UEFA Champions League - 2008/09

With the UEFA Champions League starting in a few weeks' time, let us see which is this season's Group of Death and which 2 teams from each group has the highest chance to progress past the group stages.


Group A
Bordeaux
CFR Cluj-Napoca
Chelsea
Roma

Group B
Anorthosis Famagusta
Inter Milan
Panathinaikos
Werder Bremen

Group C
Barcelona
FC Basel
Shakhtar Donetsk
Sporting Lisbon

Group D
Atletico Madrid
Liverpool
Marseille
PSV Eindhoven

Group E
AaB
Celtic
Man United
Villarreal

Group F
Bayern Munich
Fiorentina
Lyon
Steaua Bucuresti

Group G
Arsenal
Dynamo Kiev
FC Porto
Fenerbahce

Group H
BATE Borisov
Juventus
Real Madrid
Zenit St Petersburg

Above are the groups drawn out. In my humble opinion, this year's Champions League draw is more balanced. All groups look difficult to progress from (except probably Group A and Group B), however Group D, Group F and Group H looks particularly hard. However, experience and the manager's acute tactical awareness is the key to winning the Champions League.

Therefore, below are the 2 teams from each group whom i feel should progress due to their experience, players and manager.

Group A - Chelsea & Roma
This is probably the easiest group of all and both Chelsea and Roma boast undisputed talents, experience on the big stage and good managers.

Group B - Inter Milan & Werden Bremen
Inter, with Mourinho at the helm should have no problem progressing past the group stage. Werden Bremen face strong challenge from Panathinaikos. Panathinaikos is a Champions League regular and the players and manager know what is required to win on the big stage. However, Werden Bremen should overcome Panathinaikos and pip them to the second placed slot of the group.

Group C - Barcelona & Sporting Lisbon
All 4 teams are Champions League regular, so it boils down to the players and the manager. Barcelona has an unproven manager, but with so many quality players in their ranks like Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, Samuel Eto'o and Xavi, just to name a few, progressing is a must. The second place slot is up for grabs and I personally feel the Sporting Lisbon will be the team to triump.

Group D - Atletico Madrid & Liverpool
This is the hardest group to predict. It will be a close fight all the way to the last match of the group stages. The reason i chose Atletico Madrid & Liverpool is because both have players proven on the stage and both have a healthy mix of young and experienced players.

Group E - Man United & Villarreal
Celtic seems to be past their best and AaB is a relatively unknown team. So count on Man United & Villarreal to progress.

Group F - Bayern Munich & Lyon
After missing out on Champions League football last season, Bayern Munich will want to showcase their talents once again and prove that they are still a force to be reckon with. The second slot is almost impossible to choose. Either Lyon or Fiorentina will occupy that slot. It will be close. Both teams have the quality but i picked Lyon because they have been playing on the big stage for a long long time whereas Fiorentina only appeared last season.

Group G - Arsenal & FC Porto
All 4 teams are strong. All 4 teams have Champions League experience. Arsenal should progress without much problem, their attacking talents and pacey players will be the key. The second berth will go either to FC Porto or Fenerbahce. FC Porto recently lost their most important player, Ricardo Quaresma to Inter and Feberbahce sold Kezman and lost Ghana captain Appiah who quit the club after a fall-out with the management. FC Porto should progress as they have a stronger team.

Group H - Juventus & Real Madrid
After 2 years away from the Champions League, Juventus is back. After being relegated to Serie B after corruption row, Juventus bounced back to Serie A immediately the next season and in their first season back in Serie A, they secure a Champions League berth. A remarkable achievement if you ask me. Their experienced players like Zanetti, Camoranesi, Nedved, Del Piero and Trezeguet together with young talents like Sissoko, Giovinco, Amauri and Iaquinta should ensure they progress past the group stage. Real Madrid should progress with so much talents in their ranks. However, both Juventus and Madrid should not take as season's UEFA Cup winner St Petersburg. St Petersburg sent out a warning early on by beating Manchester United 2-1 in the Super Cup.