Paullow

Those matches were one of my earliest memories of Newcastle United as I would have not even been 8. Pretty sure one of the ties was on TV (probably the away 5-0). The home 3-2 leg against Bilbao in the next round definitely was, although I can remember frequently checking teletext / ceefax in the away leg where we lost 1-0. Surprised it's been nearly 70 years since they won the league as it's obviously a relatively huge city there.. Anderlecht and now Club Brugge have kind of taken over these past 15 years or so, but the likes of Gent, Genk (2) and Standard (2) have won it in reasonable recent memory. Lierse too, but that was a bit further back because they were the reigning champs on the old classic Championship Manager 97 game.

One of most crazy ends to a season I have ever seen in Belgium. The League switched from Union SG after 89 mins to Genk, who were winning the title for 5 mins, and then Antwerp score in the 95th minute to equaliser and take the title themselves. First title since 1957. Antwerp and Genk take the two CL spots in Belgium, both have to go through quals, Antwerp the Champions route, Genk the League route. Madness.

Antwerp drew 2-2, Union lost 1-3, so Antwerp have WON their first title since 1957. 1. Antwerp 2. Genk 3. Union SG Union were winning the title after 90 mins, but ended up finishing 3rd and missing out on the Champions League as well.

Antwerp with a 95th minute equaliser, 2-2, and they look like winning the league now. The title has changed with 3 different teams in the space of 5 mins, crazy stuff. Antwerp down to 10 as someone was sent off for celebrating . Absolute mad end to the season.

Brugge now 2-1 up, so USG won't win in and probably not even in the CL now. All down to whether Antwerp can get an equaliser.

Wow, 90th min equaliser for Club Brugge vs USG. Genk back on top as it stands. Antwerp just need one goal to win it now. The lead has switched many times.

That's pretty cool. There's loads of fans at Antwerps stadium presumably watching a beam back, and there will be a trophy presentation there later on if Antwerp win the title.

Union SG ahead in Belgium and on course to win the league as it stands. The commentator in the Genk-Antwerp match was saying that USG had never been top all season. Antwerp now level with Genk, but still need another goal to go back top. They are at least in the CL qual positions as it stands, and Genk will slip into the Europa. It is quite exciting

Bilbao Black Cats, marra.

Racing Genk have taken the lead in the Belgian title decider against Antwerp so they are to top of the league at half time, and Antwerp slip from 1st to 3rd for now and not even in the Champs League places. Union SG currently 0-0 with Club Brugge at H/T, and 2nd for now, but one goal for them would win the league, unless Antwerp scored twice. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022–23_Belgian_Pro_League#Play-off_I It's a weird set up they have with halving the points and then the top 4 play each other another 2 times after the regular season, but it makes it very interesting. Both matches are on Mola TV, which I signed up to yesterday

Partick Thistle 2-0 up from the first leg, and winning 1-0 in the away leg after 70 mins, are now 1-3 down on the day and 3-3 on after 91 mins. Still another 8 mins injury time, but looking like going to extra time.

There's only two things to decide, Europa Conference and relegation so I'd go for Osasuna vs Girona at 5.30pm with 7th being in the formers hands, and the latter with an outside chance if they win. Valladolid vs Getafe in the later match. Valladolid in the 3rd and final relegation spot, but a win would see them safe as they would definitely at least leapfrog Getafe who would then be looking at other results.

Farewell goal from Szoboszlai. Leipzig 2-0.

https://mola.tv/watch?v=vd85344678gb&content_type=liveprograms I've just signed up to Mola TV to catch a few more random matches before the end of the season. They have the Belgian final day tomorrow where 1-3 can still win the title. I bloody hope it's free

https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1665057829231755264 No doubt there will be 'Give me sport' types putting 2 and 2 together soon, even though he would be the exact opposite of the direction we are currently going in.

It's been a really good start to the match.

Dom should have had a good assist there for Werner, but shades of his old Chelsea self there.

https://twitter.com/RBLeipzig/status/1665036692338647040 Wor Dom starts for Leipzig in their German Cup final against Frankfurt. Apparently they weren't happy with him for giving an interview to the Hungarian press about his future, so thought his place might have been in doubt, but defo more interested in the match now. Viaplay Xtra (free to air) at 6.55 (7pm KO).

I'm fascinated by this stuff. I've always loved managing random Romanian / Polish / Bulgarian etc. teams who have just come into the game after the first season and getting them up the leagues, so it's actually really interesting following these leagues, but I do apologise if people are coming into this thread, seeing a bump, expecting a Newcastle CL update, and thinking WTF is this random shite

CSKA Sofia have a 100th minute pen awarded by VAR in their match against CSKA 1948. Currently 1-1. It will keep the title race in their hands if they score it. It was the last kick of the game but they put it wide, wow. Looking like a 12th title in a row for Ludogorets. Back in their hands.

Match held up in the CSKA vs CSKA match due to some crazy flares and smoke going off in the stands.

Ha, similar to an extent. I was meaning to ask, what time did you leave Wembley last week? I assume you would have missed the 83rd minute equaliser with there being a load of stoppage time in the first half which would have probably affected your timings heading to Stamford Bridge?

Ha, I'm enjoying following these leagues, and will very much be all over the qualifiers next month, but with us being in pot 4, there's pretty much no chance we play any of the real minnows, unless we both somehow end up 3rd in our respective groups and met in the Europa L32 / L16. There doesn't seem too much more to be decided now. Bulgarian title to be decided - Ludogorets have won 11 titles in a row, but that run might come to an end this season. They are 1 point behind the fairly newly formed / named 'CSKA Sofia' with 2 games to go. They don't play each other, but Sofia play the also newly formed CSKA (Sofia) 1948 today at 4pm, and then old traditional rivals Levski Sofia away on Wednesday. Belgian Pro League also not concluded yet and a 3 way title to be decided tomorrow. Antwerp on 46 points, Union SG also on 46 (they need to better Antwerp's points tally), and Genk on 45 - final day fixtures - Union SG vs 4th place Club Brugge (who are well out of contention on 33 points), and Genk vs Antwerp. Antwerp have it in their hands, but could quite easily finish 3rd and miss out altogether on CL - the league gets 2 CL qual spots, one in the 'Champions Route' and one in the 'League Route'. Shakhtar won yet another Ukrainian title and will be in the CL group stages, but there's still the 2nd place 'League Route' qual spot to be determined on the final day. Dynamo Kyiv are not in contention, so we definitely won't be playing them for a 5th time in the CL group stages, and it's down to either Dnipro-1, a reincarnation of the old FC Dnipro side who used to often be in Europe back in the day, or Zorya Luhansk. They are level on points but Dnipro have the better H2H, so Zorya will have to better their result tomorrow. I think they are the only things that need to be decided - one Bulgarian champion who will go into the first qual round, the Belgium champs who will go into the final play off round, the Belgium runners up who will enter the 2nd qual round, and the Ukrainian runners up who will also enter the 2nd qual round. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023–24_UEFA_Champions_League