Category: 10 to Track

1. Sporting Kansas City vs. New York Red Bulls – U.S. Open Cup

The final! It’s a The Management dream, KC hosting ‘Muricuh’s FA Cup.    Unicorn-moonman trophy time!    Sporting Kansas City  2-1

    THAT needs to be the trophy.

B. Atlanta United vs. L.A. Galaxy – MLS

It’s time to stop thinking about Atlanta as a mere expansion club. They’re in 5^th in the Eastern Division, and the 7th-9^th place squads are falling off the pace. Remember: Top six make the playoffs.  Atlanta climbs to 4th.   RESULT:  Atlanta 4-0

3. Toronto FC vs. Montreal Impact – MLS

Montreal is one of said teams falling off the playoff pace in the East. More bad news. Noobstradmus is having Canadiaian visions of a three-goal route by the league #1 hosts.   Impact now just three points out of 6th and the playoffs.   RESULT:   Montreal  3-5

    Official mascot of Canadiaian soccer battling.

[The three Copa MX games previously posted here have been postponed.   My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone effected by the massive earthquake.]

6. Gremio vs. Botafogo – Copa Libertadores

The first leg of this quarterfinal tie ended in a scoreless draw. Advantage, Gremio? Noob thinks not.    Winner gets to advance to semis.   RESULT:  Gremio 1-0

7. Lazio vs. Napoli – Serie A

Napoli finished 3^rd and 5^th last season, and sit #1 and #4 very early this season. And the Italians get four teams into next year’s Champions League instead of three did last year.    RESULT:   Napoli  1-4

8. Charleston Battery vs. Charlotte Independence – USL

South Carolina. North Carolina. Fiiight! And it should be a humdinger, as these sides are #2 and #3 in the East.   The Independence inch closer to catching the Battery for 2nd place.  RESULT:   Charleston 3-0

   Facts is facts, South Carolina.  Don’t blame Noob.

9. Seattle Sounders 2 vs. Phoenix Rising – USL

Another Amuricuhn expansion team on the go! Phoenix is in a dead heat with Tulsa Roughnecks for the last playoff spot (six get in) out of the West. But they’ve played two fewer games than Tulsa. And Seattle 2 is horrible.    Phoenix edges into 5th place.   RESULT:  Phoenix  0-1

10. Urawa Red Diamonds vs. Kashima Antlers – Emperor’s Cup

This is the FA Cup for Japan. Urawa got a really tough Round of 16 draw in league #1 Kashima, but at least they get to host the one-off match. Antlers will heed our Urawa cry – gym, tan, sushi!    Sadness reigns.   RESULT:  Kashima  2-4

    The Situation is taking a Urawa game off.

This silhouette either indicates where the sushi goes or the last seconds before harikari.

1. USA vs. New Zealand – women’s friendly

You’re not dreaming, Noobites. This is a rematch from 9/15. NZ’s making the trip worthwhile stuck around for another beating. Amuricuh took the first one 3-1.    RESULT:   USA  5-0

     Vendor, I’ll have a bottled water and even more freedom!

B. Australia vs. Brazil – women’s friendly

Second verse, same as the first. Oz took the first game 2-1.    RESULT:   Australia  3-2

3. AFC Bournemouth vs. Brighton & Hove Albion – EFL Cup

It’s deja vu all over yet again. Noob’s beloved Cherries finally earned some points with a win on 15^th with a 2-1 nailbiter.    RESULT:   Bournemouth  1-0

My thoughts and prayers go out to all affected by the massive earthquake in Mexico.   The Copa MX matches were all, of course, postponed.

4. Monterrey vs. University de Guadalajara – Copa MX

This tournament has now reached the Knockout Stage. There are no ties here, just straight one-offs. The 16 remaining teams are seeded by how they did in their qualifying groups. This is a 3-14 matchup on seeding. Monterrey should have little trouble with the Ascenso side.

5. Morelia vs. Tijuana – Copa MX

This is a 4-13 matchup that should play much closer. In fact, Noobstradamus is divining that “los xolos” (short for a breed of hairless dog) will come out victorious.

   What’s Spanish for “PETA”?

