[retired_vgrunlund]

Someone fancy giving me the low down on Spartak then please?

[cbhoyhern]

Just looking through the draw.
Looks like it could be a stroll for Steaua.
I think that Spartak could beat Celtic in the home leg, Russian season is about halfway through (iirc) and they play on an artificial pitch, which should play into their hands someway. That one should be close over the two legs.

Red Bull Salzburg vs Shakhtar Donetsk would be a hell of a tie (bar any shocks). Shakhtar are obviously even stronger now, just have to see if the new foreign signings have settled in yet, if they play.

Lazio v Dinamo Bucharest is a diamond, I think Bucharest could win that.

Prague vs Arsenal is another, Arsenal always used to hammer Sparta in the group stages but I think it will be alot closer, with Arsenal comming out on top.

Dinamo Zagreb will strugle now and go out.

Red Star have a good chance.

All really good ties, maybe better for the spectator rather than most of the Eastern European sides.

[cbhoyhern]

What the heck, Marius Niculae has found his way to Inverness Caledonian Thistle in Scotland.
Bit of a weird one that, rejected work permit though.

[retired_anneduck]

Originally posted by BWCH:
Someone fancy giving me the low down on Spartak then please?

Sure, probably the hardest of the unseeded teams, top of the Russian league after 18 games. Very attack minded team, their European games normally have plenty of goals. Best players are probably Mozart, Titov, Kalinichenko and Stranzl. They currently play on the artificial pitch at the Luzhniki (85000, this years Champions League final venue) while their new stadium is being built

Very close call on this tie

[retired_anneduck]

Originally posted by Victor_Renner:
Just looking through the draw.
Looks like it could be a stroll for Steaua.
I think that Spartak could beat Celtic in the home leg, Russian season is about halfway through (iirc) and they play on an artificial pitch, which should play into their hands someway. That one should be close over the two legs.

Red Bull Salzburg vs Shakhtar Donetsk would be a hell of a tie (bar any shocks). Shakhtar are obviously even stronger now, just have to see if the new foreign signings have settled in yet, if they play.

Lazio v Dinamo Bucharest is a diamond, I think Bucharest could win that.

Prague vs Arsenal is another, Arsenal always used to hammer Sparta in the group stages but I think it will be alot closer, with Arsenal comming out on top.

Dinamo Zagreb will strugle now and go out.

Red Star have a good chance.

All really good ties, maybe better for the spectator rather than most of the Eastern European sides.

The good thing for Red Star is that they finally have a winnable tie after Milan (winners), Leverkusen (final), PSV (semis) etc, so they'll be reasonably happy with it

Arsenal should beat Sparta, Zagreb will probably be out, but Lazio - Dinamo is a really interesting one and will surprise a lot of people

[cbhoyhern]

Originally posted by Richie P:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by BWCH:
Someone fancy giving me the low down on Spartak then please?

Sure, probably the hardest of the unseeded teams, top of the Russian league after 18 games. Very attack minded team, their European games normally have plenty of goals. Best players are probably Mozart, Titov, Kalinichenko and Stranzl. They currently play on the artificial pitch at the Luzhniki (85000, this years Champions League final venue) while their new stadium is being built

Very close call on this tie </BLOCKQUOTE>

They also have Stipe Pletikosa in goal.

[retired_noramae]

Good draw that, some great ties especially Spartak - Celtic

Steaua could send their reserve team and still win that one

[retired_anneduck]

Forgot about Pletikosa, Spartak's keeper Kowalewski was horrendous last year in the group stage and cost them plenty of goals, so its a big improvement

[cbhoyhern]

Just been thinking about Egor Titov, was always touted as a rising star when he was younger, moves abroad to big clubs were always speculated. After the injuries and then getting banned for a year didnt do him any favours. Shame, must be coming up to thirty by now.

[retired_anneduck]

He is, quit international football recently. Still on his day he is an excellent player, and Spartak fans love him. Been playing very well recently, as has Mozart