Final Champions 2008 09

[Geneva Andreotti]

Anorthosisof Cyprus and BATE Borisov of Belarus were the first teams from their respective countries to qualify for the group stage. Romanian side CFR Cluj and Russian champions Zenit Saint Petersburg also made their Champions League debuts.

Since the title holders (Manchester United) qualified for the Champions League group stage through their domestic league, the group stage spot reserved for the title holders is vacated, and the following changes to the default access list are made:[3]

The draw for the first and second qualifying rounds was held on 1 July 2008 in Nyon, Switzerland. The first leg matches were held on 15 July and 16 July, while the second legs were played on 22 July and 23 July 2008.

In the draw for the second qualifying round, teams were divided into two pots, on the basis of UEFA coefficients. The higher pot contained teams ranked 166 or higher: so each tie contained exactly one team ranked in the top 166.

In the draw for the third qualifying round, teams were divided into two pots, on the basis of UEFA coefficients. The higher pot contained teams ranked 61 or higher. However, the draw was held before the second qualifying round was played, which meant that Kaunas and BATE Borisov effectively moved into the higher pot, replacing the teams they eliminated.

The top two teams in each group advanced to the knockout phase, and the third-placed teams entered the round of 32 of the UEFA Cup. Based on paragraph 6.05 in the UEFA regulations for the current season, if two or more teams are equal on points on completion of the group matches, the following criteria are applied to determine the rankings:

From the first knockout round through to the semi-finals, clubs play two matches against each other on a home and away basis with the same rules as the qualifying rounds applied. In the last 16, group winners play runners-up other than teams from their own pool or nation. For the draw of the quarter-finals and semi-finals clubs are seeded based on the results in the group stage and round of 16 of the current season (eight matches).

The draw for the first knockout round was held on 19 December 2008 in Nyon, Switzerland. The draw was conducted by UEFA General Secretary David Taylor, Giorgio Marchetti, UEFA's director of professional football and Bruno Conti, the ambassador for the final in Rome.

The draws for the quarter-finals and semi-finals were both held on 20 March 2009 in Nyon, Switzerland. The draw was conducted by David Taylor and Bruno Conti. Unlike the first knockout round, teams from the same group or country may be drawn together from the quarter-finals onwards.

The first leg matches were played on 7 April and 8 April, with the second leg matches being played on 14 April and 15 April 2009. Due to the 20th anniversary of Hillsborough Disaster, Liverpool were granted their request that their return leg not be played on 15 April; the match was played on 14 April.[13]

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Capt. James Anderson, 55th Force Support Squadron services executive poses for a group shot with the 2009 Offutt Intramural Basketball Champions at the Offutt Field House Jan. 16. The 55th Medical Group won the championship for the second year in a row against the team from U.S. Strategic Command.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Capt. James Anderson, 55th Force Support Squadron Combat Support flight chief, poses with the team from U.S. Strategic Commandin the Offutt Field House Jan. 16. The US STRATCOM team placed second in the 2009 Offutt Intramural Basketball Championship.

Villarreal were to hear the Champions League anthem again in the 2008/09 season, thanks to a spectacular previous league campaign in which the Submarine finished in second place with 77 points. This meant that the Yellows skipped the play-off round and went straight into the Group stages, making it six consecutive seasons that Villarreal had been playing European football. The draw landed Villarreal in Group E, with Manchester United, Aalborg and Celtic. A tough test, but one that the Yellows would pass with flying colours.

The second match in the Group stages saw Villarreal take on Celtic at El Madrigal. In a tie that will be remembered for the excellent relationship between both sets of fans off the pitch and Marcos Senna stealing the show on the pitch. A fine free kick from the Brazilian born Spaniard was enough to overcome the Scottish side and get the three points for the Yellows.

The highest scoring victory for the Yellows came in the third match of the Group stages. El Madrigal witnessed a thrilling, end-to-end match between Villarreal and the Danish side Aalborg, which finished in a 6-3 win thanks to goals from Rossi, Capdevila, Pires, and a hat-trick from Joseba Llorente, who earnt the honour of being the first Yellow to score three goals in a European match.

The second match against the side from Denmark, played at the Aalborg stadium, finished in a 2-2 draw. Giuseppe Rossi put the Yellows ahead with a well placed finish just before half time, while Curth got the equalizer for Aalborg in the second half. Guille Franco put the Yellows in front again after controlling with his chest and firing home, however a great free kick from Due evened up the score line and that is how it stayed until the final whistle.

With eight points under their belt, Villarreal hosted Manchester United at El Madrigal. It was a very even match that again finished in a 0-0 draw and served the Submarine to qualify mathematically for the next round. The last match in the Group stages, against Celtic, was a mere formality and the Yellows lost 2-0, finishing in second place in Group E.

The draw for the Round of 16 paired Villarreal with Greek side Panathinaikos. The first leg, played in El Madrigal, finished in an undeserved draw, as the Submarine had countless goal scoring opportunities and the Greek side took advantage of one of their few chances to score through Karagounis. Rossi then equalized from the penalty spot as Pires was taken down in the box.

In the second leg, played at the Emirates stadium in London, the English side finished off the Submarine with a clear 3-0 win, knocking the Yellows out of the competition with goals from Walcot, Adebayor and Van Persie. Despite the defeat, Villarreal showed their quality in Europe once again.

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At just 24, former VfB Stuttgart stopper, Benaglio, was brought back to the Bundesliga by Wolfsburg in January 2008 and immediately became the club's first-choice between the posts. His first full season then lead to an historic title victory, with the Switzerland international missing just three of 34 matchdays in 2008/09. There were a total of 11 clean sheets in his 31 appearances, with just Jens Lehman and Roman Weidenfeller (both 13) responsible for more shutouts.

Riether's versatility was a major asset to Magath and, although primarily operating from right-back, he was also deployed on the right and centre of midfield in this championship winning season. He provided two decisive goals in his 28 league outings in 2008/09, grabbing a 90th-minute equaliser at Hertha Berlin on Matchday 4 and hitting an 85th-minute winner away to Borussia Mnchengladbach on Matchday 27.

Simunek had just a single season's experience of professional football under his belt before joining Wolfsburg in 2007 but, two campaigns later, he had a Bundesliga title winner's medal round his neck. Alexander Madlung was initially preferred alongside Andrea Barzagli and it wasn't actually until Matchday 15 that Simunek made his first league appearance of the season. Even then, it was a one-minute cameo against Borussia Dortmund, but he was a near-constant fixture of the Rckrunde, playing in 16 of Wolfsburg's final 17 games to help see them over the line.

In contrast, Barzagli was involved from start to finish and one of just three players - alongside Christian Gentner and Marcel Schfer - to feature in all 34 of the Wolves' Bundesliga matches. The Italian had only joined on the eve of the 2008/09 campaign and would eventually move back to Italy with domestic giants Juventus, but not before making 94 outings for Wolfsburg and helping them to this historic title win. Powerful, intelligent, inspirational; Barzagli was a difference-maker.

Another constant to the cause was 24-year-old left-back Schfer, who was playing in the second division of German football just two seasons prior to claiming the Meisterschale. His delivery from the left was spellbinding and led to eight league assists. Schfer eventually made over 300 appearances for the club, becoming a veritable legend in green.

The man who lifted the trophy on the final day, Brazil international Josue was another member of the team that joined in 2007/08 and went on to become a German champion at just the second attempt. He was Magath's mastermind on the pitch, orchestrating and organising the side from the base of midfield. Josue may not have impacted the game in the final third, but he was dominant in the centre of the pitch.

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