6. America vs. Cruz Azul – Copa MX

Seeds 7 and 10 face off. The Eagles of Mexico City – the most sucessful league team in national history – play host.

7. Guadalajara vs. Atlas – Copa MX

Different side than UdeG above. This is an 8/9 matchup. Guadalajara are defending champs.

8. Hibernian vs. Livingston – Scottish Communities League Cup

Only the second most prestigious Cup in Scotland, this is the more interesting of the two quarterfinal matches this date. Hibernian won the second division league last year, earning promotion to Premiere. They are replaced there by third tier champ Livingston.    RESULT:   Hibernian  3-2

9. Niger vs. Benin – friendly

FIFA ranked #44 vs. #88. At game’s end, will the visitors have “been in” this one?    RESULT:   Benin  1-2

   Better pun.

10. Senegal vs. Ivory Coast – friendly

#33 vs. #54. No more pun attempts.    RESULT:   0-0

1. France vs. Spain – women’s friendly

International games do earn the teams points of sorts that help rank them for various purposes relating to international competitions, even friendlies.    RESULT:   France  3-1

OK, Monday’s are usually light on “big games” from important leagues. On days like these, Noob likes to spin the globe and find matches from less heralded soccer countries. Education!

Today, Noobites, we take a different road. Let’s look at matches involving teams from the other ends of standings. Before some teams get possibly relegated into their nations’ second-tier leagues, let’s get to know a few.

B. Espanyol vs. Celta Vigo – La Liga

Three of Spain’s 20 Premier teams get relegated to Segunda Division at season’s end. It’s early, but Espanyol sits in 17^th. They finished 8^th last year, just one spot away from qualifying for this year’s Europa League. They play in Barcelona, which is like being the MLB Chicago White Sox instead of the Cubs, Noob suspects. Barcelona FC kicks butt.

RESULT:   Espanyol 2-1

    Let’s check out crests!     Meh.   Middle school art project-y.

3. Portimonense vs. Feirense – Portuguese Liga

Two of this league’s 18 teams get relegated annually into the second-tier LigaPro. History would dictate the hosts here will meet that fate. They’ve spent most seasons there since the mid-1980’s, but won the second division last campaign. They play in Portimao in the south of the country, a town of about 55,000.    RESULT:   Portimonense  2-1

   Solid, if not inspiring.

4. GD Chaves vs. Moreirense – Portuguese Liga

GDC, too, spends most of their seasons in LigaPro. They finished 11^th last year, and the highest they have ever finished in the top-flight league is 5^th. The city of Chaves is an agriculturally-based one by and large, with a population of 17,000 and over 40,000 including surrounding area.    RESULT:   Chaves  3-0

      Homemade Dungeons & Dragons quality artwork.

5. Lokomotiv Moscow vs. FK Amkar Perm – Russian Premier

Amkhar Parm sits dead last so far this year. Last season they finished in 1o^th. This club actually almost won the league in 2008, losing in the Final by penalty kicks.    RESULT:   Amkar  1-0

    The arrow points you down a league.

6. Isloch vs. BATE Borisov – Belarus Premier

FC Isloch Minsk Raion were deducted seven points in the standings this year. They would be in second-to-last and in a relegation slot anyway, but only a point from digging themselves out of that hole. Noob was unable to find out hat happened, but it may relate to s 2016 match against Dinamo-Brest.    RESULT:  BATE  2-0

      He looks happy, hungry and deadly.   Nice work.

7. Lechia Gdansk vs. Jagiellonia Bialystok – Poland Ekstraklasa

In this league, the entire bottom half of the regular seasons standings play in a seven-game relegation playoff. Lechia Gdansk sits in the middle of that group early this year. Gdansk is part of a tricity area of about 1.4 million on the Baltic coast.    RESULT:   3-3

       Redefining “lame”.

8. Ludogorets Razgrad vs. Botev Plovdiv – Bulgaria First Professional League

Eight of the 14 teams fight for their first-tier lives each season in this league. Draconian! Botev Plovdiv is currently in 10^th. As recently as 2010 they were playing in the country’s third-tier division. They are The Canaries – a moniker Noob’s former church league softball team carried – and so are under consideration for Adoption!    RESULT:  LR  2-1

     Simple, yet dizzying.  Noob has mixed emotions.

