2008–09 Eskişehirspor season
Following are the results of the 2008–09 Eskişehirspor season. Eskişehirspor is a football club in Eskişehir, Turkey. Also known as Kırmızı Şimşekler (Red Lightnings) or The Star of Anatolia. The club was founded in 1965 and started a football revolution in Anatolia. Eskişehirspor started a long term stay in the first league in Turkey when they were founded.


2008–09 Essex Senior Football League
The 2008–09 Essex Senior Football League season was the 38th in the history of Essex Senior Football League a football competition in England.


2008–09 Essex Senior Football League, Clubs
The league featured 15 clubs which competed in the league last season, along with one new club:


2008–09 Esteghlal F.C. season
This is a list of Esteghlal F.C. 's results at the 2008–09 IPL, 2009 ACL, Super Cup 2008 and 2008–09 Hazfi Cup. The club is competing in the Iran Pro League, Hazfi Cup. Iranian Super Cup and Asian Champions League.


2008–09 Estonian Cup
Estonian Cup 2008–09 was the twenty-second season of the Estonian football knockout tournament. Winners of the cup qualified for the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League 2009–10. The defending champions were Flora Tallinn, who successfully defended their title this year.


2008–09 Estonian Cup, Third round
1Vaprus were disqualified from the competition because of the use of an ineligible player in their game against Ganvix.


2008–09 Ethiopian Premier League
The 2008–09 Ethiopian Premier League is the season of the Ethiopian Premier League since its establishment in 1944. A total of 16 teams are contesting the league, with Saint-George SA the defending champions for the twenty-second time in total. The Ethiopian season began on 22 November 2008 and finished on .


2008–09 Etisalat Emirates Cup
The 2008–09 Etisalat Emirates Cup was the 1st staging of the Etisalat Emirates Cup, started on October 10, 2008 and finished on April 3, 2009. The competition was won by Al Ain defeating Al Wahda in the final 1–0. 12 clubs were drawn into 3 groups of 4 teams. The winners and the best runner up qualified for the semi final stage.


2008–09 Euro Hockey League
The 2008–09 Euro Hockey League was the second season of the Euro Hockey League, Europe's premier club field hockey tournament organised by the EHF.


2008–09 Euro Hockey League
The final was played between UHC Hamburg and Bloemendaal at the Hazelaarweg Stadion in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Bloemendaal beat UHC Hamburg, the defending champions, 5–4 to win their first Euro Hockey League title. Rotterdam took the bronze medal.


2008–09 Euro Hockey League, Round one
Pools A, B, C and D were played in Amstelveen, the Netherlands between 24 and 26 October 2008 and the other four pools were played in Lille, France. If a game was won, the winning team received 5 points. A draw resulted in both teams receiving 2 points. A loss gave the losing team 1 point unless the losing team lost by 3 or more goals, then they received 0 points.


2008–09 Euro Hockey League, Knockout stage
The Round of 16 and the quarterfinals were played in Hamburg, Germany between 10 and 13 April 2009 and the semifinals, third place match and the final were played in Rotterdam, the Netherlands between 30 and 31 May 2009.


2008–09 Euro Hockey Tour
Euro Hockey Tour 2008–09 is the 13th edition of Euro Hockey Tour. There are only four teams: Czech Republic, Finland, Russia and Sweden are competing.


2008–09 Euro Hockey Tour, Format
The tournament consists of four stages: Ceska Pojistovna Cup in Czech Republic, Karjala Tournament in Finland, Channel One Cup in Russia and LG Hockey Games in Sweden. The intervals between stages are usually from 1 month to 3 months. In each phase teams played six games.


2008–09 EuroCup Women
The EuroCup Women is an international basketball club competition for women's clubs throughout Europe. The 2008-2009 season involved 58 competing teams from 28 different countries. The Turkish team Galatasaray SK became the champion, defeating Cras Basket Taranto in the finals. Trailing by 12 points after the first leg in Italy, Galatasaray returned to Istanbul and won 82-61 for a 137-128 victory on aggregate.


2008–09 EuroLeague Women
The 2008-09 season was the 13th edition of Europe's premier basketball tournament for women since it was rebranded to its current format. It was won once again for the third time in a row by Spartak Moscow after defeating 2003 champions UMMC Ekaterinburg and first time finalists Perfumerías Avenida Salamanca in the final four, which took place in the latter's court.


2008–09 Eurocup Basketball
2008–09 Eurocup Basketball was the seventh edition of Europe's second-tier level transnational competition for men's professional basketball clubs, the EuroCup, and the first to be contested under the Eurocup name. From the inception of the competition in 2002, it had been known as the ULEB Cup. The EuroCup is the European-wide league level that is one tier below the EuroLeague level.


2008–09 Eurocup Basketball
During this season, there were 48 teams, from 22 countries. After the preliminary rounds, there were 32 teams left for the regular season, with the 16 eliminated teams being relegated down and parachuting into Europe's third-tier transnational competition, the EuroChallenge. Lithuanian club Lietuvos Rytas of Vilnius, won the tournament and promotion to the top level EuroLeague for the next season.


2008–09 Eurocup Basketball, Format
The competition format was also revamped. A total of 48 clubs participated, down from 54 in the previous year's competition. The competition was jointly organized by Euroleague Basketball Company and FIBA Europe.


2008–09 Eurocup Basketball, Format, First preliminary round
Sixteen teams competed in the first preliminary round, which was organised by FIBA Europe. These teams were paired in two-legged matches, with winners decided on aggregate score. The eight winners advanced to the second preliminary round, and the eight losers parachuted into the third-tier European competition, the EuroChallenge. The matches were played from October 14 through October 21.


2008–09 Eurocup Basketball, Format, First preliminary round
Due to a decision of the Italian Basketball Federation to revoke Capo d'Orlando's first division license, followed by an Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) tribunal rejected appeal by the club, Capo d'Orlando lost the right to participate in European competitions. As a result, Benetton Treviso automatically qualified to the group stage, while Benetton Fribourg advanced to the second qualification round where they met Kalise Gran Canaria.


2008–09 Eurocup Basketball, Format, Second preliminary round
The second preliminary round, also organised by FIBA Europe, also featured 16 teams, with the eight winners from the first preliminary round joined by eight automatic qualifiers to that phase. As in the first preliminary round, matches were two-legged and decided on aggregate score, with the winners advancing to the Eurocup regular season and the losers parachuting into the EuroChallenge. Matches were played from November 4 to November 11.


2008–09 Eurocup Basketball, Format, Regular season
Thirty-two teams—24 automatic qualifiers and the eight survivors of the second preliminary round—entered the Regular Season. From this point onward, the competition is organised by Euroleague Basketball Company. The teams were divided into eight groups of four teams each, with each group playing a double round-robin schedule. The first and second-place teams in each group advanced to the Last 16. Regular Season matches were held from November 25, 2008 until January 13, 2009.


2008–09 Eurocup Basketball, Format, Last 16
For the first time in the history of the competition, a second group phase was played. The survivors of the Regular Season were divided into four-team groups, each playing a double round-robin schedule. This phase has a direct analogue in the top-tier EuroLeague, which conducts an identical group phase, the Top 16, at the same stage of the competition. As in the EuroLeague Top 16, the first- and second-place teams in each group advance to the next phase. However, unlike the EuroLeague, which conducts a separate quarterfinal round before its Final Four, the Eurocup sent its surviving teams into a single knockout tournament, the Final Eight. Last 16 matches were played from January 27 to March 10, 2009.


2008–09 Eurocup Basketball, Format, Final eight
Like the Euroleague Final Four, this was a knockout tournament, conducted in one-off matches, held at a single site. The semifinal losers played a single match for third place, and the semifinal winners played a single match for the Eurocup title and an automatic place in the 2009-10 Euroleague. This phase was carried over from the prior ULEB Cup format. Matches were played from April 9 through April 12.


2008–09 Eurocup Basketball, Format, Final eight
This was the last season for the Final Eight format. From 2009–10 onward, a quarterfinal round has been introduced, consisting of two-legged ties between a group winner and the runner-up from a separate group, with the winner of each tie determined on aggregate score. The quarterfinal winners will advance to the Eurocup Finals, with one-off semifinals followed by a one-off final.


2008–09 Eurocup Basketball, Preliminary rounds
Sixteen teams participated in the first preliminary round, and after the first preliminary round matches, sixteen teams played in a second preliminary round, with the top eight teams from the first preliminary round. Teams that were eliminated from the first or second preliminary round games competed in the EuroChallenge 2008-09.


2008–09 Eurocup Basketball, Final eight
The Final Eight was the last stage of EuroCup 2008-09.


2008–09 Euroleague
The 2008–09 Euroleague was the 9th season of the professional basketball competition for elite clubs throughout Europe, organised by Euroleague Basketball Company, and it was the 52nd season of the premier competition for European men's clubs overall. The season, which featured 24 teams from 13 different countries, culminated in the 2008–09 Euroleague Final Four at the new O2 World arena in Berlin, Germany. It was won by Panathinaikos, who defeated in the final, the defending champions, CSKA Moscow.


2008–09 Euroleague
While the general structure of the competition was identical to that used in recent seasons, changes were made to the format for two of its phases, the Regular Season and Quarterfinals.


2008–09 Euroleague, Format
The first phase was a regular season, in which the competing teams were drawn into four groups, each containing six teams. Each team played every other team in its group at home and away, resulting in 10 games for each team in the first stage. The top 4 teams in each group advanced to the next round. This was the first year for this particular format; previously, the competing teams were split into three groups of eight teams each, with the top five teams in each group plus the best sixth-place team advancing.


2008–09 Euroleague, Format
If two or more clubs finished level on won-lost record, tiebreakers were applied in the following order:


2008–09 Euroleague, Format
Games were played from October 22, 2008 to January 15, 2009.


2008–09 Euroleague, Format
The surviving teams were then divided into four groups of four teams each, and again a round-robin system was adopted resulting in 6 games each, with the top 2 teams advancing to the quarterfinals. Tiebreakers are identical to those used in the Regular Season. Games began on January 28 and ended March 12.


2008–09 Euroleague, Format
In the quarterfinals, the top placed teams from each Top 16 group played second placed teams from a different group in a best-of-five playoff series, with the winners of those series advancing to the Final Four. This was the first season in which the quarterfinals were best-of-five; previously, they had been best-of-three. The quarterfinal matches were played from March 24 until April 9.


2008–09 Euroleague, Format
The culminating stage of the Euroleague in which the four remaining teams played a semifinal match and the winners of those advance to the final. The losers played in a third-place playoff. The team which was victorious in the Final (Panathinaikos) would be Euroleague champion. The Final Four semifinals were played May 1, with the third-place game and final on May 3.


