UEFA Cup: Bayern Munich Favored to Win UEFA Cup

Bayern Munich is favored to win the 2007-2008 UEFA Cup. A total of 80 teams compete in first round action with Bayern the heavy favorites to win the Cup at odds of about 4 to 1 at SBG Global. All other teams have odds of 10-1 or more. Bayern Munich is used to facing the best clubs in Europe in the Champions League but this year they will be playing in the UEFA Cup instead.

Bayern opens up with Beleneses on Thursday in UEFA Cup action. Bayern reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League last year but is not part of the League this season. "I think it's a real shame we're not competing this season," Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness said. "But we made our own beds last season and we've received the appropriate punishment. So there's no point wringing our hands, it's a sporting setback and we have to live with it. I do believe it'll be a one-season intermission, and we'll be back in the competition next term."

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Bayern had played in the Champions League for 10 straight seasons from 1997. They played in the UEFA Cup in 1996 and won the title. Luca Toni is the key striker for Bayern after coming over from Fiorentina. Toni won the World Cup with Italy last year. He is currently recovering from a hamstring injury. "Obviously, it's a shame we're not in the Champions League, but we've always known that," said Toni, "We'll focus on the UEFA Cup this season and on the Champions League next term."

Bayern will also be missing Miroslav Klose in the first game as he is suspended because of a red card he received last year. They are also missing striker Lucas Podolski who is recovering from knee surgery. "A clean sheet would be good, but it won't be easy," Bayern midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger said. "Beleneses are no Sunday league side; they have plenty of talented Brazilians." Beleneses is still very limited with their talent overall though. They are 10th in the Portuguese standings, and last played in the UEFA Cup in the 1988-89 season. "Everyone thinks we'll win easily, and that's dangerous," Toni said. "You have to remain calm when expectations are running so high."

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Another strong team in this year’s UEFA Cup is Ajax. They are a four-time European champion in the UEFA Cup. They lost to Slavia Prague in Champions League qualifying. It is the second straight year that Ajax was eliminated in Champions League qualifying. "More players have to take the initiative," striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar said, "Too few people demand the ball and there's too little movement. We have a lot of work to do."

Ajax won the UEFA Cup in 1992. They open up with Dinamo Zagreb. There are 40 first-round, first-leg matches scheduled for this week, with the return games on Oct. 2nd and 4th. The 40 aggregate winners progress to the group stage. In the group stage each team will play four games and the first three clubs from each group advance to the knockout stage, where they will be joined by eight clubs who finished third in their Champions League groups. The format is single elimination with the final held on May 14th.

Sevila is the two time defending Champ of the UEFA Cup but they are in the Champions League this year. Three previous Champs are part of the UEFA Cup this season. Two-time winner Tottenham plays Anorthosis, Anderlecht hosts Rapid Vienna and Galatasaray is at Sion. Other teams of note are Atletico Madrid, Blackburn, Bolton, Bayer Leverkusen, Everton, FC Nuremberg, Palermo, Panathinaikos, Zaragoza and Villarreal.

Tottenham Hotspur FC were the first UEFA Cup champions in 1971/72. Italian clubs have been the most successful with nine victories, and English teams have gone on to win the tournament six times. Juventus and FC Internazionale Milano and Liverpool FC have the most titles with three.

Written by Robert Johnson
http://www.point-spreads.com