The draw for the group stages of the UEFA Champions League was made today and it's thrown up a few interesting encounters.
The match up that stands out for me and many more British football fans out there is Manchester United vs Celtic. The "Battle of Britain" tag will be thrown around as usual and they will be two classic encounters.
Scotland's chance to upset England's European Champions!
I must admit, it does really irk me to see Zenit St Petersburg, Fiorentina, Sporting Lisbon, Werder Bremen and Panathinaikos in the group stages with no Glasgow Rangers. It feels like the UEFA Cup all over again without my boyhood heroes.
Group A
Chelsea (England), Roma (Italy), Bordeaux (France) and CFR Cluj (Romania).
It should be fairly comfortable for Chelsea and Roma to escape Group A. Last years runners up Chelsea will be looking to go one better this year and Roma will return with a revitalized Francesco Totti.
Bordeaux will realistically be looking to secure 3rd place and the UEFA Cup ahead of the Romanian debutants.
Cluj are an extreme unknown quantity but will look to use that in their favour as they get Europe's glamour clubs over their Romanian border.
I wouldn't fancy it, Lithuania was hell enough for me!
Group B
Inter Milan (Italy), Werder Bremen (Germany), Panathinaikos (Greece) and Anorthosis Famagusta (Cyprus).
The Italian champions will have it pretty easy in Group B and should qualify comfortably ahead of Werder Bremen.
The real tie could well be the battle between Panathinaikos and Anorthosis. A bit like the "Battle of Britain" in a Greek - Cypriot kind of way.
The tiny Cypriot side will be here for the experience but will struggle in their six games and may well be in for a hammering.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Group C
Barcelona (Spain), Sporting Lisbon (Portugal), FC Basel (Switzerland) and Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine).
Barcelona won't have too much trouble in Group C and they'll be followed through by Sporting Lisbon. The Portuguese side have done well to hang onto a promising young squad and will have too much for the Ukrainians.
I expect Shakhtar to clinch third place on home form ahead of FC Basel who'll find it pretty tough at this level.
Group D
Liverpool (England), PSV Eindhoven (Holland), Marseille (France) and Athletico Madrid (Spain).
Possibly one of the most interesting groups on paper. No group was wanting to see Athletico Madrid come out in fourth spot.
2005 Champions Liverpool should be good enough but it'll be an almighty struggle to see who joins them.
An interesting return home awaits Fernando Torres when his Liverpool side travel to Madrid to face Athletico. A heroes welcome I'm sure.
Group E
Manchester United (England), Villarreal (Spain), Celtic (Scotland) and Aalborg (Denmark).
The European Champions will comfortably clear Group E but it'll be an interesting battle for second as Celtic will push Villareal all the way.
The Danes make their Champions League debut and again it irks me to say so.
And don't forget that "Battle of Britain". As if I'd let you forget!
Group F
Lyonnais (France), Bayern Munich (Germany), Steaua Bucharest (Romania) and Fiorentina (Italy).
Another case of being more scared of the fourth seeds and the third with Fiorentina slipping into pot four.
It could be a very open group with Fiorentina more than capable of challenging Lyon and Bayern for the top two spots in Group F.
Group G
Arsenal (England), FC Porto (Portugal), Fenerbache (Turkey) and Dynamo Kiev (Ukraine).
Arsenal on their day will have no problem in this group but they'll have to find that form first. Fenerbache surprised many last season by getting through the group stages and they'll be tough opposition for 2004 Champions Porto.
Dynamo Kiev will finish fourth, the Ukrainian giants are no longer the team they once were.
Group H
Real Madrid (Spain), Juventus (Italy), Zenit St Petersburg (Russia) and Bate Borisov (Belarus)
The Spanish Champions welcome the return to European football of Juventus. The Old Lady return after a 2 year absence (one of which was spent in the Italian Serie B) after a match fixing scandal.
UEFA Cup Champions Zenit are having a tough domestic season but if they can regain the European form of last season they'll certainly give Real and Juve a run for their money.
Finally, a big welcome to Belarus and BATE Borisov. It'll be an experience to say the least.
It looks like a weaker competition than in years gone by but there is a refreshing number of new clubs on the block. The competition will stiffen up after Christmas but for now let's just enjoy the action.
Okay so I'm not as tough as I thought. It hurts really badly not to see Rangers there.
I'll be living it through Celtic and my even bigger group of underdogs.
Bring on that Champions League music!
comments (21) write a comment »
write a new comment
2 months ago
Another easy group for Man Utd, they should just be given a bye to the 2nd stage would save us a lot of boredom.
I am supporting Anorthosis Famagusta, because of my old mate Temuri Ketsbia.
Good article again Andrew.
from 2 months ago
Thanks Chris. I have a soft spot for the cypriots myself. My mate played for them for 6 months on loan from SA.
from 2 months ago
I dont think its an easy group anyway. Villareal will look to win it, and are very capable.
Celtic I always dread. Who likes to go to Parkhead? (Remember Milan?) Plus outta two games against Celtic its one a piece to each team....No more Nakamura free kicks thank you very much!ha! :)
I think its safe to say we will go through, but i expect Celtic to be tough as will Villareal at home
2 months ago
Haha two cracking games 2 years ago Keith. It won't be easy :)
2 months ago
group d looks to be the one that will be the most interesting. Be good to see if PSV can cause a stir here they still have the quality in Mendez, Lazovic and co. to really push for one of the second round spots. on current play its looks as though Liverpool may struggle, this is a great group for the neutral, can't wait.
from 2 months ago
I think Liverpool have the experience to pull through but it'll be a great group you're right.
from 2 months ago
I am not too worried about PSV Liverpool played them four times on the road to the CL final in Athens, I would be more worried about Athletico.
from 2 months ago
Athletico are a funny team who don't always perform so it might just depend which one turns up.
2 months ago
group h and f look good and liverpool will have it tough, hopefully they dont lose to marseille like they did at last year's champions league. great article
from 2 months ago
Thanks mate. Marseille'll pose fewer problems than last year I think.
2 months ago
hey i live in spain so there is one teddy bear in europe at least!!!!!
from 2 months ago
Haha :)
2 months ago
Man. Utd. should breeze through.
from 2 months ago
Nothing is a breeze in Europe my friend.
2 months ago
Man. Utd.'s group is. I'll give u my picks for the group. Man. Utd. & Celtic goes through with Manchester at the top. Villareal will be third with Aalborg in last.
from 2 months ago
Villarreal beat Barca to second in La Liga last year....
from 2 months ago
villareal ahead of celtic i'd say
2 months ago
yes, but Celtic will just outdo them.
from 2 months ago
I hope so, I hope so.
2 months ago
United should have an easy group there, although Villarreal are good side and pipped Barca to second in La Liga last season so that could be two tough games against them. Also they helped United perform so unspectularly by drawing against them away and beating them at home, when the Red Devils got knocked out in the group stages in 05-06 season. Also another 'battle of britain' with Celtic will be nice.
from 2 months ago
Will be Yoosof. Can't wait.
write a new comment