2008–09 Euroleague, Regular season
The regular season began on October 20, 2008 and concluded on January 15, 2009.


2008–09 Euroleague, Top 16
The Top 16 stage was played from January 28 to March 12, 2009.


2008–09 Euroleague, Top 16
The draw was conducted on January 19 at Euroleague Basketball Company headquarters in Barcelona. The group winners in the Regular Season were drawn from one pot, the runners-up from one pot, the teams in 3rd place from one pot and those in 4th place from one pot. Teams that played in the same group in the Regular Season could not meet again in the Top 16. Also, teams from the same country could not be drawn into the same pool unless it was necessary to prevent teams from the same Regular Season group from being drawn together.


2008–09 Euroleague, Top 16, Group F
* FC Barcelona wins the group over Real Madrid by the head-to-head point differential.


2008–09 Euroleague, Quarterfinals
Team 1 hosted Games 1 and 2, plus Game 5 if necessary. Team 2 hosted Game 3, and Game 4 if necessary.


2008–09 Euroleague, Final four
The Final Four was played on May 1 and on May 3. Semifinal games were played on Friday, while the third-place playoff and Final were played on Sunday. The event was hosted at the O2 World in Berlin. It was the first time the event was held in Berlin.


2008–09 European Badminton Circuit season
The 2008-09 European Badminton Circuit season started in May 2008 and ended in May 2009.


2008–09 European Badminton Circuit season, Results, Performance by countries
Tabulated below are the Circuit performances based on countries. Only countries who have won a title are listed:


2008–09 European Challenge Cup
The 2008–09 European Challenge Cup was the 13th season of the European Challenge Cup, the annual rugby union European club competition for clubs from six nations in European rugby. It started in October 2008 and ended with the final at the Twickenham Stoop in London on 22 May 2009, in which Northampton Saints defeated Bourgoin 15–3. With the win, the Saints not only claimed the trophy, but also won a berth in the 2009–10 Heineken Cup.


2008–09 European Challenge Cup, Teams
Seven French teams competed instead of the normal eight, as a French team, Toulouse, progressed farther in the previous year's Heineken Cup than any English or Italian team.


2008–09 European Challenge Cup, Teams
Other nations had their usual number of participants: England six, Italy four, Ireland one, Spain one and Romania one.


2008–09 European Challenge Cup, Pool stage
The draw for the pool stages took place on 23 June 2008. The draw was conducted using the ERC European Ranking system which was based on the qualified teams' performances and participation in the Heineken Cup and knock-out stages of the European Challenge Cup over the past four seasons.


2008–09 European Challenge Cup, Knockout stage
Unlike the Heineken Cup, the Challenge Cup did not conduct a semi-final draw at the time (such a draw would be instituted for the 2009–10 edition). The top half of the draw matched the 1 and 8 seeds in one quarter-final, and the 4 and 5 seeds in the other, and the bottom half matched 2 against 7 and 3 against 6; the higher (lower-numbered) seeds all play at home. The knockout stage was not reseeded after the quarter-finals. Home advantage for the semi-finals was awarded to the highest remaining seed in each half of the draw. Home advantage in the final went to the top remaining seed.


2008–09 European Challenge Cup pool stage
The 2008–09 European Challenge Cup pool stage was the opening stage of the 13th season of the European Challenge Cup, the second-tier competition for European rugby union clubs. It began on 9 October 2008 when RC Toulon hosted Northampton Saints and ended with two games on 25 January 2009.


2008–09 European Challenge Cup pool stage
Twenty teams participated in this phase of the competition; they were divided into five pools of four teams each, with each team playing the others home and away. Competition points were earned using the standard bonus point system. The five pool winners and the best three runners-up advanced to the knockout stage. These teams then competed in a single-elimination tournament that ended with the final at the Twickenham Stoop in London on 22 May 2009.


2008–09 European Challenge Cup pool stage, Results
The draw for the pool stages took place on 23 June 2008. The draw was conducted using the ERC European Ranking system which was based on the qualified teams' performances and participation in the Heineken Cup and knock-out stages of the European Challenge Cup over the past four seasons.


2008–09 Everton F.C. season
The 2008–09 Everton F.C. season was Everton's 17th season in the Premier League, and their 55th consecutive season in the top division of English football. The club's kit was provided by Umbro, and the sponsor was Chang beer.


2008–09 Everton F.C. season, Review and events, Monthly events
This is a list of the significant events to occur at the club during the 2008–09 season, presented in chronological order. This list does not include transfers, which are listed in the transfers section below, or match results, which are in the results section. However it does summarise the transfers made by Everton in the summer. It also includes Cup Draws.


2008–09 F.C. Copenhagen season
This article shows statistics of individual players for the football club F.C. Copenhagen. It also lists all matches that F.C. Copenhagen played in the 2008–09 season.


2008–09 F.C. Copenhagen season, Players, Squad information
This section show the squad as currently, considering all players who are confirmedly moved in and out (see section Players in / out).


2008–09 F.C. Copenhagen season, Club, Other information
Updated to match played 17 JuneSource: F.C. Copenhagen and Parken Stadium


2008–09 F.C. Copenhagen season, Matches, Competitive
Last updated: 31 MaySource: 1F.C. Copenhagen goals come first.National flags for Ground and Opponent columns are only shown when different to that of F.C. Copenhagen.M = Match; Ground: H = Home, A = Away, N = Neutral, HR = Home replacement, AR = Away replacement.


2008–09 F.C. Copenhagen season, Matches, Friendlies
Last updated: 26 MarchSource: 1F.C. Copenhagen goals come first.Country's flag depict country of foreign team to that of F.C. Copenhagen.2 TV: TV3+Ground: H = Home; A = Away; N = Neutral; HR = Home replacement; AR = Away replacement; GD = Goal difference


2008–09 FA Cup
The 2008–09 FA Cup (known as The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON for sponsorship reasons) was the 128th season of the world's oldest football knockout competition; the FA Cup. A record 762 clubs were accepted for the competition; one club, South Normanton Athletic, folded before the fixtures were released, leaving 761 clubs to appear in the draw. Two more clubs, Brierley Hill & Withymoor and Stapenhill, folded after the draws for the early rounds were made, giving their opponents a walk-over.


2008–09 FA Cup
The competition started on 16 August 2008 with the Extra Preliminary Round and concluded on 30 May 2009 with the Final, held at Wembley Stadium. Because winners Chelsea qualified for the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League by finishing 3rd in the 2008–09 Premier League, losing finalists Everton qualified for the play-off round of the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League.


2008–09 FA Cup
Because Everton also happened to qualify for a Europa League berth by finishing 5th in the Premier League, that berth was awarded to the 6th place team (Aston Villa), whose berth (which was available because 2009–10 Football League Cup winners Manchester United qualified for the Champions League as Premier League winners) was in turn awarded to the 7th place team (Fulham).


2008–09 FA Cup
This season's competition saw the beginning of a new television contract for the tournament, with ITV and Setanta Sports taking over the domestic rights from the BBC and Sky Sports.


2008–09 FA Cup, Qualifying rounds
All of the teams that entered the competition, but were not members of the Premier League or The Football League, had to compete in the qualifying rounds.


2008–09 FA Cup, First round proper
All of the 24 League One and 24 League Two teams entered at this round, along with the winners of the previous round, the fourth qualifying round. These 32 winners came from the following levels:


2008–09 FA Cup, First round proper
The draw took place on 26 October 2008. The matches were played between 7 and 9 November 2008.


2008–09 FA Cup, First round proper
‡ – Grays' replay with Carlisle was abandoned the first time it was played after 20 minutes because of floodlight failure with Grays leading 1–0.


2008–09 FA Cup, First round proper
Blyth Spartans, Droylsden and Histon beat teams from two levels higher. Kettering Town were the fourth non-league team to beat a league club. Curzon Ashton were the only club to beat a team from four levels higher, beating Exeter City.


2008–09 FA Cup, Second round proper
The draw was held on 9 November 2008 and involved the 40 winning teams from the previous round. These were from the following levels:


2008–09 FA Cup, Second round proper
The draw was conducted by Lawrie Sanchez and Ray Parlour. Matches in the Second Round Proper were played over the weekend of 29 November 2008, with the exception of the match between Crewe Alexandra and Carlisle United, which was played on 2 December, due to the abandonment of the first-round game between Carlisle United and Grays Athletic.


2008–09 FA Cup, Second round proper
‡ – Droylsden's first visit to Chesterfield was abandoned at half time due to fog. The first replay, two weeks later, was then abandoned after 70 minutes due to floodlight failure.


2008–09 FA Cup, Second round proper
6 non-league clubs beat league clubs: Leeds United lost to Histon, while League Two clubs lost to Eastwood Town, Blyth Spartans, Barrow, Forest Green Rovers and Kettering Town.


2008–09 FA Cup, Third round proper
The draw was held on 30 November 2008. The draw was carried out by Sir Trevor Brooking and Ray Clemence at Soho Square. The 20 Premier League and 24 Championship teams enter at this stage, along with the 20 winners from the previous round. These 20 teams came from the following levels:


2008–09 FA Cup, Third round proper
The matches were played between 2 and 5 January 2009, with the exception of the ties between Birmingham City and Wolverhampton Wanderers, Histon and Swansea City, Cheltenham Town and Doncaster Rovers, and Leyton Orient and Sheffield United, which were postponed until 13 January 2009.


2008–09 FA Cup, Third round proper
Torquay United were the only team to beat a team from 3 levels higher, while Hartlepool United were the only team to beat a team from 2 levels higher.


2008–09 FA Cup, Fourth round proper
The draw was held on 4 January 2009. It comprised teams from the following levels:


2008–09 FA Cup, Fourth round proper
The draw was conducted by Roberto Di Matteo and Dave Beasant. Most of the matches were played on the weekend of 24 January 2009.


2008–09 FA Cup, Fourth round proper
A technical error during ITV's broadcast of the Everton–Liverpool replay meant that millions of viewers missed Dan Gosling's winner for Everton late in extra time. Coverage of the match was temporarily interrupted by advertisements, only for viewers to see Everton's players celebrating upon the restoration of the feed. ITV received thousands of complaints about the mistake, with many viewers questioning ITV's ability to broadcast live football, especially given their £275 million contract with The Football Association. ITV has subsequently apologised for the error.


2008–09 FA Cup, Fifth round proper
The draw was held on 25 January 2009. It comprised ten teams from the Premier League and six from the Championship, and was conducted by Gary Mabbutt and Gary Pallister. The Fifth Round matches were played on the weekend of 14 February 2009, with the exception of the tie between Arsenal and Burnley, after Arsenal's Fourth Round replay with Cardiff City was postponed due to snow. The match was played on 8 March 2009.


