It was a day in which favorites prevailed, though not without strife. Fiorentina did a Fiorentina and survived by the skin of their teeth, while Nottingham Forest performed a decent impression for 50 minutes. Elsewhere, Celta Vigo and Stuttgart stake their claim as major players in deciding the Europa League crown, Lille turns things around in Belgrade, Panathinaikos prevails on penalties, VAR drama, and Crystal Palace muddles through.

We also take a moment to look ahead to the Round of 16 draw, featuring some stellar matchups in both divisions.

All that and much more on today's show!

Cheers to Claudio Giráldez!

We start out examining the big upsets, including PAOK's instant-classic thriller in Lille, Go Ahead Eagles' historic win over Villa, and AEK Larnaca pulling a shock in South London.

We also debate the day's many controversial VAR moments, which favored Fenerbahce over Stuttgart and propelled Rayo Vallecano to the latest of equalizers at Häcken. Why is VAR usage so inconsistent, unpredictable, and frankly, incompetent, in these competitions — more so than any domestic league?

Then in a whip-around segment, we celebrate Lincoln Red Imp's first ever major European tournament win, throw the usual shade at hapless Nice, and lament that Scottish sides occupy the bottom spot of both tables.

Finally, we do some table takeaways, look ahead to the next match-day, and make some bold (or stupid) predictions.

Cheers to Juanjo Bezares!

We start with Nottingham Forest, who actually did the thing and sacked Ange Postecoglou, making his stint in charge the second-shortest in league history. We argue why this falls mostly on then shoulders of Marinakis rather than his Greek compatriot and wonder where the club goes from here.

Elsewhere in the Midlands, Villa stirred up controversy when the police banned Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from traveling to Birmingham for their match-day 4 clash. But is the situation misunderstood by the wider public?

We also touch on the recent international window, where Cape Verde became the second-smallest nation to qualify for a World Cup and congratulate their heach coach, Bubista.

We start with Nottingham Forest actually did the thing and sacked Ange Postecoglou, making his stint in charge the second-shortest in league history. We argue why this falls mostly on then shoulders of Marinakis rather than his Greek compatriot and wonder where the club goes from here.

Cheers Bubista!

Chapters

00:00 — Intro 02:28 — The international break 05:26 — Cape Verde's historic World Cup qualification 08:25 — Nottingham Forest sack Ange 11:17 — Rangers manager search 20:14 — Aston Villa controversy 31:15 — Viktoria Plzen gets a new owner 33:53 — FC Noah building new stadium 34:30 — MD 2 Europa League preview 39:17 — Nice is a terrible Europa League team 43:49 — MD 2 Conference League preview 47:34 — Strasbourg's historically young squad 51:10 — Fiorentina's ongoing struggles 55:23 — Cheers to Bubista

We've picked a few UECL teams to zero in on, all of which got big wins in this early stage of the league phase, including Lech Poznan, Shakhtar Donetsk, and AEK Larnaca.

But the main story is Slovenia's NK Celje, who keep defying expectations and dominating European opponents. We ask the important questions — Why are they so successful? How far can they go? And when can we visit?

We also introduce you to their new starman, Franko Kovacevic, who's taking both the Slovenian and Conference Leagues by storm this season. It may well be name to remember.

Finally, we bring you our new segment: The Big Boy Check In, where we do 60 second spots on each of the 5 "big league" teams (Palace, Fiorentina, Rayo, Mainz, Strasbourg). What's up with them? What direction are they going in? Who do we like to go all the way?

All that and some Aberdeen on today's show!

Cheers to Imanol Idiakez!

Forest are hurdling towards a cliff in 6 winless games under Ange Postecoglou — are they fully in crisis? Rangers certainly are, with yet another loss added to Russell Martin's brief tenure.

Elsewhere, Roma and Stuttgart are both shut out, and Celta Vigo finally get their first win of the season, and Porto remains perfect.

It was a week to celebrate the teams who got big upset wins, including Midtjylland, Basel, Sturm Graz, Lille, and Go Ahead Eagles.

We also discuss Nice's abominable Europa League standing, what's working for Braga, and naturally, Robin van Persie's ageless handsomeness.

Cheers to Mario Kovačević!

We had a thriller in Betis v Forest, Villa finally eked out a win, Roma looks like the favorite, and are we sleeping on Stuttgart?

Plus, Panathinaikos makes a statement, Braga takes all 3 points against pod-favorite Feyenoord, and Rangers are still utterly calamitous.

We also take a brief detour down Tanner Tessman lane and discuss what a stacked USMNT midfield might group might look like come World Cup 2026.

All that and much more on the pod.

Cheers to mf-ing Olivier Giroud!

"I don't know what counts as a dispossession if not getting tackled and losing the ball." - David Blomquist

That's right, the first round of league phase games begin Wednesday, and it is one of the best slates we've ever had covering the tournament.

We hit all the best matchups, including Betis v Forest, Nice v Roma, + Midtjylland v Sturm Graz on Wednesday, and Stuttgart v Celta Vigo + Aston Villa v Bologna Thursday — and predict the results.

We also talk our favorite hipster showcases and discuss which big-league clubs are already trending in the wrong direction.

Cheers Robin van Persie!

We begin with who received the toughest draws (Aberdeen), which of the big boys could have the most trouble with the 6-game fall slate (Mainz), and who we think will coast through to a top 8 seed (Rayo).

We discuss the tournament favorites in detail, including whether Palace has enough to challenge Fiorentina for the title, or whether their summer of inactivity will cost them across all competitions — plus what we think of the Marc Guehi situation. We also debate the merits of Strasbourg and AZ as actual contenders.

Finally, we tackle the likely bottom dwellers, including what we can expect from the like of Hamrun Spartans, Lincoln Red Imps, and Drita, as well as some possible long-shot hopefuls for the title (looking at you AEK Athens).

And of course, we couldn't go a whole Conference League pod without fanboy-ing out on Celje and Shamrock Rovers!

Cheers to Mirel Rădoi!

