The UEFA Cup “league table”

I got to thinking last night about different ways to talk about the 16 remaining teams in the UEFA Cup. Which side really is the favorite? What has their form been like? I decided it might be interesting to look at the last 16 UEFA Cup teams as a league, with their European wins, losses and draws, and goal differential deciding their place, like any domestic league. So, here goes.

Each team has played 8 matches, not counting qualifying in Europe. For Champions League sides, that means six matches in the group stages and two in the UEFA Cup round of 32. For the pure UEFA Cuppers, it’s two matches in the first round, four in the UC group stage, and two in the round of 32. The sides in bold italics came down from the Champions League, and so they have an obvious disadvantage, since they got here partially by losing. Still, some interesting things stick out. For example:

Everton really has been that good
In this format, Everton, not Bayern Munich, comes out the favorite. With seven wins and a +14 goal differential, they look hard to stop. Time will tell if Fiorentina is up to the challenge.

The Germans are coming … for the cup
Everton may be top, but right behind them are three Bundesliga sides that all look dangerous. If it wasn’t for two of them meeting in the round of 16, I’d say we could be looking at a German-dominated tournament. Regardless of the way matches are drawn from here on out, I’d be really surprised not to see one Bundesliga side in Manchester.

Beware Hamburg
As everyone talked on and on about how this was Bayern’s tournament to lose, Hamburg has been quietly winning matches. Three conceded goals in eight games gives them the best defense in the tournament, and only Bolton comes close. They haven’t been winning huge, but if they take care of Leverkusen, their solid play at the back (and competent scoring ability) could make them the surprise winner.

Time for the big teams to step up
For the most part, the Champions League third-place teams have looked pretty mediocre in the Cup so far. Werder Bremen, PSV and Sporting had solid wins in the round of 32, but Rangers, Marseille and Benfica got through by the skin of their teeth, and will need to do a bit more to move on. Rangers especially have lived on the away goals rule, and that won’t last much longer. Walter Smith will have to show at least some aggression on goal if Rangers are to make it past Bremen.

Bolton without a loss?
That’s right, Bolton, undefeated in eight. Their stingy defense has allowed the Trotters to stay in this competition despite five draws out of eight. But they haven’t lost, and have conceded only five goals. They may not get many goals against Sporting, but recent history suggests that even one might be enough.

Category: UEFA Cup

Tags: Anderlecht, Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Bolton, Everton, Fiorentina, Getafe, Hamburg, Imaginary league, League table, Marseille, Other stuff, PSV Eindhoven, Rangers, Round of 16, Sporting CP, Tottenham, UEFA Cup, Werder Bremen, Zenit St. Petersburg

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