Slavia Prague are meeting Aston Villa in the UEFA cup Watch the match LIVE here.   Pre-register at the NEW football site 11×2 today Click to continue reading...

UEFA held the draw for the UEFA Cup group stage today and some fascinating pairings emerged. Both Martin Jol and Steve McClaren will take their new clubs back to England as FC Twente will face Manchester City and Jol's Hamburg will take on Aston Villa. This year's groups are looking really tough and the field contains [. Click to continue reading...

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INDEPENDENT/By Graham Nickless - Bristol City 1 Queen's Park Ranger 1: Cerny's new freedom has security benefits for QPR
Radek Cerny is enjoying his relaxed new lifestyle and new sense of freedom at Queen's Park Rangers compared to the stressful way of living he experienced at Tottenham Hotspur. Click to continue reading...

The UEFA Cup first-round draw was held on Friday and there are a number of interesting new faces in the competition. One of those teams is Dutch side FC Twente, who as we've detailed in previous posts, is now coached by former England boss Steve McClaren. Twente, who were entered into the UEFA Cup after [. Click to continue reading...

Ladies & gentlemen, Serie A has four out of four this year!!!! After Juventus on Tuesday, Fiorentina cleared the UEFA Champions League Preliminary Round as well, joining Inter Milan and AS Roma in the "Fantastic 4 Quartet" -something which Italian clubs had not achieved since the 2005-06 season (Chievo and Lazio failing to clear the [. Click to continue reading...

Tottenham starlet Tomas Pekhart is wanted by Southampton and Plymouth on loan. The 19-year-old striker is tipped for a bright future at White Hart Lane. The Czech Republic youth international - who joined the Lilywhites from Slavia Prague in 2006 - top scored for Spurs' reserves last season, hitting five goals in 13 appearances. Click to continue reading...

Three out of three for Italian teams in Europe. After Fiorentina (2-0 vs. Slavia Prague - insert link) and Juventus (4-0 vs. Artmedia Bratislava - insert link), Napoli also put their next round UEFA Cup qualification on ice, as they travelled to Albania and defeated Vllaznia with a score of 3-0. Main man of the [. Click to continue reading...

Adrian Mutu gets credit for this beauty in a Champions League third-round match with Slavia Prague.

It can't get much better than that... Click to continue reading...

The paintbrush of Adrian Mutu and the violin solo of Alberto Gilardino. Tuscany is well-known as the homeland of many Italian artists, and Fiorentina are certainly no exception to that trend. The two Viola strikers were main protagonists Tuesday night, as their team obtained a key 2-0 home win against Slavia Prague and slammed the [. Click to continue reading...

Italy's Fiorentina won it's first Champions League qualifying matchup 2-0 against Slavia Prague.  The two players who should lead Fiorentina this upcoming season, Adrian Mutu and Alberto Gilardino, both scored in the game. The second leg of the match will be played on August 27th in the Czech Republic. Click to continue reading...

Lazio coach Delio Rossi is preparing his squad for their friendly against Liverpool, but he insists that the Biancocelesti cannot use these types of matches to gauge if the team is ready to return to European competition.

Lazio and Liverpool will face off at Anfield today in what many expect will be a physical match-up. Click to continue reading...

The second qualifying round brought two big upsets as Rangers and Anderlecht became two of the biggest clubs to be knocked out at this stage. A 2-1 win (video highlights here) in Lithuania saw FBK Kaunas (pictured celebrating at the right) take full advantage of the 0-0 draw they earned at Ibrox to send the beaten [. Click to continue reading...

Anorthosis Famagusta - Olympiakos Vitoria de Guimarães - FC Basel Shaktar Donetsk - Dinamo Zagreb FC Schalke 04 - Atlético Madrid AaB Aalborg - FBK Kaunas Barcelona - Wisła Kraków Levski Sofia - BATE Borisov Standard Liege - Liverpool Partizan Belgrade - Fenerbahçe FC Twente - Arsenal Spartak Moscow - Dynamo Kiev Juventus - Artmedia Petralka Brann Bergen - Marseille Fiorentina - Slavia Prague Galatasaray - Steaua Bucharest Panathinaikos - Sparta Prague Matches are August 12/13 and 26/27. Click to continue reading...

