Turkey - UEFA Club Competitions Participants - 2013-2014 (revised)

Galatasaray Istanbul --> Champions League Group Stage
Fenerbahce Istanbul --> Champions League Third Qualifying Round
Besiktas Istanbul --> Europa League Play-off Round
Bursaspor --> Europa League Third Qualifying Round
Trabzonspor --> Europa League Second Qualifying Round

Note: Fenerbahce and Besiktas had initially been suspended by UEFA due to involvement in a 2011 domestic match-fixing scandal, but were temporarily reinstated in their respective competitions and will compete until a final decision is reached regarding their match-fixing allegations.

Bulgaria - UEFA Club Competitions Participants - 2013-2014

Ludogorets Razgrad --> Champions League Second Qualifying Round
Levski Sofia --> Europa League First Qualifying Round
Botev Plovdiv --> Europa League First Qualifying Round
Beroe Stara Zagora --> Europa League Second Qualifying Round

Note: CSKA Sofia was excluded from European competitions, by UEFA, due to debts.

Ukraine - UEFA Club Competitions Participants - 2013-2014

Shakhtar Donetsk --> Champions League Group Stage
Metalist Kharkiv --> Champions League Third Qualifying Round
Dynamo Kyiv --> Europa League Play-off Round
Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk --> Europa League Play-off Round
Metalurh Donetsk --> Europa League Third Qualifying Round
Chornomorets Odessa --> Europa League Second Qualifying Round

Turkey - UEFA Club Competitions Participants - 2013-2014

Galatasaray Istanbul --> Champions League Group Stage
Bursaspor --> Champions League Third Qualifying Round
Kayserispor --> Europa League Play-off Round
Kasimpasa --> Europa League Third Qualifying Round
Trabzonspor --> Europa League Second Qualifying Round

Note: Fenerbahce and Besiktas were suspended by UEFA due to involvement in a domestic match-fixing scandal from 2011.

Note: (2013.08.02) Fenerbahce and Besiktas have been temporarily reinstated in their respective competitions, by UEFA, and will compete until a final decision is reached regarding their match-fixing allegations.

Spain - UEFA Club Competitions Participants - 2013-2014

FC Barcelona --> Champions League Group Stage
Real Madrid --> Champions League Group Stage
Atletico Madrid --> Champions League Group Stage
Real Sociedad San Sebastian --> Champions League Play-off Round
Valencia CF --> Europa League Group Stage
Betis Sevilla --> Europa League Play-off Round
Sevilla CF --> Europa League Third Qualifying Round

Notes: Malaga was excluded from European competitions, by UEFA, due to unpaid bills. Rayo Vallecano was excluded from European competitions and denied (UEFA) license, by UEFA, for immersion in a creditor contest.

Portugal - UEFA Club Competitions Participants - 2013-2014

FC Porto --> Champions League Group Stage
Benfica Lisbon --> Champions League Group Stage
Pacos de Ferreira --> Champions League Play-off Round
SC Braga --> Europa League Play-off Round
Estoril --> Europa League Third Qualifying Round
Vitoria Guimaraes --> Europa League Group Stage

Netherlands - UEFA Club Competitions Participants - 2013-2014

Ajax Amsterdam --> Champions League Group Stage
PSV Eindhoven --> Champions League Third Qualifying Round
Feyenoord Rotterdam --> Europa League Play-off Round
Vitesse Arnhem --> Europa League Third Qualifying Round
FC Utrecht --> Europa League Second Qualifying Round
AZ Alkmaar --> Europa League Play-off Round

Note: FC Utrecht won the internal Europa League play-off competition, against Twente Enschede, FC Groningen and SC Heerenveen.

Italy - UEFA Club Competitions Participants - 2013-2014

Juventus Turin --> Champions League Group Stage
SSC Napoli --> Champions League Group Stage
AC Milan --> Champions League Play-off Round
AC Fiorentina --> Europa League Play-off Round
Udinese Calcio--> Europa League Third Qualifying Round
SS Lazio Roma --> Europa League Group Stage

Germany - UEFA Club Competitions Participants - 2013-2014

Bayern Munich --> Champions League Group Stage
Borussia Dortmund --> Champions League Group Stage
Bayer 04 Leverkusen --> Champions League Group Stage
Schalke 04 Gelsenkirchen --> Champions League Play-off Round
SC Freiburg --> Europa League Group Stage
Eintracht Frankfurt --> Europa League Play-off Round
VfB Stuttgart --> Europa League Third Qualifying Round

