The Group Stage of the Champions League is here. I have previewed some specific teams and their positions in the larger frame of the tournament in my last post. In this post, I will attempt to do the impossible and predicts results.
Since the Round of 32 in a unique process compared to the "normal" two-legged tie, and because it lasts over several months, I will only predicts the results of the Group Stage in this post.
Just a quick reminder of what each finishing position earns each team. Group winners and runners-up will advance. Group winners will face a runner-up from a different group and a different country.
Third place teams will be eliminated from the Champions League but will automatically be placed into the Europa League. This could be deemed a failure for some teams while a success for others.
Last place teams are eliminated from European competition as a whole.
Group A
Winner: Atletico Madrid (ESP)
Runner-Up: Borussia Dortmund (GER)
Europa League: AS Monaco (FRA)
Eliminated: Club Brugge (BEL)
Although I see this group as anything but straight-forward, I do see the teams finishing in the same order that they were drawn. I have talked in previous posts about Atletico Madrid's stout defensive style, and I think that elevates them to the top of the group. Dortmund will be eager to prove that they belong, and I feel they have enough quality to advance. I do see Monaco putting up a fight against the aforementioned sides, but I don't feel that they have enough quality to advance this season.
Group B
Winner: Tottenham Hotspur (ENG)
Runner-Up: FC Barcelona (ESP)
Europa League: Inter Milan (ITA)
Eliminated: PSV Eindhoven (NED)
Wow is this group tough to call. This is certainly the Group of Death, which makes it extremely difficult to predict. My gut tells me it will be Barcelona and Spurs advancing, but in what order? It's basically a toss up, but I feel that Spurs will find a way to top the group. Inter and PSV will have something to say about the these teams' automatic advancement. They won't make it easy. Again, its very close, but to me, Inter is slightly more equipped to play in Europe this season than the young Dutch side. For that reason, I chose Inter to finish about PSV.
Group C
Winner: Liverpool (ENG)
Runner-Up: Paris St. Germain (FRA)
Europa League: Napoli (ITA)
Eliminated: Red Star Belgrade (SRB)
Another tough group. Liverpool, despite being draw out of Pot 3, reached the Champions League final last season. The 3-1scoreline was not representative of their play in the match, as two terrible goalkeeping errors contributed to their defeat. With a new goalkeeper between the pipes, Alisson, who showed his class during AS Roma's improbable semi-final run last season, the Reds should have the confidence they need to go on and win the group.
PSG and Napoli will do their best to stop Liverpool's attacking prowess. PSG will get out of the group. No group winner will want to face the second place team from this group, that's for sure. Red Star Belgrade will do its best to knick a point of one of the top sides in the group. The Serbian side will be eager to play their role as the spoiler.
Group D
Winner: FC Porto (POR)
Runner-Up: Galatasaray SK (TUR)
Europa League: FC Schalke 04 (GER)
Eliminated: Lokomotiv Moscow (RUS)
The group of life is equally as difficult to predict as the group of death. I referred to this group in a previous blog as evenly matched. When something like this happens, I usually gravitate toward experience.
The team that has been here the most is Porto. Porto will favor their chances massively as members of this group. Galatasaray will look to book their place in the R16 after coming out of Pot 4. Despite being a few years removed from the Champions League, they have been to the group stage and beyond many times.
Picking the Russian champions to finish dead bottom is a bit bold. However, as I stated in the afore-linked blog, they were surprise champions last season. Winning the Russian league and competition against Europe's top teams are two very different tasks.
This group will be wildly entertaining to watch. Each team should be going for it, because each team has massive hope. Sit back and enjoy Group D.
