Champions League, Europa League pairings

Not a bad draw for Fulham...

Can't wait for Barca - Arsenal.

Sacre bleu! I thought they had a rule against same-league teams playing until the semis -- or maybe they throw it out for the quarters?

And the same with La Liga and the Europa Cup.

@ Reignking -- after the round of 16 it's all open, fair game, no association or seed shielding. You may recall the Chelsea - Liverpool clashes of yore (make that waaaay back "yore" in the case of Liverpool).

+1 on Jakes comment. Benfica and Valencia appear to be the class of that field, plus Liverpool should they pull their heads out of their...colons. Of course, now that I say that Wolfsburg is likely to return to last season's form and walk away with the trophy.

I wonder if the French are happy that one of their teams is guaranteed a semifinal spot or angry that one of them is guaranteed to be eliminated. Probably the latter.

There's got to be a joke about Werewolves of London for that Fulham-Wolfsburg matchup.

Kosh: I figured...and I can remember the matches, but not when they happened. Yore right.

"There's got to be a joke about Werewolves of London for that Fulham-Wolfsburg matchup."

Posted by: Reignking

All of a sudden I miss Warren Zevon :-(

So. UEFA gets a draw that guarantees a French team in the semifinal and also sets up a path for Barca-ManUtd final (or an Inter-ManU final). Random? Random like the Knicks getting Ewing....

Fabulous draw. Presents the possibility, at least, of all three of the matchups I would most want to see -- Barca Arsenal (Thierry's old team), Barca Inter (Eto-o, Motta and Ibr playing against their former teammates) and Barca - Man U. Or, maybe Barca, Bayern -- van Bommel gets a chance to play like the thug he is against his former team).

Some great soccer ahead of us. I'm looking forward to it.

"I went home with the waitress
The way I always do
How was I to know
She was with the Russians, too?

I was gambling in Havana
I took a little risk
Send lawyers, guns and money
Dad, get me out of this, hyeah!"

Añy word on what the MLS ñegotiators might be haviñg for luñch???

Heard the talks went till 2 last night. At least they are trying.

Haha they'll be stuck inside, and spring is finally here...

I think Bradley should find Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner for the South Africa trip. Tighten up security a tad.

The story on Red Bull Arena:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/17/sports/soccer/17redbulls.html?ref=soccer

Salteñas

ESPN Deportes mañana -- Eintracht Frankfurt contra Bayern Munchen. El mediocampista Norteamericano, Ricardo Clark....

....will likely play. Probably not fit for 90 minutes, but "a good opportunity for him to play". Or something like that....

Get your Google translation on:

http://www.hr-online.de/website/rubriken/sport/index.jsp?rubrik=7454&key=standard_document_38850649

Any salteñas on the Maryland/DC side of the river?

www.josesgrill.com small salteñas but yummy

My favorite place for salteñas is Pike Pizza on Columbia Pike in Arlington. http://www.yelp.com/biz/pike-pizza-arlington

Pan American Bakery & Grill next to Pike's and Luzmila's in Falls Church on Broad Street are good too. Great tailgating food for Lot 8.

At least Sepp Blatter's a "happy president":

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/19/AR2010031902027.html?nav=ft_

Barcelona-Lyon
Bayern-Inter

Fulham, Wolfsburg are 2 mediocre teams. Dont care.
Hamburg-Standard. Dont really care either.

The best match-ups are the Pool-Benfica. Benfica eliminated Liverpool from the 2006 CL and Valencia-Atletico (if the better half of Atletico shows up).

If Liverpool progresses, we could possibly see Torres finally playing back at the Calderon, or Benitez back in Mestalla.