Champions League Preview: Bayern Start Defence as Jose Mourinho Hunts Third Success
Group F: Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal, Marseille, Napoli
This promises to be the tensest group of the lot, with all four sides capable of reaching the knockout rounds. As beaten finalists last term, Dortmund are marginal favourites to outlast their rivals, leveraging last year's experience and the fact that they held onto Robert Lewandowski and secured the signatures of Henrik Mkhitaryan and Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang. Arsenal's swoop for Mesut Ozil has shifted the landscape in Group F, putting Arsene Wenger's men back in serious contention for top spot while Rafael Benitez's Napoli side have made a bright start in Serie A. Marseille, a talented team in their own right, are the outsiders, but their early season form has presented some question marks.
Group G: FC Porto, Atletico Madrid, Zenit St. Petersburg, Austria Vienna
While Austria Vienna have the unfortunate role of cannon fodder, the rest of this group should be fiercely contested. The bookmakers have installed Atletico Madrid as slight favourites to pip Porto to first place and both clubs have promising young managers. Despite the loss of Falcao, Atletico, in particular, are primed to make an impact and emerge from being the forgotten sibling to Barcelona and Real Madrid. Zenit will be no pushovers though under Luciano Spalletti – if they prosper on home turf, they might yet sneak into the last 16.
Group H: Barcelona, AC Milan, Celtic, Ajax
Barcelona have a point to prove after back-to-back semi-final exits. Meanwhile, the Bundesliga has grabbed the plaudits that were previously reserved for Barcelona and La Liga. Expect a backlash from Barcelona, led by Lionel Messi and new signing Neymar. AC Milan, still rebuilding, are expected to clinch second place, assuming Mario Balotelli keeps his cool and Kaka rediscovers some of the form from his first spell at the San Siro. But they will be pushed all the way by Ajax and Celtic. The Scots, in particular, have a solid home record in Europe and will provide a hostile atmosphere for all three games at Celtic Park.
So many big names, so many mouth-watering matches – with the return of the Champions League, the 2013/14 season truly begins this week.
This promises to be the tensest group of the lot, with all four sides capable of reaching the knockout rounds. As beaten finalists last term, Dortmund are marginal favourites to outlast their rivals, leveraging last year's experience and the fact that they held onto Robert Lewandowski and secured the signatures of Henrik Mkhitaryan and Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang. Arsenal's swoop for Mesut Ozil has shifted the landscape in Group F, putting Arsene Wenger's men back in serious contention for top spot while Rafael Benitez's Napoli side have made a bright start in Serie A. Marseille, a talented team in their own right, are the outsiders, but their early season form has presented some question marks.
Group G: FC Porto, Atletico Madrid, Zenit St. Petersburg, Austria Vienna
While Austria Vienna have the unfortunate role of cannon fodder, the rest of this group should be fiercely contested. The bookmakers have installed Atletico Madrid as slight favourites to pip Porto to first place and both clubs have promising young managers. Despite the loss of Falcao, Atletico, in particular, are primed to make an impact and emerge from being the forgotten sibling to Barcelona and Real Madrid. Zenit will be no pushovers though under Luciano Spalletti – if they prosper on home turf, they might yet sneak into the last 16.
Group H: Barcelona, AC Milan, Celtic, Ajax
Barcelona have a point to prove after back-to-back semi-final exits. Meanwhile, the Bundesliga has grabbed the plaudits that were previously reserved for Barcelona and La Liga. Expect a backlash from Barcelona, led by Lionel Messi and new signing Neymar. AC Milan, still rebuilding, are expected to clinch second place, assuming Mario Balotelli keeps his cool and Kaka rediscovers some of the form from his first spell at the San Siro. But they will be pushed all the way by Ajax and Celtic. The Scots, in particular, have a solid home record in Europe and will provide a hostile atmosphere for all three games at Celtic Park.
So many big names, so many mouth-watering matches – with the return of the Champions League, the 2013/14 season truly begins this week.
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