That was refreshing and keen. Noob and Noobite we may be, but we may end up better-educated on world club soccer than most!

9. SV Wimpassing vs. BW Linz – Austrian FA Cup

Noob wonders if SVW has ever been as far as the third round in this competition. Or ever been in it at all! They won a state league, below even the third-tier regional leagues, to qualify. Linz plays in the second division.    Underdog!   RESULT:   3-3 / 3-2 pk

   Another win, maybe you’ll earn a less boring crest, SVW.

10. Al Shorta Al Qaradif vs. Al Robta Kosta – Sudan Premier

We return again to Sudan, the league that blesses us with filler weekday games in spades! 8^th place hosts 15^th. Noob believe “Shorta” may be Arabic for “police”, which is a common naming for soccer clubs world over.    RESULT:   1-1

   To-scale drawing of actual Sudani police car.   Maybe.

1. Chelsea vs. Arsenal – English Premiere League

Defending champion Chelsea is near the top early, but the Manchester clubs look really dominant. They should be putting their foot down on .500 Arsenal.    RESULT:   0-0

  Hey, still way better to like Arsenal than their Tottenham Hotspur rivals.

B. NY Red Bulls vs. Philadelphia Union – MLS

The Eastern Division is starting to sort itself out. Red Bulls sit in the 6^th and final playoff standings slot. 8^th place Philly is six points behind, desperately in need of a win. Noob suspects NYRB will sit on the ball, happy with a draw.    RESULT:  0-0

3. Borussia Dortmund vs. FC Cologne – Bundesliga

Noob hasn’t mentioned a single player name in any T2T, and by design. I’m introducing all of us to league teams and international events first. But Dortmund is getting a sizable American following because of 21-year old Christian Pulisic. He’s going to be -the- star for the US Men’s National Team for many years.    Still no points on the season for Cologne.   RESULT:  Dortmund 5-0

4. Paris Saint-Germain vs. Lyon – Ligue 1

PSG is 5-0-0 and has outscored opponents 19-3. Lyon’s a nice side, but there’s no reason to think they won’t get housed here.  RESULT:  PSG  2-0

  You know that movie doesn’t end well for you, right?

5. Toluca vs. Queretaro – Liga MX

Los Choriceros (“The Sausagers”) of Toluca carry one of Noob’s favorite nicknames. A win against subpar Queretaro keeps them in the top half of the league standings.    RESULT:  Toluca  3-2

6. Jordan vs. Kenya – friendly

Sounds like a celebrity rap battle.    RESULT:  cancelled

  Noob would rather watch Schwimmer and Wilson play football than this.

7. Swope Park Rangers vs. San Antonio FC – USL

Awesome division two matchup, as 4^th place hosts 2^nd in the West. Rangers are a The Management favorite, but Noob holds no love for anything Kansas City. This weekend he is an unofficial member of SAFC supporter’s group “Mission City Firm”.    RESULT:  SPR  5-2

  Over -everything-?  Well, that’s a commitment.

8. PSV Eindhoven vs. Feyenoord Rotterdam – Dutch Eredivisie

Eindhoven finished third last season with just two losses, but a mess of draws. Feyenoord won last year, leads early this year. PSV is finally struggling with less goal-scoring firepower than the traditional league powers.    RESULT:  PSV 1-0

9. Jubilo Iwata vs. Urawa Red Diamonds – J1 League

These two usual league leaders have struggled this season. But Noob never misses a chance to let The Situation show us what he knows. Here our Urawa cry, gym-tan-sushi!    RESULT:   1-1

  Where the sushi goes.  And you’re welcome, ladies.  I think.

10. Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Wydad Casablanca – CAF Champions League

South African and Moroccan super clubs face off in this the first leg of this quarterfinal tie.