That's right, it's the 2025-26 Europa League league phase preview bonanza.

We open by talking about the draws, including Celtic and the Dutch sides getting very difficult paths, then move on to discussing the favorites to win the competition (Roma, Villa, Forest, Lyon) and whether we agree with the odds makers.

We also tackle which teams with long shot odds are could be sleepers to go deep in the tournament. Spoiler: we're in love with Feyenoord.

Finally, we give out some awards (including the Bodo/Glimt Award for biggest overachiever and the Nice Award for biggest underachiever), and pick who we think will earn the top 8 bye, and who we think the 8 worst teams will be.

Cheers to Gian Piero Gasperini & Unai Emery!

It was a week of firsts, including Hamrun Spartans becoming the first Maltese club to qualify for a European group stage. Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano also survived to earn their inaugural shot at Thursday night football.

The other Conference League big boys survived by the skin of their teeth – both Mainz and Strabourg got huge bounce-back wins after disappointing 1st leg performances, and Fiorentina overcame a dreadful 78 minutes to eventually see off Polissya.

Elsewhere, Poland, Greece, and Cyprus continued their excellent campaigns, while the Turks and Scots had a nightmarish week, including embarrassing Champions League defeats for both Celtic and Rangers.

Cheers Giacomo Modica!

The headline in the Conference League was the big boys struggling, with Scandanavian sides taking full advantage. Palace managed just a 1-0 home win vs Fredrikstad amidst a frustrating week off the pitch, Strasbourg was held scoreless in France by Brøndby, & Mainz suffered a 2-1 away defeat at the hands of Rosenborg.

Elsewhere, both Irish sides got huge victories, including a shock win at Santa Clara for Conference League veterans Shamrock. Plus Virtus stayed alive, maintaining just a single goal deficit heading back to San Marino, where they hope to be the first club from their nation to qualify for a European group stage.

Meanwhile in the Europa League, Utrecht continues their impressive qualifying run, Brann-AEK Larnaca and Panathinaikos-Samsunspor set themselves up for terrific 2nd legs, and Red Imps' and KuPS' magical qualifying runs come to an end – but fear not! We'll see them both in the Conference League league phase.

All that plus more praise for the Cypriot, Norwegian, Polish, and the Dutch leagues, and a quick check in on Champions League qualifying!

Cheers Per-Mathias Høgmo!

The 1st legs were full of action, and we discuss some major upsets from old friends (Celje, Víkingur Reykjavík, AEK Larnaca), and new (Hibs, Shelbourne).

Then we explore Cyrpus' remarkable European successes of late, why the Irish league is on the rise, if this is a breakout season for Scottish clubs, and speculate whether Malta is the next country to pop their cherry and qualify a team for European group stages for the very first time.

We're also introduced to some clubs previously unfamiliar to us, including FC Polissya Zhytomyr, whose name we hopefully did not butchered to unreasonable degree.

It feels good to be back – come hang!

Cheers Joey O'Brien!

We start by revisiting each of the top 30 picks (plus some notable 2nd rounders), and in the process lauding its notable stars, Damian Lillard, Anthony Daivs, and Draymond Green, investigating Chad Ford's questionable takes, exploring one of the strangest NBA players of all time in Royce White, and running out of adjectives to describe just how abject the back half of the 1st Round is.

In the second part of the show, we tackle our redraft and do our best to build balanced 8-man rosters despite the putrid depth available to us.

Who goes first? How high should Bradley Beal go? Who's left sitting solemnly in the green room? Find out on our very special addition of Any Given Bracket!

Cheers to Dion Waiters!

We talk about how we got here - including Lyon winning appeal to stay in Ligue 1 (& thus Europe) - Palace's next steps, and how Nottingham Forest factors into all this, then vent our frustrations about UEFA's decision-making process and the double standard in the penalties (or lack there of) imposed on clubs and ownership groups of different sizes.

Cheers Oliver Glasner! You didn't deserve this!

But we're starting off with the 5 "big league" clubs who start their journey in the playoff qualifying round (aka the final step before the League Phase): Nottingham Forest, Rayo Vallecano, Mainz, Strasbourg, and of course, the Conference League house band - Fiorentina.

We take a look at what each club has to offer on and off the pitch, why we're so excited to watch them, and what order they should be ranked as tournament contenders.

Then, we move on to some lesser known participants from all over the continent - and some off of it. We take pitstops in Liechtenstein, Gibraltar, Kosovo, the Faroe Islands, and the Azores, as we introduce (or reintroduce) some of our favorite stories from the upcoming qualifying rounds and debate which minnows could make a Cinderella run at the League Phase!

Cheers Marc Schneider!

The upcoming campaign is much anticipated by us at Any Given Thursday thanks to a treasure trove of interesting contestants.

There's a group of obvious contenders, including clubs with appearances in last year's Champions League - Aston Villa, Bologna, and Stuttgart (the latter two also lifted surprise trophies in the Coppa Italia and DFB Pokal, respectively) - and those intimately familiar with Europa - Roma, Betis, Freiburg, and Lyon.

And there's a delightful accoutrement of underdog participants, including those qualified via the league - Celta Vigo, Rayo Vallecano, Utrecht, Samsunspor - and those who went on charming upset runs to win their domestic cups - Crystal Palace, Go Ahead Eagles, Aberdeen, Wolfsberger, Fredrikstad, and Sigma Olomouc.

On the pod, we briefly touch on each of these clubs (and more!), offering just a taste of what we can expect on their Europa League journey, plus the significances of their achievements to date. Then we look ahead to the early qualifying rounds, predict who will advance, and debate who the leading contenders are to hoist the trophy next May.

And yes, we do also address the crisis at Lyon.

Cheers to us!

It was a campaign for the UNDERDOG, and we revisit many of our favorites, including the incomparable NK Celje, the delicious Djurgårdens IF, and the fearless Jagiellonia Białystok, all of whom made deep tournament runs.

We laud the newbies, too – FC Noah, The New Saints (TNS), and Larne FC – for their very competitive debuts in group-stage European football, as well as Shamrock Rovers for highlighting the quickly-ascending Irish league (and their 16-year old striker).

