Against All Odds: Legacy Of A Football King
Chapter 195: Europa League Group Stage Draw—Live 3

Chapter 195: Europa League Group Stage Draw—Live 3

"Group D... Newcastle United FC."

Ashley sat up. "Newcastle? Didn’t expect them here."

"They’ve got a decent squad," Adam said. "Could be a problem if they take this seriously."

"Group E... FC Steaua București."

A Romanian giant with history, passionate fanbase, and unpredictable form.

"Group F... FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk."

"Ukrainians again," Adam murmured. "Not an easy trip."

Benjamin barely reacted, eyes locked on the screen.

"Group G... KRC Genk."

A well-run Belgian club, capable of playing some great football on their day.

"Group H... FK Partizan."

Adam let out a low whistle. "Another brutal away day."

Ashley frowned. "Serbia?"

"Yeah," Adam confirmed. "Hostile atmosphere, and a very technical team. No one enjoys playing there."

The draw continued.

"Group I... AC Sparta Praha."

Benjamin’s fingers tapped against his knee again. Stparta Praha was a Czech powerhouse, dangerous on the counter.

"Group J... S.S. Lazio."

That got a reaction from the viewers. Lazio had the quality to be a first seed in another year.

"Group K... Rosenborg BK."

The Norwegian champions were hardworking, disciplined, and especially dangerous at home in colder months.

And finally—

"Group L... Levante UD."

A Spanish side that could either be a problem or fall apart. They played a tricky style, but consistency was always a question.

The board was updated.

***

[Group A]

1. Liverpool FC (ENG)

2. Udinese Calcio (ITA)

3. BSC Young Boys (SUI)

[Group B]

1. Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP, holders)

2. Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC (ISR)

3. FC Viktoria Plzeň (CZE)

[Group C]

1. Olympique de Marseille (FRA)

2. Fenerbahçe SK (TUR)

3. VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach (GER)

[Group D]

1. FC Girondins de Bordeaux (FRA)

2. Club Brugge KV (BEL)

3. Newcastle United FC (ENG)

[Group E]

1. VfB Stuttgart (GER)

2. FC (DEN)

3. FC Steaua București (ROU)

[Group F]

1. PSV Eindhoven (NED)

2. SSC Napoli (ITA)

3. FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (UKR)

[Group G]

1. Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR)

2. FC Basel 1893 (SUI)

3. KRC Genk (BEL)

[Group H]

1. FC Internazionale Milano (ITA)

2. FC Rubin Kazan (RUS)

3. FK Partizan (SRB)

[Group I]

1. Olympique Lyonnais (FRA)

2. Athletic Club (ESP)

3. AC Sparta Praha (CZE)

[Group J]

1. Tottenham Hotspur FC (ENG)

2. PAOK FC (GRE)

3. S.S. Lazio (ITA)

[Group K]

1. Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER)

2. FC Metalist Kharkiv (UKR)

3. Rosenborg BK (NOR)

[Group L]

1. FC Twente (NED)

2. Hannover 96 (GER)

3. Levante UD (ESP)

***

Club representatives whispered among themselves, already analyzing paths to qualification. Some groups looked winnable. Others? Brutal.

Benjamin exhaled, his jaw tight. One more seeding left. One more team to complete each group.

And then, they’d know exactly what they were up against.

The tension inside the hall thickened. Every club official knew this final seeding could either open a path to the knockout rounds or turn a group into a nightmare.

Patrick Kluivert reached into the glass bowl once more. He cracked open the ball and unfolded the slip of paper.

"Group A... AZ Alkmaar."

Benjamin felt his stomach tighten.

Adam, sitting beside him, let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "Liverpool. Udinese. Young Boys. And now us."

Ashley tilted her head. "Tough draw?"

Adam scoffed. "Liverpool is Liverpool. Udinese is no joke. And Young Boys? They run like their lives depend on it."

