Straight Outta Craven

The Champions League is a big deal. And with such a hyperbolic name, it better be. But the Champions League is also one of the biggest culprits behind financial mess engulfing the footy world these days. A place is the Champions League is worth so much money that clubs deficit-spend like crazy in order to give themselves a chance to secure a spot in Europe’s biggest money pit. In 2005, it was estimated that winning Champions League brought Liverpool an extra $47 million in revenue over the next year.

But for all its big names, the Champions League can be a bit boring. There’s a reason why the All-Star game is only played once a year. Since 1990, when the formation of the English Premier League announced soccer’s intent to become bigger than big business, only four clubs not considered global powerhouses have won Europe’s biggest prize. And let us not forget the 2008 final between Manchester United and Chelsea – easily one of the most boring games of soccer you will ever see. Ever. It’s more boring than this article, so don’t go look it up, just keep reading.

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson, aka Neo

And if you thought the Europa League was the Champions League’s baby brother, you’re only partially right. The winner of tonight’s Europa League final between Fulham and Atletico Madrid will take home close to $8 million in UEFA bonuses. That, coupled with increased revenue from sponsorships and consumer sales, is an almost unfathomable financial boost for a club like Fulham. However, it is a gift and a curse. If you invest that money in your squad but don’t make in to Europe next year, you’re in a huge hole and you have to start selling. A European championship can change the dreams of a club like Fulham from “stay in the top flight” to “make Champions League”. How high should a small club aim?

The most notable thing about Fulham’s run to the Europa League final is how often they’ve been the better team. While neither Atletico or Fulham lost a home game, Atletico tied all but one while Fulham reeled off victories over Shahktar Donetsk, Wolfsburg, and Juventus. The Juve game was the best match of the entire tournament, as Craven Cottage was treated to an epic comeback after a 1-3 defeat at Turin. Atletico’s biggest win was actually a loss. An extra time goal by Diego Forlan gave them an away goals victory over Liverpool and put them into the final.

Forlan and Kun Aguero will lead a strong Atletico attack into Hamburg, the site of this year’s final. Brede Hangeland will be tasked with stopping Forlan’s powerful left foot for Fulham while they’ll rely on Bobby Zamora and American Clint Dempsey for offense. Zamora has been fantastic in the tournament but he is coming off an injury that could see him less than one hundred percent.

What makes this a great final is how well the two teams embody their home country’s styles of play. Fulham will battle in the midfield and try to slow down the swift Atletico counterattack with crunching tackles and a strong aerial presence. Fulham’s midfield revolves around Danny Murphy, who has to have a great match for the Cottagers to win. Atletico’s defense is shaky at best, so they look to get the ball forward as fast as possible. When Jose Antonio Reyes and Simao are on their games, Atletico can move the ball upfield on the wings with the best. When those players are low in confidence, the red and whites crumble like… well, like Reyes himself whenever he gets close to the box.

Here’s how each team got to the final:

Group Stage

*Athletico Madrid only entered the Europa Cup in the knockout stage. Third place finishers in Champions League move to Europa knockout phase. I know, it’s stupid.

CSKA Sofia 1-1 Fulham

Fulham 1-0 Basel

Fulham 1-1 Roma

Roma 2-1 Fulham

Fulham 1-0 CSKA Sofia

Basel 2-3 Fulham

Round of 32

Fulham 2-1 Shakhtar Donetsk

Shakhtar Donetsk 1-1 Fulham

Athletico Madrid 1-1 Galatasaray

Galatasaray 1-2 Athletico Madrid

Round of 16

Atletico 0-0 Sporting Lisbon

Sporting Lisbon 2-2 Athletico Madrid (2-2 on aggregate, Athletico on away goals)

Juventus 3-1 Fulham

Fulham 4-1 Juventus

Quarterfinals

Valencia 2-2 Athletico Madrid

Athletico Madrid 0-0 Valencia (2-2 aggregate, Athletico on away goals)

Fulham 2-1 Wolfsburg

Wolfsburg 0-1 Fulham

Semifinals

Athletico 1-0 Liverpool

Liverpool 2-1 Athletico (2-2 aggregate, Athletico on away goals)

Hamburg 0-0 Fulham

Fulham 2-1 Hamburg

March 31, 2010
Arsenal v Barcelona
Inter Milan v CSKA Moscow

Champions League Quarter-finals, Second Leg
April 6, 2010
Barcelona v Arsenal
CSKA Moscow v Inter Milan

April 7, 2010
Bordeaux v Lyon
Manchester United v Bayern Munich

Champions League Semi-finals
First Leg April 20 & 21; Second Leg April 27 & 28 
Bayern Munich/Manchester United v Lyon/Bordeaux
Inter Milan/CSKA Moscow v Arsenal/Barcelona

 Europa League Quarter-finals, First Leg
April 1, 2010
Hamburg v Standard Liege
Valencia v Atletico Madrid
Fulham v Wolfsburg
Benfica v Liverpool

Europa League Quarter-finals, First Leg
April 8, 2010
Wolfsburg v Fulham
Standard Liege v Hamburg
Atletico Madrid v Valencia
Liverpool v Benfica

Europa League Semi-finals
First Leg April 22; Second Leg April 29
Valencia/Atlético Madrid v Benfica/Liverpool
Hamburg/Standard Liège v Fulham/VfL Wolfsburg

Liverpool’s Europa League campaign begins today against Unirea Urziceni. The surprise champions of the Romanian league made a good showing in the Champions League group stage, finishing in third place and only one point behind Stuttgart.

Urziceni is located in southeast Romania. It takes almost half the town to fill up the 7,000 seat stadium where Unirea Urziceni plays their home games. Thus, the team has been using Steaua Buchuresti’s massive facility 15 miles away for Champions league fixtures. This agreement is one of many between Urziceni owner Dumitru Bucsaru and Bucuresti’s Gigi Becali. The two oligarchs are close business associates and they have grown closer as Unirea has rocketed up the Romanian league ladder. This has led to speculation that Becali is considering a takeover of Urziceni. Both businessmen made their money through dubious land deals with the government (or in Becali’s case, the army) so their interests are intertwined on many levels.

In December, Unirea manager Dan Petrescu left the club to join recently demoted Russian side Kuban Krasnodar. Petrescu’s departure has only fueled rumors that big changes are in store for Unirea. New coach Ronny Levy was recently fired from Maccabi Petach Tikva, but he previously led Israeli powerhouse Maccabi Haifa to three championships. His arrival could coincide with the signing of more foreign talent in the summer, with Unirea groomed as an able competitor for Bucuresti. This would alleviate the pressure on Romanian football to introduce more competition to the league. It would also allow owner Bucsaru to clear out some of the players who are intensely loyal to Petrescu, the only top division manager the team has ever had.

Currently, Unirea sit in a three-way tie for first place in the Romanian league with surprisingly resilient Cluj and Bucuresti. But they should take heart: When they play at Anfield today it will be one of the few times all season their opponent will have more front office issues than they do.