“Wydad” is Arabic for “love” and the name is used here as homage to an incredibly famous 20th C. Egyptian singer and actress, Umm Kulthum.    RESULT:   Sundowns  1-0

1. Watford vs. Manchester City – English Premiere League

Watford is one of only three teams to have not yet lost a league game this season. But Manchester City is one of the others. Watford’s current crest depicts a nightmarish red hart. Here’s to hoping they lose every game for seasons on end so we’re less likely to see this:

  Sorry to go blue, but this thing’s face looks like it needs a vaginoplasty.

Noob didn’t wish it had gone -this- badly.   RESULT:  0-6  Man City

B. Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Columbus Crew – MLS

Vancouver leads the weaker Eastern Division and gets a tough matchup against #4 Columbus out of the West.   Vancouver falls into a tie for 1st with Seattle.  RESULT:  2-2

3. FC Dallas vs. Seattle Sounders – MLS

The continuing story here is Dallas’ mid-late season freefall. They somehow still hold 6^th place in the West, the last playoff spot in the division. Seattle’s #3 and has to be smelling blood here. A win could see them jump right to 1^st.  Dallas stays in 6th; Seattle misses a chance to jump into 1st.  RESULT:  0-0

4. Shamrock Rovers vs. Dundalk – Irish FAI Cup

The second and third-best teams from League of Ireland Premier face off in the FA Cup final! Shamrock is a defensive stalwart, which does not at all describe Dundalk’s style. Noobstradmus predicts a 1-1 tie, and the sort of -home Dubliner Rovers winning on PK.    Noobstradamus fail!   Dundalk  0-3

  Actual photo of Noob as Noobstradmus

The Management once again would like to state this is -not- an act–

Actual photo!  Away with you, The Management!

The Management:  *  sigh  *

5. Leon vs. Pachuca – Liga MX

Back to North America. Neither of this teams is off to anything but a so-so start this Apertura, but it should be the most competitive match on this league’s slate this date.    RESULT:  Leon 3-1

6. Miami FC vs. San Francisco Deltas – NASL

SF – a The Management favorite – sits in 3^rd this Fall Season. By virtue of their 2^nd place finish during the Spring, they seem still in same position for the playoffs. (League winners from each half season qualify for playoffs, and then the two next best clubs with the highest total points from Fall and Spring aggregate points.).

But Miami is a buzzsaw. And the Deltas Noob has to think would be distracted by their club’s seemingly imminent financial collapse into likely non-existence.    The only way teams can not lose to Miami FC.    RESULT:  ppd

7. Yokohama F. Marinos vs. Kashiwa Reysol – J1 League

Perhaps The Management’s favorite league! 5^th place holds 3^rd in a critical league matchup. Both teams needs three points to try and keep pace with defending champion and #1 Kashima. More likely that these teams are vying for the third and final 2018 Asian Champions League qualifying slot.   RESULT:   1-1

8. Al Ahly vs. Esperance de Tunis – CAF Champions League

This event is in the quarterfinals now, and this is the first leg of the tie between these two. Noob still can’t swallow what the Tunisians let happen to the old Star Wars sets. It makes me happy they are running into Egypt’s toughest club.    Advantage Esperance.   RESULT:  2-2

  The Force is weak with the Tunisians.

9. Deportivo Lara vs. Carabobo – Venezuelan Premier

Lara didn’t even finish the Apertura in the top half of the standings. Now they get tested by perennial power and current 3rd-place side Carabobo.    Lara did not pass.   RESULT:  Carabobo  0-3

Noob is intrigued by the Lara crest logo.

  Soccer ball —                                  you shall not pass!!

10. Alianza FC vs. CD FAS – El Salvador Premier

Alianza #2. El Salvador #5. Noob continually types “El Slavador”, which would be a weird name for a country even in eastern Europe.    RESULT:  n/a, match now slated for 9/17

   If CIA.gov can mess it up, Noob can practice some self-forgiveness.

