The Champions League — the place goals come true, fantasies change into actuality and legends are born. Or one thing like that.

Until you’re Dinamo Zagreb, Pink Bull Salzburg, Celtic, Pink Star Belgrade, Slovan Bratislava or Younger Boys, during which case the Champions League is the place fears prevail, nightmares change into actuality and careers get ruined.

OK, possibly not that dangerous, however followers of the above golf equipment will be forgiven for feeling apprehensive when UEFA’s anthem performs throughout Matchday Three tonight (Tuesday) and tomorrow.

These are groups who’re used to dominating their home leagues, profitable 60 per cent or 70 per cent of their league matches yr after yr (whilst excessive as 84 per cent final season for Pink Star) to say title after title.

Taking the previous seven home seasons, Dinamo, Salzburg, Celtic, Pink Star, Slovan and Younger Boys have received 38 league titles between them, out of a potential 42. Dinamo have taken each a kind of Croatian championships with Pink Star doing the identical in Serbia, and the remainder have received six of the accessible seven.

They’re superior of their homelands virtually to the purpose of boredom. And but, from their mixed opening two rounds of Champions League matches this season, the six groups have scored 12 targets between them and conceded a whopping 49. That’s a mixed purpose distinction of -37 from 12 matches.

Transferring home bliss to European success will not be straightforward, particularly when your funds is a fraction of the spending energy accessible at Manchester Metropolis, Actual Madrid or Bayern Munich.

In response to switch web site Transfermarkt, Slovan have spent a complete of £2.6million ($3.4m) on new signings prior to now three seasons and their squad has a complete estimated worth of £24m. The identical supply lists Metropolis as having spent £365m prior to now three years (which, to be trustworthy, feels fairly frugal for them) and their squad worth is estimated at being a smidgen over £1billion. So, Metropolis have spent roughly 139 occasions as a lot as Slovan since 2022, and their squad is price 43 occasions as a lot.

When the groups confronted one another three weeks in the past on Matchday Two, Slovan’s odds for profitable on house turf have been 40/1. They could have a monopoly on the Slovakian title, however with a funds akin to a membership in League One, Engish soccer’s third tier, they have been predictably no match for Metropolis.

“We dreamt of, someday, one of the best crew on the planet, or top-of-the-line, coming (right here),” Slovan supervisor Vladimir Weiss instructed reporters earlier than the match. The fact, nevertheless, was much less romantic: Metropolis had 28 photographs, scored 4 targets, hit the woodwork thrice and registered an anticipated targets (xG) determine of three.8. Slovan had 24 per cent possession and didn’t register a shot on the right track.

“Truthfully, this was simply as we anticipated,” Tomas, a Slovan fan who attended the sport, tells The Athletic. “Slovan has not performed within the Champions League for 32 years (having didn’t get previous its qualifying rounds on 11 events), so it’s a huge success to even be there.

“Once we beat (Denmark’s champions) Midtjylland to qualify (having bought via three earlier ties in a marketing campaign that started 4 days earlier than final season had ended with the Euro 2024 ultimate on July 14), it was top-of-the-line ends in the previous few years and was like a European ultimate for us.

“Then we have been drawn in opposition to Manchester Metropolis, Bayern Munich, AC Milan and Atletico Madrid (amongst their eight league-phase video games). These are matches we’ve not had for a lot of, a few years, so although we are going to most likely lose, it’s nonetheless a giant prize. The Celtic defeat (Slovan misplaced 5-1 in Glasgow on Matchday One) was not good, however even a membership like Celtic has far more cash than us.

“We’ve got Dinamo (Zagreb) at house (on November 5), a match we are able to look to attract or win, however largely I would like the eight video games to be a lesson for the gamers and the house owners, and for us to earn cash from TV and full stadiums to spend on enhancing the crew.”

There’s a distinct “completely happy to be there” vibe from Slovan, however that doesn’t apply to each Champions League ‘minnow’.

Salzburg, who will compete within the revamped Membership World Cup in america subsequent summer time courtesy of their constant Champions League group-phase qualification in recent times, are adjusting to life below a brand new supervisor in Jurgen Klopp’s long-time Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders, and have been most likely regarded as a little bit of a darkish horse going into the league part.

As an alternative, they have been comfortably crushed 3-0 at Sparta Prague after which surprisingly trounced 4-0 at house to French newcomers Brest. They lie fourth within the early-season Austrian Bundesliga, six factors off leaders Sturm Graz, however have two video games in hand.

Pep Lijnders acknowledges Salzburg followers after defeat in Prague (Michal Cizek/AFP by way of Getty Photos)

“I don’t need to make excuses, I take full accountability,” Lijnders stated in a press convention after the Brest defeat. “This group has sufficient high quality that it shouldn’t occur like this. That worries me a little bit bit.

