Matty
Well-Known Member
A Club by Club Assessment
Group H
Barcelona – The reigning Champion’s League holders, the Spanish League holders and the team recognised as the best in Europe, and potentially the best club side there has ever been. The attacking options at their disposal, Villa, Pedro, Iniesta, Messi, Sanchez (albeit out for two months injured) and Fabregas combined with the likes of Xavi, Mascherano, Dani Alves and Busquets makes Barcelona seemingly unbeatable. If there is a chink in their armour, and it’s a minor one, it’s that physically they aren’t the strongest, and defensively they could be suspect, if you ever get the ball off them. AC Milan will be a tough opponent for them, but they should win the group and also the Champion’s League outright. (NB – A 2-2 home draw against AC Milan occurred after this was written)
AC Milan – Milan are another side awash with attacking talent, but they possess a strength and steel to their side that many others fail to match. The Italians won their first title for seven years last season and finally seem to have the upper hand in the battle with Inter. Robinho, Pato and Ibrahimovic will trouble most defences whereas Gattuso, Van Bommel, Seedorf, Zambrotta and Nesta will stifle most attacks. If Milan lack anything it’s a little creative flair in midfield (Aquilani is unlikely to be the answer). Milan will push Barcelona but don’t quite have their quality so a runner up spot and tough knockout round match seemingly await. (NB – A 2-2 away draw against Barcelona occurred after this was written)
BATE Borisov – Champions of Belarus for the last five years, Borisov have qualified for the Champions League group stage for only the second time. Their squad is almost exclusively made up of Belarussians, and as such you’ll not have heard of them. Serb striker Mateja Kezman is more recognisable however. Even the most ardent of BATE fans will recognise that third place and dropping into the Europa League is as good as it can get for them given the vastly superior Milan and Barcelona sides. (NB – A 1-1 away draw against Viktoria Plzen occurred after this was written)
Viktoria Plzen – This season marks the first time Viktoria Plzen have ever won a match in any European competition, let alone a tie. However having beaten Armenian side Pyunik Yerevan with ease they then overcame superior opposition in Rosenborg and FC Copenhagen to reach the group stage. Their squad is made up on Czech players, with a couple of Slovaks for good measure, and you’ll have heard of none of them. Battling BATE for third is their only real option here as, quality wise, it’s men versus boys when you consider the Milan and Barcelona squads. (NB – A 1-1 home draw against BATE Borisov occurred after this was written)
Group H
Barcelona – The reigning Champion’s League holders, the Spanish League holders and the team recognised as the best in Europe, and potentially the best club side there has ever been. The attacking options at their disposal, Villa, Pedro, Iniesta, Messi, Sanchez (albeit out for two months injured) and Fabregas combined with the likes of Xavi, Mascherano, Dani Alves and Busquets makes Barcelona seemingly unbeatable. If there is a chink in their armour, and it’s a minor one, it’s that physically they aren’t the strongest, and defensively they could be suspect, if you ever get the ball off them. AC Milan will be a tough opponent for them, but they should win the group and also the Champion’s League outright. (NB – A 2-2 home draw against AC Milan occurred after this was written)
AC Milan – Milan are another side awash with attacking talent, but they possess a strength and steel to their side that many others fail to match. The Italians won their first title for seven years last season and finally seem to have the upper hand in the battle with Inter. Robinho, Pato and Ibrahimovic will trouble most defences whereas Gattuso, Van Bommel, Seedorf, Zambrotta and Nesta will stifle most attacks. If Milan lack anything it’s a little creative flair in midfield (Aquilani is unlikely to be the answer). Milan will push Barcelona but don’t quite have their quality so a runner up spot and tough knockout round match seemingly await. (NB – A 2-2 away draw against Barcelona occurred after this was written)
BATE Borisov – Champions of Belarus for the last five years, Borisov have qualified for the Champions League group stage for only the second time. Their squad is almost exclusively made up of Belarussians, and as such you’ll not have heard of them. Serb striker Mateja Kezman is more recognisable however. Even the most ardent of BATE fans will recognise that third place and dropping into the Europa League is as good as it can get for them given the vastly superior Milan and Barcelona sides. (NB – A 1-1 away draw against Viktoria Plzen occurred after this was written)
Viktoria Plzen – This season marks the first time Viktoria Plzen have ever won a match in any European competition, let alone a tie. However having beaten Armenian side Pyunik Yerevan with ease they then overcame superior opposition in Rosenborg and FC Copenhagen to reach the group stage. Their squad is made up on Czech players, with a couple of Slovaks for good measure, and you’ll have heard of none of them. Battling BATE for third is their only real option here as, quality wise, it’s men versus boys when you consider the Milan and Barcelona squads. (NB – A 1-1 home draw against BATE Borisov occurred after this was written)