Europa League talk. 10/27/11.

Well let's start in Group A where Tottenham Hotspur currently lead with an undefeated 2-1-0 record. PAOK FC are also undefeated in 2nd place, with a record of 1-2-0. Rubin Kazan have tallied one kind of every result while Ireland's Shamrock Rovers are without a point in 4th place. Next up is Group B where Standard de Liege and Hannover of Germany are at the top of the table. The former of these two sides leads on goal difference. Kobenhaven are in 3rd with a win, a draw, and a loss while Vorskla Poltava have taken just one point from their first three games. Over in Group C PSV Eindhoven hold sway with three straight wins while Legia Warszawa are 2nd after two wins  and a loss. Rapid Bucuresti have won once and lost their other two games while Hapoel Tel-Aviv bring up the rear with three losses from three matches played. Sporting of Portugal lead Group D while FC Vaslui, FC Zurich, and S.S. Lazio each have drawn twice and lost once meaning they must be separated by goal difference: Vaslui takes 2nd, Zurich are in 3rd, and Lazio are in 4th for some reason. Next up is Group E where surprise packages Stoke City lead the table with two wins and a draw. Dynamo Kyiv have a 1-2-0 record and a better goal difference than 3rd place competition Besiktas. Maccabi Tel-Aviv have yet to grab a win, but they have registered a point! That's all as they occupy 4th. In a relatively more star-studded group, Group F is held somewhat safely by Athletic Club of Spain who have won twice and drawn. PSG from France hold 2nd with a win, a draw, and a loss while FC Salzburg have a similar record but a less impressive goal difference. Last but not least comes SK Slovan Bratislava who have taken a point, but not much else. Metalist Kharkiv lead Group G with 7 points from their first 3 games while AZ Alkmaar have switched the results in that respect: 2 draws and a win. Austria Wien have amassed  4 points with a win, a draw, and a loss while Malmo FF of Sweden have yet to really make a result. Group H has another British team at the top with Birmingham City leading on goal difference over Club Brugge. SC Braga meanwhile holds 3rd with 4 points while NK Maribor have taken a point, but that's it as they are in 4th. Group I is yet another talent-filled group with Italian side Udinese Calcio leading after the first three games. Spain's Atletico Madrid are in 2nd with 4 points while Scotland's Celtic have gotten off to a slow start with two draws and a loss.They have fought for better results though which gives them an edge over Stade Rennais. Approaching Group J, is might seem heavily balanced in Germany's favor as Schalke 04  face the likes of Maccabi Haifa, Steaua Bucuresti, and AEK Larnaca FC. It hasn't been totally smooth sailing though as the Germans were held to a 0-0 draw in Romania when they visited Steaua Bucuresti. Maccabi Haifa have actually been quite successful at home, however they only have Schalke left visiting them so it might be expected that the Israelis will drop points if not places. Group K are led by the Dutch surprises FC Twente who are undefeated with 2 wins and a draw. Fulham of England have one of every kind of outcome while Odense and Wisla Krakow have each won one and lost two. Finally, in Group L Anderlecht are actually cruising with 3 wins out of their first 3 games. Lokomotiv Moskva have lost just once but won their other two matches. Sturm Graz meanwhile has lost two and won one while AEK Athens are in the doldrums with no wins in their first three matches. Hope you keep enjoying the Europa League!