make the draw.

[Orange14]

It looks like Patrick Kluivert will be a man to make the draw.

Anybody but Ruud Gullit!!!

[Kowalczyk]

The Road to Amsterdam starts today!



K.

[zeux]

The Road to Amsterdam starts today!



K.

What time does the fun start?

[Thijs]

14.00 h

[Tom_]

Fingers crossed for Liverpool here

[Orange14]

Can't get Liverpool, they are going to St. Petersburg.

EDIT: Going to Romania to play Steaua

[Tom_]

Steaua Bucureşti.

Don't know much about them in recent times...

[souras84]

As Patrick said, could have been worse...

[Orange14]

If we win in Romania we could visit Prague or London!

[souras84]

let's get going. with more options for the first 11 many things can happen

[King Litti]

I think we can beat them if we are committed. The fact that the final is in Amsterdam could be a carrot that motivates the players. I think international games are a nice cause they do spice up the season. Just hope our depth in the squad is enough to compete in three competitions (we'll win groningen in the cup tonight), but since we are playing we might as well go for a triple!

[Kowalczyk]

Well up for Bucharest. Booking flights... NOW.

It's dirt-cheap over there. Two or three days on the piss for less than 100 euros. So I've been told.

Never been to Romania. Cool.

K.

[SPL]

Good draw and we should get through to meet Chelsea .That might be it for us but we will get a decent gate money if we play Chelsea. Big problem we have a fairly small squad in terms of experience ie our reserve defenders are inexperienced kids and finishing in the top 2 in the league is more important.

[Manneken Pis]

Good draw and we should get through to meet Chelsea .That might be it for us but we will get a decent gate money if we play Chelsea. Big problem we have a fairly small squad in terms of experience ie our reserve defenders are inexperienced kids and finishing in the top 2 in the league is more important.

€helsea are no less beatable than Man €ity in my opinion.
Still, first things first, let's win against Steaua....