CEDA reviews role of reforms in diversification of economy and surge in non-oil revenues    79 hospitality facilities in Makkah and Madinah face penalties for closure order violations    Saudi Arabia hosts large-scale iftar banquets in Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, and Malaysia    Saudi Arabia records 23,865 violations in nationwide residency and labor law inspections    S&P upgrades Saudi Arabia's credit rating to A+    Trump orders 'decisive' military action against Houthis in Yemen    US Senate passes Republican spending bill to avert government shutdown    Zelenskyy says territorial control key to peace talks, rejects recognition of occupied regions    Pakistan says train hijacking death toll rises to 30, accuses India and Afghanistan of supporting militants    Al Nassr climbs to third with dominant win over Al Khaleej, Al Qadsiah slips after loss to Damac    Power bank likely caused South Korea plane fire, investigators say    Makkah Lanterns Festival returns for the eighth year as part of Ramadan activities    Crown Prince receives Yazeed Al-Rajhi after historic Dakar Rally 2025 victory    SR17 million fines slapped on 16 individuals and companies convicted of violating Capital Market Law    Saleh Al-Shehri's late penalty rescues Al Ittihad against Al Riyadh    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Man lives for 100 days with titanium heart in successful new trial    Argentinian court begins trial of seven healthcare professionals over Maradona's death    Singer Wheesung who wooed Korea with his ballads, found dead at 43    Prince Frederik of Luxembourg dies from rare disease    Real-life shipwreck story wins major book award    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Liverpool faces Bordeaux in Europa opener
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 17 - 09 - 2015

PARIS — As the Europa League group stage gets underway Thursday, we pick five of the games to look out for in the opening round of matches:
Bordeaux vs. Liverpool
Before coming up against Russia's Rubin Kazan and Sion of Switzerland, Liverpool begins its Group B campaign with a tricky trip to France to play Bordeaux.
The Reds make the journey on the back of chastening defeats to West Ham United and Manchester United in the Premier League, and manager Brendan Rodgers could do with a much-improved display, especially after performing so poorly in Europe last season.
A year ago, Liverpool finished third in its Champions League group behind Real Madrid and Basel before being eliminated from the Europa League by Besiktas in the round of 32.
The English side is without captain Jordan Henderson, who has travelled to the United States to seek advice on a heel injury.
Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge might feature, however, against a Bordeaux side which is not the force it once was but is fresh from a respectable 2-2 draw at Paris Saint-Germain Friday. The sides last met in France in the Champions League group stage in 2006-07, when Rafa Benitez's Liverpool won 1-0. However, much has changed since then and in the spring Bordeaux moved into a new 42,000-seat stadium that will host games at Euro 2016.
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Qarabag
The other English side in the group stage, Tottenham Hotspur, faces what on paper looks like its easiest tie at home to Qarabag of Azerbaijan before also taking on Anderlecht and Monaco in Group J.
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is likely to heavily rotate his squad for the game but might be tempted to hand a start to Harry Kane, who has yet to score in the Premier League this season but netted seven times in the Europa League last season.
The champion of Azerbaijan, Qarabag has already visited the British Isles this season in Champions League qualifying, losing to Celtic.
Ajax vs. Celtic
Celtic may not have qualified for the Champions League group stage, but the draw for the Europa League handed it some glamor ties to look forward to in Group A, starting away to Ajax.
"Last year we progressed in the Europa League to play Inter Milan in the knockout stages, and the group this year is a Champions League group in all but name," Celtic manager Ronny Deila told the club's website. "We know it's going to be difficult but we've got the players here to definitely believe we can get through."
Like Celtic, Ajax — coached by former Rangers player Frank de Boer — was eliminated in qualifying for the Champions League but it is unbeaten domestically and sits top of the Dutch Eredivisie.
These sides met in the Champions League group stage two years ago, with Ajax winning 1-0 at the Amsterdam Arena. Fenerbahce and Norwegian champion Molde complete Group A and Ajax's Nick Viergever believes the meeting with the Hoops could prove decisive.
Borussia Dortmund vs. FC Krasnodar
Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said this week that Borussia Dortmund "belong" in the Champions League but Thomas Tuchel's side is in the Europa League this season.
It begins its Group C campaign at home to Russian side FC Krasnodar and will be bidding to continue its fine start to the season. Dortmund has won every game so far, including beating Austria's Wolfsberger and Odd of Norway in Europa League qualifying and recording four wins out of four in the Bundesliga.
Fiorentina vs. Basel
Basel failed to qualify for the Champions League group stage so the Swiss champions can instead focus on trying to reach the final of the Europa League, which will be played in their own stadium, St Jakob-Park.
Their opening game in Group I is away to Fiorentina in Italy, which means a reunion with Paulo Sousa. The Portuguese coached Basel to the Swiss title before leaving for Florence in the summer. — AP


Clic here to read the story from its source.