We also tackle some of the biggest disappointments, including İstanbul Başakşehir and Heart of Midlothian (Hearts), and debate whether it's fair to include Fiorentina in this category.

Finally, we pay tribute to the best games and goals of the campaign, before waxing poetic about the virtues of our precious Conference League.

Cheers Enzo Maresca and all favorite underdogs!

Timecodes:

3:45 - Chelsea's run to the title 11:05 - Best storylines and underdogs 24:30 - Biggest disappointments and underachievers 39:00 - UECL game of the season 49:05 - UECL goal of the season 54:50 - What makes the Conference League so special?

We begin by addressing the elephant in the room – the sacking of now-Spurs-legend Ange Postecoglou despite leading his side to the title. Is it a fair decision from Daniel Levy? What are the supporters feeling? And how do they move forward now without him?

Then we turn to the matter at hand: a recap of all the best and worst moments from the UEL season, including our favorite storylines, teams, games, and goals – as well as some things we might hope to forget.

Cheers (for the final time at Spurs) to Big Ange!

Timecodes

0:10 - The start and a quiz 6:30 - Ange Postecoglou sacked 16:20 - Final thoughts on Spurs title win 24:05 - The season in review 56:10 - Game of the season 1:06:55 - Goal of the season 1:15:55 - Do we like the League Phase format?

We break down all the key elements of the game, including how Betis caused Chelsea problems in the 1st 45 minutes, how Chelsea responded after halftime, and how Maresca ended up winning the coaching duel over Pellegrini.

We also talk Palmer and Isco's brilliance, Antony's quiet day, and why Betis fell apart defensively, before closing with David's Conference League team of the season.

So come hang out with us for our last match-day break down of the season as we say goodbye to this delightful tournament!

Cheers Enzo Maresca!

Timecodes:

01:00 - The start 06:30 - Lineup decisions 09:30 - Betis' flying start 15:25 - Chelsea adjustments & goals 25:30 - What happened to Betis in the 2nd half? 39:40 - How did Chelsea shut down Antony? 51:10 - Chelsea & Betis summer needs 1:03:40 - David's Conference League team of the season 1:15:00 - Signing off

Along the way, we address both streams strengths and weaknesses, what star players like Antony, Cole Palmer, and Moises Caicedo can bring to the match, who will round out the starting 11s, and who has more tactical advantages.

We also debate the managerial matchup of Pellegrini and Maresca, what both clubs need to do over the summer, and just how significant a moment this is for Betis and their fans.

Finally, we close by discussing some of the fun teams who have qualified for next season's Europa and Conference League, including Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Celta Vigo, and Rayo Vallecano.

Cheers Manuel Pellegrini and Enzo Marsesca!

Timecodes:

0:35 - The start 3:00 - What do we want from a Conference League final? 8:45 - Tactical approaches 23:25 - What would a win mean for both clubs? 29:30 - Lineups and injuries 45:05 - Who has the stronger 11? 53:20 - How will each club approach the summer? 1:05:30 - Who's qualified for next year's Europa and Conference Leagues? 1:15:50 - Betis-Chelsea predictions

First, David allows Maxwell the space to emote about the significance of his club finally getting one over the line, and to explain why his voice is shot to hell.

Then we proceed with the game itself, discussing key lineup decisions from Postecoglou and Amorim, before moving on to the key moments of the match, including: Johnson's winner, Van de Ven's clearance, Ange parking the bus, United's inflexible approach, and much more.

After, we move on to debating the future of both managers and what their clubs need to do to support improvement this summer, before closing with David's Europa League team of the season.

Cheers to MFing 2nd year Ange!

Timecodes:

07:55 - Lineups and start of the game 19:00 - Johnson’s goal 28:50 - Van de Ven’s clearance 33:15 - Parking the bus 38:05 - Amorim’s inflexibility  50:20 - Praising Ange 01:03:00 - Worst Europa final ever? 01:10:15 - Should Ange stay? 01:14:30 - Where do Amorim/United go from here? 01:26:00 - Where do Spurs need to upgrade? 01:30:10 - David’s Europa League team of the season 01:40:25 - The end

We begin with the question, "What makes a good Europa final?" What's an ideal matchup? Does United-Spurs meet the requirements? We also dive into what's made 24'-25' the season of underdogs and upsets across Europe.

Then we move into the big game preview, discussing possible lineups, injury concerns, and tactical options for both sides.

Finally, we debate the future of both clubs after the final. Will Ange and Amorim remain in charge? What weaknesses need to be addressed most over the summer window? And just how far off are United from being a functioning club?

Cheers Ruben and Ange – we'll see you Wednesday, lads!

Timecodes:

1:25 - Season of underdogs 19:42 - Where do United & Spurs stand? 34:35 - Lineups & injuries 42:25 - Tactics 1:01:00 - Combined 11 1:12:30 - The future

In this episode, we tackle tasty the Europa League matchups - Bodo and Spurs, Manchester United and Athletic Club - where the 15th and 16th-placed teams in the Premier League advanced to the final.

We discuss Spurs getting the job done in Norway with another professional and composed display, including how they were able to limit Bodo's high-flying attack, why Solanke and Bentancur were stand-out performers, and how fans should feel about Ange Postecoglou.

In England, Athletic Club had a big gap to overcome down 3 in the tie and without their star attackers. We break down how Athletic Club nearly gave United a scare anyway, why United were able to manage the game with limited drama, and debate whether the Basque side could've done more.

Finally, we look ahead to the final in Bilbao and consider the significance of one of the more bizarre European final matchups in history.

Cheers Ange Postecoglou and Ruben Amorim!

On the Conference League episode, we take a deep dive into the Fiorentina-Betis thriller that sent Betis to their first ever European final after an extra time winner from Abde Ezzalzouli.

We explore the tactical matchups, including Betis' strength in transition and Fiorentina's set-piece dominance, laud the game's star performers - Antony, Isco, and Gosens to name a few - and track the wild swings of momentum throughout.

