Champions League Group Stage
The draw for group stage of this years Champions League is out, and as always, quite a few exciting matches are in store, with many possibilities for upsets.
Group A : Liverpool, Porto, Marseille, Besiktas
Liverpool and Porto clearly start as favourites here, and both should be able to get through to the knockout stages. Marseille have a good team, and may have a few good matches, but the lack of quality will show. Djibril Cisse will face his former team, and may have a few points to prove to Rafa.
Group B : Chelsea, Valencia, Schalke 04, Rosenborg
A tough group, and three teams will have a fighting chance of getting through. Rosenborg look to be the group whipping boys, but what Schalke 04 can manage is going to be interesting to watch. They were leading Bundesliga last year comfortably until they slipped at the end in a three-way battle, and they will be hurt by the chokers tag. Their big-game temperament will face its sternest test in this group. Chelsea just about managed to knock out Valencia last year, and this year is going to be a closely fought affair too. Expect Chelsea and Valencia to go through, with Schalke a close third.
Group C : Real Madrid, Werder Bremen, Lazio, Olympiakos
Madrid vs. Bremen is the kind of match that makes staying up till 3 am worthwhile, the kind of match that has potential to give you scorelines like 4-3. However, Bremen have lost their star Klose to Bayern and Madrid (as has been the norm in recent years) have a new coach and are rebuilding. After being in the group of death last year, and just failing to pip Barcelona, Bremen though will be confident of getting through. Lazio and Olympiakos are more evenly matched than it may appear, and if Werder or Real have a bad day, expect one of these to fully capitalize.
Group D : AC Milan, Benfica, Celtic, Shakhtar Donetsk
Among the easier of the groups, Group D should see Milan and Benfica get through safely, though Celtic can pull off an upset win against one of the two. It will be interesting to see if Shakhtar Donetsk have made any progress - along with Rosenborg, they have been the champions league also-rans for far too long.
Group E : Barcelona, Lyon, Stuttgart, Rangers
Barcelona seem to find themselves in the toughest group rather often. This year's group of death sees two league winners in Lyon and Stuttgart, and two league runners-up (Rangers and Barca - Barca only just missing out though). Rangers will play the 6 matches of their lives, but the battle between other three is a mouthwatering prospect. Lyon are not as strong as they were last year, having lost many players to transfers , including Eric Abidal to Barcelona, and Stuttgart are a top quality side very much capable of beating Barcelona and Lyon. It is such a close group that the final qualification could well depend on fringe factors like injury to key players, bad refereeing decisions, and red cards / suspensions.
Group F : Manchester United, Roma, Sporting Lisbon, Dynamo Kiev
Man U in a group with a Portuguese team always spells trouble. As Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo return to their first teams, the match promises to be an explosive affair. As always, Roma's fortunes rest in the boots of Francesco Totti, but they look to have enough quality to overcome Lisbon, and should make it through alongsde United.
Group G : Inter Milan, PSV Eindhoven, CSKA Moscow, Fenerbahce
Inter Milan are overwhelming favourites for this group, and despite Fenerbahce's increasing strength, the second place should come down to the battle between PSV and CSKA. Both teams do well in Europe - with PSV being a regular in the CL knockout stages and CSKA doing well in UEFA cup last year. Though PSV really had to dig deep to win the Eredivisie last year, their experience and quality should see them through here.
Group H : Arsenal, Sevilla/AEK Athens, Steau Bucharest, Slavia Prague
Arsenal must be thinking : "What have we got to do , to stop playing teams from Prague ?" Having just defeated Sparta to get to this stage, they are faced with Sparta's neighbours Slavia. Which should not be any problem for Arsenal though. This is among the easier, if not the easiest group of all. Sevilla , still mourning Puerta's death, play AEK later tonight and will expect to come through easily, both against AEK as well as out of this group.
Right then, here we go. Sit tight and enjoy !
Group A : Liverpool, Porto, Marseille, Besiktas
Liverpool and Porto clearly start as favourites here, and both should be able to get through to the knockout stages. Marseille have a good team, and may have a few good matches, but the lack of quality will show. Djibril Cisse will face his former team, and may have a few points to prove to Rafa.
Group B : Chelsea, Valencia, Schalke 04, Rosenborg
A tough group, and three teams will have a fighting chance of getting through. Rosenborg look to be the group whipping boys, but what Schalke 04 can manage is going to be interesting to watch. They were leading Bundesliga last year comfortably until they slipped at the end in a three-way battle, and they will be hurt by the chokers tag. Their big-game temperament will face its sternest test in this group. Chelsea just about managed to knock out Valencia last year, and this year is going to be a closely fought affair too. Expect Chelsea and Valencia to go through, with Schalke a close third.
Group C : Real Madrid, Werder Bremen, Lazio, Olympiakos
Madrid vs. Bremen is the kind of match that makes staying up till 3 am worthwhile, the kind of match that has potential to give you scorelines like 4-3. However, Bremen have lost their star Klose to Bayern and Madrid (as has been the norm in recent years) have a new coach and are rebuilding. After being in the group of death last year, and just failing to pip Barcelona, Bremen though will be confident of getting through. Lazio and Olympiakos are more evenly matched than it may appear, and if Werder or Real have a bad day, expect one of these to fully capitalize.
Group D : AC Milan, Benfica, Celtic, Shakhtar Donetsk
Among the easier of the groups, Group D should see Milan and Benfica get through safely, though Celtic can pull off an upset win against one of the two. It will be interesting to see if Shakhtar Donetsk have made any progress - along with Rosenborg, they have been the champions league also-rans for far too long.
Group E : Barcelona, Lyon, Stuttgart, Rangers
Barcelona seem to find themselves in the toughest group rather often. This year's group of death sees two league winners in Lyon and Stuttgart, and two league runners-up (Rangers and Barca - Barca only just missing out though). Rangers will play the 6 matches of their lives, but the battle between other three is a mouthwatering prospect. Lyon are not as strong as they were last year, having lost many players to transfers , including Eric Abidal to Barcelona, and Stuttgart are a top quality side very much capable of beating Barcelona and Lyon. It is such a close group that the final qualification could well depend on fringe factors like injury to key players, bad refereeing decisions, and red cards / suspensions.
Group F : Manchester United, Roma, Sporting Lisbon, Dynamo Kiev
Man U in a group with a Portuguese team always spells trouble. As Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo return to their first teams, the match promises to be an explosive affair. As always, Roma's fortunes rest in the boots of Francesco Totti, but they look to have enough quality to overcome Lisbon, and should make it through alongsde United.
Group G : Inter Milan, PSV Eindhoven, CSKA Moscow, Fenerbahce
Inter Milan are overwhelming favourites for this group, and despite Fenerbahce's increasing strength, the second place should come down to the battle between PSV and CSKA. Both teams do well in Europe - with PSV being a regular in the CL knockout stages and CSKA doing well in UEFA cup last year. Though PSV really had to dig deep to win the Eredivisie last year, their experience and quality should see them through here.
Group H : Arsenal, Sevilla/AEK Athens, Steau Bucharest, Slavia Prague
Arsenal must be thinking : "What have we got to do , to stop playing teams from Prague ?" Having just defeated Sparta to get to this stage, they are faced with Sparta's neighbours Slavia. Which should not be any problem for Arsenal though. This is among the easier, if not the easiest group of all. Sevilla , still mourning Puerta's death, play AEK later tonight and will expect to come through easily, both against AEK as well as out of this group.
Right then, here we go. Sit tight and enjoy !