2008–09 FA Cup, Sixth round proper
The draw was held on 15 February 2009. It comprised seven teams from the Premier League and Coventry City from the Championship. It was conducted by Frank McLintock and Graeme Souness. The matches were played on the weekend of 7 March 2009, with the exception of the tie between Arsenal and Hull City, which was played on 17 March.


2008–09 FA Cup, Semi-finals
The draw was held on 8 March 2009, and was conducted by Bob Wilson and Joe Royle. The semi-final matches were played at Wembley Stadium, on the weekend of 18 April 2009. Unlike the previous rounds, replays were not held if a match ended as a draw; if necessary, extra time was added and a penalty shoot-out was held immediately after the match.


2008–09 FA Cup, Media coverage
In the United Kingdom, ITV regained the free to air broadcasting rights from the BBC who held on to it after seven seasons while Setanta Sports took over the subscription broadcasting rights from Sky Sports who held on to it for 20 seasons.


2008–09 FA Cup qualifying rounds
The 2008–09 FA Cup qualifying rounds opened the 128th season of competition in England for 'The Football Association Challenge Cup' (FA Cup), the world's oldest association football single knockout competition. A new record 762 clubs were accepted for the competition, up 33 from the previous season's 729 – completing a significant increase of 75 teams (11%) from the 687 clubs just two seasons earlier. South Normanton Athletic folded before the fixtures were released, leaving 761 clubs to appear in the draw.


2008–09 FA Cup qualifying rounds
The large number of clubs entering the tournament from lower down (Levels 5 through 10) in the English football pyramid meant that the competition started with six rounds of preliminary (2) and qualifying (4) knockouts for these non-League teams. The 32 winning teams from Fourth qualifying round progressed to the First Round Proper, where League teams tiered at Levels 3 and 4 entered the competition.


2008–09 FA Cup qualifying rounds, Calendar
The calendar for the 2008–09 FA Cup qualifying rounds, as announced by The FA.


2008–09 FA Cup qualifying rounds, Extra preliminary round
The draw for the Extra preliminary round was announced on The FA's website on Tuesday, 1 July. 406 clubs from Level 9 and Level 10 of English football, entered at this stage of the competition.


2008–09 FA Cup qualifying rounds, Preliminary round
Matches in the Preliminary round were played on the weekend of Saturday, 30 August 2008, with replays played on 2 September and 3 September 2008. The draw for the round was announced on The FA's website on Tuesday, 1 July. A total of 332 clubs took part in this stage of the competition, including the 203 winners from the Extra preliminary round and 129 entering at this stage from the six leagues at Level 8 of English football. The round featured 52 clubs from Level 10 still in the competition, being the lowest ranked clubs in this round.


2008–09 FA Cup qualifying rounds, First qualifying round
Matches in the First qualifying round were played on the weekend of Saturday, 13 September 2008. Replays were played on 16 and 17 September 2008. The draw for the round was announced on The FA's website on Tuesday, 1 July. A total of 232 clubs took part in this stage of the competition, including the 166 winners from the Preliminary round and 66 entering at this stage from the top division of the three leagues at Level 7 of English football. The round featured 14 clubs from Level 10 still in the competition, being the lowest ranked clubs in this round.


2008–09 FA Cup qualifying rounds, Second qualifying round
Matches in the Second qualifying round were played on the weekend of Saturday, 27 September 2008. A total of 160 clubs took part in this stage of the competition, including the 116 winners from the First qualifying round and 44 Level 6 clubs, from Conference North and Conference South, entering at this stage. Southam United from Level 10 of English football was the lowest-ranked club to qualify for this round of the competition.


2008–09 FA Cup qualifying rounds, Third qualifying round
Matches in the Third qualifying round will be played on the weekend of Saturday, 11 October 2008. The draw for the round was announced on The FA's website on Monday, 29 September. A total of 80 clubs took part, all having progressed from the Second qualifying round. Six clubs from Level 9 of English football were the lowest-ranked to qualify for this round of the competition.


2008–09 FA Cup qualifying rounds, Fourth qualifying round
Matches in the Fourth qualifying round were played on the weekend of Saturday, 25 October 2008. A total of 64 clubs took part, 40 having progressed from the Third qualifying round and 24 clubs from Conference Premier, forming Level 5 of English football, entering at this stage. Leiston from Level 9 of English football was the lowest-ranked club to qualify for this round of the competition.


2008–09 FA Cup qualifying rounds, Competition proper
See 2008–09 FA Cup for details of the rounds from the First Round Proper onwards.


2008–09 FA Trophy
The FA Trophy 2008–09 was the fortieth season of the FA Trophy, the Football Association's cup competition for teams at levels 5–8 of the English football league system. The number of team entries for this season was 263.


2008–09 FA Trophy, First round
This round is the first in which Conference Premier teams join those from lower reaches of the National League System.


2008–09 FA Women's Premier League
The 2008–09 FA Women's Premier League season was the 17th season of the FA Women's Premier League. England's highest national league at that time.


2008–09 FA Youth Cup
The 2008–09 FA Youth Cup was the 57th FA Youth Cup. A record 474 clubs participated in the competition. The competition started in September 2008 with the preliminary round and concluded with the final on 22 and 26 May 2009.


2008–09 FA Youth Cup
Arsenal knocked out holders Manchester City en route to the final, where they beat 2006 and 2007 winners Liverpool 6–2 on aggregate to lift the FA Youth Cup for the 7th time.


2008–09 FA Youth Cup, Calendar
Qualifying ties played in the week commencing; proper ties played by the closing date.


2008–09 FA Youth Cup, First round
The League One and League Two teams will enter at this round except Notts County which did not apply, along with the winners of the previous round.


2008–09 FA Youth Cup, Second round
The winners from the first round matches will progress to second round.


2008–09 FA Youth Cup, Third round
The 20 Premier League and 24 Championship teams enter at this stage, along with the winners of the second round.


2008–09 FC Argeș Pitești season
The 2008–09 FC Argeș Pitești season was the 44th season of FC Argeș Pitești in the Liga I, the top division in Romanian football.


2008–09 FC Argeș Pitești season
The team finished the league in 10th position but was relegated due to allegations of referee bribery.


2008–09 FC Barcelona season
In 2008–09, FC Barcelona started a new era with a new manager, former captain and Barcelona B coach Pep Guardiola, who led the team to the first treble in Spanish football history and first one to win sextuple in the club football history. After selling off high-profiled players such as Deco and Ronaldinho, Barcelona played scintillating football throughout the season, winning the Copa del Rey, La Liga, and the UEFA Champions League.


2008–09 FC Barcelona season, Players, Disciplinary record
Source: Competitive matchesOnly competitive matches = Number of bookings;  = Number of sending offs after a second yellow card;  = Number of sending offs by a direct red card.


2008–09 FC Barcelona season, Competitions, Overall
As in nine out of the last ten seasons, Barcelona was present in all major competitions. First division and Copa del Rey in Spain and UEFA Champions League in Europe.


2008–09 FC Basel season
The 2008–09 FC Basel season began off with various pre-season matches against Swiss lower league teams, as well as against German Bundesliga, UkrainianVyscha Liha and Polish Ekstraklasa clubs. Basel's objectives for the year were to regain their Swiss Super League and Swiss Cup titles, as well as qualify for the UEFA Champions League.


2008–09 FC Basel season, Overview
After last season, where Basel dominated on the domestic front, winning both the Swiss Super League and Swiss Cup, and reaching the last 32 of the UEFA Cup. This season they will have the opportunity to qualify for the Champions League. To prepare for the 2008–09 season, FCB added defenders Behrang Safari from Malmö FF and David Abraham from Gimnàstic de Tarragona and midfielders Jurgen Gjasula and Marcos Gelabert from FC St. Gallen.