France - UEFA Club Competitions Participants - 2013-2014

Paris Saint-Germain --> Champions League Group Stage
Olympique Marseille --> Champions League Group Stage
Olympique Lyon(nais) --> Champions League Third Qualifying Round
OGC Nice --> Europa League Play-off Round
Saint-Etienne --> Europa League Third Qualifying Round
Girondins Bordeaux --> Europa League Group Stage

England - UEFA Club Competitions Participants - 2013-2014

Manchester United --> Champions League Group Stage
Manchester City --> Champions League Group Stage
Chelsea London --> Champions League Group Stage
Arsenal London --> Champions League Play-off Round
Tottenham Hotspur (London) --> Europa League Play-off Round
Swansea City --> Europa League Third Qualifying Round
Wigan Athletic --> Europa League Group Stage

Note: Wigan was relegated from the Premier League.

Injury Time Again!

Wow!
It's a bad, bad, bad, bad, bad time to be a Benfica supporter.

The Portuguese team played somewhat better than Chelsea (whose players were unusually timid, in a manner reminiscent of last year's Champions League final).

Against the run of play, however, Chelsea opened the scoring, following a counter-attack well finalized by Fernando Torres, on the hour mark.

But Benfica did not despair, and got their chance, from the spot, only 8 minutes later, through Cardozo.

Just when it seemed that the match was destined for extra time, in the last minute of injury time, Branislav Ivanovic, the excellent Serbian defender who scored so many headed goals for Chelsea since he came to the team -- Jorge Jesus, you couldn't have seen something like that coming, could you? Of course you couldn't!... -- rose majestically to score.
The ball really could have gone anywhere, but in hindsight the header placed the ball perfectly. It was not a powerful, direct header, but it was a touch that made sure nothing could interfere with the trajectory of the ball.

And, so, Benfica fails to win the triple, from even the very first trophy-winning attempt. Maybe they should try to see if they can get Jupp Heynckes.

But, for Chelsea, it's a great time.
Chelsea is now, for a few days, the holder of both the Champions League and the Europa League.
Their fans are enjoying this to the max, for sure.

Highlights:

2013.05.15 - The Results

EUROPA LEAGUE: Final

20:45 -- Benfica - Chelsea 1-2     highlights
[0-1]  60' Fernando Torres
[1-1]  68' Oscar Cardozo (pen.)
[1-2]  90' + 3' Branislav Ivanovic



BULGARIA: Cup (Final)

16:30 -- Beroe - Levski Sofia 3-3, 3-3 after extra time, 3-1 on penalties, 6-4 total score (including penalties scored)     match highlights   penalty shoot-out highlights
[1-0]  16' Elio Martins
[1-1]  24' Iliyan Yordanov
[2-1]  28' Elio Martins
[3-1]  79' Georgi Andonov
[3-2]  80' Joao Silva
[3-3]  87' Garry Mendes Rodrigues

Where Is Last Week's Fener Team?

Fenerbahce really upset Benfica last week.

But this return leg they were content only to defend. Only when they were no longer leading on aggregate, did the Turkish team pose significant threat in attack.

And Benfica did not waste time.

They started well, and after only 9 minutes Gaitan put them ahead, much to the delight of the public.

However, that enjoyment was short-lived, because Fenerbahce was awarded a penalty that shouldn't have been, 12 minutes later.
Kuyt did not care how the PK was obtained, though, and converted it coolly.

But some bad central defending from the Turks saw Benfica regain the lead, after another 12 minutes, in the 35th.

At 1-2, though, Fenerbahce was going to the final.

Nevertheless, Benfica's top goalscorer, Cardozo, the author of their second goal, had other ideas, and he made it 3-1 midway through the second half.

From here on, Fenerbahce had to press forward more, but they did not have enough firepower to get more goals. They probably shouldn't have gotten the first one, either, anyway.

As expected, the final is Chelsea - Benfica. It should be good. (Certainly better than the Champions League final this year.)

Highlights:

Job Done!

...But not without some worries.

Chelsea fans, at least, must have been at least a little scared when Salah scored in first-half injury time, punishing a complacent Chelsea defense.

