Champions League Preview

With the Champions League beginning today I thought it would be a good idea to handicap the groups.

GROUP A
Should Go Through: Juventus and Bayern Munchen
Clearly the top two teams in the group and two of the larger clubs in Europe. While neither team has a cake walk to the second round, both should progress without too much difficulty. These teams have too much skill, talent and experience not too advance. Look for the matches against Bordeaux to shed more light on who will finish on top of the group.



Could Challenge: Bordeaux
Last year’s French champions boast a strong squad and have opened up this season well. However, they do not have the talent or experience to compete with the two large clubs in the group. However, if they can get results in Turin and Munich then they might be able to challenge for a spot in the knockout rounds. They must take all six points from Maccabi Haifa to have any chance of progressing.

Just Happy To Be Here: Maccabi
Maccabi is the first Israeli team to compete in the Champions League and they really don’t have much of a chance of progressing. However, that’s what we said about the Cypriot representatives last year and didn’t they prove us all wrong. Maccabi’s one hope is that they can use their location to take all nine points at home. The trip to Maccabi is not a short or easy one and the climate there is certainly not one most of the players will be used to. However, look for Maccabi to be pulling up the rear in this group.

GROUP B

Should Finish On Top: Manchester United
Clearly the most talented and experienced club in the group, Man Utd. should progress despite some difficult trips to Turkey and Moscow. Get worried, though, if Man Utd. have trouble from their away fixtures.

Second Best: Wolfsburg
The reigning German Champions boast a strong squad that should see them progress. However, like Man Utd., the difficulty arises with trips to Moscow and Turkey. If Wolfsburg begins to falter on the road then they could face a difficult road to qualifying for the knockout round.

The Wildcards: Besiktas and CSKA Moscow
Both teams have the talent to pose a significant threat to the top two clubs in this group. Each must be successful on their home turf if they are to progress. If one of these teams can steal some points at Old Trafford or at Wolfsburg then it’d be well on their way towards challenging for a spot in the next round.

GROUP C

Plan For The Knockout Stages: Real Madrid
Even before their summer spending spree, Real Madrid would easily qualify from this group. Add to their ranks Kaka and company and these six group matches should be just a formality. One of the biggest clubs in the world, Real will easily qualify from this group without any really tricky fixtures to deal with.

Fighting For Second: AC Milan and Olympique Marseille
It’s odd to see a club with the Champions League pedigree of AC Milan in this category but they have been in terrible form this season. After failing to even qualify for the tournament last year, Milan have begun this season with 0-4 drubbing by rivals Inter and a tie at lowly Livorno. Unlike Milan, Marseille did participate in last year’s Champions League. While they did not achieve the same success that they did in the 2007-2008 group stage, when they almost beat out Liverpool for the second spot in the knockout round, their experience should serve them well going into this year. If Milan continues its awful form then look for Marseille to benefit and advance to the knockout stages.

Hoping To Get A Little Lucky: Zurich
The smallest club in the group and the one with the least pedigree, Zurich, is hoping to benefit from the failures of Milan and Marseille. The trip to Zurich won’t be a difficult one for the other clubs so Zurich must rely on finding its top form and hoping the other teams in the group beat up on each other.

GROUP D

The Best: Chelsea
Chelsea is definitely the best club in this group. While this group is no cake walk, Chelsea certainly should be able to get results against Porto, Atletico and Cypriot minnows, APOEL. The real question marks arise when Chelsea goes to battle in the first round of the knockout stages without their African contingent.

Battling For Number Two: FC Porto and Atletico Madrid
Each team has an extremely talented and exciting striker, Sergio Aguero for Atletico and Hulk for Porto. Both teams have major question marks in the back. Whichever team can defend better should accompany Chelsea into the knockout stages.

Hoping To Catch lightning In A Bottle: APOEL
Once again we have a Cypriot team in the Champions League group stages. APOEL will look to try to catch the magic that Anorthosis used to nearly qualify for the knockout stages. Nonetheless, don’t bet the rent on this happening as APOEL stand practically no chance of qualifying for the next round.

GROUP E

The Contenders: Liverpool, Olympique Lyon, Fiorentina
There really is no front runner for this group with each of these three teams boasting a strong squad while at the same time having some question marks. Lyon has started off the season well, tied atop the French League with Bordeaux. Despite losing Karim Benzema in the summer the club has smartly used the money to strengthen itself in multiple areas and Lisandro Lopez appears set to make up for the loss of Benzema. I’d be surprised if Lyon doesn’t find their way into the knockout stages. Liverpool always have the “European night” at Anfield that every commentator insists on reminding us of but domestic form has left a lot to be desired. Will Liverpool’s midfield and centerbacks be strong enough to progress to the knockout stages remains to be seen. Fiorentina look to fight Liverpool for the second spot in the knockout stages. While the weakest of these three squads, Fiorentina still have enough talent to challenge for the knockout stage. Look for results at Hungarian club, Debrecen, to indicate which of these three are going to advance to the knockout stages.

Keep Dreaming: Debrecen
A nice club. A nice story. Absolutely no chance. However, they will play an important role in who advances from group C by playing spoiler at their home in Hungary. Still, they just can’t compete with the other three from this group.

GROUP F

Too Talented Not To Progress: Barcelona and Inter
Last year’s Champions league winners and the reigning Serie A champions posses just too much talent not to progress. While the competition is not weak and the trips to Ukraine and Russia will not be easy, it is hard to imagine neither team progressing. The only real drama will be who wins each matchup of the two.

Unlucky: Rubin and Dynamo Kyiv
Both teams are talented and are difficult trips for any European squad. In another group one of these teams might progress. Unfortunately for both of them, they were paired with two of the top clubs in the world. It’s hard to see them progressing. They have to hope either Barcelona or Inter collapse if they’re to have any chance of progressing.

GROUP G

Could Go Any Way: Sevilla, Rangers, Stuttgart
This group is really up for grabs. Sevilla is certainly the most talented, Stuttgart is strong and Rangers do very well at home. Look for Sevilla and Stuttgart to progress but don’t be surprises if Rangers sneak into the next round.

Surprise Team: Unirea Urziceni
The Romanians have the best chance to advance to the knockout stages of any of the small clubs. There are no real front runners to the group and this group could really go anyway. If the Romanians can get some good results from the first few contests look for them to really challenge for a place in the knockout stages.

GROUP H

Top Dog: Arsenal
There is no way Arsenal doesn’t qualify for the next round. The only thing standing in the way from them topping the group could be Arsene Wenger’s penchant for playing the youngsters after the team has secured qualification. Arsenal is far and away more talented than any of the other teams in this group.

Up For Grabs: AZ, Olympiacos, Standard
The second spot in this group could go any way. All three clubs are domestic champions and could go through. Standard appear to be the weakest of the three clubs but certainly still stand a chance to qualify. AZ and Olympiacos both have strong clubs and should remain in contention through all six games. If one of these teams can take points from Arsenal it would put itself in the driver’s seat for the second qualification spot.