Champions League - Brugge

[pauliewalnuts]

Ordabasy (Kaz) 0 Petroclub Hînceşti (Mol) 0

Two great 'very early rounds, European club competition' names, there.

[cdbearsfan]

I can't begin to imagine where that Moldovan team's money comes from.

[Risso]

I can't begin to imagine where that Moldovan team's money comes from.

Their sister club.

[cdbearsfan]

Dinamo Minsk have to play all their "home" games at a neutral venue, behind closed doors. So the attend every game types better hope they get knocked out. They've never made it as far as the groups, previously, but have qualified for the Europa League groups a couple of times.

[eamonn]

Does anyone know how many European countries play their regular football seasons through the summer?

The Irish leagues (Republic) started doing it maybe 20 years ago with one of the stated aims being that it would give the clubs a better chance of progressing in Europe. There have been examples of that (Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers making the Europa League group stages) but I don't think it's been regular enough to call it a sustained success.

Curious if other smaller countries do better in Europe because of their optimum fitness levels by playing through summer.

[LeeB]

Does anyone know how many European countries play their regular football seasons through the summer?

The Irish leagues (Republic) started doing it maybe 20 years ago with one of the stated aims being that it would give the clubs a better chance of progressing in Europe. There have been examples of that (Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers making the Europa League group stages) but I don't think it's been regular enough to call it a sustained success.

Curious if other smaller countries do better in Europe because of their optimum fitness levels by playing through summer.

I don't know but if it had been adopted over here I reckon I'd have made it as a professional. I'm like a ballerina on a firm surface but turn into Bambi on ice once the going is soft.

[cdbearsfan]

Belarus, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, Georgia, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden are the other summer leagues.

[AV84]

I thought the main reason for Ireland switching to the summer was they thought it would get more attention if not in competition with the Premier League.

[cdbearsfan]

Was a few things, the main reason given was improved European performance but they've also boosted attendances and it's cheaper to maintain pitches in the summer, too.

[Sexual Ealing]

And, with the best will in the world, Irish summers...

[trinityoap]

Irish summers are mostly indistinguishable from Irish winters.

[Brazilian Villain]

Irish summers are mostly indistinguishable from Irish winters.

It's actually easy to know when it's summer, as there are more big GAA games on.

[eamonn]

Belarus, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, Georgia, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden are the other summer leagues.

Cheers our kid.

[RamboandBruno]

And, with the best will in the world, Irish summers...

The rain is slightly less horizontal in the summer

[Dogtanian]

Officially 79th in the rankings;

https://www.uefa.com/nationalassociations/uefarankings/club/?year=2025

The good news is, if I am reading it right, that we scored just below the Premier League efficient in our first season back.

So I think that means this season our points earned will start elevating us up the ranks.