Champions League 2015/16
carefree_blue
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So it all starts (properly) tomorrow. A few interesting match-ups, Bayern vs City being the stand-out this week, although Arsenal face a potentially tricky trip to Germany too.
Tues 16th Sept 2014 (k.o. 19.45):
GROUP A
Juventus v Malmö FF
Olympiakos v Atletico Madrid
GROUP B
Liverpool v Ludogorets Razgrad
Real Madrid v FC Basel
GROUP C
Benfica v Zenit St Petersberg
Monaco v Bayer Leverkusen
GROUP D
Borussia Dortmund v Arsenal
Galatasaray v Anderlecht
Wed 17th Sept 2014 (k.o. 19.45):
GROUP E
Bayern Munich v Man City
Roma v CSKA Moscow
GROUP F
Ajax v Paris St Germain
Barcelona v Apoel Nicosia
GROUP G
Chelsea v FC Schalke 04
NK Maribor v Sporting Lisbon
GROUP H
Athletic Bilbao v Shaktar Donetsk
FC Porto v BATE Borisov
Anyone have any early predictions for a winner this season?
Tues 16th Sept 2014 (k.o. 19.45):
GROUP A
Juventus v Malmö FF
Olympiakos v Atletico Madrid
GROUP B
Liverpool v Ludogorets Razgrad
Real Madrid v FC Basel
GROUP C
Benfica v Zenit St Petersberg
Monaco v Bayer Leverkusen
GROUP D
Borussia Dortmund v Arsenal
Galatasaray v Anderlecht
Wed 17th Sept 2014 (k.o. 19.45):
GROUP E
Bayern Munich v Man City
Roma v CSKA Moscow
GROUP F
Ajax v Paris St Germain
Barcelona v Apoel Nicosia
GROUP G
Chelsea v FC Schalke 04
NK Maribor v Sporting Lisbon
GROUP H
Athletic Bilbao v Shaktar Donetsk
FC Porto v BATE Borisov
Anyone have any early predictions for a winner this season?
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Comments
Bayern of course will take some beating, then you cannot rule out Chelsea who look very strong domestically.
So speaking as a fan whose team are not in the tournament (and boy does that sound strange to write!), I think that this seasons edition is really quite an open one, I don't think that there is an out and out favourite at this stage.
The way Liverpool are playing at the moment Basel might just win the group ;-)
Basle lost 3-1 on Saturday against Grasshopper Club.
£10 bet on Ludogorets to qualify anyone?
Only if Cosmin Moti is in goal.
If Basel beat Real, Perez will probably fire Carlo although it's Perez who has destabilised a winning team.
Winners - Bayern, maybe Chelsea if Costa stays fit, Barcelona should be better than last year, Atletico. Not Arsenal sadly. We'll scrape out of our group in 2nd place, then draw Bayern = kaput.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29177067
Not sure I really see our teams as looking stronger than recent seasons. Other than Chelsea I would say they look on par or weaker. Chelsea look to be our main contender.
I think this article highlights the problem with the culture in this country. Yes a lot of money is being spent in this country, but it takes more than that to win the Champions League. It has to be the right players, of the required quality. Other factors as shown by clubs abroad in recent years, team spirit and the ability to play as a team are important factors. As is being flexible in your approach to games, it's the Champions League, you are no longer going to be able to dominate opposition, most teams in the Champions League have a degree of confidence and you see different styles you wouldn't see in the Premier League.
I think this article overlooks one major thing that La Liga and Bundesliga have over the Premier League. Their clubs might not have the spending power (though in case of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich they have more spending power), but they have a far bigger pool of national talent. So from the bottom up you have strong foundations. There's a lot of average players moving between clubs in the Premier League for inflated prices, something it's rare to see abroad. Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League this season not only consist of all bar 1 Spanish players, they have all come from the Basque region. Such a feat simply wouldn't be possible in England.
I see Chelsea probably as 4th favourites behind the big 3 (Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich). Then the rest of our teams very much as outsiders. The rest of our teams probably relying on a good draw to go further than the last 8.
Mate, don't go on down to the Basque Country and call them "Spanish" players
Edit: 4-1 now!
Can't see anyone outside the usual three winning it
Bayern, Barca and Real presumably?
I would add Atletico Madrid and Chelsea to that 3.
With those two fourth and fifth in that order .
I do feel the big three are able to hold a bully boy confidence over a lot of English sides certainly over two legs.
Be interesting to see how Chelsea approach these sort of games this season, the park the bus can only carry you to a point I suppose
Don't think he will get enough goals for them certainly not in big games
It carried them to winning the whole thing a couple of years ago, so why not do it again?
Totally different to Suarez. Suarez fought for his side, full of energy.
Balotelli is already getting huffy with teammates, not passing when he should, and looking mightily lethargic.
He might come good eventually, but I don't think he's been as good a buy as people might make out, personally.