Upset Tuesday

I am shocked. I don't think there has been a single day with this many upsets in the Champs League group stage in years. I am not going to say ever, because that is not the kind of thing I do, but off hand none that can top this come to mind. Two outright upsets: Rubin Kazan win 2-1 at the Nou Camp and Lyon knock off Liverpool at Anfield by the same score. Rangers getting stomped 4-1 at Ibrox by a Romanian team alien to most of Europe until recently is surprising, but the more objective and honest you are about Rangers the less shocking it is. They are not an elite European side. Dinamo Kyiv's 2-2 draw at San Siro counts as an upset in nearly every way.

I am only marginally surprised Arsenal were held 1-1 on their visit to AZ Alkmaar. I thought Sevilla would win away to Stuttgart but maybe not by 2 goals, and reading reports of the match it sounds like they really put the screws to Stutt. I know they lost at the weekend with most of their starters on the field but right now Sevilla deserve to be in the conversation for best team in Europe (on current form not favorite to win XYZ, best line-up, etc.).

As always happens in situations like these people are going to be crying about the "FIFA virus" and blame it for the big boys losing games they should walk through. When you consider injuries to guys like Fernando Torres and travel from international duty on other continents it might seem reasonable, but this is the Champions League, nearly every team is loaded with internationals.

As an Inter fan I am legitimately worried about qualifying for the knock out stages. Inter sit bottom of the group with a meager 3 points, although they are the only undefeated team ;) and the other three are only a point ahead. Still, the road ahead is difficult. Away in Kyiv and Barcelona with a home game against R. Kazan sandwiched in between. It seems very likely that Inter will be traveling to the Nou Camp needing a result to go through on the last day of the group stage.