Benjamin swallowed, eyes locked on the screen. His mind raced through the matchups. Anfield under the lights. A battle in Udine. A high-pressing war in Switzerland.

Ashley nudged him. "You look serious."

Benjamin exhaled, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "Just thinking."

Adam leaned back, arms crossed. "Thinking how we survive this group?"

Benjamin didn’t answer, he didn’t need to. His pulse had quickened, but it wasn’t out of fear—it was excitement.

The draw continued.

"Group B... Académica de Coimbra."

A Portuguese side, unpredictable but usually underdogs at this stage.

"Group C... AEL Limassol FC."

A Cypriot team that had caused problems in the qualifying rounds.

"Group D... CS Marítimo."

Another Portuguese team who were scrappy and hardworking.

"Group E... Molde FK."

The were also a Norwegian champion and a nightmare to face in cold conditions.

"Group F... AIK Solna."

A Swedish team with a loyal following and a history of pulling off shocks.

"Group G... Videoton FC."

A Hungarian side, strong at home but often struggled away.

"Group H... Neftçi PFK."

An Azerbaijani team that had battled through multiple qualifying rounds to reach this stage.

"Group I... Hapoel Kiryat Shmona."

A surprise package from Israel, making their first group stage appearance.

"Group J... NK Maribor."

A Slovenian side, tough defensively and well-organized.

"Group K... SK Rapid Wien."

The Austrian giants were fast, aggressive, and dangerous on the counter.

"Group L... Helsingborgs IF."

A solid Swedish club with a strong attacking style.

The board was updated one final time.

***

[Group A]

1. Liverpool FC (ENG)

2. Udinese Calcio (ITA)

3. BSC Young Boys (SUI)

4. AZ Alkmaar (NED)

[Group B]

1. Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP, holders)

2. Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC (ISR)

3. FC Viktoria Plzeň (CZE)

4. Académica de Coimbra (POR)

[Group C]

1. Olympique de Marseille (FRA)

2. Fenerbahçe SK (TUR)

3. VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach (GER)

4. AEL Limassol FC (CYP)

[Group D]

1. FC Girondins de Bordeaux (FRA)

2. Club Brugge KV (BEL)

3. Newcastle United FC (ENG)

4. CS Marítimo (POR)

[Group E]

1. VfB Stuttgart (GER)

2. FC (DEN)

3. FC Steaua București (ROU)

4. Molde FK (NOR)

[Group F]

1. PSV Eindhoven (NED)

2. SSC Napoli (ITA)

3. FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (UKR)

4. AIK Solna (SWE)

[Group G]

1. Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR)

2. FC Basel 1893 (SUI)

3. KRC Genk (BEL)

4. Videoton FC (HUN)

[Group H]

1. FC Internazionale Milano (ITA)

2. FC Rubin Kazan (RUS)

3. FK Partizan (SRB)

4. Neftçi PFK (AZE)

[Group I]

1. Olympique Lyonnais (FRA)

2. Athletic Club (ESP)

3. AC Sparta Praha (CZE)

4. Hapoel Kiryat Shmona (ISR)

[Group J]

1. Tottenham Hotspur FC (ENG)

2. PAOK FC (GRE)

3. S.S. Lazio (ITA)

4. NK Maribor (SVN)

[Group K]

1. Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER)

2. FC Metalist Kharkiv (UKR)

3. Rosenborg BK (NOR)

4. SK Rapid Wien (AUT)

[Group L]

1. FC Twente (NED)

2. Hannover 96 (GER)

3. Levante UD (ESP)

4. Helsingborgs IF (SWE)

***

The murmurs turned into a low buzz. Some teams would be pleased. Others? Not so much.

Adam let out a long sigh. "Well, we’re in for a ride."

Ashley looked between the two of them. "Are we celebrating or panicking?"

Adam smirked. "A bit of both."

Benjamin’s eyes flickered with something close to determination.

Anfield, Italy, Switzerland, a proper test for his first European season.

And he couldn’t wait.