Champions League 2017-2018 play-off round

[og2002gr]

After a 2nd qualification round where almost all the favorites won, 3rd round was full of surprises with 8/15 unseeded teams breaking their opponent's theoritical superiority.

I think 4th round (aka play-off) will be equally balanced, mainly in Champions Route.


Champions Route

Olympiacos (GRE)
Celtic (SCO)
København (DEN)
APOEL (CYP)
Maribor (SVN)
----------------------
Qarabağ (AZE)
Astana (KAZ)
Rijeka (CRO)
H. Beer-Sheva (ISR)
Slavia Praha (CZE)


League Route

Sevilla (ESP)
Napoli (ITA)
Liverpool (ENG)
CSKA Moskva (RUS)
Sporting CP (POR)
-----------------------------
FCSB (ROU)
Young Boys (SUI)
Nice (FRA)
Hoffenheim (GER)
İstanbul Başakşehir (TUR)

[FEPG]

Fair draw (according to clubelo.com)

1653 - København
1629 - Olympiacos
1608 - Celtic
1580 - APOEL
1449 - Maribor
----------------------
1628 - Rijeka
1601 - H. Beer-Sheva
1571 - Slavia
1497 - Qarabağ
1443 - Astana

København - Astana
Olympiacos - Qarabağ
Celtic - Slavia
APOEL - H. Beer-Sheva
Maribor - Rijeka

1862 - Napoli
1835 - Liverpool
1812 - Sevilla
1727 - CSKA
1675 - Sporting
-----------------------------
1771 - Hoffenheim
1732 - Nice
1646 - Başakşehir
1604 - Young Boys
1573 - Steaua

Napoli - Steaua
Liverpool - Young Boys
Sevilla - Başakşehir
CSKA - Nice
Sporting - Hoffenheim

This is exactly what I want to see - clubs from the top-5 leagues not knocking out each other in the playoff round. Unfortunately, the UEFA ranking used for seeding reflects the past achievements rather than the real strength of a club.

[EarlofBug]

The draw I want for the 4th round (Champions Route):

Olympiakos Piraeus - Garabag
Celtic - Astana
FC København - Slavia Praha
APOEL Nicosia - Rijeka (This could be quite a match!)
Maribor - Hapoel Beer-Sheva

[Digitaldude555]

All unseeded beg for Maribor.

[og2002gr]

From strongest to weakest

Champions Route

Celtic (SCO) / Olympiacos (GRE)
APOEL (CYP)
København (DEN)
Maribor (SVN)
----------------------
Rijeka (CRO)
H. Beer-Sheva (ISR) / Qarabağ (AZE)
Slavia Praha (CZE)
Astana (KAZ)

Ideal draw:

Celtic - Astana
Olympiacos - Slavia Praha (12th place fight)
APOEL - Qarabağ
København - H. Beer-Sheva
Maribor - Rijeka

Celtic seems the most stable and reliable team. They will be the favorite against all teams.
Olympiacos is not ready yet and really struggled against Partizan who were the better side for the biggest part of the games. It will be 50-50 with Rijeka, they will be the favorite against the others.
APOEL has a strong home and a new coach who lifted their soul. Same as Olympiacos.
Kobenhavn isn't last season's team but they destroyed Vardar. They will be outsiders against 'red teams" they will fight with Slavia, they have good chances against Astana.
Maribor hasn't prove their value yet. Everyone is undersetimating them, but as Domzale showed the slovenians are notso weak.



League Route

Napoli (ITA) / Liverpool (ENG) / Sevilla (ESP)
CSKA Moskva (RUS) / Sporting CP (POR)
-----------------------------
Nice (FRA)
Hoffenheim (GER) / İstanbul Başakşehir (TUR)
FCSB (ROU) / Young Boys (SUI)

Ideal draw:

Napoli - Young Boys
Liverpool - FCSB
Sevilla - İstanbul Başakşehir
CSKA Moskva - Hoffenheim
Sporting CP - Nice

[Cedrik]

When looking at the current UEFA Country Ranking 2018 (little to no matches played obviously). Why have some countries at the start already a higher total points than others?

Spain: 1.928
Germany: 1.857
England: 2.571
Italy: 1.666
France: 1.916

Where are these starting numbers based upon? And why does for example England have over 2.500 and Italy only 1.666?

[Forza AZ]

When looking at the current UEFA Country Ranking 2018 (little to no matches played obviously). Why have some countries at the start already a higher total points than others?

Spain: 1.928
Germany: 1.857
England: 2.571
Italy: 1.666
France: 1.916

Where are these starting numbers based upon? And why does for example England have over 2.500 and Italy only 1.666?

-England has 4 teams in CL-GS, so 16 bonuspoints + Everton got 2 points in EL-Q3 = 18/7 = 2,571
-Italy has 2 teams in CL-GS, so 8 bonuspoints + AC Milan got 2 points in EL-Q3 = 10/6 = 1,666

[og2002gr]

There was a poll made by a greek sport portal (sport24.gr) about Olympiacos opponent.
Out of 23K votes, 33% chose Hapoel BS, 21% Rijeka and 17% Qarabag.

Obviously people here care more about a revenge than an easier opponent.

[angel_87]

I really hope Napoli vs Istanbul...so the Q4 curse ends for Italian teams...
Even if all unseeded are affordable

[EarlofBug]

I really hope Napoli vs Istanbul...so the Q4 curse ends for Italian teams...
Even if all unseeded are affordable

I agree with you

[EarlofBug]

The draw that I'd like to see in the League Route:

Napoli - Istanbul
Steaua - Sevilla
Young Boys - Liverpool
Hoffenheim - Sporting
Nice - CSKA

[Cedrik]

When looking at the current UEFA Country Ranking 2018 (little to no matches played obviously). Why have some countries at the start already a higher total points than others?

Spain: 1.928
Germany: 1.857
England: 2.571
Italy: 1.666
France: 1.916

Where are these starting numbers based upon? And why does for example England have over 2.500 and Italy only 1.666?

-England has 4 teams in CL-GS, so 16 bonuspoints + Everton got 2 points in EL-Q3 = 18/7 = 2,571
-Italy has 2 teams in CL-GS, so 8 bonuspoints + AC Milan got 2 points in EL-Q3 = 10/6 = 1,666

That makes sense indeed, thanks

[APOEL]

APOEL would be the favourite to progress against any of the possible opponents, hope for the best draw possible.

[Jua Ferreira]

where can we watch the draw?

[CasE]

Eurosport or live stream on uefa website