Champions League Group Stages Draw

Here is the Champions League group stage draw:(thanks to espnstar.com)

Group A

Chelsea, Roma, Bordeaux, CFR Cluj

Group B

Internazionale, Werder Bremen, Panathinaikos, Anorthosis Famagusta

Group C

Barcelona, Sporting Lisbon, Basle, Shakhtar Donetsk

Group D

Liverpool, PSV Eindhoven, Marseille, Atletico Madrid

Group E

Manchester United, Villarreal, Celtic, AaB

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

Groups A, B, C, E & G are the ones where the top two stick out and are sure to proceed to the knockout stages. I’m worried about my team because they’re in a very well-contested group (not because the other teams play well, its because ours is struggling as of now). From Group D I expect Liverpool and Marseille to go through but I cannot underestimate the remaining two teams.

From group F its either Fiorentina or Bayern Munich (more so because the german team has been performing so poorly over the last couple of years that everyone has lowered their expectations from them). And my gut feeling is it will be the munich outfit into the next round.

Group H is very interesting because St Petersburg are the UEFA cup champions and hence Juve and Madrid might slip up against them at least in one of the ties. Still the Galacticos and Old lady of Turin are favorites to go through with Zenit back in the UEFA cup after the group stages.

So this is what I think the knockout stage will look like:

Group A

Chelsea, Roma (1st and 2nd in the knockout stage)

Bordeaux (UEFA Cup)

Group B

Internazionale, Werder Bremen  (1st and 2nd in the knockout stage)

Panathinaikos (UEFA Cup)

Group C

Barcelona, Sporting Lisbo  (1st and 2nd in the knockout stage)

Basle (UEFA Cup)

Group D

Liverpool, Marseille  (1st and 2nd in the knockout stage)

Atletico Madrid (UEFA Cup)

Group E

Manchester United, Villarreal  (1st and 2nd in the knockout stage)

Celtic (UEFA Cup)

Group F

Lyon, Bayern Munich  (1st and 2nd in the knockout stage)

Fiorentina (UEFA Cup)

Group G

Arsenal, Porto  (1st and 2nd in the knockout stage)

Dynamo Kiev (UEFA Cup)

Group H

Real Madrid, Juventus  (1st and 2nd in the knockout stage)

Zenit St Petersburg (UEFA Cup)

Can’t wait for the Match Day 1

We’re back baby!

The Premier League Trophy

After 3 months of painful break, the premier league is back. This year’s line-up of various teams has understandabely changed a lot, but the surprise has been the action in the middle and botton-of-table dwellers who have bought in lot many number of good players. And Spurs have splashed cash as they did last year as well, but they know that Berbatov will go to Man Utd for a very high price, and hence will make up for the earlier expenses they made in signing Bentley and Co.

Scolari is now coach at Stamford Bridge

This years strongest team is Chelsea, without a doubt. Their line-up is among the strongest this year, and their main strength is Scolari, the guy is amazingly good with coaching talented players to get the maximum out of them. The only big mistake he made in the last few months was to declare about his Chelsea role right in the middle of Euro 2008, which might have distracted him and and his highly-talented Portugese team, coz they immediately lost their next big match against Germany. I believe Chelsea will win this year’s Premier League, and might also the Champions League. They have the coach, the players and most importantly, the cash. Chelsea thumped Pompies 4-0 at the Stamford Bridge last week, and they look really good to carry on their early form.

Ronaldo is staying at Old Trafford

So much was speculated about Ronaldo, that in a sort of anti-climax, he staying back at Manchester has brought in some kind of confusion. No one know how well he will perform this year provided his once-in-a-decade performance. And Man Utd hasent done much shopping this year, so the team hasen’t strengthened a lot. Hence they might not do as well as they did last year.

El Nino, no more the new kid on the block

My favorite team Liverpool, although started with two wins, still need to make sure every player is performing at his best. Because one cannot rely over Gerrard and Torres for the entire season, they need other players to step up and convert some of the draws into wins. They might finish 2nd this year, and they will be a force in CL.

Nasri is the only big signing at the start of this season for Gunners

The Gunners have made a couple of good signings, however, they lack the experience needed at this level to come through difficult matches. Last season they started off so well, along with Liverpool, but lost out in the middle when they needed someone to support the front-line and come up with goals. They always play the attacking attractive football, but they can’t get the results.

So my prediction this year is:

1. Chelsea

2. Liverpool

3. Man Utd

4. Arsenal