2008–09 FC Basel season, Overview
In the other direction, fans' favourite Daniel Majstorović left the club for AEK Athens, while Kōji Nakata returned to Japan with Kashima Antlers; Vratislav Lokvenc and David Degen's respective loan deals were not re-newed. Prior to the start of the domestic season, Ivan Ergić resigned from the position as club captain and Franco Costanzo was unveiled as the new captain one day before the season began.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Domestic league
Basel were the defending champions and the club's priority aim for this season was to win the domestic league championship again. Basel played their opening game of the season in Bern on 18 July 2008 against Young Boys, which they won 2–1 through goals by substitutes Marko Perović and Benjamin Huggel after Eudis had put the home side ahead. With four wins and one draw, FC Aarau had the best start to the season and were in first place in the table for the first five match days.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Domestic league
Basel then took the lead in the table after a 4–1 away win against Zürich. In the following weeks, Basel were able to maintain their lead, before Zurich took first place for the first time that season thanks to the better goal difference. On the 15th matchday the top match between FCB and FCZ was played and ended with a 1–1 draw and so Basel could maintain its championship lead. On the next match day, however, Basel lost 2–0 against Xamax and since Zurich beat FC Sion 1–0, there was another change to first place. In the last game of the year there was an unexpected result when the bottom of the table Luzern beat Basel 5–1. As a result of this, Zurich were four points ahead of Basel and ten points ahead of third-placed YB winter champions.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Domestic league
In the first round after the winter break, the table leaders played 2–2 in the Zurich city derby against Grasshopper Club, but were still able to build their lead over Basel to five points, as the table runner-up lost 3–2 away against YB. However, this lead was reduced to two points on matchday 21 after FCB won the top game against FCZ 2–1. On the 23rd matchday Zurich were long behind in the game against Luzern, but equalized five minutes before the end and were able to turn the game into a 3–1 win.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Domestic league
In the following round, the YB were defeated 1–3 in Vaduz and thus lost the connection to the top of the table. On the 25th matchday, FCB took the lead in the table. Zurich lost 4–2 in Bern, while Basel beat Vaduz 5–0 at home in the St. Jakob-Park. On the next match day, FCZ regained the top of the table after a 2-1 win against Aarau and because FCB only played 1-1 in Bellinzona.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Domestic league
FCB won 3-2 in against Xamax and benefited from the fact that FCT could only draw against Sion and thus FCB took the lead in the table. On matchday 29, the leaders FCB did not get beyond a draw against Bellinzona and because FCZ won their game in Aarau 3-0, they were able to move up to first place. On matchday 32, none of the first three teams won their game: FCZ did not get more than 1-1 against Luzern, but was able to extend their lead to four points because FCB lost 3-1 in Aarau, contrary to all expectations.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Domestic league
The following round, the top match between FCZ and FCB took place, which Basel won 3-1 and thus they moved within one point to Zurich. Basel lost 4-1 GC, Zurich won 1-0 in Bellinzona and won the championship. The play-off slot went to Luzern, who lost 5-2 in Bern, while Sion won 5-1 in Vaduz and thus were able to secure their place in the league.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Swiss Cup
The 2008–09 Swiss Cup was the 84th season of Switzerland's annual cup competition. It began on 20 September with the first games of Round 1 and ended on 20 May 2009 with the Final held at Stade de Suisse, Berne. The winners earned a place in the play-off round of the UEFA Europa League. FC Basel were the defending champions.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Swiss Cup
Nine Super League teams (FC Vaduz are from Liechtenstein and thus play in the Liechtenstein Cup 2008–09) and all sixteen Challenge League clubs entered this year's competition, as well as thirteen teams from 1. Liga and 26 teams from lower leagues. Teams from both the Super League and Challenge League were seeded in the first round and the teams from the Super League were seeded in the second round. In the first three rounds, the home advantage was granted to the team from the lower league, if applicable.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Swiss Cup
Basel were drawn against third tier FC Schötz. Basel head coach Christian Gross gave most of his regular a rest, including goalkeeper and captain Franco Costanzo and played with a reserve team. Marco Streller returned into the team after a groin operation. Basel controlled the game, but in the first half did not create many chances and so the goalless score at half-time was a good achievement for the lower classed team. Basel played with more speed and higher pressure after the break.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Swiss Cup
They created chances but it wasn't until the 79th minute before they scored, Orhan Mustafi pushed in his shot from the 5 yard box after a cross from Eduardo Rubio. Schötz then reacted and had three chances to equalise, but two shots went well wide and reserve keeper Oliver Stöckli saved the other. Basel's 1–0 win was well deserved but hard earned.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Swiss Cup
In the second round Basel were drawn against third tier FC Bulle. The game at the Stade de Bouleyres was played on 17 October in front of 4,600 spectators. Basel started the game concentrated and put the hosts under pressure from the beginning. After a few chances, in the 14th minute Marko Perović put in a hard cross so close to the near post that goalkeeper Chassot couldn't help but knock the ball over the goal line. After taking the lead, Basel kept up the pressure and Eduardo Rubio doubled up two minutes later.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Swiss Cup
FCB then controlled the game without trying too hard, the outsiders tried to react and created a few chances. Suddenly this worked out and Barnabo pulled a goal back in the 27th minute after a very good solo dribbling and good long-range shot. Then, in the second half Basel increased the tempo. Reto Zanni on the right wing with a good cross to Marco Streller, who pushed the ball in, played were 57 minutes. Bulle showed a reaction, but their goal a few minutes later was an off-side effort and disallowed. Basel had a few more chances and, in the overtime, Jurgen Gjasula scored the last goal of the match to make it 4–1 for the favourites. A fair result for the higher classed team, but a good performance from the underdogs.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Swiss Cup
In round three, played on 22 November, FCB was drawn against second tier FC Thun, who hosted the game in the Stadion Lachen in front of 3,550 spectators. Basel took control of the game from the very first moment and youngster Eren Derdiyok put the guests one goal in advance after 22 minutes and he doubled this up eight minutes later. After the hour Derdiyok completed his hat-trick. Soon after the third goal head coach Christian Gross substituted his goal scorer out, replacing him with Orhan Mustafi. Gross also brought in Jurgen Gjasula and it was he that scored the final goal of the game to give the visitors a deserved 4–0 victory.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Swiss Cup
The quarter-finals were played in Spring 2009. In the round of the last eight FCZ were matched at home in the Letzigrund against FCB on Wednesday 18 March. The match saw both teams have a good start, they neutralized each other before the penalty box. Zürich took control of the match before half time. In the 23rd minute good positional play by Adrian Nikçi, who outwitted the defense, but then only hit the post. Basel created the better chances after the break. In the 48th minute Andrea Guatelli safely parried a shot from 15 meters from Ivan Ergić.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Swiss Cup
In the 51st minute a header from Marco Streller was also held by the keeper. After a foul on Streller in the 66th minute referee Cyril Zimmermann awarded a penalty for Basel, which Benjamin Huggel converted on the top right-hand corner. Basel controlled the game, leaving FCZ with only one further goal chance. After a foul by Huggel with 5 minutes left to play, Almen Abdi took the free kick from about 18 meters, centrally in front of the goal, but he shoots far over it. Then, free kick for Basel from a good central position, Carlitos places the free kick on the crossbar. Game over, one goal was enough, 1–0 for FCB.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Swiss Cup
The semi-final between Young Boys and FCB took place on Thursday 16 April. Both teams started enthusiastically in the with 31,120 spectators sold-out Stade de Suisse. After a few minutes, Thomas Häberli had a possibility with his head, but he was offside. YB put on the pressure mainly on the right through Carlos Varela and Christian Schwegler. However, the decisive last pass was always imprecise, so that no great chances arose. Before the break, two scenes occurred in front of both goals. Scott Chipperfields shot was thwarted by Marco Wölfli with a good save (38).


