Champions League Group Stage Draw [P+R]

[nor-rbk]

Lets talk about the real competition here guys, the UEFA cup. (........ )

 

[MaestroZidane]

Lets talk about the real competition here guys, the UEFA cup. (........ )

The draw is tomorrow so I will be looking forward to who gets who. Although because Newcastle is not there, the level of prestige drops considerably..

 

[Bobby]

Interesting that Arsenal could face two teams Daniel Levy (who owns part of Spurs) has a stake in (AEK and Slavia).

 

[Deisler]

Lets talk about the real competition here guys, the UEFA cup. (........ )

Hey, i was going to post that

 

[$teauA]

Interesting that Arsenal could face two teams Daniel Levy (who owns part of Spurs) has a stake in (AEK and Slavia).

Bobby me and you are in a very interesting position. I think it has something to do with six degrees of Kevin Bacon but I'm not quite sure.

 

[Mikey]

Lyon will sail through, I reckon they're a good dark horse to win the CL this year. I also think PSV will make it through in Group G, rather than CSKA.

Lyon have started pretty slowly in ligue 1 this season, and they lost some pretty big pieces from their 'dynasty' team (Malouda, Abidal, Tiago), as well as Cris being out for most of the season. Juninho is also not getting any younger, and Coupet will also be out for possibly all of the group stage.

Also, they have a new coach, so there will be transition problems. This isnt the same OL team as in the past. If they were gonna win the CL, it wouldve happened the past 2 seasons when they were at their peak,,, maybe if they can avoid Italian opposition which seems to be their kryptonite

Meanwhile Stuttgart are the current German champions, and apart from Hildenbrand have the same team intact from last season.

 

[MaSsiVe]

It's a good draw for Porto in the end, even if Liverpool are favourites to top the group I think we can put up a good fight for it.
Besiktas or Marseille won't be easy tasks but hopefullly we'll manage to get past them.

I reckon the most tight group will be F, ManU shouldn't have many problems there but the other 3 teams all have a solid chance to grab the 2nd spot.


Champions League

 

[Guillaume]

Difficult draw for Marseille. It reminds me season 2003/2004, a group with Real Madrid, Porto and Partizan, and then UEFA Cup.

Now, Porto again. They aren't as strong as 2003/2004, when they won Champions League with Deco, Maniche, Ricardo Carvalho, Costinha etc but it's a great European team who plays Champions League each year, contrary to us.

Then Besiktas looks the "weakest" team of this group, but it's always difficult to play in Turkey, so this team can make surprise easily.

Finally, Liverpool. I'm a bit disappointed, I wanted Barcelona, Milan AC or Chelsea (Drogbaaaa) because we've already met Liverpool in 2004 in UEFA Cup (1-1 in Anfield, 2-1 in Marseille), but this year, Liverpool seems awesome, so probably great games.

Anyways, this draw seems difficult for us, but all draw is difficult when you are in Pot 3 or Pot 4. I can't say Marseille will easily qualify, but normally, behind Liverpool, all is possible with 3 good teams who really want to show great things in the best competition in Europe..

 

[Sir Calumn]

Lyon have started pretty slowly in ligue 1 this season, and they lost some pretty big pieces from their 'dynasty' team (Malouda, Abidal, Tiago), as well as Cris being out for most of the season. Juninho is also not getting any younger, and Coupet will also be out for possibly all of the group stage.

Also, they have a new coach, so there will be transition problems. This isnt the same OL team as in the past. If they were gonna win the CL, it wouldve happened the past 2 seasons when they were at their peak,,, maybe if they can avoid Italian opposition which seems to be their kryptonite

Meanwhile Stuttgart are the current German champions, and apart from Hildenbrand have the same team intact from last season.

