Tag Archives: UEFA Champions League

The Kazakh Fairy Tale

Founded only six years ago, FC Astana is the first football club from Kazakhstan to reach the group stage of the UEFA Champions League (UCL). There are four qualifying rounds that teams need to proceed in order to participate in the UCL. Kazakhstan Premier League’s ranking coefficient allows champions of Kazakhstan to start from the… Read More »

Liverpool versus Lyon, tradition versus “soccernomics”

I’m something of a latecomer to following professional club soccer. Although I played the sport growing up in Western North Carolina and have watched every World Cup final since 1990, I’ve been oblivious to the comings and goings of the top European and South American leagues—mostly due to my typically spartan television habits. That’s all… Read More »