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Swiss Cup
On the other side, Häberli was held back briefly, referee Bertolini decided on penalty. But Basel's goalkeeper and captain Franco Costanzo saved the penalty kicked by Mario Raimondi (45). The course of the game hardly changed after the break. YB had a lot of possession, but the guests were also often in front of the goal. In the 30-minute "extra time", YB looked fresher, but no goals fell. It came to a penalty shoot-out. Here YB goalie Marco Wölfli became the hero. He saved Huggel, David Abraham and Jurgen Gjasula's penalties. Gilles Yapi Yapo, Felix Bastians and Marco Schneuwly all scored for YB and they reached the Cup final.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Swiss Cup
Basel's aim for the Swiss Cup was to retain the title and this was not achieved, but the qualification for the semi-final was a good result.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
Basel entered the Champions League in the Second Qualifying Round and were drawn against IFK Göteborg of Sweden. The first leg was on 30 July 2008 at Ullevi. After the first 90 minutes it was advantage for FC Basel 1893 because the Swiss champions scored an away goal in holding IFK Göteborg to a 1-1 draw in Sweden. Benjamin Huggel scored for Basel, breaking the deadlock after 26 minutes, as he struck with a back-post header following Jürgen Gjasula's corner. However, the lead was only short as Jakob Johansson set up Thomas Olsson to restore parity just six minutes later. IFK were then played forwards but could not find a second goal. Likewise Basel had nothing to show for their late pressure as David Abraham, Gjasula and Huggel failed to net the ball with their chances, the end score remained 1–1.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
The second leg took place on 6 August at St. Jakob-Park. Göteborg started into the game fastest and having come close to scoring within a few seconds, they soon had the goal that they needed to remain in the fixture as in the 19th minute Pontus Wernbloom finished off a fast counterattack. This shook Basel to life and Benjamin Huggel, the man who put them ahead last week in Gothenburg, managed the same feat again as he headed in a Jürgen Gjasula corner.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
The only player who was added to Basel's starting lineup compared to the first leg was Valentin Stocker and he nearly scored the home team’s second, but Göteborg's goalkeeper Kim Christensen was able to smother the effort. Although after the interval Basel maintained the pressure, it was Göteborg that scored the second goal and this again came following a quicky played break. It was finished off by Robin Söder after Basel goalkeeper and captain Franco Costanzo could only knock the first attempt to the side. Now Basel required two goals to overturn Göteborg's away-goals advantage.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
They achieved the first with 19 minutes left to play as Scott Chipperfield stretched himself to put home an Eren Derdiyok cross. The home supporters sensed the chance as Basel were awarded a penalty for a handball with just six minutes left to play. Ivan Ergić made no mistakes with the spot kick and it was he who, in the added injury time, out played two Göteborg defenders to settle the match 4–2.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
Basel then faced Vitória SC of the Portuguese Liga in the third qualifying round at Estádio D. Afonso Henriques in Guimarães. Having already played five league games and the first two qualifiers, Basel had quickly found their rhythm and attempted to force the pace from the very beginning, both Valentin Stocker and Ivan Ergić went close to goal in the opening minutes of the first half. Stocker had had the first chance at goal after eight minutes.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
With a neat pass coming from Basel's Portuguese midfielder Carlitos who set up the chance for his team-mate, but Stocker fired left footed just beyond the post. Ergić also had a good chance, but this also went wide. Basel played neatly and waited for counterattack opportunities, this although they nearly got caught out twice in quick succession. First Marquinho volleyed just off-target after 30 minutes and minutes later he sent a fine header towards the goal but this drew a comfortable save from goalkeeper Franco Constanzo. Basel pushed forward. Stocker had a good chance.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
Carlitos also tried his luck with a good shot from long range and Ergić produced a fine header after a corner, which was shortly before half-time. As the second half got underway, Eren Derdiyok came very close to scoring for Basel with a left-foot shot. Stocker also had another good chance. Then, at the other end, a number of Guimarães strikers were unable to finish off a fine right-wing cross and eventually the ball was cleared. The main conclusion, however, is that the home team were unable to outwit the stubborn and hard Basel defence, not even after coach Manuel Cajuda brought in two new strikers in an attempt to strengthen the attacking force in the second half. The game ended goalless.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
The second leg was played on 27 August at St. Jakob-Park. Basel immediately took the initiative and pushed forwards. As an early fine passing move unlocked the Guimarães defence, Ivan Ergić's final pass found Valentin Stocker, who put the hosts one up after 11 minutes. However, the Portuguese team were soon back on level terms. Not even four minutes later they achieved a potentially decisive away goal as Fajardo put home from the penalty spot, following François Marque's foul on João Alves.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
Basel created good opportunities through Marcos Gelabert and Eren Derdiyok and even if they had more possession and even if they were the stronger attacking team for the rest of the half, their efforts were all in vain because the hard-working Guimarães defence held tight. After the restart Manuel Cajuda's team came out as the more adventurous side. First Yves Desmarets was well-placed and he sent a hard shot narrowly wide of goalkeeper Franco Costanzo's left-hand post. The Basel defence caused further concern just a few moments and let João Alves free and he directed a dangerous header on target.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
Realising their danger, Basel then woke up and increased the pressure in their game on Guimarães. Stocker shot was close and Derdiyok’s shot went wide. Their forcing tempo then paid off as Stocker pushed a fine pass to his striker partner Derdiyok and he fired his shot low, beyond Nilson. Because they were a goal behind, at the end it was then Guimarães who were forced to do the pressing and they fought hard. But as they equalised for a second time, through substitute Roberto Calmon Félix with just three minutes left, he was ruled offside by referee Pieter Vink and his linesman. FCB held on to their 2–1 lead and secured their qualification to the tournament's group stages.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
Basel's hopes for their international season dropped somewhat because they were drawn into a strong Group C alongside Barcelona, Sporting CP and Shakhtar Donetsk. Barça were one of the favorites to win the trophy and Basel had bad remeberences of the Sporting team, who had knocked them out of the 2007–08 UEFA Cup knockout stage this year in February. As third opponents Shakhtar had won the Ukrainian double (league and Cup) the previous season. Nevethless coach Christian Gross stated that remaining in Europe over the winter break was their aim. This meant at least third position in the group, which would see then continue in the 2008–09 UEFA Cup.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
Basel played their opening game of the group stage at St. Jakob-Park on 16 September against Shakhtar. Being urged on by the loud vocal chants from the supporters massed behind captain Franco Costanzo's goal, Basel pressed forward promisingly from the start. Striker Eren Derdiyok, returning first time after suffering a thigh injury, almost turned the early pressure positive, but he hit an early header just wide. Shakhtar's coach Mircea Lucescu had promised his team would out to play for the victory.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
After Basel's early enthusiasm had worn off, the visitors became the more menacing and Jádson, one of five Brazilians in the starting eleven, proved a constant concern for the Basel defence. On 16 minutes the playmaker rushed down the right and supplied a cross, which Luiz Adriano narrowly failed to turn goalwards. Although it was the quick passing moves which threatened to open up the home defence more than once, it was to be that the set-pieces that would ultimately prove their undoing. Fernandinho sent one long-range effort fly over the bar.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
Basel central defender François Marque with a clumsy challenge on Luiz Adriano about thirty metres out, allowed the deep-lying playmaker Fernandinho another chance. His wonderful kick was still rising upwards as it passed keeper Costanzo for the first goal. Basel's game was only occasional as Shakhtar dominated the first half. They were rewarded for the efforts with the second goal in the added time of the half. Right back Reto Zanni committed a handball and Jádson struck a hard free-kick which was missed by everybody as in arced in to the right-hand corner of Costanzo's net.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
Basel coach Christian Gross reacted to the team’s problems at half-time and took out Derdiyok and Valentin Stocker. Their replacements Orhan Mustafi and Eduardo made an immediate impact. After just four minutes in the second half Mustafi forced Shakhtar keeper Andriy Pyatov to his first save with an angled drive. Then Carlitos's smart pass gave Eduardo his first chance, but he shot wide of Pyatov's right-hand post. Because of their two-goal lead, Shakhtar controlled the game and were less adventurous than they had been before. Yet the Ukrainian champions nearly hit a third after 66 minutes.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
Basel left-back Ronny Hodel was over welmed speed of the break and Luiz Adriano ran clear of him into the open space and passed to Brandão in the box. Costanzo saved the Brazilian's first effort and then reacted superbly to fiercely-struck follow-up from Vyacheslav Shevchuk on to a post. David Abraham scored a late consolation goal for the home team.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
Sporting Clube de Portugal were the opponents on Matchday 2, played in the Estádio José Alvalade on 1 October. The home team started well, played forwards and Derlei proved he was a dangerous striker. But Basel were soon in the game, Jürgen Gjasula made space for himself, but hus early shot but failed to be dangerous for Rui Patrício. Not long afterwards Tonel was forced to make a desperate clearance so that Marco Streller did not have a clear run at goal.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
The hosts were putting more pressure on, but it was Basel that had the first clear-cut chance through defender David Abraham. The Argentinian centre-back was given plenty of time and space to take on Streller's pass, but his shot went wide. Derlei had the next chance but he failed to control the ball. Sporting had two more good chances before half-time, through Leandro Romagnoli and Fábio Rochemback. After 49 minutes Derlei almost broke the deadlock, but he headed João Moutinho's acrobatic overhead cross against the post.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
But, ten minutes after half time the Basel defenders beat themselves with a bizarre own-goal. Abraham attempted to clear under pressure struck the ball hard, but it hit Reto Zanni  and looped back behind goalkeeper Franco Costanzo into the net. Two minutes later Romagnoli almost increased the lead, but the keeper fisted his powerful shot into the out. Basel reacted, but Benjamin Huggel was denied the equaliser as Rui Patrício made a sprawling save. The goalie was then forced by Gjasula's free-kick to tip the ball over the top.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
In the last minutes Sporting exploited the extra space that the forward moving visitors were leaving behond them. First Derlei was unkucky with a header, again being denied by the post. He then had an effort ruled out for offside by Italian  referee Nicola Rizzoli and his linesman, but he found his efforts rewarded as he netted the 86th minute. Despite defending well and causing a few scares at the other end of the park, Basel were defeated 2–0.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
In advance to game on matchday 3 at St. Jakob-Park against Barcelona on 22 October, it was suggested that Basel were the more ambitious side, because head coach Christian Gross lined up both Marco Streller and Eren Derdiyok in the attack. Gross had said he had trimmed his defence and would not like to see his side go one down in the opening stage. On the other side Josep Guardiola put his stars Samuel Eto'o, Andrés Iniesta and Thierry Henry on the bench.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
These suggestions were soon disproved as Lionel Messi played a double pass with Dani Alves and ran on to the Brazilian's chipped return pass to tip the ball in from edge of the six-yard box. The home side recovered from that crushing blow, but suddenly found themselves two goals behind. Xavi passed to Sergio Busquets on the right and the midfielder drove the ball between goalkeeper Franco Costanzo’s legs. The Basel keeper then denied Xavi's effort a few minutes later.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
But Barça continued their pressing and scored as Bojan Krkić created himself space and hammered his shot into the lower left corner after 22 minutes. The Basel defence blocked a further Krkić shot and keeper Costanzo reacted well as Alves's followed-up. Basel could have been four down before the first half-hour had been played. Head coach Gross took out Eduardo Rubio after the break, he brought Valentin Stocker, but within 60 seconds of the restart Costanzo was beaten again as Krkić finished off a quick played counterattack with his hard shot.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
Only two minutes later, Alexander Hleb and Messi combined to supply Xavi who netted the fifth. At the other end, Streller eventually had a shot at Víctor Valdés's goal as he outran Carles Puyol and hammered a good right foot shot, but it was swept away. Basel created another few chances through Derdiyok, Stocker and Streller but couldn’t realise and ended up with this nasty 0–5 defeat.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
The return game against Barcelona in the Camp Nou was on 4 November in front of 49,000 spectators. Basel played a good match right from the very beginning, they played with discipline and intelligence against a Barcelona side who played with real tempo. Home team coach Josep Guardiola left Lionel Messi, Xavi and Samuel Eto'o on the bench and, therefore, much was expected from Andrés Iniesta and, luckily for Barça he was on form on the day, ready to run and with a good eye. He linked-up well with Thierry Henry and created two good chances for the Frenchman.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
The first of which was arched narrowly beyond keeper Franco Costanzo's left-hand post. Then Iniesta himself had the next chance and he produced a low drive, but the keeper matched the chance. Costanzo and central defender François Marque both played a very good game. Barça missed another good opportunity to take the lead before half-time, as Sylvinho delivered a great free-kick which Henry met with a header in towards the top corner of the goal but Costanzo matched this chance too.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
Again, after the break the Argentinian keeper confirmed his credits as Henry passed the ball into space in front of Bojan Krkić, who was able to run clear, but Costanzo was able to block the chance with his feet. Guardiola was very unhappy with his team and so brought on Xavi and Messi and they rewarded him within two minutes. Messi caught a loose ball and burst forward, played a one-two with Henry and slotted the ball home into the bottom corner of the net.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
This was Messi’s fourth Champions League goal in as many matches  Xavi also made an impact, he forced yet another fine save from Costanzo with a fine free-kick. Iniesta was forced out with an injury to his right thigh in the 67th minute. Gerard Piqué also played two good set-pieces, but instead the second goal of the match came at the other end. Carlitos swang in a right-wing cross directly to Eren Derdiyok who smashed a great volley past Victor Valdés to the 1–1 end score.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
The return game against Shakhtar Donetsk in the stadium RSK Olimpiyskyi was on 26 November. Due to the absence of centre-back Dmytro Chygrynskiy and right-winger Ilsinho through injury, plus suspended striker Brandão, home coach Mircea Lucescu had to make changes in his team. Luiz Adriano played as middle striker and he was aided by Willian, Jádson and Fernandinho. That latter pair combined well and they nearly opened the scoring during the first five minutes. First, Jadson swept a ball wide, then Fernandinho's attempt was pushed over the bar by goalkeeper and captain Franco Costanzo.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
Basel had trouble starting into the game, finding it difficult to get a hold on the pitch, that was soggy and heavy following the heavy rain earlier in the day. Striker Eren Derdiyok didn’t see much of the ball in the early minutes. Nevertheless, Costanzo had to remain concentrated and he dealt well following a fierce free-kick by Darijo Srna. Willian then took a shot that went wide. After about the half-hour, Basel seemed to have sorted their problems out and were into the game. Then Shakhtar struck.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
Tomáš Hübschman sent in a cross from the left, which Oleksiy Gai controlled the ball and played back to Jadson, who rushed into the box to push the ball home. Shakhtar goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov proved himself saving an Eduardo effort just before half-time. Both teams started fast into the second half, Valentin Stocker had his shot blocked on the line and at the other end Fernandinho also had his effort cleared off the line.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
Five minutes into the second half, Willian doubled the score, coming from the left-hand touchline, swerved around several defenders before arching the ball inside the far post, despite Costanzo's desperate dive. The visitors replied and pushed and worried the Shakhtar defence, but suddenly were three down. A quick played counterattack, William sent Srna down the left and his cross was pushed home at the far post by Jadson. The Brazilian completed his hat-trick seven minutes later, Willian crossed from the left Jadson finished off nicely. Ukrainian international Yevhen Seleznyov with a left-footed shot from just inside the box in the 75th minute gave the game its final 50 score line.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
Matchday 6 in the St. Jakob-Park on 9 December against Sporting CP was Basel’s last game in their journey through European competition for this season. Indeed, it was the home team who enjoyed the greater share of possession in a lively opening to the game. But it was Sporting striker Derlei who had the first chance and he should have done better with his early shot across goal at the end of a swift counterattack.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
While Basel continued to play neatly, but that without carrying out much threat to the Sporting goal, the speed with which the visitors could turn defence into attack was menacing. A measured ball found Yannick Djaló racing clear, and though his cross was met by a powerful header from the again unmarked Derlei, Franco Costanzo parried this. João Moutinho then flashed a shot just over, and Sporting finally made the breakthrough on 19 minutes. Marat Izmailov's low cross from the right hand side was turned in from point-blank range by the very quickly onrushing Djaló.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
The early goal and torrential that rain fell during the entire match, failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the Basel fans, who could have been celebrating only a third goal in the section for their side when Fábio Rochemback lost possession to present Benjamin Huggel with a shooting chance, but the midfielder sent a fierce shot just wide of the goal.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
Ivan Ergić did find the target soon after, but his drive lacked sufficient power to trouble goalkeeper Tiago, while Djaló may have scored a second, had his stand foot not slipped after he had cleverly created space inside the box. The half-time introduction of Valentin Stocker gave Basel increased power down the left wing and, seconds after the restart, an early cross from him led to Marco Streller shooting disappointingly wide of the goal. Huggel again tested goalkeeper Tiago as the hosts sought for the equaliser.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
Sporting were clearly content to let the waves of pressure break on their back four, and play their counterattacks with pace. Djaló tried a number of stepovers, as he tried to tease center back Beg Ferati on the left, but despite getting round the Basel defender, his cross saw the diminutive Moutinho comfortably outmuscled by Basel's other center back François Marque. Less entertaining, but equally as effective, Stocker's direct approach won a corner, which he took himself, but the high soaring Ergić headed over the goal.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
However, Djaló should have done better, but he miscued his shot when Marco Caneira's cross found him with lots of space just inside the penalty box. Fabien Frei eventually brought a real good save out of Tiago with a low drive 16 minutes from time, while Stocker forced the goalkeeper into two fine stops in quick succession. The final score 0–1 meant the end of Basel's journey through the European competition for this season.