The 2008-09 season is fast approaching. In fact, some teams have already played their first qualifying matches in the UEFA Cup. Today, the 3rd round qualifying matches for the Champions League were announced. Here is the complete draw:

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Third qualifying round draw:

Anorthosis/Rapid Vienna v Olympiakos
Vitoria Guimaraes v IFK Gothenburg/Basel
Shakhtar Donetsk v Domzale/Dinamo Zagreb
Schalke 04 v Atletico Madrid
Aalborg/Modrica v RANGERS/Kaunas
Barcelona v Beitar Jerusalem/Wisla Krakow
Levski Sofia v Anderlecht/BATE
Standard Liege v LIVERPOOL
Inter Baku/Partizan v Fenerbahce/MTK Budapest
FC Twente v ARSENAL
Spartak Moscow v Drogheda/Dinamo Kiev
Juventus v Tampere/Artmedia
SK Brann/Ventspils v Marseille
Fiorentina v Slavia Prague
Galatasaray v Steaua Bucharest
Panathinaikos/Dinamo Tbilisi v Sheriff Tiraspol/Sparta Prague

The winners of these cup ties will enter the group stage of the Champions League.

Click to continue reading...

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Third qualifying round draw:
Anorthosis/Rapid Vienna v Olympiakos
Vitoria Guimaraes v IFK Gothenburg/Basel
Shakhtar Donetsk v Domzale/Dinamo Zagreb
Schalke 04 v Atletico Madrid
Aalborg/Modrica v Rangers/Kaunas
Barcelona v Beitar Jerusalem/Wisla Krakow
Levski Sofia v Anderlecht/BATE
Standard Liege v Liverpool
Inter Baku/Partizan v Fenerbahce/MTK Budapest
FC Twente v Arsenal
Spartak Moscow v Drogheda/Dinamo Kiev
Juventus v Tampere/Artmedia
SK Brann/Ventspils v Marseille
Fiorentina v Slavia Prague
Galatasaray v Steaua Bucharest
Panathinaikos/Dinamo Tbilisi v Sheriff Tiraspol/Sparta Pragu
Thanks to BBC sport for the info. Click to continue reading...

Slavia Prague have pushed the envelope: You can buy one here. It's an exciting time for off-field fun: Middlesbrough's new kit is waterproof Hummel have released the new Zanzibar kit, and, let's face it, you won't find anything like this in the Premiership And Lille have moved to Canterbury kits.  Which means that Airness have lost another account Meanwhile, a certain [. Click to continue reading...

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For what it's worth, QPR have announced the new squad numbers. Speculation that the club was waiting till they'd made a couple more signings was obviously incorrect.

QPR Official Site

1 LEE CAMP
2 DAMIEN DELANEY
3 DAMION STEWART
4 GAVIN MAHON
5 FITZ HALL
6 MIKELE LEIGERTWOOD
7 HOGAN EPHRAIM
8 ROWAN VINE
9 DEXTER BLACKSTOCK
10 AKOS BUZSAKY
11 PATRICK AGYEMANG

12 ADAM BOLDER
14 MARTIN ROWLANDS
15 PETER RAMAGE
16 MATT CONNOLLY
17 SIMON WALTON
18 ZESH REHMAN
19 ANGELO BALANTA
20 EMMANUEL LEDESMA
21 MATTEO ALBERTI
22 SAMUEL DI CARMINE
23 CHRIS BARKER
24 RADEK CERNY
25 DANNY NARDIELLO
26 GARETH AINSWORTH
31 RAY JONES

". Click to continue reading...

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Setanta/Jure Bohoric - Pecnik reveals English league snub
Nejc Pecnik has revealed he has rejected offers from Leicester City and Queens Park Rangers.
The Slovenian striker has signed for Slavia Prague from Celje instead after being attracted to the idea of playing alongside Czech idol Patrik Berger. Click to continue reading...

These days, having sushi for lunch isn't all that exotic wherever in the world you live. It appears that Everton are prepared to order something similar for next season, with Sky Sports reporting that the Merseyside club are in the race to sign Marek Suchy from Slavia Prague. While it's clear that the Toffees haven't got [. Click to continue reading...

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From the site, CLD Sport, an assessment of the Ramage and Cerny signings. Meanwhile, if the press reports and board rumours are correct, QPR should be announcing some additional signings this week. Gorkss to QPR? -

Forthcoming Dates: Meanwhile.... Click to continue reading...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhSXMY1pV74 This video does exactly what it says on the tin. #10 Nathan Dyer (Southampton) #9 Ricardo Quaresma (Porto) #8 Frank Songo'o (Sheffield Wednesday) #7 Ricardo Quaresma (Porto, again) #6 Robin van Persie (Arsenal) #5 Nani (Man Utd, controversial) #4 Zdeněk Šenkeřík (Slavia Prague) #3 Niko Kranjčar (Portsmouth) #2 Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) #1 Adel Taarabt (Spurs) Some great little moments in there, and I like the [. Click to continue reading...

FC Brno defeated Sparta Prague in Gambrinus Liga action on Sunday. The defeat leaves Sparta only four points ahead of second place side Slavia Prague with two league games to play. Slavia Prague's match at Sigma Olomouc tomorrow suddenly becomes an even more crucial fixture.

