The UEFA Champions League Preview
With the qualifiers already completed, the draw for the UEFA Champions League were held on Thursday for the final 32 as each side will know who they will face in the group stage and the beginning of another season of Europe's biggest club competition with the prize being a place in the Final at Madrid. This is a preview of each group and the teams likely to go through.
Group A- Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, AS Monaco & Club Brugge
Atletico Madrid are the heavy favourites to win this group given their experience, improved attacking flair and ruggedness. Given how successful Diego Simeone has been in Europe winning the Europa League and taking Atletico to two UCL Finals. They should win this group. Borussia Dortmund and AS Monaco are likely to battle it out for second while Club Brugge is likely to finish bottom of the group. Both Dortmund and Monaco will be looking for improvement in the UCL this season as they were both eliminated from the group stage last season.
Winners: Atletico Madrid, Runners-Up: AS Monaco
Group B- FC Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur, PSV Eindhoven & Inter Milan
This is an interesting group. Barcelona are heavy favourites to win the group but it wouldn't be an easy for the Catalans as they have strong competition. Spurs are the team likely to take top spot at Barcelona's expense topping a tough group last season. Both PSV and Inter Milan are capable of making a surprise with Hirving Lozano and Mauro Icardi who both are playing in the competition for the first time. Again, very interesting group.
Group C- Paris Saint-Germain, SSC Napoli, Liverpool & Red Star Belgrade
This is the Group of Death. Sorry to anyone following Red Star but the attention of the group will be on Liverpool, Napoli and PSG. PSG on paper should top the group having the likes of Neymar, Kliyan Mbappe and Edinson Cavani. However, PSG have underachieved in Europe given their vast resources and have been closely watched for Financial Fair Play. Liverpool are the team likely to win the group having improved on the squad from the team that reached the Final. Napoli could make this group wide open with Carlo Ancelotti who is an experienced manager in the Champions League winning it three times and a better showing as they were eliminated last season.
Winners: Liverpool, Runners-Up: Paris Saint-Germain
Group D- Lokomotiv Moscow, FC Porto, FC Schalke 04 & Galatasaray
Probably the least exciting group from the draw, this group is the most open with each side having a good chance of making it through to the knockout stages. FC Porto and Schalke are the strongest sides from this group and should be able to go through given their opposition. However, for Galatasaray and Lokomotiv, this is a big opportunity for them in their chances for getting the knockout stages. If they can pull out some big results, they could topple Schalke and Porto but that is very unlikely.
Winners: FC Porto, Runners-Up: FC Schalke 04
Group E- Bayern Munich, Benfica, Ajax Amsterdam & AEK Athens
This is a group that will clearly be dominated by Bayern Munich. They are the strongest squad and I don't see them finishing outside first. They question is who will join them in the knockout stages. It is between Benfica and Ajax that on who will finish second with Benfica likely to finish second given that they have been regulars in the Champions League while Ajax have been inconsistent in Europe for some time now especially missing out on the Champions League last season.
Winners: Bayern Munich, Runners-Up: Benfica
Group F- Manchester City, Shakhtar Donetsk, Lyon & Hoffenheim
Manchester City have struggled to match the success in the Premier League to the Champions League. They have reached the semifinals just once under their current ownership and haven't reached the semifinals under Pep Guardiola. They are still favourites to win it this season and will top their group. Shakthar, Lyon and Hoffenheim all have an equal chance of reaching the knockout stages but it's likely to be either Shakthar or Lyon. Hoffenheim are playing in the Champions League for the first time in their history which is a testament of their manager Julian Nagelsmann and it will be interesting how he'll handle the competition.
Winners: Manchester City, Runners-Up: Lyon
Group G- Real Madrid, AS Roma, CSKA Moscow & Viktoria Plzen
Real Madrid have dominated the competition in the past five years. Winning it four times with three consecutive wins. However, they are without Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane and are under new management in Julen Lopetegui. They are still favourites to win it and will win their group. AS Roma is the team likely to join Madrid in the Round of 16 being the strongest outside the defending champions. They reached the semifinals last season and could still make a surprise this season despite losing Alisson and Radja Nainggolan.
Winners: Real Madrid, Runners-Up: AS Roma
Group H- Juventus, Manchester United, Valencia & BSC Young Boys
Juventus are clearly making a statement in winning the Champions League this season with the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo. The Old Lady have been close to winning it but lacked a superstar like Ronaldo and Messi. Juventus and Ronaldo's former team Manchester United are favourites with Valencia the team likely to make an upset. Juventus are the team likely to top the groupn given Ronaldo's record in the competition reaching double figures in goals in his last three season. United could challenge Juventus for top spot but are in a period of unstability given the fringe relationship between Mourinho and the players.
Winners: Juventus, Runners-Up: Manchester United
So with the draw already done, the journey to Madrid begins on the 18th of September as the new Champions League season begins.
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