Luckily for them, though, that's all Basel could muster, on a day when they needed to put the ball in the net at least one more time to advance.

Moreover, in just 9 minutes (50-59), Torres and again Moses and Luiz showed Basel why the English teams are considered some of the best in the world.

This final will most likely be Benitez's last chance to win a trophy with Chelsea.

Highlights:

2013.05.02 - The Results

EUROPA LEAGUE: Semifinals, leg 2

21:05 -- Chelsea - Basel 3-1, 5-2 on aggregate     highlights
[0-1]  45' + 1' Mohamed Salah
[1-1]  50' Fernando Torres
[2-1]  52' Victor Moses
[3-1]  59' David Luiz
21:05 -- Benfica - Fenerbahce 3-1, 3-2 on aggregate     highlights
[1-0]  9' Nicolas Gaitan
[1-1]  23' Dirk Kuyt (pen.)
[2-1]  35' Oscar Cardozo
[3-1]  66' Oscar Cardozo



BULGARIA: A PFG

14:30 -- Lokomotiv Sofia - Cherno More 0-0
16:30 -- Lokomotiv Plovdiv - Levski Sofia 0-1     highlights
38' Cristovao
17:00 -- Minyor Pernik - Slavia Sofia 2-4 (0-0)
17:00 -- Pirin Gotse Delchev - Beroe 0-0

Current standings:
1 Levski Sofia  25 18 4 3 49-17 +32  58p
2 Ludogorets  24 17 6 1 43-10 +33  57p
3 Botev Plovdiv  24 15 5 4 41-18 +23  50p

Benfica in Trouble?

Fenerbahce played well better than the Portuguese outfit, but were frustrated time and time again until their goal.

Luckily, with so many refereeing errors in the Champions League, Europa League referees went the other way and judged Korkmaz's effort correctly. They gave the goal, and the Turkish team went on to win.

It's going to be very hard for Benfica to overturn the result.

Previously, they had not lost in this year's Europa League. 5 wins and 1 draw, was Benfica's tally prior to today's game.

Highlights:

At Least One

After being eliminated of the FA Cup by Manchester City, at least Chelsea performed well in the first leg of the Europa League semifinal against Basel.

Taking a very early lead (in the 12th minute, after a goal scored by Victor Moses), Chelsea seemed in control right until the very end, when Basel got a lucky penalty and equalized.

But Chelsea showed remarkable spirit after their heartbreak at the weekend, and still won the match, courtesy of a last-gasp free kick expertly placed by the Brazilian David Luiz.

Advantage Chelsea, with the next leg at home.

Highlights:

2013.04.25 - The Results

EUROPA LEAGUE: Semifinals, leg 1

21:05 -- Basel - Chelsea 1-2     highlights
[0-1]  12' Victor Moses
[1-1]  87' Fabian Schar (pen.)
[1-2]  90' + 4' David Luiz
21:05 -- Fenerbahce - Benfica 1-0     highlights
71' Egemen Korkmaz



BULGARIA: Cup (Semifinal, leg 2)

16:30 -- Beroe - Slavia Sofia 1-0, 1-0 on aggregate
87' Georgi Andonov

2013.04.11 - The Results

EUROPA LEAGUE: Quarter-Finals, leg 2

18:00 -- Rubin Kazan - Chelsea 3-2, 4-5 on aggregate     highlights
[0-1]  5' Fernando Torres
[1-1]  51' Ivan Marcano
[1-2]  55' Victor Moses
[2-2]  62' Gokdeniz Karadeniz
[3-2]  75' Bebras Natcho (pen.)
21:05 -- Basel - Tottenham 2-2, 4-4 on aggregate, 2-2 after extra time, 4-1 on penalties, 8-5 total aggregate score (including penalties)     highlights
[0-1]  23' Clint Dempsey
[1-1]  27' Mohamed Salah
[2-1]  49' Aleksandar Dragovic
[2-2]  83' Clint Dempsey
21:05 -- Lazio - Fenerbahce 1-1, 1-3 on aggregate     highlights
[1-0]  60' Senad Lulic
[1-1]  73' Caner Erkin
21:05 -- Newcastle - Benfica 1-1, 2-4 on aggregate     highlights
[1-0]  71' Papiss Demba Cisse
[1-1]  90' + 2' Eduardo Salvio