We also touch on Chelsea-Djurgarden, where Chelsea's B-team finished the job to advance. We debate Chelsea's best 11, what challenges Betis pose them, and appreciate Djurgarden's incredible journey and fans.

And check out the 2nd part of our semifinal coverage, where we tackle Bodo/Glimt-Tottenham and Manchester United-Athletic Club!

Cheers Manuel Pellegrini!

The story of the day was the shocking 3-0 United decimation of Athletic club at the San Mamés. We discuss Ugarte and Bruno's big days and Athletic's uncharacteristic defensive lapses, plus we have a hard conversation about the use of VAR in the massive penalty/red card decision that may have decided the tie.

Then we move on to Spurs, who confidently dismissed Bødo/Glimt, but still have much work to do in Norway to put away everyone's favorite underdogs.

In the Conference, Betis and Fiorentina played a thrilling match, where Antony and Bakambu starred once again. We talk Betis playing to their strengths, how Fiorentina got back into it, and what to expect next week in Italy.

Plus, is Johnny Cardoso actually the best USMNT player right now?

All that and some begrudging Djurgarden-Chelsea on this week's pod!

Cheers Ruben Amorim!

Timecodes:

Athletic Club-Manchester United - 01:05 Tottenham Hotspur-Bødo/Glimt - 33:49 Real Betis-Fiorentina - 58:15 Djurgarden-Chelsea - 01:21:20

Here, we get into the bread and butter, detailing everything you need to know about tactics, matchups, players, and storylines heading into the 1st legs.

We touch on Athletic Club's exceptional consistency at both ends of the pitch, Oihan Sancet's rise to stardom, problem areas for Spurs and United against more stable opponents, the reasons behind Betis' midseason turnaround, whether Djurgårdens has any shot to hang with Chelsea, and much, much more.

Cheers Jani Honkavaara!

Timecodes:

0:30 - Athletic Club-Manchester United 19:45 - Tottenham-Bodø/Glimt 33:25 - Fiorentina-Betis 43:10 - Djurgårdens-Chelsea

That's right, we have so much Europa and Conference League semifinal content, we couldn't contain it in just one episode.

In Part 1, we play a game of Start, Bench, Loan, or Sell with starters at each position of the semifinal contestant starting 11s. We debate the player's strengths and weaknesses, the roles within their squads, and their value in the transfer market. Then we take stock of what our choices say about each club.

And don't forget to tune in to Part 2 as well, in which we discuss all the upcoming first legs in detail.

Cheers!

Timecodes:

0:46 - Intro 3:15 - Europa League players 44:50 - Conference League players

In the Europa, both Manchester United and Tottenham saved their seasons with victories - United dramatically so, scoring 3 late extra time goals to stun Lyon. Athletic Club moved one step closer to hosting the final in their own building, and the little club that could, Bodø/Glimt, survived a penalty shootout in Rome to advance further than any Norwegian side before them.

The historic Scandinavian supremacy continued in the Conference, where Djurgarden overcame 10-men Rapid in extra time. Elsewhere, Fiorentina did their normal schtick, squeaking past a wonderful Celje, and Chelsea and Betis advanced with varying degrees of ease.

We recap all the games and drama, debate the new favorites in each competition, and say goodbye to some of our favorite underdogs - Celje, Jagiellonia, and Legia included.

All that, plus a surprise cheers to Mr. Postecoglou! Against all the odds, we're still loving Big Ange instead.

The Europa League exhilarated with a dramatic Lyon-United affair (on AND off the pitch), while Rangers dug deep for a clean sheet despite playing 80 minutes with ten men. Elsewhere, Bodo kicked the day off with a masterful beatdown of visiting Lazio, and Spurs showed some promise in a 1-1 final with Frankfurt. Goalkeepers were the stars of the show - including one for all the wrong reasons...

In the Conference, the big boys all got wins, though Fiorentina was fortunate against the still-mighty Celje. Chelsea all but sealed a semifinal birth, while Betis continue to establish themselves a true favorite for the title. And lest we forget, Rapid Wien got a massive 1-0 win in Sweden.

All this and a cheers to Rory McIlroy!

But seriously, cheers Kjetil Knutsen!

That's right, we're down to 8 teams apiece in our favorite competitions, and we're doing a check-in on each club ahead of Thursday's 1st legs.

Who's hot? Who's ice cold? Who do we feel good about (Betis)? Who do we feel bad about (Spurs)? We talk form, players to watch, tactics to watch for, and more - plus some predictions for good measure.

Cheers Manuel Pellegrini!

We had multiple extra times, some sensational performances from tournament big boys, and of course, one of the games of the year, Lugano v Celje.

The Slovenian side became the first to represent their country in a UEFA quarterfinal after a madcap game in Switzerland. Meanwhile, Athletic Club, Frankfurt and Lyon all staked their claim as Europa favorites, United and Spurs continue to advance with the bare minimum, Fiorentina once again finds a way, and some cracks appear in Chelsea's armor.

All that and more on this week's show.

Cheers Albert Riera!

Join us as we break down all of last week's games and storylines, including late winners for both Rome and Lazio, Rangers' shock in Istanbul, AZ's continued mastery, and Bodo's main character energy in Europa. And over in the Conference, Vitoria and Jagiellonia impress, Celje Cinderellas, and Fiorentina frustrates once again.

All that and much more.

Cheers Barry Ferguson!

Join Maxwell in welcoming Jacob Hill back to the pod, not to talk college, but NBA! We're taking a page out of the Podfather himself Bill Simmons' book and redrafting the class of 2011. It's a strong group highlighted by a number of Hall of Famers, All-Stars, and NBA champions, but also not lacking in the downright bizarre.

Jacob and Maxwell first discuss the draft order, Fran Fraschilla's expert analysis, and Jan Vesely's girlfriend and jump-shot, before moving on to the redraft, where they attempt to build the best possible 8-man roster from the wide array of available talent.