2008–09 FC Basel season, The campaign, Champions League
This meant that Basel's aim for the Europian competition was not achieved, their hopes had been greater than their results. Basel were knocked out of the competition with just one point. However, at the end of the season, if one considers, that even although Sporting Clube de Portugal were eliminated in the first knock out round, as group winners Barcelona continued and eventually won the 2008–09 UEFA Champions League and that Shakhtar Donetsk continued in the 2008–09 UEFA Cup and eventually won that competition, Basel's exploit in the group stage can still be considered as good work.


2008–09 FC Basel season, Players, First team squad
As of 30 June 2009, accounting for official transfers:Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2008–09 FC Basel season, Players, Starting 11
Last updated: 20 November 2008Source: Squad stats and Start formations. Only competitive matches. Using the most used start formation. Ordered by position on pitch (from back right to front left).


2008–09 FC Basel season, Players, Overall
Basel participated in the following major competitions: the Swiss Super League, the Swiss Cup and the UEFA Champions League.


2008–09 FC Basel season, Results and fixtures, Friendly matches, Uhrencup
The Uhrencup is a club football tournament, held annually in Grenchen. It is Europe's most traditional club football tournament.


2008–09 FC Bayern Munich II season
The 2008–09 FC Bayern Munich II season is the first season they participated in the 3. Liga.


2008–09 FC Bayern Munich II season, Review, July–September
On 27 July, Bayern Munich II opened up their season with a 2–1 victory against Union Berlin. Thomas Müller and Mehmet Ekici scored for Bayern II and Shergo Biran scored for Union Berlin. Bayern II finished the matchday tied for fifth with VfR Aalen. On matchday two, on 2 August, Bayern II and Borussia Wuppertal finished in a 2–2 draw. Deniz Yılmaz and Mehmet Ekici scored for Bayern II and Marcel Reichwein and Tobias Damm scored for Borussia Wuppertal. Bayern II finished the matchday in seventh place.


2008–09 FC Bayern Munich II season, Review, July–September
On matchday three, on 16 August, Bayern II defeated Dynamo Dresden 1–0 with a goal from Daniel Sikorski. Bayern II finished the matchday in third place. On matchday four, on 23 August, Bayern II defeated Eintracht Braunschweig 1–0 with a goal from Mehmet Ekici. Bayern II finished the matchday in first place. On matchday five, on 29 August, Bayern II defeated Carl Zeiss Jena 2–1. Deniz Yılmaz and Thomas Müller scored for Bayern II and Salvatore Amirante scored for Carl Zeiss Jena. Bayern II finished the matchday in second place.


2008–09 FC Bayern Munich II season, Review, July–September
The match between Bayern II and VfR Aalen on matchday six, on 13 September, finished in a goalless draw. Bayern II finished the matchday in second place. Bayern II had their second consecutive draw after a 1–1 draw against Werder Bremen II on matchday seven, on 19 September. Bayern II finished the matchday in third place. Bayern II loss of their first match of the season after losing to SC Paderborn 07 2–1 on matchday eight, on 27 September. Frank Löning scored two goals for Paderborn and Daniel Sikorski scored for Bayern II. Bayern II finished the matchday in seventh place.


2008–09 FC Bayern Munich II season, Review, October–December
Bayern II drew all four of their matches in October. The first match, on matchday nine, on 5 October, against Stuttgarter Kickers, finished in a 3–3 draw. Bayern II got two goals from Deniz Yılmaz and a goal from Toni Kroos and Stuttgarter Kickers got a goal each from Michael Schürg, Benedikt Deigendesch, and Angelo Vaccaro. Bayern II finished the matchday in seventh place. The second match, against Fortuna Düsseldorf, on matchday 10, on 18 October, finished in a 1–1 draw. Thomas Müller scored for Bayern II and Ranisav Jovanović scored for Fortuna Düsseldorf.


2008–09 FC Bayern Munich II season, Review, October–December
Bayern II finished the matchday in sixth place. In the third match against SpVgg Unterhaching, on matchday 11, on 26 October, finished in a goalless draw. Bayern II finished the matchday in seventh place. In the final match in October, on matchday 12, on 29 October, Bayern and SV Sandhausen finished in a 3–3 draw. Bayern II got two goals from Thomas Müller and a goal from Daniel Sikorski. Alf Mintzel, Sreto Ristić, and Roberto Pinto scored for Sandhausen. Bayern II player Oliver Stierle was sent–off. Bayern II finished the matchday in seventh place. Bayern II started November with a 2–2 draw against Jahn Regensburg on 2 November. Bayern II got goals from Thomas Müller and Daniel Sikorski. Jahn Regensburg got goals from Nico Beigang and Andreas Schäffer. Bayern II finished the matchday in eighth place.


2008–09 FC Bayern Munich season
FC Bayern Munich made few squad changes for the 2008–09 season. With captain Oliver Kahn retiring and coach Ottmar Hitzfeld leaving to coach the Swiss national team, the team leaders had to be replaced. Jürgen Klinsmann was appointed as new coach as announced in December 2007. In August 2008, Klinsmann announced that Mark van Bommel would succeed Kahn as captain. Klinsmann was sacked in April 2009 when the club officials saw the club's minimum aim, qualification for the Champions League, in jeopardy after a string of games in which Bayern underperformed. Jupp Heynckes was appointed as caretaker manager.


2008–09 FC Bayern Munich season, Course of the season, Preseason
With Ottmar Hitzfeld not available for another season, Bayern announced in December 2007 that they had signed former Bayern player and recent manager of the German national team Jürgen Klinsmann as head coach for the 2008–09 season. Oliver Kahn had, even before the 2007–08 season, announced that this would be his last season as a player. He was replaced by former reserve goalkeeper Michael Rensing, whose spot was taken by the newly signed Hans-Jörg Butt. Second reserve goalkeeper Bernd Dreher had also retired and was replaced by the amateur Thomas Kraft.


2008–09 FC Bayern Munich season, Course of the season, Preseason
Reserve strikers Jan Schlaudraff (to Hannover 96) and Sandro Wagner (to MSV Duisburg) left the club, but found no replacements. After being loaned out for two seasons, midfielder Julio dos Santos left the club for good. The only field player added to the squad was Tim Borowski, who came from Werder Bremen. All changes were made before UEFA Euro 2008. After the tournament, Bayern announced that they would make no further squad changes.


2008–09 FC Bayern Munich season, Course of the season, Preseason
Training for the 2008–09 season began on 30 June 2008. Several players were still on vacation due to Euro 2008, while Franck Ribéry was missing due to injury. After a 45-minute in-training test against their own amateurs, the first official test was won at SV Lippstadt 7–1. Further tests on 19 July in Nördlingen and 20 July in Amberg were won 8–0 and 11–1. The T-Home Supercup against Borussia Dortmund marked the first loss of the season (1–2). After a goalless draw at 1. FC Köln on 26 July Bayern travelled to Japan for a guestplay at Urawa Red Diamonds, beating the hosts 4–2. On 5 August, Bayern hosted Internazionale in the Franz Beckenbauer Cup for the final test before the regular season, losing 1–0.


2008–09 FC Bayern Munich season, Course of the season, August
On 8 August, Klinsmann announced that Mark van Bommel would succeed Oliver Kahn as captain. Two days later, in the first cup match, third league club Rot-Weiß Erfurt provided unexpected difficulties for the Bayern as the club went to catch up on a Bayern lead three times, before having to concede to Bayern's fourth goal. In the opening game of the Bundesliga season, Bayern hosted Hamburger SV. As Hamburg caught up from two goals behind, the game finished 2–2, leaving Hamburg yet unbeaten at the Allianz Arena. After another draw at Dortmund, the succeeding week brought two squad changes for Munich, as Marcell Jansen left the club for Hamburg while Massimo Oddo was loaned out from Milan. The first league victory followed against Berlin, 4–1.


2008–09 FC Bayern Munich season, Course of the season, September
Victories at 1. FC Köln in the Bundesliga and Steaua București in the Champions League were followed up with a 2–5 loss at home against rival Werder Bremen and another away at Hannover 96 (0–1) on 27 September. Three days later, Bayern were held to 1–1 draw at home by Lyon in Champions League group play.


2008–09 FC Bayern Munich season, Course of the season, October
On 4 October, Bayern drew level with VfL Bochum, despite leading 3–1 with just seven minutes left in regulation; goals in the 84th and 85th minutes, however, saw Marcel Koller's men leave the Allianz with a point. A few days later, Bayern lost a friendly at FC Ingolstadt but proceeded to win all other games in the month, including the Champions League home game against Fiorentina.


2008–09 FC Bayern Munich season, Course of the season, November
After a victory at home against Arminia Bielefeld Bayern drew level in the Champions League at Fiorentina on 1 November. The following victory against Steaua București on 25 November qualified Bayern for the single elimination stage. In the Bundesliga, away matches at Schalke 04 and Borussia Mönchengladbach followed; while Bayern defeated rival Schalke, the club drew at Mönchengladbach, for the third time this season not winning against them, despite having led by two goals. The games at home against Energie Cottbus and away at Bayer Leverkusen were also won.


2008–09 FC Bayern Munich season, Course of the season, December / January
On the 16th Bundesliga matchday, Bayern defeated Bundesliga leaders 1899 Hoffenheim, thus coming very close to the top of the standings. The final match of the Champions League group stage was also won at Lyon, completing Bayern's best performance in the group stage. A draw at VfB Stuttgart was Bayern's final game before the winter break. Coincidentally Stuttgart was also Bayern's first opponent after the break. While Bayern won this cup game 5–1 away, the first league match was lost at Hamburger SV, 0–1.


2008–09 FC Bayern Munich season, Course of the season, February
After winning at home against Borussia Dortmund, Bayern lost their next two games at Hertha BSC, that thereby took the lead in the league, and at home against newly promoted 1. FC Köln. A 5–0 victory in the Champions League at Sporting CP was the final game of the month.


