UEFA Cup Group G Preview

By: Ian Rose | October 22nd, 2007

It’s almost time to get back to that tournament everyone in the soccer world cares about more than any other … and, it’s also time for its ignored little brother, the UEFA Cup. Here is the seventh in my soon-to-be-completed eight part series on the UEFA Cup groups.

Group G is, in order of seeding: Anderlecht (Belgium), Tottenham (England), Getafe (Spain), Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel), Aalborg (Denmark).

Here are the matches, and the way I see them going down. I can’t wait until Thursday, when I can start building what I’m sure will be a phenomenally bad record of prediction. Oh well. Here goes.

Anderlecht v. Hapoel Tel Aviv, 25 October
Hapoel Tel Aviv has had a terrible start in Israel, and remains winless in their domestic season after six matches. I can’t see them doing much better when they travel to Belgium on Thursday. Home win.

Tottenham v. Getafe, 25 October
This time last year, Tottenham was ripping the UEFA Cup field apart, on the strength of incredible displays by Dimitar Berbatov. This year, not so much. They easily defeated Anorthosis in the first round, but have had so little success at home that it’s hard to imagine a long UEFA Cup run. Still, Getafe looks even more toothless right now, and I see Spurs taking this one to some relieved cheers at White Hart Lane. Home win.

Hapoel Tel Aviv v. Tottenham, 8 November
Again, Spurs are saved by going up against a team that is looking as dull domestically as they are. Draw.

Aalborg v. Anderlecht, 8 November
Aalborg are a tougher team than they look like on paper, but Anderlecht travel relatively well and have an impressive UEFA Cup record. The Danes managed to keep Sampdoria to a scoreless draw here in the last round, and I can see them doing just as well here. Draw.

Getafe v. Hapoel Tel Aviv, 29 November
Tough one, but a look at last season’s UEFA Cup is enough to show that even a team faced with relegation in Spain (like Celta Vigo last year) can still show off in the UC. Especially against a team with equally bad form in a much less challenging league. Home win.

Tottenham v. Aalborg, 29 November
I really like the way this draw worked out for Spurs, but Aalborg will definitely be out for blood here. Another draw for the Danes and Spurs.

Aalborg v. Getafe, 6 December
The Danish side will be doing well up to this point, and will believe they can take the struggling Azulones at home. I think they can too, and I see a close home win.

Anderlecht v. Tottenham, 6 December
A little trivia for you. The last time Anderlecht won the UEFA Cup was 1983. The last time Tottenham won it was the very next year, 1984. Meaningless 20-year-old stats aside, I have to tip this one to the Belgians. Home win.

Getafe v. Anderlecht, 19 December
Because this group is relatively evenly matched, I’m predicting a lot of home wins and draws. This game is an exception, and I see Getafe losing their home advantage to the Belgian side. Away win.

Hapoel Tel Aviv v. Aalborg, 19 December
The last game of the group puts two teams in need of points face to face. If my predictions are right, Hapoel will be the more desperate side, and I think they’ll have just enough for a draw here.

If I’m right, here’s the table, with advancing teams in bold:
Anderlecht (10 points)
Aalborg (6 points)
Tottenham (5 points)
Getafe (3 points)
Hapoel Tel Aviv (2 points)

I’m fairly surprised to be picking Tottenham to advance in Europe considering their form at home right now, but this has got to be Spurs’ dream group. Beside Spurs, there are two teams in their leagues’ relegation zones (Getafe and Hapoel), and a single win and a few draws should be enough to go through. I don’t see them getting much farther, but who knows? Aalborg is the other recipient of this group’s lack of form. Underestimate the Danes (especially at home) at your own risk.