1. USA vs. New Zealand – women’s friendly

FIFA ranked #1 vs. #19. It may not be part of a formal competition, but Noob hearts international matches.    Amuricuh!    RESULT:   USA 3-1

B. Denmark vs. Netherlands – women’s friendly

#12 hosts #7 in the most competitive of the three friendlies.    RESULT:   ppd

 

3. Australia vs. Brazil – women’s friendly

A close second in that department would be #6 vs. #9.    RESULT:  Australia  2-1

4. France vs. Chile women’s friendly

#4 vs. #40.    RESULT:   France  1-0

5. AFC Bournemouth vs. Brighton Hove & Albion – English Premiere

The Cherries were not supposed to be wallowing in the relegation basement of the standings, but they’ve yet to pick up a point this year. Hosting a team freshly promoted to the EPL this season is hopefully just what the doctor ordered.     At last!    RESULT:   Bournemouth  2-1

6. SuperSport United vs. Zesco United CAF – Confederation Cup

This is Africa’s version of Europa League, a solid but secondary tournament to the continent’s Champions League. This is the first leg of the quarterfinal tie.     RESULT:   o-o

7. Toulouse vs. Bordeaux – Ligue 2

Noob loves him some Scrabble, wishes Toulouse were valid. Noob despises U’s. It’s early, but right now Bordeaux is in on of the three slots to get promoted to Ligue 1 this year. And on a Friday, that’s enough to make the T2T.    Bordeaux:  1-0

8. Bangor City vs. Connah’s Quay – Welsh Premier

Bangor City is a university. town where the 10,000 stidents make up more than half the city’s population. And the UK does, in fact, classify it as a city – the smallest in the nation. #4 hosts #2 in a match between two darn good teams from last season as well.    RESULT:   ppd

9. Bhayangkara Surabaya vs. Persija – Indonesia Super League

Bhayangkara is the National Police team there. Yeah, I’d let them be in first place, too.    RESULT:   N/A.    Noob mixed up two games.

10. Green Buffaloes vs. Zanaco – Zambia Premier League

Noobites, does Zanaco sound more like an oil company or pharmaceutical company producing antidepressants? #3 hosts #1 in a whale of a game.    RESULT:  pending, now slated for 9/17

Noob apologizes for the lack of lame humor this week, if it’s even necessary. Thanks to a goofy work schedule, sleep is only scheduled for 2-3 hours at a time the next couple of days. Keep soccering!

1. Austria Vienna vs. AC Milan – Europa League

As with the UEFA Champions League, the Group Stage now begins in the second-level Europa League tournament. Pods of four have been formed, each team will play the others in the pod home and away, and the top two teams advance to the bracketed Knockout Stage.    RESULT:  AC Milan  1-5

B. FC Copenhagen vs. Lokomotiv Moscow – Europa League

I don’t know why, but the spelling “lokomotiv” just looks Cold War-y and fun.    RESULT:  0-0

3. Arsenal vs. Cologne – Europa League

Speaking of Cold War, Noob -can- recommend “Atomic Blonde” enough. Solid action sequences will make this a neat one to watch mindlessly on a streaming service soon enough, but paying the theatrical ticket price did not make for a value.    RESULT:  Arsenal  3-1

   Noob.  This is The Management.  How is this related to soccer?

4. FC Zorya Luhansk vs. Ostersunds FK – Europa League

It’s a basic character creation concept within a story that the lead character/s must go experience an arc of some kind. Start out once place emotionally and experientially, end up in another.    RESULT:   Ostersunds 0-2

Oh Lordy.  Here he goes.   Remember me?  The Management?  In charge?   Foot.  Ball.  Say it with me.

5. Real Sociedad vs. Rosenburg – Europa League

This doesn’t happen with the leads in “Atomic Blonde”. Noob doesn’t think one has to be a film snob or something to notice even. If you’re going to send 30M on a production (and that’s before stars’ salaries and the marketing costs), why not blow an extra 30K on a decent script editor?   RESULT:  Real Sociedad  4-0

Dear reader, —   The Management would like to apologize for Noob’s utter inability to stay on topic.   Correction shall be made,  punishment swift and severe.   Thank you for your patience and patronage. — The Management.

Bare the shoulders, Noober!  Time for the wire coat hanger.

Jiminy!  OK!!    South of the border-soccer for all!  Appeased?

