Europa League group stage draw

[nortonwolf]

Slovan Bratislava, FC Braga and Besiktas await us. Without knowing too much about them my instinct is we could do OK in that group?

[MichiganWolf]

Besiktas are a regular in continental play, this being their fifth straight season with either Champions League or Europa League. And they've been in European play in all but three seasons since 2002-03. They're one of the more decorated Turkish clubs with 15 domestic league titles, most recently in 2016-17.
18/19 - Europa League - Group Stage
17/18 - Champions League - Round of 16
16/17 - Champions League - Group Stage; Europa League - Quarterfinals
15/16 - Europa League - Group Stage

Braga are also in their fifth straight year of continental play, all in Europa League. Weren't in European play in 14/15 but had been in 10 straight years before that. They've never won their domestic league, and have a couple domestic cup wins and finished runner-up in Europa League 10 years ago.
18/19 - 3rd Qualifying round
17/18 - Round of 32
16/17 - Group Stage
15/16 - Quarterfinals

Slovan Bratislava are in their 10th straight year of continental play. They've won 21 domestic league titles (Slovakia and Czechoslovakia) and won the 1969 Cup Winners Cup, probably their greatest club accomplishment, beating Barcelona in the final. They've made it to the group stage of Europa League twice before, never winning a game in 12 attempts.


I think this is a fairly tough group. All other squads have alot more experience than us in European play, though I am going to assume we're talented enough to play with them. I think this is the second toughest group in Europa League behind Group F - Arsenal, Eintracht Frankfurt, Standard Liege and Vitória de Guimarães. I haven't seen the other teams play, but based on their past records in European football, I would be surprised if any of the four ran away with this group. I think we can get one of those top two spots, however.

If I made a prediction now, I would say:

1. Besiktas
2. Wolves
3. Braga
4. Slovan Bratislava

[MichiganWolf]

Here's the full draw for the group stage:

Group A: Sevilla, APOEL, Qarabag, Dudelange
Group B: Dynamo Kiev, Kobenhavn, Malmo, Lugano
Group C: Basel, Krasnodar, Getafe, Trabzonspor
Group D: Sporting CP, PSV, Rosenborg, LASK
Group E: Lazio, Celtic, Rennes, Cluj
Group F: Arsenal, Eintracht Frankfurt, Standard Liege, Vitoria
Group G: Porto, Young Boys, Feyenoord, Rangers
Group H: CSKA Moscow, Ludogorets, Espanyol, Ferencvaros\
Group I: Wolfsburg, Gent, St. Etienne, Olexandriya
Group J: Roma, Borussia Monchengladbach, Istanbul Basaksehir, Wolfsburg
Group K: Besiktas, Braga, Wolves, Slovan Bratislava
Group L: Manchester United, Astana, Partizan Belgrade, AZ Alkmaar

[Woking88]

Thanks for the info. Mich.

[WOODLANDSWOLF]

Not an east group but winnable without doubt. Beksitas are the big name but I think based on recent results Braga will be the most difficult.

[abbobrom]

Some well thought out reasoning Mich. Have been travelling back from holiday since Thursday morning so only just seen the draw. Once again travel fatigue could be a big factor.