2008–09 FC Bayern Munich season, Course of the season, March
After a draw in the league at Werder Bremen, Bayern was eliminated from the DFB-Pokal by Bayer Leverkusen. Munich won all other games in the month, including a 7–1 in the second leg against Sporting CP, thus achieving a record aggregate of 12–1.


2008–09 FC Bayern Munich season, Course of the season, April
After 5–1 defeat in the league at VfL Wolfsburg, a direct rival for the championship, Bayern suffered another severe loss (4–0) at the hands of Barcelona. Bayern held Barcelona to a draw in the second leg a week later but was eliminated from the competition nevertheless. In the Bundesliga, Munich managed to win against underdogs Eintracht Frankfurt and Arminia Bielefeld, but a home defeat at the hands of Schalke 04 led to the dismissal of coach Jürgen Klinsmann. The club appointed Jupp Heynckes as caretaker coach and Hermann Gerland as assistant caretaker coach.


2008–09 FC Bayern Munich season, Course of the season, May
Bayern won its first three games under Heynckes as coach, defeating Borussia Mönchengladbach, Energie Cottbus and Bayer Leverkusen. A draw at 1899 Hoffenheim led to a delicate situation before the last game, where second-place Bayern hosted third-place VfB Stuttgart. While the winner of the match would be qualified for the Champions League, and even win the championship if VfL Wolfsburg lost, the loser would likely fall to fourth position, outside of the Champions League spots. As fourth-place Hertha BSC lost and Wolfsburg won, the game eventually just decided that Bayern would go to the Champions League directly while Stuttgart would go to the qualification. The season concluded with four friendly games at Kaufbeuren, Eichstätt, 1. FC Magdeburg, and Fortuna Sittard, all won by Munich.


2008–09 FC Bayern Munich season, Bundesliga
Bayern hosted Hamburger SV in the opener of the 46th Bundesliga season on 15 August 2008. On the last day of play, on 23 May 2009, Bayern defeated VfB Stuttgart to finish second in the league. The second place qualified Bayern for the 2009–10 Champions League.


2008–09 FC Bayern Munich season, DFB-Pokal
In the first round of the DFB-Pokal, Bayern faced Rot-Weiß Erfurt. The east Germans from the third tier were able to equalize three times before finally succumbing to Bayern. A victory at home against second-tier 1. FC Nürnberg followed. In the third round, Bayern managed one of their best performances of the season, winning 5–1 at VfB Stuttgart, but they lost in the next round to Bayer Leverkusen.


2008–09 FC Bayern Munich season, Champions League
Bayern's Champions League season started on 17 September at Steaua București. The other group rivals were Lyon and Fiorentina. They finished the group stage undefeated in first place and eliminated Sporting CP via a record aggregate margin in the first knockout round, but then fell to Barcelona in the quarter-final. Club officials spoke of a "massive humiliation" and being "taken apart" after the 0–4 in the first leg which Bayern played without its top defender Philipp Lahm.


2008–09 FC Bayern Munich season, Friendly, T-Home-Supercup
The League Cup was not held this season. Instead Bayern and Dortmund played out the unofficial T-Home-Supercup with Bayern losing 1–2.


2008–09 FC Bayern Munich season, Friendly, Franz Beckenbauer Cup
Bayer invited Internazionale for the Franz Beckenbauer Cup 2009, but lost 0–1 to the guests from Italy.


2008–09 FC Bayern Munich season, Players, Squad information
These stats are as 25 May 2009, the final day of the 2008–09 Bundesliga season.


2008–09 FC Bayern Munich season, Players, Transfers out
EU = if holds or not a European Union passport; Country: when 2 flags, 1st flag = country that plays for internationally, 2nd flag = country of birth; N = number on jersey; P = Position (for position name, pause mouse pointer on abbreviation); Name = Name on jersey (for more extensive name, pause mouse pointer on name); Age = age on the day of the signing; Moving from = only indicate the club the player was playing before start playing for this club in this season, for the type of the moving see Status column; Moving to = only indicates the club the player is going to play next, for the type of the moving see Status column; Ends = when the player's current contract ends; n/a = Not applicable.


2008–09 FC Dinamo București season
The 2008–09 season was Dinamo București's 60th consecutive season in Liga I. In this season, Dinamo competed in Liga I, Cupa României and UEFA Cup.


2008–09 FC Dinamo București season
In the summer of 2008, Mircea Rednic returned as coach having the mission to win the title and qualify Dinamo to the UEFA Champions League Group Stage. The first half of the season found Dinamo playing some modest games against the other title contenders like Rapid Bucharest, CFR Cluj or Unirea Urziceni but in the same time they managed to beat direct rivals for the title, FC Timişoara 3–0 away. Dinamo ended the first half of the season in first place after Unirea Urziceni lost the last game against Steaua Bucharest.


2008–09 FC Dinamo București season
The second half of the season started in a promising way for the Red Dogs. Dinamo managed to beat Rapid with 3–0 at home even though Rapid was considered to be in top form and later eliminated them from the Cup with a similar 4–2 victory in Piteşti. The last three games of the season were against Unirea Urziceni away, FC Brașov home and FC Argeş away and were 3 defeats in a row, sending the club in third position.


2008–09 FC Dinamo București season, Squad
Goalkeepers: Emilian Dolha (5/0), Bogdan Lobonţ (25/0), Florin Matache (4/0)


2008–09 FC Dinamo București season, Squad
Defenders: George Blay (17/0), Zie Diabaté (8/0), Lucian Goian (20/0), Dragoş Grigore (2/0), Sergiu Homei (10/0), Silviu Izvoranu (17/0), Júlio César (10/0), Cosmin Moţi (21/0), Nicolae Muşat (1/0), Cristian Pulhac (10/0), Adrian Scarlatache (12/0), Bruno Simão (10/0), Gabriel Tamaş (22/0)


2008–09 FC Dinamo București season, Squad
Midfielders: Anoh Attoukora (1/0), Papa Malick Ba (9/0), Gabriel Boştină (26/0), Gualberto Campos (2/0), Adrian Cristea (32/4), Mourtala Diakité (6/0), Nicolae Mitea (12/0), Ousmane N'Doye (12/3), Adrian Ropotan (15/0), Thiago (6/0), Gabriel Torje (30/3), Vojislav Vranjković (4/0), Zé Kalanga (10/0)


2008–09 FC Dinamo București season, Squad
Forwards: Florin Bratu (10/7), Andrei Cristea (8/2), Ionel Dănciulescu (34/12), Jean-Philippe Mendy (1/0), Osvaldo Miranda (16/2), Marius Niculae (24/12), Claudiu Niculescu (14/5), Ianis Zicu (9/3)


2008–09 FC Dynamo Kyiv season
Following are the results of the 2008–09 FC Dynamo Kyiv season. FC Dynamo Kyiv (Ukrainian: ФК "Динамо" Київ) is a professional football club based in the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv. Founded in 1927, the club currently participates in the Ukrainian Premier League and has spent its entire history in the top league of Soviet and later Ukrainian football. Dynamo Kyiv has won thirteen league titles, nine Ukrainian Cups, one UEFA Super Cup and two UEFA Cup Winners' Cups, and played three times in the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League.


2008–09 FC Dynamo Kyiv season, Squad, First-team squad
Updated 7 September 2008Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2008–09 FC Girondins de Bordeaux season
The 2008–09 season was the 119th season in the existence of FC Girondins de Bordeaux and the club's 18th consecutive season in the top flight of French football. In addition to the domestic league, Bordeaux participated in this season's editions of the Coupe de France, the Coupe de la Ligue, the Trophée des Champions, the UEFA Champions League, and the UEFA Cup.


2008–09 FC Girondins de Bordeaux season, Players, First-team squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2008–09 FC Girondins de Bordeaux season, Players, Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2008–09 FC Girondins de Bordeaux season, Competitions, UEFA Champions League, Group stage
The group stage draw was held on 28 August 2008.


2008–09 FC Inter Baku season
The Inter Baku 2008–09 season was Inter Baku's eighth Azerbaijan Premier League season, and their third season under manager Valentin Khodukin. They finished 2nd in the league one point behind champions Baku.


2008–09 FC Inter Baku season, Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2008–09 FC Inter Baku season, Transfers, Summer
In:Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2008–09 FC Inter Baku season, Transfers, Summer
Out:Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2008–09 FC Inter Baku season, Transfers, Winter
In:Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2008–09 FC Inter Baku season, Transfers, Winter
Out:Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2008–09 FC Kremin Kremenchuk season
The 2008-09 season was FC Kremin Kremenchuk's 3rd consecutive season in the Second League Group B.


2008–09 FC Kremin Kremenchuk season, Players, Disciplinary record
Last updated: 2008-10-07Source: Competitive MatchesOnly competitive matches = Number of bookings;  = Number of sending offs after a second yellow card;  = Number of sending offs by a direct red card.


2008–09 FC Kremin Kremenchuk season, Team kit
The team kits are produced by Puma AG and the shirt sponsor is KremenchukMiaso . The home and away kit was retained from previous seasons.


2008–09 FC Kremin Kremenchuk season, Ukrainian Second League
Kremin's third consecutive season in Druha Liha began on 20 July 2008 and ended on 13 June 2009. Kremin finished 14th.


2008–09 FC Kremin Kremenchuk season, Ukrainian Cup, Disciplinary record
Last updated: 29 September 2009Source: Competitive matchesOnly competitive matches = Number of bookings;  = Number of sending offs after a second yellow card;  = Number of sending offs by a direct red card.


2008–09 FC Metalurh Zaporizhzhia season, League squad
Goalkeepers: Stanislav Bohush (1), Dmytro Bezotosnyi (2 / -3), Volodymyr Zhuk (13 / -15), Vitaliy Postranskyi (15 / -12). Defenders: Vitaliy Vernydub (29 / 1), Volodymyr Polyovyi (28), Yan Tsiharow (26), Artsyom Chelyadzinski (15 / 1), Dmytro Nevmyvaka (29 / 4), Yevhen Opanasenko (10), Dragan Perišić (9 / 1), Nikola Vasiljević (5), Andriy Nesterov (3), Dmytro Vorobei (2). Midfielders: Taras Stepanenko (29), Oleksiy Hodin (26 / 6), Volodymyr Arzhanov (26 / 3), Serhiy Kryvtsov (17), Serhiy Rudyka (16), Yevhen Pisotskyi (12), Mindaugas Kalonas (11 / 1), Adolphe Teikeu (10 / 1), Artem Semenenko (2), Anton Hai (1), Zadoya (1). Forwards: Serhiy Silyuk (24 / 5), Michael Alozie (21 / 3), Taras Lazarovych (11), Artur Kaskov (4 / 2), Taras Kabanov (4), Kryvyi (3).


