This group stage is most definitely making the UEFA Cup more interesting this year. One of the things that has taken my interest in particular is that there are only 2 Italian teams - Lazio & Parma - who are currently 4th and 5th in their groups respectively. Both look like they won't make it into the next stage. They could win their last matches and still be out. With the way the CL tables are atm, there could be no Italian teams in the Last 32 of the UEFA Cup.. (which will be damaging to the Co-Efficient)
We've only got 2 English clubs in the UEFA Cup at this stage too, although both are faring much better than the Italians. Liverpool and Arsenal could yet join them if either fails to reach the CL 2nd Round.
The 4 Spanish teams are faring much better - all having played only twice, all having won at least once. They might yet be joined by 2 Spanish clubs from the CL (Valencia and Real Madrid) if results don't go their way (which would leave only 1 Spanish club in the last 16 of the CL!)
French, German and Dutch teams are faring well during this stage - I could see the winner of the UEFA Cup coming from one of those countries. |