ForeverInLoveWithJus

League form is thrown out the window in the Uefa Cup anyway.

DrTagnian

I see possibilities for the Dutchies to advance to the third round.

PastyHusty

Sometimes, but other times not.

Celta Vigo clearly did better in the CL than their league form suggested last season, but Blackburn were easily knocked out of the UEFA Cup in the 1st round along with their poor league form. Just depends on the team.

PastyHusty

Group Phase - Matchday 1
Group A
Feyenoord 3-0 Hearts
Schalke 1-1 Basel
Group B
Athletic 2-0 Parma
Steaua 2-0 Standard
Group C
Dnipro 3-2 Club Brugge
Real Zaragoza 2-0 Utrecht
Group D
Dinamo Tbilisi 0-2 Sochaux
Panionios 0-1 Newcastle Utd
Group E
Egaleo 0-1 Middlesbrough
Lazio 1-1 Villarreal
Group F
Amica Wronki 0-5 Rangers
Auxerre 0-0 Grazer AK
Group G
Benfica 4-2 Heerenveen
Beveren 1-5 Stuttgart
Group H
Aachen 1-0 Lille
Zenit 5-1 AEK Athens

Great start to the group phase for both English clubs and Rangers! Middlesbrough's win is made even more significant by the draw between their two biggest rivals - Lazio & Villarreal (both strugglers in their domestic leagues) Newcastle lie second in their group, with two fairly nice looking home fixtures left. 4 points out of those and I think they'll be through - same goes for Boro. Rangers winning 5-0 away from home is a shock.. Amica aren't a strong European team, but still, 5-0 was not expected. With Auxerre failing to beat Grazer AK, it puts Rnagers in a comfortable position.
Hearts weren't so lucky, but the draw between Schalke and Basel will give them hope and put Feyenoord in a great position.

ForeverInLoveWithJus

Good result for Newcastle. Surprised that Club Brugge didnt win that match.

PastyHusty

Indeed. Playing against Ukrainian teams hasn't been a very happy experience for Club Brugge so far this season.

ForeverInLoveWithJus

Lets hope they can turn it around.

DrTagnian

This is what the poule system makes more exciting. Smaller teams have a chance and you don't know what will happen. Aachen (second Bundesliga) winning from Lille (top of the French Ligue) was also very surprising.

ForeverInLoveWithJus

You are quite right, I think it helps the competition.

PastyHusty

It definitely helps the competition! If any big team were to go on a poor run of form, they could easily be caught out by one of the smaller clubs and with 3 out of 5 clubs qualifying from each group, it gives the smaller teams all the more chance to get through. It also guaruntees every team 2 home European ties, which will be great for their income.