Europa League Review GW28: Groups I-L

Edit: ignore the permutations, I screwed them up.

Group I

Dortmund (Tommytour) defeats Spartak Moscow (Arise Sir Giggsy) 85-77

Playing away from home and taking a 4 point hit, Dortmund started with an 8 point deficit. The decision to sell Sagna and RVP for Enrique and Suarez(c) meant that decision paid off brilliantly. Fellaini, Davies and Walcott, along with Ramirez coming off the bench led to a 43k GW rank for Tommy. Spartak also own Suarez but captained Bale for less spectacular returns.  Fellani, Walcott and Davies also came in with the points for Giggsy though RVP to Lambert proved to be an unsuccessful transfer.

Cluj (Milanista) defeats Everton (Beric) 70-61

With Aguero ruled out through injury, Cluj ended up fielding an unconventional 4-5-1 formation but 26 points between GJ, Evans, Davies and Harte meant this worked out okay. Walcott, RVP and Bale(c) also helped the unstoppable Cluj to 5/5 wins in the competition, a record that no team in either the Champions or Europa League can much, not that I’m bragging much. Like Cluj, Everton saved a transfer and captained Bale. RVP, Walcott, Fellani and Zabaleta helped Beric to a decent score but poor returns from Anichebe and his other defenders meant it wasn’t enough.

Permutations: With Spartak stuck in last and the mighty Cluj having an insurmountable lead, the focus is on the battle for second.Tommy leads Beric by 3 points, a win for Beric against Giggsy will be enough to take him through on goal difference if Tommy loses. Giggsy has nothing but pride to play for and will be looking to cause an upset. With the full 11 available and home advantage, Tommy looks favourite to end the winning streak of Cluj and take second place in the group.

Group J

Olympiakos (Pratik) defeats Granada (Green Windmill) 59-57

Injuries to Sturridge and Aguero meant that Pratik was left with a 4-5-1 and a measly 2 points from Lambert, just signed in place of RVP. RVP to Lambert was a transfer mirrored by Granada. Both teams captained Bale and had identical midfields aside from different cheap 5th midfielders for 2 points. With the teams also sharing Begovic, Davies and a Liverpool defender it was always going to be a tight game. Pratik’s home advantage, along with having GJ over Enrique, clinched victory for Olympiakos.

Man City (AK) defeats Sporting (TorresMagic) 81-53

Sometimes, those at the top seem to get all the luck. Aguero(c), Suarez(vc) is a perfect example of that and exactly what AK got this week as he handed Torres a thrashing. AK saved a transfer in preparation for GW29 though was another to end up with 4-5-1.  Bale, Walcott, Fellaini and Evans helped wreak misery on Torres. A strikeforce of Sturridge, Lambert and Giroud was something of a disaster for Sporting, who had Bale(c) to thank for rescuing what could have been a dire week.

Permutations: On 9 points each, the winner of AK v Pratik will definitely qualify, both will qualify if the managers can indulge in a spot of match fixing and draw. Assuming there is a winner in the top of the table clash Green Windmill, currently on 6 points, will qualify on goal difference if he can overcome TorresMagic. Torres is also on 6 points but will need a significant swing in goal difference to progress so he’s basically screwed.

Group K

Shakhtar Donetsk (Dynamic) defeats Lille (In Like Flynn) 85-83

Big scores in this one, ILF’s attack of the Rat and Pig racked up 31 points and the differential pick of Pienaar came up with 12. Captain Bale, Azpilicueta and Enrique completed a good week for Lille. Transferring Suarez in for Giroud was a smart transfer, though the decision to get that donkey in the first place was somewhat foolish. Dynamic is another to captain Bale and own Suarez, Fellaini matched Pienaar’s score and Walcott finished off his attacking returns. 3/3 clean sheets for Shakhtar, along with home advantage, was enough to scrape past Lille who picked up 2 clean sheets. Laughably, it was Demel coming off Dynamic’s bench for Cameron that won it for him.

Stoke (Wild Rover) defeats Malaga (Ajay) 71-62

With everyone worried about GW29 blanks, Wild Rover actually ended up with just 10 players this week after Aguero(c), Sturridge, Rafael and Townsend didn’t feature. Nevertheless, Bale(vc), Fellaini, Walcott, Davies and the newly transferred in Suarez for RVP took Stoke to a good score. Malaga picked up decent returns from defence and midfield but was let down by an attack of RVP and Lambert(c). Ajay’s decision to sell Suarez for Lambert in GW27 is not looking too good right now.

Permutations: With 4/5 wins, Dynamic is through as group winner. The other three sides are all level on 6 points. After starting the campaign with 3 defeats, Wild Rover now leads the race for second on goal difference and has a home game against the group winners next. ILF hosts Ajay in the other game, though with a vastly inferior goal difference ILF will need to win and hope Wild Rover drops points in the other game to progress. Wins for Wild Rover and Ajay will make things very tight, as there is a goal difference of just 4 between them.

Group L

Getafe (Declan) defeats FC Koln (Fray Bentos) 85-62

Never shy of a transfer, Fray removed RVP and Dempsey for Aguero and Bale with mixed success. Having captained Aguero, he will no doubt be ruing the decision to hand the vice to Lampard over Suarez. 4/5 CS at the back from Hart, Evans, Williams and Davies helped the team to a decent score but some way off the mark required to beat Getafe. There were returns all over the pitch for Declan, who was another Bale captainer to sell RVP for Suarez. 2 CS and an assist from Harte at the back, along with Fellaini and Walcott gave Declan a comprehensive victory.

Lyon (FC Borec) defeats Wigan (Giggs Boson) 90-75

Borec was the first manager to suffer elimination from this season’s competition but he made sure not to be the last manager stuck on 0 points as he got off the mark with the biggest score in this review. Predictably, Suarez(c) was the biggest source of points. RVP, Bale, Fellaini, Walcott, Davies and Harte all chipped in. Giggs Boson wisely captained Rooney for a 28 point haul and despite 3 clean sheets at the back, was hurt by a lack of Fellaini.

Permutations: On 12 points and with a goal difference 70 higher than Fray Bentos on 9 points, Declan will almost certainly qualify as group winner. Borec has been eliminated as previously alluded to. Giggs Boson is on 6 points, a win at home to Declan combined with an away win for Borec against Fray will see Giggs steal second place.