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Sports Chat Place continues our group-by-group preview of the 2010/2011 UEFA Europa League with a look at Group B. This group has the current holders ...
Sports Chat Place continues our group-by-group preview of the 2010/2011 UEFA Europa League with a look at Group B. This group has the current holders Atletico Madrid, who have just capped off that last years title win with the UEFA Super Cup against Champions League winners Inter Milan. Joining them is German side Bayer Leverkusen, Norwegians Rosenborg and Aris Thessaloniki from Greece.
The Spanish side is primed to defend their crown, and judging by their performance in the UEFA Super Cup will be hard opposition to beat. Often looked upon as the “little brother” to Real Madrid, this team has come into its own over this past season. This is a team that will take this competition seriously, not only because they are defending champions but because their domestic season is a lot harder to win. Coach Quique Flores has the respect of his players and being able to keep two prized assets in Forwards Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguerro, these two are the key to the teams’ offense and the primary source for goals. Other key players on Atletico are Goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo, Midfielder Simao Sabrosa and newly signed Defender Diego Godin. It will be a huge task to repeat as champions, but they have the quality to do it again.
As for Leverkusen, this is a very talented group of players with their young core now being together for the better part of three seasons. Although mostly young, this team does have veteran players in key positions, none more essential then their returning talisman Midfielder Michael Ballack. This team believes that they belong in European competition and now that they are back they are favorites to lift the trophy. Key players for the German outfit are Midfielder Arturo Vidal as well as Forwards Stefan Kiessling and Patrick Helmes. Kiessling and Helmes in particular are responsible for all the goals because this team is not deep in the Forward position. If they want to make a deep run these two need to be in goal scoring form.
The Norwegian outfit has won their domestic title an amazing 21 times, and as a result has been apart of both European competitions on many occasions. Coach Nils Arne Eggen who has coached this team 7 separate times will lean on this experience. He knows the club, the players and what it takes to play in Europe. The fact that the majority of the team is made of local players is also a positive; it is easier to communicate with each other and have a singular mindset.
Lastly there is Aris Thessaloniki, the team from Greece is looking to make an impact and step out of the shadows of the more popular Greek sides Panathinaikos, Olympiacos and AEK Athens. Although the majority of the team is of Greek nationality, they have a heavy Brazilian and Spanish influence. The fact that their Coach Héctor Cúper is Argentine has a lot to do with it, they can relate to each other and communicate in Spanish, which make them more comfortable. They have an up hill battle on their hands, but teams having to travel to Greece historically have a tough go of it. This will make Aris feel better about their chances for sure.
Teams to Advance: Bayer Leverkusen and Atletico Madrid
Final Thoughts: I feel this group is pretty straightforward; it’s a battle for first that I think Leverkusen will win. It’s not that Atletico will struggle, but more to the point that the German side look really good. I like this team in the Bundesliga and that will carry over in the Europa League.
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