Who's the first and second player off the board? How high will 2011 Mr. Irrelevant Isaiah Thomas go? Will the big-man trio of Enes Kanter, Tristan Thompson, and Bismack Biyombo still all go top 7?? (No.)

All this and more on our 2011 NBA Redraft!

Cheers!

In the Europa, Bodo wins an instant classic in a win over Twente, a game which featured 3 goals in a span of 5 minutes of added time, Ajax survive a magnificent Saint Gilloise in extra time, a brilliant Dybala sees of Porto, and AZ stake their claim as a proper contender.

In the Conference, Heidenheim experiences heartbreak at the hands of Copenhagen, Shamrock and Vikingur exit cruelly in the tightest of margins, Pafos settles the Cyprus derby, and Celje shocks once again.

We dig into all the games, take a look ahead to the Round of 16 draw, and even work some puns into the mix. Why not?

Cheers Mladen Žižović!

In Europa, AZ pummeled Galatasaray, as part of a perfect day for the Dutch sides. Meanwhile in the Conference, Vikingur stunned Panathinaikos, while Shamrock took down Molde in Norway on the backs of a 16-year old debutant.

We'll give you all the insight on those major upsets, as well as the big clubs which rebounded from subpar periods, plus discuss the plethora of game-altering golazos and red cards.

Finally, we look ahead to the 2nd legs and identify which ties may flip on their heads.

Cheers Sölvi Ottesen!

We discuss each matchup in both competitions, from the star-studded Porto-Roma to the no-less-sexy TSC-Jagiellonia, and everything in between, including an in-form Ajax, a Cyprus on Cyprus matchup, the struggling Spanish sides, and so much more.

We've also got updates on January transfers, star players, youngsters to watch out for, recent form, and all the juicy details you could ask for.

So dive in with us and get yourself prepared for another top-shelf European Thursday.

Cheers Francesco Farioli!

Almost every club had something to play for, with both the knockout qualification spots and many of the Top 8 byes still in play.

We cover each match, its effect on the table, and take you through the drama of the final moments which decided who made the knockout rounds and who was left out in the cold.

Then we take a look ahead to the bracket, take a dip in David's coefficient corner, and speculate whether Americans like this new UCL/UEL/UECL format more than Europeans.

Cheers to Joseph Oosting!

The week kicked off in dramatic fashion around Istanbul - Kyiv stunning Galatasaray on Tuesday with a comeback draw for their first point of the campaign, then Besiktas taking it to Athletic Club on Wednesday in Ole Gunnar Solskjær's first game in charge.

Thursday featured a slate of big clubs going head-to-head, where Sociedad, Roma, Fenerbahce failed to show up, pushing them dangerously close to missing out on qualification.

Elsewhere, Tottenham and Hoffenheim remain maddeningly inconsistent, and RFS pulls off their first ever Europa League win against the mighty Ajax.

We also turn to January 30's games - the final match-day of the inaugural League Phase - and discuss all the important fixtures and table scenarios.

Cheers Dino Toppmöller!

We cover the upcoming Matchday 7 fixtures and qualification scenarios, plus share updates on each of the 36 participants since we last encountered them in December.

A surprise cheers to Oleksandr Shovkovskiy!

The final day of Conference League League play was a dramatic one. Almost every team had something to play for, and almost every game had real stakes for the final table, and thus we were rewarded with thrilling football, dramatic late results, and lots of goals!

Chelsea and Vitoria sealed their top 2 spots, Cercle Brugge snuck in with the last Round of 16 bye, while Celje, Molde, and Backa Topola all claimed thrilling come-from-behind wins to qualify for the knockouts.

Elsewhere, we say goodbye to disappointments Basaksehir, Hearts, St Gallen, and LASK, discuss our favorite parts of the Conference League Phase, and look ahead to the Playoff Knockout Round in February.

A begrudging cheers to Enzo Maresca!

They may be through as Top 8 finishers in their respective competitions, but so much else is still to be decided!

In the UEL, Roma and Porto get much-needed wins, Lyon looks dangerous, and Nice is finished in our last Europa matchday roundup until January.

Elsewhere, the UECL comes to a head, with just one slate of games left to determine who advances to the knockouts. The Cypriots laid their claim to qualification spots, picking up 3 wins from 3, Shamrock miraculously remains undefeated, and Fiorentina drubs poor LASK.

All that, plus we look ahead to the deciding Conference League fixtures on December 19.

Cheers Marco Baroni!

Celje have surprised and delighted us through the Conference League campaign, standing out with their entertaining brand of football despite their relatively small standing within the continental game.

We talk about the club's history, its recent ascendancy into one of the nation's most competitive clubs, and the tactics that have helped them show out in the Conference League League Phase.

Cheers once again, Albert Riera!

Shamrock continues its unprecedented unbeaten run, Celje and Vikingur notch another point apiece, and Jagiellonia sits third.

Meanwhile, it's a mixed bag for the big boys, with Chelsea flying, Betis struggling, and Fiorentina being very much themselves.

All the games, some table topics, and a look ahead to our second-to-last matchday!

Cheers to Albert Riera and especially Danilo Cataldi!

Spurs and Roma played to a thrilling draw, Manchester United bounced back, Frankfurt keeps on dominating, big trouble for Nice, and so much more. Join us in match breakdowns, analysis, and a look ahead to upcoming fixures.

Cheers Elias Charalambous!

Join us in the time capsule, where two famous sides gave us the ultimate spectacle that just so happened to be a pivot point in the history of European football.

Cheers to (can't believe we're saying this) Jose Mourinho!

Elsewhere, United, Nice, and Betis continue to struggle, Lazio go top of the Europa League, and Chelsea are...pretty damn good?

All that and more on this week's AGT!

Cheers Adrian Siemieniec!

This week, David walks us through Enschede's own FC Twente of the Eredivisie, including all its rich history, honors, and tactical iterations.

Finally, we finish on Twente's promising new era (including recent points earned against Manchester United and Fenerbahce) , which places them in a fascinating context within Dutch football and even this season's Europa League.

Cheers again Joseph Oosting!

