We require a new thread for the second leg of Ajax's European safari of 2004-2005 in the UEFA Cup. Let me start by saying that the draw for the next round will take place on 17 December. Ajax will be paired with a runner-up (#2) from one of the UEFA Cup groups. Teams from the same country will be kept apart. I have also been informed that the draw for the next two rounds will take place, that is: on 17 December we'll know our opponent for the next round, plus the fixture that will yield our opponent for the round thereafter (if we make it, that is). Also, it is already certain that the 'lucky losers' from the Champions League will play at home first on either 16 or 17 February.

Four out of eight UEFA Cup groups have reached their conclusion yesterday night. Which means that we now know four of the teams we can be paired with tomorrow (teams that finished second in their respective groups). They are:

- AJ Auxerre (France)
- Benfica (Portugal)
- Villarreal (Spain)
- Sevilla (Spain)

We will know about the remaining four 'runners-up' from the second round groups tonight, after the last games in the four remaining groups have been played. Likely to finish second at this point are:

- Schalke '04 (Germany)
- Steaua Bucharest (Romania)
- Real Zaragoza (Spain) or Club Brugge (Belgium)
- FC Sochaux (France)

My favourites:

Schalke
If F-Word can beat them, we can beat them. Moreover: it's very close to the Dutch border. Hardly a longer drive than Enschede (= Twente). Great ground, too: the Arena AufSchalke.

Villarreal
Reasonably easy to get to: flight to Barcelona (those are pretty cheap from Amsterdam) and then onward journey by train (Villarreal is 50 kilometres north of Valencia). It's a nice and unusual destination and so far they've been very disappointing in the Spanish league (12th or so).

These two would be great, but I must say most of these opponents sound quite interesting. It's a nice bunch altogether. I wouldn't mind playing Sevilla (great city, great stadium, but they're 5th in the league, so apparently quite good), Benfica or a French side, either. The only ones that would SUCK are Bucharest (that would pretty screw my chances of going to the away game) and Brugge (please, not again...).

I'd like to play Brugge, get some REVENGE on those Belgian farmerboys...

Zaragoza or Sochaux would be a good draw though, sporting-wise. Ajax will have trouble with eastern european teams, or with German teams, or with Portuguese teams.

Alright! The last UEFA Cup group games have now been played. There were eight groups, eight numbers two - eight possible opponents. Tomorrow at 13:45 CET we will be paired with one of the following sides:

- Villarreal
- AJ Auxerre
- Benfica
- Sevilla
- FC Schalke '04
- Steaua Bucharest
- Real Zaragoza
- FC Sochaux

The chance that it's going to be Spain is 37.5%. The 'France chance' is 25%.

Here's the procedure:

http://www.uefa.com/competitions/UE...sId=269416.html

It's Auxerre!

It could have been better, but it could also have been worse. Yet, I find this draw kind of disappointing, because we've already played them several times. I would have preferred something new...

And if we make it to the 4th round (round of sixteen) we will play the winner of FC Basel (Switzerland) vs Lille (France). Away game first!

Am I reading things right? Home tie first in round 3, i.e, 2/16 or 17? Beyond that, I'd have preferred Schalke or Real Zaragosa. Just hope Ajax can tighten the midfield OR rearguard AND get a scorer before February.We will need to be at our best v.Auxerre,I feel.

I'd been hoping that the the winner of Ajax's match would be seeded against the winner of a match involving a Greek team, or that a Dutch team might end up here, but it doesn't seem meant to be. However, Heerenveen could do it for me.

All they have to do is beat Newcastle while Olympiakos has to beat Sochaux. No problem!

On paper I like Ajax's chances. However, I also fancied them getting through their group in the CL. So my prognostication skills are clearly not up to snuff. But there is a serious difference between Bayern and Juve on one hand and Auxerre, Lille and Basel on the other.

I'm optimistic though, because Ajax's recent results have been rather encouraging after that awful start. I see no reason why they can't win the next two ties. Of course fate could prove me wrong... again.

Just published a news report which is also an Auxerre profile. Read all about them!

http://www.ajax-usa.com/news/2004-2...hird-round.html

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AFCA 1900
Just published a news report which is also an Auxerre profile. Read all about them!

http://www.ajax-usa.com/news/2004-2...hird-round.html

---

i feel the absence of lionel mathis could well play into our favor, but auxerre will fight for everything

Auxerre website www.aja.fr is saying that the game in Amsterdam is on the 16 February 2005. However, I still cannot see a confirmation of the date on any Ajax websites.

Thank you Menno for your usual superb effort.The Auxerre piece is terrific. Thanks Bill for the info.

is it just me or are we gonna get a potentially weakened auxerre side in the next round? tainio, kalou and akale supposedly in play on the market and laucher/mathis ailing... can't do much for their experience level in attack at the least

http://skysports.planetfootball.com...channel=Germany