UEFA Champions League | Group Stage preview.

The Predictions

The most prestigious European club competition – The Champions League is back! And it will be more interesting than ever! The strengths are equal and each team can beat everyone! As the previous season was full of surprises, there are lots of changes in the teams, which are going to take part in the competition. So, here we are to make a preview of what we can expect from the group stage of the Champions League.

Group A:

• Paris Saint-Germain
• Arsenal
• Basel
• Ludogorets Razgrad

Of course, the biggest favourite for winning the group is the French champions – Paris Saint-Germain. The Parisians are expected to have no problems in reaching the Round of 16. The French team has a new coach – Unai Emery, who is a real expert in the European club matches. And even though The Parisians are now without their biggest star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, their team looks even stronger than it was a year ago.

To continue with, The Gunners are also favourites to make it to the Round of 16. But we have to say, that Arsenal look worse in the very first matches of the new season. The new signings are, in my opinion, players on average level – not for the class of Arsenal. Moreover, The Gunners have become very predictable in the recent years. So, don’t think Arsenal will have no problems to reach the Round of 16. In addition, you know well that The Gunners always struggle against weaker clubs in the group stage.

Basel and Ludogorets met in the group stage of the Champions League 2 years ago and both teams won a victory one against other. The Swiss team are very, very strong! Their advantage would be that nobody will count them as the favourites, but they have now great traditions in The Champions League. This is the 7th time Basel found their place among the best 32 clubs in Europe. Don’t be surprised if Basel outrun Arsenal in the fight for the second place in the group!

The Bulgarian champions for 5th consecutive year – Ludogorets Razgrad have now built a very strong team. In addition, The Eagles have now lots of experience in European club games during the last 5 years. This is the second time the Bulgarians qualify for the group stage of The Champions League. Moreover, they surprised everyone in their first participation in the groups, recording a victory against Basel (1-0) and a draw against Liverpool (2-2). So, Ludogorets are able to fight for the third place in the group.

Group B:

• Benfica
• Napoli
• Dynamo Kyiv
• Besiktas

Benfica and Napoli are considered to be the favourites in this group, but again the strengths are really equal and the battle here will be until the very last game of the group. The Portuguese champions Benfica reached the quarter finals of The Champions League last season, but lost there to Bayern Munich (2-3 on aggregate).

The Italian vice-champions Napoli is of course the second team, which is expected to make it to the Round of 16. The Italians sold their super star Gonzalo Higuain and now are desperately trying to sign a new striker. They also started with a very bad result in the Serie A (2-2 against Pescara). But, Napoli are strong enough to proceed to the next round of the competition.

Dynamo Kyiv and Besiktas mustn’t be underestimated! The Turkish team is a regular participant in the European club compeitions and this will be the 6th time they will play in the group stage of The Champions League, while the Ukrainians will play for the 16th time in the groups of the most prestigious tournament. They reached the Round of 16 in the last campaign, but were knocked out by Manchester City after a defeat at home 1-3 and a draw in Manchester (0-0).

Group C:

• Barcelona
• Manchester City
• Borussia Monchengladbach
• Celtic

In my opinion, Celtic are too weak to play in The Champions League. I don’t expect the Scottish side to record lots of points. So, I think the fourth place will be without a doubt for The Hoops. They were just lucky to reach the group stage, after a 5-4 victory on aggregate against the Israeli side Hapoel Be’er Sheva. Brendan Rodgers’ players, with the extremely weak Kolo Toure in the starting eleven, will be smashed by all the teams in this group. I can’t see more obvious outsider in all the groups!

To continue with, Barcelona and Manchester City look too strong for the tough team of Borussia Monchengladbach. So, the question in the group is who will be lying in first position after the final matches of the group – Barcelona or Man City.

Group D:

• Bayern Munich
• Atletico Madrid
• PSV Eindhoven
• Rostov

The Russian debutant Rostov has the chance to record a “double” against Dutch teams, after they smashed 4-1 Ajax! Now, the Russians will fight for the third place in the group against PSV Eindhoven, because I can’t see these two teams lying in first or second position in the group.

However, we are going to see the repetition of the last year’s semi-final between Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid. I think, these two teams will have no troubles in reaching the Round of 16, but the question is who will be in the first place!

Group E:

• CSKA Moscow
• Bayer Leverkusen
• Tottenham Hotspur
• Monaco

The most unpredictable group is Group E! All the teams have absolutely equal strengths and chances to reach the Round of 16! For sure, the matches in this group will be the most difficult to be predicted and betting on them is not recommended.

Group F:

• Real Madrid
• Borussia Dortmund
• Sporting Lisbon
• Legia Warsaw

Don’t expect any surprises here! Real Madrid will take the first place in this group. The last year’s winners of The Champions League are too strong for the other teams. Borussia Dortmund will easily won the second place in Group F.

Moreover, Sporting will also have no problems with reaching the Round of 32 in The Europa League, as I think they will finish 3rd in the group. Too easy to be said, but this is maybe the most predictable group in this year’s edition of The Champions League.

Group G:

• Leicester City
• Porto
• Club Brugge
• Copenhagen

All eyes on Leicester City! This is the historical first participation in The Champions League for The Foxes, who were very lucky with the draw, as they have real chances to see their name in the Round of 16. For sure, Porto are the favourites for winning the group, but Leicester City can finish in the second place. But firstly, Claudio Ranieri’s players must improve their form until the matches in The Champions League begin! I think, the Danish champions Copenhagen can make it for the 3rd place. They have a very good team and are able to surprise Club Brugge of Belgium!

Group H:

• Juventus
• Sevilla
• Olympique Lyonnais
• Dinamo Zagreb

Here the only question is whether Sevilla or Lyon are going to play in the Round of 16. Juventus won’t give a chance to these 3 teams to fight for the first place in the group. Dinamo Zagreb are the total underdogs and will surely be defeated in almost all the matches. The Croatians like to fix their games! So, be careful when betting on them! Do you remember, when in 2011, Dinamo Zagreb lost 1-7 to Lyon and the French side qualified in 2nd position, because of their goal difference.