Group E
Winner: FC Bayern Munich (GER)
Runner-Up: AFC Ajax (NED)
Europa League: SL Benfica (POR)
Eliminated: AEK Athens FC (GRE)
Bayern really should have no trouble winning this group. While no game is easy, especially in the Champions League, I would be slightly surprised if Bayern did not come away with six wins from six; or at least all wins until they have clinched top of the group
Second through fourth is much less straight-forward. Here, I favor last year's Dutch runners-up to challenge the Portuguese league runners-up for that second spot. I believe the youth and energy of the Dutch side will triumph here.
AEK Athens is a team that no one really knows what to expect from. Greek teams have had some success in the Champions League in the past, most notably Olympiacos FC. With that said, I don't think they have enough to get off bottom in this group.
Group F
Winner: Manchester City (ENG)
Runner-Up: FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
Europa League: Olympique Lyonnais (FRA)
Eliminated: TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (GER)
Favorites Manchester City should not have any problems winning group F. They may not like the fact that Ukrainian superpowers and Champions League regulars Shakhtar have been drawn into their group yet again, but they should not falter at this stage.
Shakhtar, though, should love their draw, in my opinion. They are underestimated every season, which was evidenced by their tough playing of City and Roma last year. They took points off both, and will look to do the same off familiar opponent City. And again, I will talk about experience. Shakhtar's experience massively outweighs that of Lyon and newcomers Hoffenheim.
While both Lyon and Hoffenheim will look to challenge for the runner-up spot, I don't think they have enough quality to complete the charge. Both coming off impressive seasons, the Champions League is a different battle. We'll see how they fair.
Group G
Winner: Real Madrid CF (ESP)
Runner-Up: AS Roma (ITA)
Europa League: CSKA Moscow (RUS)
Eliminated: FC Viktoria Plzen (CZE)
This group appears to be one of the most straightforward to me. The draw system seemed to work to traditional effect in this group, as there is a clear division of quality between each team here.
Three time defending champions Real Madrid will have absolutely no issues advancing from this group. This should win the group. Roma will have something to say about that, though. Roma, after playing the role of underdog, spoiler and cinderella last year, now know they can play with the biggest clubs in the world. They will look to knick a home win against Madrid and try to steal the Group.
CSKA are Champions League regulars, who usually finish 3rd or 4th in their group. Despite not winning the Russian League last year, I believe they will secure Europa League football over Plzen, who are extremely inexperienced and will be happy to get a point or two in the group.
Group H
Winner: Manchester United (ENG)
Runner-Up: Juventus FC (ITA)
Europa League: Valencia CF (ESP)
Eliminated: BSC Young Boys (SUI)
I believe this will quietly be a very entertaining group. I have tipped United to win the group over Juventus, which may shock some people. United have started this season in the Premier League very hot, and under the tutelage of Jose Mourinho, they are organized and rarely concede.
When Juventus and Man United meet, it will be a defensive battle. These two fixtures will probably decide who wins the group. Ronaldo will be looking to lift Juventus to the top spot, but after a slow start to the domestic season, its unclear whether Ronaldo will be able to find his brilliant Champions League form.
Valencia have started their domestic season poorly, drawing three of their first four and losing the other. While this group does not possess clear divisions of quality between each team like Group F, there is a clear division between the top two and the bottom two. Despite Young Boys fantastic away comeback in the playoff round, I believe playing in a tougher league will benefit Valencia, and they will finish in 3rd.
These are my predictions. I will revisit them throughout the competition, as I'm sure they will go horribly wrong.
I urge everyone to watch, enjoy and drink this competition in. The pinning of the best teams and players in the world against each other creates absolute drama and entertainment. I can't wait.
Teams by Country in Tournament
England (ENG): 4
Spain (ESP): 4
Italy (ITA): 4
Germany (GER): 4
France (FRA): 3
The Netherlands (NED): 2
Russia (RUS): 2
Portugal (POR): 2
Greece (GRE): 1
Belgium (BEL): 1
Serbia (SRB): 1
Turkey (TUR): 1
Czech Republic (CZE): 1
Ukraine (UKR): 1
Switzerland (SUI): 1
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