“We anticipated a very completely different begin within the Champions League, particularly with the qualification (beating FC Twente, 5-4 on mixture, and Dynamo Kyiv, 3-1). I’m sick of individuals calling us a younger crew. There aren’t any excuses, we’ve sufficient high quality to win soccer matches within the Champions League.”

Younger Boys, whose Swiss Tremendous League is of an analogous customary to Austria’s Bundesliga, will even have anticipated higher than to be propping up the 32-team Champions League desk after two defeats (3-0 at house to Aston Villa, 5-0 at Barcelona).

Like Salzburg, the Bern membership are enduring home woes, and sacked supervisor Patrick Rahmen, who had solely been appointed in the summertime, per week after the Barcelona thrashing. They’re tenth in a 12-team home league. A go to from Inter Milan, Serie A champions and three-time European Cup/Champions League winners, awaits on Wednesday.

Dinamo additionally disbursed with their supervisor after struggling one of many heaviest defeats in Champions League historical past, dropping 9-2 at Bayern final month. Sergej Jakirovic had led Dinamo to a Croatian league and cup double in 2023-24 however the Bayern thrashing was deemed unacceptable and he left two days later by mutual consent.

The cruel actuality of Dinamo Zagreb’s European wrestle is laid naked on Bayern Munich’s scoreboard(Sebastian Widmann/Getty Photos)

A 2-2 house draw in opposition to Monaco on Matchday Two, below new boss Nenad Bjelica, prompt the suitable resolution had been made. Subsequent up? A go to to Lijnders and Salzburg on Wednesday.

After which you have got Celtic. Not like lots of these sides talked about above, the Scottish membership are Champions League regulars and have taken some unbelievable scalps over time, beating Barcelona, Juventus, Manchester United and AC Milan (and again in 1967 they received the competitors). However each a kind of victories has come at Celtic Park the place, backed by one of the vociferous atmospheres in European soccer, they could be a match for anybody.

Away from house, it’s a special story. This season’s competitors has been Celtic in Europe in a microcosm, thrashing Slovan 5-1 at house after which being humiliated 7-1 by Borussia Dortmund in Germany, the place they conceded 5 earlier than half-time — the primary time a British membership had performed so in a significant European competitors since 1997-98. It was their thirty first defeat from 37 Champions League group/league-stage away video games — and in these 37, they’ve conceded an almighty 100 targets.

But supervisor Brendan Rodgers was unrepentant in not altering the crew’s method for that Dortmund sport, regardless of dealing with criticism acquainted from his first spell at Celtic, when his facet misplaced 7-0 to Barcelona at Camp Nou and 7-1 at Paris Saint-Germain, or 6-0 away to Atletico Madrid in his second spell final season.

“We play in a method that permits us to dominate domestically,” Rodgers stated. “We all know it’s going to be tough at occasions for us to try this, however we nonetheless have to point out our potential with the ball. Are we going to sit down in and camp, and wait? No, we received’t try this.”

Celtic supporters who’ve paid 1000’s of kilos to journey throughout the continent to see their crew win simply two of 37 Champions League away matches (beating Spartak Moscow in 2012-13 and Belgium’s Anderlecht in 2017-18) may even see issues in another way. Whereas no one may accuse Celtic followers of not profiting from their journeys overseas, if anybody has attended all 37 video games, they may have travelled greater than 70,000 miles, which is nearly thrice world wide, to see two victories.

“I’ve not performed that many, however I’ve by no means seen us win overseas,” Celtic season-ticket holder Alasdair tells The Athletic. “There may be all the time a terrific ambiance on the street and nobody takes it as a right that we’re privileged to go to some nice cities and stadiums, but it surely’s fairly demoralising.

Celtic followers get pleasure from their European journeys – till the soccer begins (Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Photos)

“There’s possibly an unrealistic expectation on the membership that we needs to be doing higher, however given our assets in comparison with the Premier League and the massive Spanish, German and Italian golf equipment, we’re on a special planet. We’ll discover the brand new format solely skews the imbalance additional.”

We’re working with an extremely small pattern measurement after two rounds however the early ends in the expanded 36-team ‘league part’ do counsel the scales are tipping additional. We’ve got seen scorelines of 9-2, 7-1, 5-0 and 5-1, plus 4 4-0s. After 36 matches, that is proving to be one of the goal-heavy editions of the Champions League, with 3.19 per sport being near the best on file (3.24 in 2019-20).

Thus far, it has been essentially the most one-sided Champions League season but, with a mean margin of victory of two.57 targets, comfortably above the following highest of two.37 from the 1993-94 season.

By increasing the competitors, the standard can be diluted, whereas this greater first stage may lend itself to groups enjoying extra expansively, given the possible want for under 10 or so factors out of your eight matches to succeed in at the least the play-off knockout spherical, the place locations within the last-16 can be up for grabs.

