Champions League draw Games will be played on the following dates: 16/17 September 30 September/1 October 21/22 October 4/5 November 25/26 November 9/10 December Group A Chelsea Roma Bordeaux CFR Cluj Group B Inter Milan Werder Bremen Panathinaikos Anorthosis Famagusta Group C Barcelona Sporting Lisbon Basel Shakhtar Donetsk Group D Liverpool PSV Eindhoven Marseille Atletico Madrid Group E Manchester United Villarreal Celtic Aalborg Group F Lyon Bayern Munich Steaua Bucharest Fiorentina Group G Arsenal Porto Fenerbahce Dynamo Kiev Group H Real Madrid Juventus Zenit St Petersburg Bate Borisov
Bayern and Arsenal have the easiest groups IMO. I'm glad for Bayern though, it will increase the chances of them going through.
This season's Champions League may be the best ever with how the groups are looking. Group A should be easy for Chelsea, though I expect Roma, Bordeaux and Cluj to put up a fair fight. Cluj are not to be underestimated. The Transylvania outfit have one of the best youth programs in the World of football and didn't win their first Romanian league title in history last season to be shut out of glory so early. Be aware! With Group B I expect Inter to move on easily as well as Werder Bremen, but it will still be interesting to see how the Greek and Cypriot clubs will perform, especially against one another. Group C is honestly a crap shoot right now. Barça are not what they used to be and it will take some time to return to their former glory. Sporting Lisbon are quite strong and Basel are likely not to make it through, but they may not even end up being last! Shakhtar on the other hand are really good and will surprise a lot of people with how strong of a team they have this season. Don't be surprised with this group. Group D is definitely the "group of death." Manchester United should easily go through in Group E. Villarreal pose as the only true threat to the English giants and are all likely to go through to the next stage with them. Celtic look alright, but I can't overlook the new Spanish giants. Aalborg is basically just there for the ride, so-to-speak. Group F is actually one of the difficult toss-ups. Lyon and Fiorentina will be very difficult to pass to the next stage for Bayern and I wouldn't be surprised if they both shut the German club down. I don't know if you're following those clubs but Lyon is nearly double-strength from last season and Fiorentina have a class team as well loaded with new talent. For Arsenal on the other hand in Group G, they have New-World powerhouses Porto and Fenerbahçe and add to that Ukrainian champions Dynamo Kiev. Dynamo have one of the best strikers in the World right now and add to that a very strong midfield and veteran defenders that are targeted by bigger clubs. They are looking very solid, as are their rivals in Donetsk. Finally we have Group H, which will be very difficult for three clubs to decide who will go through. I expect Real Madrid to go through, but Juventus likely will not. Zenit Saint Petersburg are very tough and will be one of the best teams in this tournament for certain. Even if they transfer out Arshavin, they have an extremely talented and committed team. Without a doubt, this Champions League will be awesome.
I'm returning to England tomorrow. Right now, I am just gonna chill out, and buckle down for college (starts on the 4th). This Christmas I'm going back to the States for 3 weeks max, and then next summer I'm hoping to travel South America. Sorry about the delay with the pics, I'll post them up when I get back to the UK! Amazing breakdown, M. I agree with you word for word, although I do see Celtic as more of a threat to Man. United.
I think these teams will go through: Group A: Chelsea & Roma Group B: Inter & Werder Group C: Barcelona & Sporting Group D: Liverpool & Athletico Group E: Man United & Villareal Group F: Bayern Munich & Fiorentina Group G: Arsenal & Fenerbache Group H: Real Madrid & Zenit
I just have that feeling... Group A Chelsea Roma Group B Inter Milan Werder Bremen Group C Barcelona Sporting Lisbon Group D PSV Eindhoven Marseille Group E Manchester United Celtic Group F Lyon Bayern Munich Group G Porto Fenerbahce Group H Real Madrid Zenit St Petersburg
My Predictions Group A Chelsea Roma Group B Inter Milan Werder Bremen Group C Barcelona Shakhtar Donetsk Group D Marseille Atletico Madrid Group E Manchester United Celtic Group F Bayern Munich Fiorentina Group G Arsenal Fenerbahce Group H Real Madrid Zenit St Petersburg ME I can't beleive you think Arsenal are going out smh
My prediction: Group A: Chelsea & Roma Group B: Inter & Bremen Group C: Barcelona & Sporting Group D: Atletico Madrid & Liverpool Group E: Man U & Villareal Group F: Lyon & Bayern Group G: Fenerbahce & Arsenal Group H: Madrid & Juventus
Group A Chelsea Roma Bordeaux CFR Cluj Group B Inter Milan Werder Bremen Panathinaikos Anorthosis Famagusta Group C Barcelona Sporting Lisbon Basel Shakhtar Donetsk Group D Liverpool PSV Eindhoven Marseille Atletico Madrid Group E Manchester United Villarreal Celtic Aalborg Group F Lyon Bayern Munich Steaua Bucharest Fiorentina Group G Arsenal Porto Fenerbahce Dynamo Kiev Group H Real Madrid Juventus Zenit St Petersburg Bate Borisov There are my predictions. Top two in blue, UEFA bound in red. Group G looks like the group of death to me. Porto are out of Europe after the group stage.
