2011/2012 Champions League: First Round Qualifying Preview
June 22nd 2011 13:58
On June 28, 2011 the 2011-2012 Champions League will kick off. Four teams will compete in the first qualifying round. These teams are from the lowest four leagues in Europe. Tre Fiori from San Marino, FC Santa Coloma of Andorra, Valletta of Malta and F91 Dudelange of Luxembourg.
Tre Fiori has competed in the Champions League the last two years losing both time in the first qualifying phase. Over the last four years the club representing San Marino has never advanced past the first round. The aggregate total is 4-22 in those four years. In 2009-2010 Tre Fiori tied after two matches 2-2 but lost 4-5 on penalty kicks. Tre Fiori will battle Valletta in the first round this year.
Valletta is making a their first trip to the Champions League since 2008/2009. Valletta would lose in the first round that year 3-0 on Aggregate. The Champions of Malta had a break thru last year when Birkirkara advanced to the second round before losing. The previous four years saw the teams all lose in the first round by wide margins.
So, the first contest of the Champions League will pit Tre Fiori against Valletta. Neither one of these teams will make in beyond the next stage. Also both league are your bottom two leagues that compete in this competition so following these leagues is an after thought. I will go with Tre Fiori in this matchup for only one reason this is their third year in a row in the competition. Hopefully that experience can lead to success for the San Marino club.
FC Santa Coloma of Andorra is making a return trip to the Champions League. The club also played in the 2008/2009 tourney. Both times the club would lose in the first round by a total of a 5-14 aggregate. Andorra has not had very much luck in the Champions League. In 2009/2010 Sant Julia did advance to the second round before being embarrassed 9-0 in that round. FC Santa Coloma will face F91 Dudelange of Luxembourg in the first round.
F91 Dudelange is returning to the Champions league after a one year absense. Dudelange represented Luxembourg the previous four years in the competition. The last two years the Champion of Luxembourg entered the Tourney in the second round but will fall back again this year to the first round. In either round the clubs representing the league have never advanced to the next round.
This could be the best match up of the two in the first round. Both teams are 50th and 51st respectivley in the league standings entering this competition. Little is known about both teams so i will use a gut feeling and pick F91 Dudelange to advance to the next round.
These teams will play the second match of this round on July5,6 with the winners advancing to the second round.
Ekransas of Lithuania will meet the winner of the Tre Fiori/Valletta matchup while Maribor of Slovenia await the winner of FC Santa Coloma/F91 Dudelange.
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Comment by Joe Soriano
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Comment by Rick Gillispie
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You are right about these teams. None of these teams could compete with any of the clubs in the top leagues. I just love this competition that gives these small leagues a chance at glory.
Comment by Joe Soriano
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