I disagree man, Malouda is a big loss it is true, but at the same time they have signed Grosso, who in my opinion is one of the world's finest left backs. Also I would rather have Bodmer than Tiago. Juninho still has a great season or two left in him and he will be really going for it - I wouldnt be surprised if he gives us a stunning swansong. Lyon dont have to try to hard in Ligue 1, but I think they will come out all guns blazing for the CL. I would still fancy an outside bet on them.

 

[rony31]

so is it now set in stone that Milan & Celtic must face each other at least twice every season?

 

[CapaJr]

Besiktas looks the "weakest" team of this group, but it's always difficult to play in Turkey, so this team can make surprise easily.

Besiktas away game is going to very difficult for Marseille, Besiktas is famous with their crazy fans.
You can get some idea from this link ;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE-HYZw3rh4&mode=related&search=

I think Besiktas will be 3rd and qualify for UEFA.
Porto & Liverpool will both go through the next round, Marseille will be 4th

 

[$teauA]

Besiktas away game is going to very difficult for Marseille, Besiktas is famous with their crazy fans.
You can get some idea from this link ;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE-HYZw3rh4&mode=related&search=

I think Besiktas will be 3rd and qualify for UEFA.
Porto & Liverpool will both go through the next round, Marseille will be 4th

Fans are overrated when it comes to the CL. These players have enough experience to be able to block out whatever intimidation the fans will try to put on them.

 

[Johnny_Big]

Sporting is screwed. Totally...Man Utd grabs first spot. Then we have once again italians...Sporting vs. Italians = loss. Actually, portuguese teams against italians = loss. If Sporting manages to win at home against Roma, maybe there is a chance to go through. But I wouldn't mind with a UEFA cup spot.

Benfica's group is hard. Looks easy, but it's hard. I won't even talk about AC Milan. Shaktar Donetsk was the worst team of pot 4. And Celtic...it's always hard to play against that type of teams..

Porto's task is easier. I believe they will go through.

 

[Yossarian]

Arsenal always gets such easy draws


Group A: Liverpool, Porto, Marseille, Besiktas
Group B: Chelsea, Valencia, Schalke, Rosenborg
Group C: Real Madrid, Werder Bremen, Lazio, Olimpiakos
Group D: Milan, Benfica, Celtic, Shakhtar Donetsk
Group E: Barcelona, Lyon, Stuttgart, Rangers
Group F: Manchester United, Roma, Sporting Lisbon, Dynamo Kiev
Group G: Inter, PSV, CSKA Moscow, Fenerbahce
Group H: Arsenal, Sevilla / AEK Athens, Steaua Bucharest, Slavia Prague

(bold are teams i predict to progress

hurhurhur.....ain't that the truth....even on FM I always happen to somehow draw the biggest pushovers, man......but this year, we ain't lookin' so hot, man, so I'll ******* take this draw with great pleasure.

Anyway, here's how I sees it........


Liverpool, Marseille

Chelsea, Schalke

Real, Lazio

AC, Shakhtar

Barca, Lyon

Roma, Manu

Inter, Fener

Sevilla, Arse

 

[Moroz]

I think, Dynamo has to go through this year
We have allready won Roma 3 years ago ( 3:0 and 2:0 )
Manchester is a favourite of this group, but we can get 1 or 2 or even 3 points in matches against MU
Now Dynamo has good players: Bangoura scores in allmost each game, Diakhate deffends very well , Shovkovsky began to play better
And i hope that this time Dynamo will go through!

 

[Guillaume]

Besiktas away game is going to very difficult for Marseille, Besiktas is famous with their crazy fans.
You can get some idea from this link ;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE-HYZw3rh4&mode=related&search=

I think Besiktas will be 3rd and qualify for UEFA.
Porto & Liverpool will both go through the next round, Marseille will be 4th

I know it, but Marseille is the most known and supported team in France, all teams want to beat us each week. And we know top European games, don't worry.. Marseille have also crazy ultras, you'll see it in Velodrome! This is a link from a game in San Siro vs Inter in 2004.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koRs87lyvyI