In the Europa, we had a thriller in Porto, smaller clubs getting huge upset results ( RFS (!), Elfsborg, Twente, Anderlecht), bigger clubs struggling (Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, Roma, Sociedad), and Tottenham youngsters stormed the gates in Hungary.

Meanwhile in the Conference, Chelsea continued their scintillating form, Fiorentina did Fiorentina stuff, Betis fell in Poland, and Cercle Brugge ran riot on St. Gallen.

Plus, we discuss the proposed changes to the Welsh Cup.

All that and more on this week's show!

Cheers, Oscar Hiljemark (P.S. - Stop being so handsome)!

Bodo and Twente offer the surprises of the week against Porto and Manchester United, a couple of high-profile fixtures end in 1-1 draws, starry Galatasaray and Fenerbahce motor through, and Frankfurt throws away a win.

All that and more as our League Phase kicks off! And if you'd like to see our beautiful faces while listening, we are now posting our episodes on Youtube - video and all. Check us out at at @AnyGivenThursday. Thanks!

And let's not forget - Cheers Joseph Oosting!

First we cover the Europa, which kicks off Wednesday the 25th, then hit the Conference, which starts a week later on October 2.

Do you agree with our takes? Are we spot on? Or are we idiots? Only time will tell.

Cheers Mladen Žižović!

Here, we react to our first taste of the new League Phase (via the Champions League), then dive into all our predictions for the six Conference League matchdays to come.

We debate the teams who will qualify for the top 8, discuss the best fixtures, and highlight a couple of clubs to look out (I'm looking at you Lugano!).

We also muse at whether The New Saints can get a single point. We believe in you TNS!

Cheers Stephen Bradley!

While still a week away from UEL football, we're stepping in to answer all your questions about the new format and the pros and cons of the switch from traditional group stages.

Then, we predict which clubs will qualify for the knockouts and which will receive a bye by finishing in the top 8, before finishing with some of our favorite fixtures throughout the 8 League Phase match-days.

And if you're a Conference League sicko, never fear - our UECL preview pod will be up this time next week!

Cheers Maarten Martens!

The famous club is a founding member of La Liga, a proud owner of 2 top-flight league titles and 3 Copa del Reys, and of course, a proud part of Basque culture.

Maxwell takes David through the club's history, its past accomplishments, its recent success and tactics under coach Imanol Alguacil, and its intertwinement with the region.

(Apologies for any mispronunciations...)

Cheers Imanol Alguacil!

That's right, we have our 36 League Phase teams decided in both the Europa and the Conference League, and we're walking you through how each club got there in the final matchday of the qualifying rounds.

Fiorentina and Chelsea eek through, Lens upset by Panathinaikos, and Larne and other small-nation clubs shine.

Cheers to Tiernan Lynch!

In the UEL, Ajax got a big win away and Lugano and Besiktas play out a thriller, but the drama really kicked off in the UECL. Fiorentina was held at home to Puskas, Heidenheim got their first ever European win, and Chelsea just about squeaked through.

We discuss all the biggest matches of the day - then some of the smallest, debating which nation might get their first representative in a European group stage. All that and more on this week's edition of the pod!

Cheers Rui Mota!

We're officially back and picking up our beloved Europa and Conference Leagues as they completed the 3rd Qualifying Round. Did you watch? Did you miss it? Either way, we've got you covered, running through some of the biggest fixtures and results, looking ahead to this week's Playoff Round, make some long term predictions, and even play some a game.

We're thrilled to be back for 2024-25 (not 23-24 as spoken on the podcast, whoops) and we can't wait for the terrific football to come!

Cheers Craig Harrison!

This is Part 2: Copa America 2024. We begin with the world-beaters Argentina, give Colombia and Uruguay their due, and question Brazil's path to success before discussing a messy Concacaf showing and the many baffling difficulties the organizers had in putting on the tournament.

Cheers to the Lionels (Scaloni and Messi)! But not you Enzo.

This is Part 1: Euro 2024. We give Spain their dues, give our takes on England, and bask in the glow of the Georgias and Slovenias of the tourney.

Finally, we close with some thoughts on the early-goings of European club football's early qualifying rounds.

Cheers Luis de la Fuente!

We revisit the path both sides took to the final - Olympiacos' first ever European final appearance, Fiorentina's second Conference League final in as many years - identify key players and tactics, and make our predictions.

Cheers to Vincenzo Italiano and José Luis Mendilibar!

We talk all about the game, Gasperini's brilliant tactics and Atalanta's flawless execution, Lookman's start turn, Leverkusen's struggles throughout, consequential lineup decisions, and more, including the historical significances, and both sides' prospects next season.

We also go on a bunch of tangents as we're want to do...

A big cheers to Gian Piero Gasperini and Ademola Lookman!

First, we recap how Leverkusen and Atalanta made it to the last UEL fixture of the season, along with successes and challenges along the way, then we dive into the game itself, breaking down lineup decisions, key matchups, and take a stab at predicting the outcome.

This should be one hell of a final.

Cheers to Gian Piero Gasperini AND Xabi Alonso!

Leverkusen STILL undefeated (by the skin of their teeth), Atalanta dominates, Olympiacos cruises, and Fiorentina does Fiorentina things.

We recap all four games, look ahead to the very exciting finals, and eulogize Roma, Marseille, Villa, and Brugge.

We tried set out to make a shorter episode this week and instead made one even longer. So please enjoy our 6-hour segment on Leverkusen and the minimum amount of time to everyone else.

Cheers to Vincenzo Italiano ( born in Germany, naturally)!

Leverkusen STILL unbeaten, a goal fest in the Conference League, and a huge upset in Birmingham!

All that and more this week on Any Given Thursday.

Cheers to (hello old friend) José Luis Mendilibar!

We discuss all the action from the 2nd legs of the quarterfinals, from Leverkusen's perfection, to Roma's continued resurgence, Villa and Fiorentina hanging on, Atalanta's completed upset, and so much more.