FC Brno received goals from 21 year-old forward Marek Střeštík (19') and Tomáš Došek (90'). Click to continue reading...

Aston Villa midfielder Patrik Berger wants to resolve his future as soon as possible. The 34-year old former Liverpool striker is unhappy at not getting enough chances to perform at Villa Park this season and is also frustrated by the injuries that have plagued him this season. Yet he wants to resolve his future before [. Click to continue reading...

Wednesday's piping hot transfer rumours... Manchester United are ready to bag Sporting Lisbon's defender Miguel Veloso for £15m. (Daily Mirror) Portsmouth gaffer ‘Arry Redknapp is after Crystal Palace left-back Lee Hills. (Daily Mirror) ...But Lee Hills himself reckons that he isn't leaving Selhurst Park anytime soon. Click to continue reading...

The Daily Mail "Exclusively" reports that Tottenham outcast Paul Robinson is to be brought back into the fold for Thursday night's UEFA Cup bash at the Lane. It was only last month that Spurs boss Juande Ramos dropped Robbo, but after Radek Cerny's Robinson-esque gaffe last week, Ramos has concluded that if [. Click to continue reading...

Hit on the heels of the revelation that Spurs boss Juande Ramos wants his players to lose even more weight comes the news that Tottenham's UEFA cup opponents Slavia Prague are running scared of Tottenham. The Daily Mail reports that Slavia Prague boss Karel Jarolim is worried that his side won't be as match [. Click to continue reading...

After a nice long break from the action both the Champions League and UEFA Cup competitions will kick off their knockout rounds. We'll first look at the UEFA Cup as their Round of 32 first leg fixtures take place this week.

Spanish clubs have dominated this competition in recent years but Germany, with 5 clubs, and England, with 3 clubs are strongly represented this season. Click to continue reading...

The rest of Matchday 6 fixtures are to be played today and tomorrow. These are the final fixtures of the group stage and several clubs fate still lies in the balance. Let's take a quick look at each Group.

Group A
Along with Group C, A is the most wide-open. If Liverpool win in Marseille they will advance to the knockout stage. Click to continue reading...

With Euro 2008 qualifying put to rest and a round of domestic games under their belts, Europe's top clubs return their focus to the Champions League for Matchday 5. This round of games should clarify which teams will progress though who will finish first or second will come down to the last Matchday for most groups. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas rubbished rumors of a move away from Ashburton Grove despite having visited Barcelona last Wednesday.

The player, who started his career at the Barcelona youth academy, has been heavily linked with a move back to the Camp Nou. He was rested for Arsenal's 0-0 draw with Slavia Prague, but surprised many by spending his break with Alex Hleb in Barcelona, watching the Spanish giants defeat Rangers, courtesy of a goal from former Arsenal talisman Thierry Henry. Click to continue reading...

Kolo Toure and Tomas Rosicky, who both missed Wednesday's 0-0 Champions League draw with Slavia Prague due to injury should be fit to play against Reading on Monday.

Toure, one of Arsenal's first choice center-backs, picked up a minor calf injury in Sunday's 2-2 draw against Manchester United but both he and Rosicky who was out with a groin injury will be fit to travel to the Madejski to face the Royals. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League today, despite a disappointingly boring show against Slavia Prague in the Czech capitol.

An undermanned Arsenal squad failed to hit the heights of their 7-0 drubbing of Slavia Prague two weeks ago at the Emirates in what proved to be by far the least entertaining of Arsenal's games this season. Click to continue reading...

Kolo Toure and a trio of Arsenal's midfielders did not travel to the Czech Republic for Wednesday's match against Slavia Prague.

Arsene Wenger explained to Arsenal.com that Cesc Fabregas and Alex Hleb were being rested while Kolo Toure and Tomas Rosicky were recovering from minor injuries picked up in the 2-2 draw with Manchester United on Saturday. Click to continue reading...

High-flying Arsenal travel to the capital of the Czech Republic this Wednesday to face the Gambrinus Liga leaders Slavia Prague. Arsenal beat Slavia 7-0 in the home fixture, but the Eastern European side has developed a reputation as one of the most difficult clubs to beat at home.

Arsenal will be looking to clinch a spot in the knockout rounds of the Champions League by coming home with a full three points, but Slavia, who are three points behind second-placed Sevilla, will be looking to deny them. Click to continue reading...

Besiktas 2-1 Liverpool
OH MY GOD LIVERPOOL. I MEAN, OH MY GOD.

Also, poor Sami Hyypia. That's two own-goals in less than a week -- although I don't think this one was his fault, exactly, just comedy defending all around. Their previously rock-solid defence has gone a bit wonky in the past few games. They seem to get panicky -- kind of like England, actually, and I suspect for the same reason: they don't have the confidence that if they do concede, they'll be able to pull one back easily enough. Click to continue reading...