Champions League draw response: Premier League golf equipment completely satisfied; tough for Spain’s massive three
The draw for the UEFA Champions League group stage happened in Monaco on Thursday and, as ever, threw up some intriguing story traces. Mark Ogden picks his highlights and makes some predictions.
Bounce to: Group A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H
English golf equipment get it straightforward
It’s the luck of the draw, however whereas the likes of Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Actual Madrid obtained teams with heavyweight rivals, the Premier League’s quartet will all be pleased with their outcomes.
Tottenham landed Bayern Munich, however will count on to beat Olympiakos and Purple Star Belgrade, whereas Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis will count on to coast by as group winners and Chelsea are favoured to take Group H. One other 12 months, one other Man Metropolis vs. Shakhtar conflict
The 2 golf equipment have been paired collectively within the group stage for the third successive season, so it would take an imaginative publicity marketing campaign to tempt supporters to prove for this fixture once more. Metropolis’s executives will probably be completely satisfied to land one more group missing big-name glamour, however their followers may need wished for a bit extra star high quality.
Group F is probably the most tough
Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund and Inter have been drawn collectively in Group F, alongside Slavia Prague, whose cheerful administrators chuckled on the prospect of three large video games within the Czech capital. It is going to be totally different for the hierarchy on the different three, nevertheless, with issues over lacking a top-two spot because of the power of competitors.
Messi and Ronaldo get alongside
In recent times, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have sat stony-faced with one another, as they wait to find who has gained the Participant of the 12 months and Ahead of the 12 months awards. This time round, the pair have been laughing and joking — primarily at Eric Cantona’s speech — earlier than the prizes have been introduced. Messi claimed finest ahead, however each missed out to Virgil van Dijk for the massive one.
Eric Cantona
Having been given the UEFA President’s Award, conference dictated that Cantona give an acceptance speech. Wearing denims, creased shirt and flat cap, the previous Manchester United ahead made probably the most of his second by quoting Shakespeare and discussing science and the ageing of cells, earlier than closing by saying “I really like soccer.” All of which left the viewers totally bewildered.
Matchday 1 of the UEFA Champions League is on Sept. 17 and 18. Getty
Group A: PSG and Actual Madrid undergo
Paris Saint-Germain and Actual Madrid meet in heavyweight clashes and whereas each will count on to progress to the spherical of 16, the story of this group is more likely to be about which crew finishes prime and earns a seeding within the knockout phases. Ending second may result in a nightmare draw in opposition to one other Champions League big-hitter. Galatasaray and Membership Brugge, in the meantime, will take pleasure in a troublesome battle for the Europa League spot that comes with third place.
B: Bayern Munich and Tottenham undergo
Bayern and Tottenham will probably be favourites to qualify, however each should be cautious of slipping up in hostile arenas once they journey to Athens and Belgrade for clashes with Olympiakos and Purple Star. Purple Star beat Liverpool 2-Zero at residence final season and are the damaging outsider on this group; they may upset Spurs if final season’s runners-up fail to rediscover consistency. Olympiakos might be robust to beat at residence, although they’re one thing of a gentle contact on the highway.
C: Man Metropolis and Dinamo Zagreb undergo
This group is mainly a case of who will end runners-up behind Metropolis, who’re many observers’ favourites to win the Champions League. Shakhtar have the newest pedigree within the competitors, however Dinamo Zagreb and Atalanta will consider they will attain the knockout phases. Champions League debutants Atalanta could endure from shedding residence benefit by taking part in on the San Siro in Milan quite than their 21,000-capacity stadium in Bergamo.
– UEFA Champions League group-by-group draw
– Van Dijk beats Messi, Ronaldo to UEFA POTY award
– Cantona delivers distinctive acceptance speech
D: Juventus and Leverkusen undergo
Juventus and Atletico Madrid, who met in final season’s spherical of 16, are the 2 to beat on this group, however Bayer Leverkusen may separate them. Juventus have strengthened in the summertime, however questions hold over Atletico following the departures of Antoine Griezmann, Rodri and Diego Godin. Diego Simeone stays on the helm and has signed Portuguese wonderkid Joao Felix, however Leverkusen will probably be a troublesome nut to crack; Lokomotiv Moscow may additionally problem for second.
E: Liverpool and Napoli undergo
Reigning European champions Liverpool meet Napoli once more, having performed out two massive encounters in final season’s group stage. Salzburg and Genk look to be making up the numbers, so Liverpool’s encounters with Napoli ought to determine who tops the group. Solely a last-minute save by Alisson at Anfield stopped Napoli from dumping Liverpool out on the group stage a 12 months in the past, so the Italians will fancy their probabilities.
F: Barcelona and Inter undergo
Probably the most eye-catching group of all options three earlier winners — Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund and Inter — slugging it out for 2 locations. Barca will count on to complete prime, however Dortmund may beat them. Inter, in the meantime, are nonetheless an unknown amount underneath Antonio Conte, however the nerrazzuri have loads of high quality so do not take your eyes off this group. Slavia Prague make up the numbers.
G: Lyon and Leipzig undergo
Zenit St Petersburg’s Twitter feed joked previous to the draw that the Russian champions have been the highest seed that everybody wished to get. Benfica, Lyon and Leipzig have been the fortunate golf equipment in every pot and whereas this group may lack glamour, it’s maybe probably the most aggressive, with all 4 groups having an opportunity to qualify. Lyon made it to the knockout phases final season and will probably be favourites.
H: Chelsea and Valencia undergo
Europa League winners Chelsea will probably be delighted to get an Ajax crew weakened by the departures of Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie De Jong, in addition to a Valencia outfit that scraped in as Spain’s fourth qualifier and Lille, who completed a distant second to PSG in France. Chelsea, with Christian Pulisic signed to switch Eden Hazard, are in transition underneath Frank Lampard, however ought to prime this group.