Because the wealthy get richer and the monetary imbalance throughout Europe will increase, count on extra of the identical. And count on followers of relative Champions League minnows to dread somewhat than relish their continental adventures.

(Prime pictures: Getty Photos)

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – Monday was the primary day of early voting in Texas, and 5,144 individuals have already forged their vote in Brazos county for the present election.

Trudy Hancock, elections administrator for Brazos County, informed KBTX this election is already bucking traits.

“Now we have hit the bottom working immediately,” Hancock boasted. “We often run 50/50. 50% early and 50% election day. I’ve a sense this time, lots of people are going to vote early.”

So far as first-day jitters, Hancock mentioned it was a clean day of voting.

“We’ve had just a few little technical points like poll paper getting jammed and issues like that, however nothing to halt voting,” defined Hancock.

Bryan native Jeremy Zamora mentioned he was desperate to forged his vote.

“I believe it’s vital, as an American citizen, to do your due diligence as your proper to vote and have your voice be heard,” Zamora shared.

Hancock mentioned it was a big turnout immediately, and areas like Robertson County are experiencing the identical inflow of voters with the identical quantity of foot visitors in a day as it will in per week.

“Simply keep in mind, when you’re in that line, you’re inside that 100-foot marker, so there isn’t any electioneering. No shirts, buttons, hats for candidates; simply make sure that you’re aware of that,” suggested Hancock.

Though strains had been a bit lengthy on day one, Zamora mentioned election staff shortly and effectively saved voters transferring.

“Do your due diligence of who you need within the workplace and working the nation,” Zamora added.

For these not voting in individual however nervous about their ballots being obtained resulting from publish workplace points, Hancock has a professional tip.

“For those who’re nervous in regards to the publish workplace, your poll having to exit of city after which come again, you may go to the publish workplace on Boonville and stroll your poll in. They may hand stamp it and put it in a field, they usually ship them to us day by day,” steered Hancock.

A mail-in poll should be postmarked no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5 and obtained by 5 p.m. the next day. That could be a decent turnaround, so Hancock advises all to ship out your poll as early as doable.

Discover extra data on native election data with KBTX’s Election Headquarters. Early voting runs by November 1.

Copyright 2024 KBTX. All rights reserved.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – South Carolinians can now head to the polls to forged their ballots for the November election.

The state’s early voting interval kicked off Monday and it goes by way of the subsequent two weeks.

Along with the presidential race, each seat on the State Home is up for election.

South Carolina voters gained’t see any statewide races this yr, however there might be one statewide referendum, seats for the U.S. Home of Representatives and native races.

Georgia and North Carolina have already shattered early voting information – and features stretched exterior voting facilities in some components of South Carolina on the primary day of early voting Monday.

That is the primary presidential election for the reason that enactment of a 2022 state legislation to determine South Carolina’s no-excuse, early-voting interval.

“I wouldn’t be stunned if we noticed the best early voting turnout in at some point sooner or later throughout the early voting interval, after which I might anticipate that the entire early voting interval might be increased than some other election,” stated John Catalano, with the South Carolina Election Fee.

Each county has no less than one early voting location open to all registered voters who dwell there – however some have a number of – and as many as seven.

• All early voting areas in South Carolina

You may vote early, in particular person for the subsequent two weeks – from Monday by way of the Saturday earlier than Election Day – excluding Sunday, October 27.

All early voting facilities are open from 8:30 a.m. to six p.m.

“It’s a really clean, straightforward, and safe course of,” Catalano stated.

Voters want to indicate a photograph I.D. to forged their poll. Acceptable types of this embody a South Carolina driver’s license, a South Carolina hid weapons allow, a South Carolina voter registration card and photograph, a United States navy ID or a United States passport.

“It’s sometimes a faster course of, since you’re spreading out the voting throughout two weeks quite than confining it to a 12-hour interval on Election Day. So sure, strains do sometimes are usually decrease for early voting,” he stated.

After all, voters can forged their poll in particular person on Election Day, Nov. 5.

Eligible voters have till this Friday to request a mail-in absentee poll, however state legislation requires they meet sure standards to try this, like being 65 and older, or having work obligations that stop them from voting in particular person.

Early voting will final from Monday, Oct. 21 to Saturday, Nov. 2 with early voting facilities being open from 8:30 a.m. to six p.m.

Totally different South Carolina residents may have totally different ballots relying on the county and district the place they dwell. To request a pattern of your poll earlier than heading to the polls, go to SC Votes web site.

It is very important observe that early voting facilities is likely to be totally different than the place you vote on Election Day.

Really feel extra knowledgeable, ready, and linked with WIS. For extra free content material like this, subscribe to our electronic mail publication, and obtain our apps. Have suggestions that may assist us enhance? Click on right here.

Copyright 2024 WIS. All rights reserved.