6. Wilstermann vs. River Plate – Copa Libertadores

One only has to see the seedings to know this would be a monumental upset for Wilstermann to advance to the semifinals. This is a #15 versus #4. To have any hope, the Bolivian side needs not just win but keep a clean sheet here in the first leg of the tie at home.    RESULT:  Wilstermann  3-0

7. Plaza Amador vs. Olimpia – CONCACAF League

It is surprising that two Panamanian sides made it through to the semifinals of this event. Noobstradamus back in da hoooouse, calling this one for the road Costa Ricans.    Noobstradamus success!    RESULT:   1-7  Olimpia

   Actual photo of Noob as Noobstradamus.

As noted on a previous ’10 to Track’, not an actual photo of Noob. — The Management

8. Santa Fe vs. Libertad – Copa Sudamericana

South America’s equivalent of the Europa League is still in its Round of 16. This is a seeded event, too, and this is competitive #8-#9 matchup. Libertad leads 0-1 on aggregate. The winner earns the right to get beaten like a drum in the quarters by Brazilian power Corinthians.    Libertad advances to the quarterfinals.    RESULT:   1-1

9. Iberia vs. Santiago Wanderers – Copa Chile

Noobites, carry the flag for Iberia with me – they took down goliath Colo-Colo last round, and it wasn’t even close! The usually middling, second tier league side now gets another tough Premier opponent for a quarterfinal tie in the Wanderers. No matter how far they advance though, Iberia has already decisively defeated the toughest foe they can have faced.    RESULT:   1-1

  The lowercase i isn’t exactly awe-inspiring, but it’s what we’ve got

10. Sport Huancayo vs. UTC – Peru Premier

In the Apertura, UTC was #2, and they’re there early-ish again here in the Clausura. Huancayo was 3^rd, but is off to only a fair to middling start this go-round.    RESULT:  Huancayo 2-0

   Then again, UTC demonstrates capital letters don’t guarantee a cool crest or flag, either.

1. Atlanta United vs. New England Revolution – MLS

Noob is going through Amuricuh withdrawal! Two consecutive days with no US tier one or two league game to post making me twitchy. The only one that was even played was USL’s Cincinnati vs. Harrisburg, and that game had buzzards circling it.

Atlanta’s in 6^th and should be excited to possibly make the playoffs in it’s first year. New England is in 8^th and just four points back, but has played two fewer games.    This one got people talking about sportsmanship, running up the score.    RESULT:   7-0 Atlanta

  But have we not decided on a standardized spelling for Amuricuh?  So no, Noob will not be calm!

B. Tottenham Hotspur vs. Borussia Dorrtmund – UEFA Champions League

OK, Noob’s shakes are dissipating. Back to the world’s premiere club event.

But the shakes return, this time born of rage! Tottenham “Hotspur” is named for a traitor, and Noob says once again he carries no water for such. Maybe they could be doomed to getting locked up in their locker room and forced to watch an endless stream of Sonic commercials featuring those two pitiful hams.   This one has Noob shaking his fists of rage heavenward.   RESULT:   3-1  Hotspur

  Wannabe Steve Zahn and wannabe Paul Reiser are akin to waterboarding.

3. Liverpool vs. Sevilla – UEFA Champions League

A reminder that what is beginning now is the Group Stage. Each group’s top two teams after playing everyone in their pods home and away will advance to the bracketed Knockout Stage.

Both these clubs finished 4^th last year in-league and thusly had to slog through a qualifying round to get here.   RESULT:   2-2

4. RB Leipzig vs. AS Monaco – UEFA Champions League

Best game of the day. Period.    RESULT:   1-1

5. FC Porto vs. Besiktas – UEFA Champions League

Portugal’s not quite the power it once was, but Turkey’s still not the power it’s never been. Sure, that made sense.   The Portuguese teams are struggling in international play all around of late.    RESULT:   1-3  Besiktas

  I’m a dizzy chicken.

6. Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Napoli – UEFA Champions League

Due to the conflict in Ukraine, SD isn’t even playing at home at home. Napoli is picking up steam of late and smells three points on the road.    A shakh-ing RESULT:   Donetsk  3-1

7. Monterrey vs. Pumas UNAM – Liga MX

Honesty is the best policy. This game isn’t likely to be close. Pumas are probably going to advance past the group stage even taking a big loss here. Watch to watch Monterrey, best club going in North America. Sorry, Toronto FC.     RESULT:   Monterrey  3-1

8. Barcelona SC vs. Santos FC – Copa Libertadores

We’re in the bracketed, knockout stage of South America’s version of Champions League. This is the first leg of the quarterfinal tie between these two. Noobstradmus predicts a narrow win for the road Brazilians here over the Ecuadorian side.   Noobstradamus fail.    RESULT:  1-1

  Actual photograph of Noob as “Noobstradamus”

Disclaimer:  This is NOT said photo.  This is a picture of Vitruvius, voiced by Morgan Freeman, from “The Lego Movie”.  — The Management

Noob, don’t you realize we might have to actually pay for this stuff?  Besides, if you’re going to swipe something, make sure it’s not from such recent pop culture that many folks will recognize it.  Put some effort into this, “Nostra-Dumbass”.  — The Management.

I…ummm…I have no retort, no defense.

9. Urawa Red Diamonds vs. Kawasaki Frontale – AFC Champions League

Gym – tan – sushi! Japanophile The Management and I love Urawa-  Tokyo’s answer to the New Jersey part of the NYC metro area. This is a really evenly-matched pair of teams. Kawasaki leads the quarterfinal tie 1-3 on aggregate though.    G.T.S.!    Urawa advances to the semifinals.    RESULT:   Urawa  4-1

  This is the third time that The Situation has joined us to let us know he knows where the sushi goes.  This is a quality website.

10. Arabe Unido vs. Santos de Gaupiles – CONCACAF League

Not the Champions League for our North American federation. Winners of this event gets into that one though. SdG is Costa Rican, and those clubs are easily the class of the region. Put them on the road though, and this is a tight matchup. First leg of this semifinal.    RESULT:   0-0

1. Barcelona vs. Juventus – UEFA Champions League

And now the competition proper begins. Group Stage time. This game features the two most evenly-matched teams today – last season’s La Liga #2 vs. Italy’s champion.   RESULT:  Barcelona 3-0

B. AS Roma vs. Atletico Madrid – UEFA Champions League

Let’s go back to the well with Italy’s #2 from last year taking on Spain’s numero tres.    RESULT:  0-0

  And the unacceptable double dip

3. Celtic vs. Paris Saint-Germain – UEFA Champions League

The most intriguing matchup of the day lies here. PSG obviously comes from the stronger league, but Celtic absolutely mowed down the Scottish Premiere last year and opens thisevent at home.    RESULT:  PSG 0-5

4. Benifica vs. CSKA Moscow – UEFA Champions League

Portugal’s reigning champ gets Russia’s second-best. These teams lost just a combined six games last season.    **UPSET**   RESULT:  CSKA Moscow  1-2

5. Manchester United vs. FC Basel – UEFA Champions League

It’s been mentioned before, but The Management got to see FC Basel’s stadium on a trip to see an old mutual friend of ours somewhat recently. If this gives TM a rooting interest, Noob thinks the Swiss’ best are going to disappoint him against England’s.    RESULT:   Man U  3-0

6. Bayern Munich vs. Anderlecht – UEFA Champions League

The beer-making contest would be awesome. But Germany’s reigning champion should handle Belgium’s.    RESULT:   Bayern Munich  3-0

  But which nations’s beer is better, himbo?

7. Chelsea vs. FK Qarabag – UEFA Champions League

Azerbaijan’s finest footballers seem to appear a surprising amount in the T2T. They’re going to probably appear with something like an 0-2 result after this match.   RESULT:   Chelsea  6-0

8. Morelia vs. Necaxa – Liga MX

Getting back to North America with a couple above-average teams. Morelia’s are the Monarchs. Another team on the anti-Adoption list for Noob. If your nation doesn’t have a monarchy, knock it off.    Boooooo!  RESULT:   Morelia Monarchs  2-1

  Hold on, Gary Cole.  There’s a different, weirdly-timed Office Space drop coming shortly.

