UEFA Cup Group H Preview

By: Ian Rose | October 24th, 2007

Okay, it’s finally here. We’re done with all that Champions League nonsense and now it’s time for the real tournament. Just kidding. Even I don’t like the UEFA Cup THAT much. Anyway, tomorrow, the group stage of the UEFA Cup gets underway, and this is the last of my eight group previews. In about 17 hours, I can begin tallying up just how many games I called wrong. Here goes.

Group H is, in order of seeding:
Bordeaux (France), Austria Vienna (Austria), Galatasaray (Turkey), Panionios (Greece), Helsingborg (Sweden)

The matches:
Bordeaux v. Galatasaray, 25 October
This is the match up of the two strongest teams in this group by far. Bordeaux is playing well domestically, but has been suspect at home, and dropped points at home in the last round of the UC to a Tampere United team that is nowhere near as strong as Galatasaray. I see the same thing happening again - Draw.

Helsingborg v. Panionios, 25 October
A tricky one to call. Both of these teams proved their quality by beating favored opponents in the last round, but Helsingborg is the one that really impressed me with their comeback win over Heerenveen. Home win.

Galatasaray v. Helsingborg, 8 November
The 2000 UEFA Cup champions Galatasaray are unlikely to drop many points at home, and if they do, I can’t see it being here. Home win.

Austria Vienna v. Bordeaux, 8 November
Austria Vienna have only lost one match so far this season, and sit on top of the Austrian Bundesliga by 5 points. That having been said, it is only the Austrian Bundesliga, and despite their excellent form, I can see the French taking something from this match. Draw.

Panionios v. Galatasaray, 29 November
A lot of European teams have traveled to Greece this season, and not many have come home happy. Whenever Greek and Turkish teams meet, there are sure to be fireworks, but I have to see Galatasaray as the stronger of these two. Away win. No rioting, now, kids.

Helsingborg v. Austria Vienna, 29 November
The Austrians are on really good form right now, and I think they’ll have enough to beat the Swedes, even on their home ground. Away win.

Austria Vienna v. Panionios, 6 December
Again, current domestic form is most of what I’m going on for this match, but I think it will be enough to guide the Austrian side to a home win.

Bordeaux v. Helsingborg, 6 December
Helsingborg’s last trip to France was a shocking 2-0 victory over Sochaux. It was a great win for them, but Bordeaux is a better team and should defend their ground well. Home win.

Panionios v. Bordeaux, 19 December
The Greeks drew a tough group. All of the other sides are in really good form, and though I hate to say it, I don’t see them taking much of anything from it. Away win for Bordeaux.

Galatasaray v. Austria Vienna, 19 December
I’m fairly sure that both of these sides will be relatively sure of moving on by this point, but regardless, I have to tip Galatasaray for a home win.

If these matches fall as predicted, the table will look like this, with advancing teams in bold:

Galatasaray (10 points)
Bordeaux (8 points)
Austria Vienna (7 points)
Helsingborg (3 points)
Panionios (0 points)

It’s completely possible that I’m overhyping Galatasaray, but I really think they’re a team to watch in the UEFA Cup this season. They have been there before, and they have that confidence. Maybe Bordeaux can beat them to the top of the table, but I really don’t think so. Anyway, like I said, there are only about 17 hours until the predictions start to be tested.

Unbiased side: Let’s see some good, attacking football and some great goals in all of tomorrow’s matches.
Biased side: Go Aberdeen!