Plus, we take a sneak peak into the 4 semifinal matchups, including a thrilling Roma-Leverkusen tie.

Cheers to Nicky Hayen!

Atalanta put in one of the performances of the season, smashing Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield! Elsewhere, Roma gets a big win in Milan, Villa and Lille do battle, a wild one between Olympiacos and Fenerbahce, and Leverkusen continues their undefeated season (congrats on its first ever Bundesliga title).

All that plus a look-ahead to the do or die second legs.

Cheers to Gian Piero Gasperini!

David spotlight's the club's rich history, its recent run of successes, its many second place finishes, and so much more!

Cheers Giannis Konstantelias!

We had some big time matchups this round and only some of them disappointed! And by some, we mean Ajax. Shocker.

Elsewhere, we got absolute thrillers in PAOK-Dinamo Zagreb and Maccabi Tel Aviv-Olympiacos, Fiorentina continues to embrace their messy-bitch energy, and Lille and Fenerbahce flexed their title-contention muscles.

Finally, we finish the episode with Quarterfinal draw reactions and David's Coefficient Corner.

Cheers to Răzvan Lucescu!

We had two scintillating weeks of action, and while the favorites made it through intact, there were some excruciatingly close calls - namely, Leverkusen-Qarabag. The Azerbaijani side pushed the undefeated German leaders to the absolute limit, but were undone by super-sub Patrik Schick in both legs.

Elsewhere, we discuss Liverpool and Roma's dominant showings, debate the new favorites, and tackle the Quarterfinal draws.

Be sure to check out our separate Conference League episode, as well, also on our feed.

Cheers to Daniele De Rossi!

We had thrillers in Qarabag and Freiburg, an upset in Prague, and one of the wildest matches you'll ever see in Bodo.

Later, we talk both Europa and Conference League draws and pick our best matchups for the Round of 16.

Cheers Brian Priske!

We had barnburners in Istanbul, Amsterdam, and Brussels, Qarabag inflicted the upset of the day in Braga, and yet another Feyenoord-Roma rematch ends in a stalemate. And that's just the beginning!

Join us in breaking down all of Thursday's action and looking ahead to next weeks' second legs.

Cheers to Christian Ilzer!

David spills the beans on Toulouse FC, the only club in France's 4th largest city. Following a return to Ligue 1 in 2022, Toulouse made waves, not only by staying up, but by becoming surprise winners of the 2023 Coupe de France, and therefore surprise contestants in the 2023-24 Europa League.

David charts the club's up and down history, its recent statistical developments in squad building, and its cultural connection to the region.

Cheers to Carles Martínez Novell and Philippe Montanier!

We were treated to some barnburners with placement and qualification at stake (Betis 2 - 3 Rangers, Rennes 2 - 3 Villarreal) and some clutch home performances (Brighton beating Marseille, Ludogorets beating Nordsjaelland), and we said goodbye to some of our tournament favorites and valiant underdogs (Ki Klaksvik, Zrinjski Mostar, Backa Topola).

All that and more as we break down the action, analyze the final table positions, and take stock of our updated favorites.

Cheers to Philippe Clement!

We had some bangers this time out: Marseille ousting Ajax 4-3, with both defenses doing their best youth league impressions, Villarreal holds off a furious Panathinaikos comeback, Aris gets a shock point at the Ibrox, and Nordsjaelland thumps 6 past Fenerbahce.

We run down all the results, plus look ahead at what's at stake on our final group stage Thursday.

Cheers to Johannes Hoff Thorup!

We take you through all of last Thursday's results and tell you what you have to look forward to in the final weeks of 2023!

Cheers to Xabi Alonso AND Miroslav Koubek!

All that and more this week!

Cheers to Miroslav Koubek (we said the wrong manager shhh no one say anything) and for a record third time, Magne Hoseth!

Allow us to introduce to you KÍ Klaksvik, Faroe Islands' finest - already a favorite this season on the pod.

David walks us through the club's history and culture, the Faroes passion and obsession with football, and explains just how a club of their size from a country its size was able to qualify for a European competition for the first time in the nation's history.

This is what these "lesser" competitions and our coverage of them is all about.

Cheers to Magne Hoseth and Mikkjal Thomassen!

HSK Zrinjski Mostar produced the story of the week in their first ever group stage appearance, overcoming a 3 goal deficit to take all three points, and shocking last years Conference semifinalists, AZ Alkmaar.

Elsewhere, Brighton and Aston Villa are upset, the Spanish and Nordics struggle, the Greeks seize the moment, and Ajax and Marseille embrace the chaos that is their respective clubs.

Cheers Krunoslav Rendulic!

We even venture into predictions for final tables and beyond, including who we think can win it all.

Cheers to Ismail Kartal!

All that, the Europa League, and a look ahead to the group stages, here on Any Given Thursday.

Cheers to Ronny Deila.

We cover Ki's continued march towards greatness, some comfortable results in the Europa League, and big upsets and chaos in the Conference League.

Cheers to Zoran Barisic!

This week, we catch you up on all the qualifying rounds for the Champions, Europa, and Conference Leagues. Who's been upset? Who's on Cinderella runs? (Spoiler: Ki Klaksvik of the Faroe Islands).

Then we have the final qualifying stage, the Playoff Round, to look ahead to this week.

Finally, we run through the sides from major leagues who have already qualified for the group stages, make some early predictions, and look ahead to who might be joining us on this campaign next year.

Cheers to Magne Hoseth!

To celebrate, we're wrapping up the season with a recap of all our favorite moments from the Europa and Conference League runs, from all the way back in August to the finals.

We also briefly look ahead to the upcoming 23-24 year, and some of the qualified clubs.

We've got six weeks off now, but look out for brand new episodes for the brand new season coming August 8!

Cheers to your listener.

Featured: Lucas Paqueta & Jarrod Bowen, Nico Gonazalez & Giacona Bonaventura, David Moyes & Vincenzo Italiano, through balls, handballs, and stray vape pens.

Cheers to David fucking Moyes!