9. Al Ahly vs. Persepolis – AFC Champions League

Asia’s isn’t nearly as prestigious as Europe’s, but top-flight federation tournaments will never get ignored here. This is the second leg of a quarterfinal in which the aggregate is 2-2. This will undoubtedly be the best match of the quarters for this event no matter which others are facing off.    On to the semis!    RESULT:   Persepolis  3-1

10. Crusaders vs. Linfield – Northern Irish Premier

Last season these two ran away and hid from the rest of the league. They’re top four again. Noobstradmus is calling this one for the road Blues.   McGinley was right.    RESULT:   Crusaders  2-1

  Shoosh.  You don’t get to enjoy the whole Michael Bolton catalog and then mouth off here, McGinley.

Starting this week, check back later in the week to SEE the match results!  You know, in case you didn’t have a chance to Track them yourselves, Noobites.  It’s all good.

1. Al Hilal vs. Al Ain – AFC Champions League

The first leg of this quarterfinal essentially went Saudi Arabia Al Hilal’s way – scoreless. U.A.E.’s Al Ain is probably the better side, but not by lots and must now go on road for second leg of this tie.  RESULT – Al Hilal 3-0.  They advance to the semifinals by 3-0 aggregate.

B. Dinamo Bucaresti vs. ACS Poli Timisoara – Romanian Liga 1

A few weeks into this league season is a bit early to be watching the standings in terms of playoffs, but here we are (light Mondays). The top six teams in this league make a title playoff, and -all- the others go into a relegation avoidance playoff. These two straddle that line currently.  RESULT:  Poli Timissoara wins 1-2.  Both teams still straddle the playoff line, but have switched places.

  Yep.  Went there.

3. Macabbi Petach-Tikva vs. Beitar Jerusalem – Israeli Premier

Last season’s #4 hosts #3. Petach Tikva is basically a Tel-Aviv suburb about the size of Des Moines, Iowa. Mondays are for soccer learningness! RESULT:   Beitar Jerusalem wins 1-2.

4. Molde vs. Odds BK – Norwegian Eliteserien

Molde sits in 4^th and is in danger of falling out of the title race. The city of the same name is about one tenth the size of Des Moines. Odds BK is named for a character from a Swedish novel. And that in itself is perhaps odd.  RESULT:  Molde 2-1

5. Djgardens IF vs. IFK – Swedish Allsvenskanliga

D IF is in 2^nd, yet a whopping ten points behind Malmo. They need badly to hold serve against a middling alphabet soup team.  RESULT:  Djurgardens 3-1

6. Pusamania Borneo vs. Bali United Pusam – Indonesia Super League

Noob understands the host may well have dropped the first part of that moniker from their name. Can’t imagine why. Bali U.P. is in first, but just barely. Gotta get a road result against a middling side.  RESULT: 0-0

   Nope.  Shoosh.

7. FC Lahti vs. KuPS – Finland Veikkausliga

HJK is running away with this league, so this 2nd-3^rd place matchup is all about qualifying for the 2019 Europa League. Lahti has an interesting nickname in “the Black Drones”. Noob isn’t sure if this is about bees or mechanical assassin/future pizza delivery machines. Since the club was just formed in 1996, both possibilities are in play.  RESULT:   1-1 draw

8. Al-Hilal al Obayed vs. Al Amal Atbara – Sudan Premier

Mondays are all about getting to know more world neighbors, woohoo! Noob usually focuses on the host team for get-to-know’s, but info on this club has been hard to find quickly. Atbara is about the size of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to continue the Hawkeye state comparisons. These clubs are in 6^th and 14^th place respectively.  RESULT:  0-0

9. Al Ahli Shandi vs. Merreikh Nyala – Sudan Premier

Shandi is primarily an agricultural goods trading center, though it has over 50,000 people. 6^th and 9^th place sides here.    RESULT:   Ahli Shandi 2-1

  Hardly related.  Noob doesn’t care.   Deee-licious.

10. Tari’a al Beja vs. Hay al Wadi – Sudan Premier

#9 vs. #10. Noob couldn’t find much on the host club, but the Al Beja people were called “Blemmyes” in ancient Roman times. They also fictionalized them as a headless race of monsters with facial features on their chests.  RESULT:  Hay al Wadi wins 0-2

  Hey, girl, let’s go clubbin’!  Ain’t got no heads up in here!