2008–09 FC Metalurh Zaporizhzhia season, League squad
Transferred out during the season: Artsyom Chelyadzinski (Tobol), Stanislav Bohush (Dynamo Kyiv).


2008–09 FC Porto season
During the 2008–09 Portuguese football season, FC Porto competed in the Primeira Liga.


2008–09 FC Porto season, First-team squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2008–09 FC Porto season, First-team squad, Left club during season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2008–09 FC Schalke 04 season
The 2008–09 season was Schalke 04's 41st season in the Bundesliga. This article shows player statistics and all matches (official and friendly) that the club played during the 2008–09 season.


2008–09 FC Schalke 04 season, Squad statistics, Disciplinary record
Last updated: 16 September 2008Source: Competitive matches at Only competitive matches = Number of bookings;  = Number of sending offs after a second yellow card;  = Number of sending offs by a direct red card.


2008–09 FC Schalke 04 season, Competitions, Overall
As in the last two seasons, Schalke 04 was present in all major competitions, including the First division and the DFB Cup in Germany but they failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League in Europe.


2008–09 FC Schalke 04 season, Matches, Competitive
19' R. García 29'  76' López 35' Heitinga 82' Rodríguez 88' Pernía 90+1' L. García


2008–09 FC Schalke 04 season, Matches, Competitive
22' Agüero 52' Pernía 54' Forlán 54' Forlán 65' Rodríguez 82' L. García 86' Rodríguez


2008–09 FC Schalke 04 season, Matches, Competitive
34' Ernst 45+3' Jones 55' Altıntop 86' Pander 90' Rafinha


2008–09 FC Schalke 04 season, Matches, Competitive
16' Hajnal 19' Subotić 67' Subotić 70'  89' Frei 85' Hummels


2008–09 FC Schalke 04 season, Matches, Competitive
20' Farfán 27' Rafinha 39' Rafinha 54' Westermann 69'  73' Pander 76' Ernst


2008–09 FC Schalke 04 season, Matches, Competitive
Last updated: 2008-11-29Source: 1Schalke 04 goals come first.National flags for Ground and Opponent columns are only shown when different to that of Schalke 04.M = Match; Ground: H = Home, A = Away, N = Neutral, HR = Home replacement, AR = Away replacement.


2008–09 FC Shakhtar Donetsk season
During the 2004–05 Ukrainian football season, FC Shakhtar Donetsk competed in the Ukrainian Premier League.


2008–09 FC Shakhtar Donetsk season, Season summary
Though Shakhtar failed to retain the league or cup, they made up for it by becoming the first Ukrainian team to win the UEFA Cup, defeating Werder Bremen in the final after extra time.


2008–09 FC Shakhtar Donetsk season, Season summary
This season was the last played at RSC Olimpiyskiy. From the 2009–10 season onwards, Shakhtar played in the Donbass Arena.


2008–09 FC Shakhtar Donetsk season, Season summary
On 28 May 2008, Shakhtar Donetsk announced the signing of Marcelo Moreno from Cruzeiro on a five-year contract. On the same day, Shakhtar also announced the signing of Oleksandr Chyzhov from Vorskla Poltava.


2008–09 FC Shakhtar Donetsk season, Season summary
In January 2009, Shakhtar Donetsk sold Brandão to Marseille for a fee of €6,000,000.


2008–09 FC Steaua București season
The 2008–09 season was the 61st season in the existence of FC Steaua București and the club's 61st consecutive season in the top flight of Romanian football. In addition to the domestic league, Steaua București participated in this season's edition of the Cupa României and the UEFA Champions League.


2008–09 FC Steaua București season, Statistics, Starting XI
Source: Squad stats and Start formations. Only competitive matches. Using the most used start formation. Ordered by position on pitch (from back right to front left).


2008–09 FC Vaslui season
The 2008–09 season is FC Vaslui's 7th season of its existence, and its 4th in a row, in Liga I. Because it finished 7th, FC Vaslui played on UEFA Intertoto Cup in the third round. FC Vaslui passed by Neftchi Baku, and it qualified for the 3rd preliminary round of UEFA Cup. In the play-off, it was eliminated by Slavia Prague, because of the away goal rule, being the only Romanian team, who was eliminated, without losing in UEFA Cup that season.


2008–09 FC Vaslui season
In the championship, they started perfectly, after a 1–0 win against FC Steaua București and a 3–1 win against arch rivals Poli Iaşi. But because of the injuries, the team results began to be poor. After a 1–1 draw with Gaz Metan Mediaş, Viorel Hizo was dismissed, and Viorel Moldovan was named the new coach. The team entered in the winter break, on the 9th place. In the winter break, Adrian Porumboiu spent over 3 million €, for new signings, being the only Romanian team, who were not affected by the Global Economical Crisis.


2008–09 FC Vaslui season
With Moldovan, the team reached the semi-finals of Romanian Cup, but after a 1–4 loss against Gloria Buzău, Moldovan was also sacked, and as a manager, was named the assistant Dulca. With Dulca as a coach, FC Vaslui resurrected, and saved its season, in the last 2 games, after a 1–0 win against FC Rapid București, and also a 1–0 win against Universitatea Craiova in front of 25.000 fans on Ion Oblemencu. The team finished 5th, and qualified in the 3rd round of UEFA Europa League.


2008–09 FC Zürich season
During the 2008–09 Swiss football season, FC Zürich competed in the Swiss Super League.


2008–09 FC Zürich season, Season summary
FC Zürich managed to reclaim the Swiss league title (their last as of 2016), but were knocked out of the Swiss Cup in the quarter-finals. The club were knocked out of the UEFA Cup in the first round by Italian giants AC Milan.


2008–09 FC Zürich season, First-team squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2008–09 FC Zürich season, First-team squad, Left club during season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2008–09 FFHG Division 1 season
The 2008-09 FFHG Division 1 season was contested by 14 teams, and saw the Rapaces de Gap win the championship. They were promoted to the Ligue Magnus as result. The Chiefs de Deuil-Garges and the Jets de Viry-Essonne were relegated to FFHG Division 2.


2008–09 FIBA Americas League
The 2008–09 FIBA Americas League was the second edition of the first-tier and most important professional international club basketball competition in the regions of South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Mexico, with the winner of the competition being crowned as the best team and champion of all of those regions. It began on December 4. The first stage was a round robin phase, with four teams in each group. Each of the groups were played in different cities, (Arecibo, Mar del Plata, Sunchales, and Xalapa). The first team from each group advanced to the Final 4 round-robin stage that took place in the city of Xalapa, Mexico.


2008–09 FIBA Americas League, Group stage, Group A (Arecibo)
Minas Tênis Clube advanced due to a better goal average.


2008–09 FIBA EuroChallenge
The 2008–09 FIBA EuroChallenge was the sixth edition of Europe's third-tier level transnational men's professional club basketball FIBA EuroChallenge Tournament, and the first under the FIBA EuroChallenge name, organized by FIBA Europe. A total number of 32 teams participated in the regular season and a total of 40 teams competed including the qualifying rounds. Virtus Bologna won its first EuroChallenge title after defeating Cholet in the Final of the Final Four, which was hosted in Bologna.


2008–09 FIBA EuroChallenge, Format
In all there are 40 teams from 21 countries, plus sixteen teams from the 2008–09 Eurocup Basketball first preliminary round and second preliminary round. The competition is jointly run by FIBA Europe.


2008–09 FIBA EuroChallenge, Teams
The labels in the parentheses show how each team qualified for the place of its starting round (TH: title holders;):


2008–09 FIBA EuroChallenge, Qualifying rounds
Thirty-two teams will participate in the first round and sixteen in the second.


2008–09 FIBA EuroChallenge, Regular season, Group E
*Due to the war situation in Gaza Strip, Olympia refused to travel to Israel and Hapoel Jerusalim were declared winners by forfeit (20-0)


2008–09 FIBA EuroChallenge, Final Four
The Final Four will be the last stage of EuroChallenge 2008–09. The event will take place at the Futurshow Station, in Bologna.


2008–09 FIBA EuroChallenge First qualifying round
2008–09 FIBA EuroChallenge First Qualifying Round are the first qualifying round for the 2008–09 FIBA EuroChallenge season,  There are only 32 teams, who will play two games. The Winners go to the second qualifying round


2008–09 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup
The 43rd World Cup season began in late October 2008 in Sölden, Austria, and concluded in mid-March 2009, at the World Cup finals in Åre, Sweden.


2008–09 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup
Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway won the overall title by two points over Benjamin Raich of Austria. Svindal returned from a season-ending injury in December 2007, and also took the season title in super-G. Lindsey Vonn of the U.S. repeated as women's overall champion, taking the title by a substantial 384 points over Maria Riesch of Germany. Vonn also repeated as the season downhill champion, and added the season title in super-G.


2008–09 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup
Being an odd-numbered year, a break in the World Cup schedule was for the biennial World Championships. The 2009 World Championships were held 2–15 February in Val-d'Isère, Savoie, France.


2008–09 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup
No pre-Olympic World Cup alpine events were run at Whistler Mountain, Canada, during the 2009 season. In late February 2008, a women's downhill and super-combined were run on Franz's Run, the women's Olympic course. The most recent men's World Cup events on the Dave Murray Downhill course were held in late February 1995.


2008–09 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup
The World Cup races in North America were switched to the early part of the season in the fall of 1995, and the men's speed events at Whistler were canceled three consecutive years (December 1996–98) due to weather issues, which prompted the switch to Lake Louise in Alberta in December 1999.


2008–09 FIS Cross-Country World Cup
The 2008–09 FIS Cross-Country World Cup was a multi-race tournament over the season for cross-country skiers. It was the 28th official World Cup season in cross-country skiing for men and ladies. The season began on 22 November 2008 with 15 km freestyle races for women in Gällivare, won by Charlotte Kalla of Sweden. The World Cup is organised by the FIS who also run world cups and championships in ski jumping, snowboarding and alpine skiing amongst others.


2008–09 FIS Cross-Country World Cup, Calendar
Both men's and women's events tend to be held at the same resorts over a 2 or 3 day period. Listed below is a list of races which equates with the points table further down this page.


2008–09 FIS Cross-Country World Cup, Calendar
The Tour de Ski is a series of events which count towards the World Cup. This starts with the meet at Oberhof and concludes at Val di Fiemme.


2008–09 FIS Cross-Country World Cup, World Cup points
The table shows the number of points won in the 2008–09 Cross-Country Skiing World Cup for men and women.


2008–09 FIS Cross-Country World Cup, World Cup points
A skier's best results in all distance races and sprint races counts towards the overall World Cup totals.