The Spanish Europa League magicians claimed their 7th title in 17th years Wednesday, wrenching the trophy from the cold, dead hands of Jose's Roma in penalties.

We break down all the key elements of the match, whether Anthony Taylor deserves criticism, Jose's penalty choices, Sevill's improbable run under Jose Luis Mendilibar, and much more!

Cheers to you Jose!

Roma and Sevilla will go head-to-head to decide not just this year's tournament champions, but also a precious and financially massive spot in next year's Champions League.

This is Sevilla's 7th Europa League final since 2006. They've won each of the past 6.

This is Jose Mourinho's 6th trip to a European final since 2003. He's one each of the past 5.

Something has to give this Wednesday in Budapest.

Who will take home the coveted trophy? Who will remain perfect in European finals? Whose dark arts will reign supreme?

Sevilla and Roma, and Fiorentina and West Ham have made it to the promised lands after thrilling semifinal ties, and, naturally, we're here to break it all down.

Cheers to David Moyes!

It's all to play for, the stakes are high, and we've got all the coverage for you.

Cheers (again) to Arne Slot!

Roma and West Ham get narrow road wins, Juve and Sevilla play to a thrilling draw, and Basel get the shock result of the day, stunning Fiorentina 2-1 in Italy.

Everything is perfectly poised for great football next week, and we can't wait talk about it.

(There was an audio issue on David's mic for the first half of the pod. Apologies for the quality).

Cheers to Heiko Vogel!

We also touch on the cup competitions and some other leagues of note across the continent.

Cheers to Philippe Montanier!

United are embarrassed at Sevilla, Roma go through dramatically in extra time, Fiorentina almost blow it, and so much more.

Cheers to motherf*cking José Luis Mendilibar!

We go through each fixture, then play a little game of "Who's the Best Manager in the Europa League?"

Spoilers, cheers to Arne Slot!

Sevilla steal a result at Old Trafford, Juventus and Feyenoord get much needed home wins, and St. Gilloise keeps on rolling.

Meanwhile, in the Conference League, things keep getting dicey for the Hammers, and Fiorentina's got a foot in the semifinal.

Cheers to Jose Peseiro!

Join us as we take a step at previewing Thursday's excellent fixtures and predicting the results.

Cheers to losing your job!

Who's going through??

Cheers to John van den Brom!

United hosts Betis, La Real visits Rome, Juve takes on Freiburg, and, of course, the 3rd edition of the Union derby. Who will stake their claim on the quarterfinals?? God only knows.

Cheers to Vincenzo Italiano (who, fun fact, was actually born in Germany)!

Europa and Conference League knockouts return, with clubs' European lives all to play for. Just about every tie in each competition is up in the air - including a much-anticipated heavyweight rematch between Manchester United and Barcelona - so don't miss our preview of Thursday's action!

Cheers to Okeksandr Kucher and José Luis Oltra.

Barcelona and Manchester United played out a hectic and thrilling 2-2 draw at the Camp Nou, Monaco edged Leverkusen 3-2 in Germany with some superb finishing, Fiorentina demolished 10-man Braga, and late VAR controversy holds Juve to a 1-1 finish with Nantes in Turin.

And that's just the beginning!

Cheers to Ten Hag (among others)!

We kid. Those are fixtures to look out for, but it's the Europa League that's brining the big guns the next two weeks: Barcelona v Manchester United, Ajax v Union Berlin, and Salzburg v Roma, just to name a few.

But seriously, don't forget the Conference League; they're bringing Braga v Fiorentina to the party.

Cheers to the disaffected player turned gaffer.

Cheers to the departed Lucien Favre.

Cheers to the Azerbaijani gaffer.

We take you through their journey, from the 3rd round of qualifying to the heartbreaking defeat with minutes to go in extra time in the final, including key players, tactics, and the side's place in history.

We also zero in on perhaps the most notable of Fulham's fixtures - their 4-1 home shellacking of Juventus, which saw them through the Round of 16 on a 5-4 aggregate score.

So join us as we turn back the clock and voyage down the Thames to Hammersmith and Fulham and a little old ground called Craven Cottage.

Cheers to Roy Hodgson.

Max details the club's illustrious history, its newfound success under Brighton chairman (and general rich person) Tony Bloom, and its title and Europa League chances in 2023.

Cheers to the Belgian gaffer.

We also eulogize the tournament as a whole, look ahead to 2026, and give our individual player awards.

Cheers to the final international gaffer - and see you in the new year!

(And apologies for the delay on the episode - circumstances beyond our control affected our ability to upload).

We also look ahead to the final on Sunday - will it finally be Messi's time, or will France go back-to-back?

Finally, we say goodbye to some of the nations we've lost along the way.

Cheers.

On to the knockout!

And while, we originally planned to do two releases - Groups A through D and Groups E through H - we realized Group B was just too spicy not to get its own section.

And, for the very first, we're joined by a very special GUEST. Please welcome to the pod, our friend, avid football watcher, unfortunate Chelsea fan, Swedish speaker and enthusiast, and my cousin, ADAM LOEW.

The three of us present to you our first taste of World Cup content, featuring all our takes about England, Wales, Iran, and, of course, the U.S. of A.

Cheers.

We were treated to a number of fantastic fixtures, including Ajax v Union Berlin, Salzburg v Roma, Shakhtar v Rennes, Sevilla v PSV, and Braga v Fiorentina. But, of course, what everyone's talking about: BARCELONA v MANCHESTER UNITED. The football gods have truly smiled upon us.

All that, more reactions, early predictions, and our new segment: Hot, Not, or Thot on this week's special episode!

Cheers.

Hello, Maxwell and David here. Check out our show, Any Given Thursday for all your Europa and Europa Conference League needs!

We'll have a preview show every Wednesday breaking down Thursday's fixture list, then a reaction show on Friday, where we'll go through all the best action from the day before.

In addition, look out of our Club Spotlight series every other Monday, where we'll dive deep into a club featured in one of this year's tournaments.

You can follow us on Instagram @any_given_thursday and on Twitter @AnyThursday.

Cheers!