The UEFA Champions League 2011/2012 groups were drawn at a lavish ceremony in Monaco two weeks ago by some of world football’s biggest names.
Thirty-two teams from across Europe will battle to reach the final in Munich and etch their names in football history.
2010/2011 winners Barcelona goes into this season’s edition as favourites in front of last year’s runners up Manchester United, 2009/2010 winner Inter Milan and recent underachievers Real Madrid.
Competition Format:
– 32 teams split into eight groups of four (Groups A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H)
– Teams play each other twice (home and away)
– Top two teams from each group progress to the Round of 16 (Knockout Stage)
– Third placed teams drop into the second-tier UEFA Europa League
– Round of 16 winners progress to Quarter Finals (then potentially to Semi Finals and Final)
Group Predictions and Key Players (first two teams from each group qualify):
GROUP A
1. Bayern Munich
2. Manchester City
3. Napoli
4. Villarreal
Key Players: Arjen Robben will no doubt once again be the focal point of Bayern Munich’s attack as he was back in 2009/2010 when the Bavarian club reached the final of the Champions League. David Silva already has a wealth of experience in this competition through his time at Valencia and if the 25-year-old can recreate the creativity he has already shown in the Premier League, the star-studded Manchester City will be extremely difficult to beat. Also look out for Napoli’s Edinson Cavani and Giuseppe Rossi for Villarreal.
GROUP B
1. Inter Milan
2. CSKA Moscow
3. Lille
4. Trabzonspor
Key Players: Like his compatriot Arjen Robben, Netherlands international Wesley Sneijder is a constant threat to opposition defences with his trickery and vision. Inter Milan will be hoping his much talked about move to English giants Manchester United does not eventuate. Lille’s Eden Hazard is tipped to be the next big thing in world football; the winger’s explosiveness has drawn comparisons to the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Japanese midfielder Keisuke Honda of CSKA Moscow is a deep-lying playmaker, and if given too much time on the ball, can open up defences with his array of passing. The 2010 Japanese Football of the Year is also a dead ball specialist.
GROUP C
1. Manchester United
2. Benfica
3. FC Basel
4. FC Otelul Galati
Key Players: Manchester United’s run to the final of last season’s edition of the Champions League was credited much to their star striker Wayne Rooney. England’s youngest ever goal-scorer’s power and precision makes him one of the most feared attackers in the game. Paraguayan Oscar Cardozo has been a mainstay at Benfica since 2007, and it is easy to comprehend given he scores at a rate of a goal every two games. 19-year-old FC Basel midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri is known for his outstanding dribbling ability, which is not surprising considering his low centre of gravity. (Shaqiri stands at just 170cm tall)
GROUP D
1. Real Madrid
2. Lyon
3. Dinamo Zagreb
4. Ajax
Key Players: In Real Madrid’s team full of stars, one name shines brighter then the rest, Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portugal international’s incredible trickery, speed and prolific goalscoring leave him as arguably the best player in the world alongside Lionel Messi.
Much maligned when playing for his native France, Lyon’s Yoann Gourcuff shows no signs of a player low on confidence when playing for his club side. The 25-year-old’s creativity and vision helped his former club Bordeaux to qualify for the Champions League in 2008/2009.
Sime Vrsaljko of Dinamo Zagreb has attracted the interest of both Arsenal and Tottenham over the summer, with both clubs keen to bolster their ranks with a versatile defender who loves to attack. Ajax’s strong centre-back Jan Vertonghen is another defender who enjoys attacking and possesses great technical ability.
GROUP E
1. Chelsea
2. Bayer Leverkusen
3. Valencia
4. Genk
Key Players: Despite enduring a miserable beginning to his Chelsea career, former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres is a player who, if he can regain his form from previous years, can become once again one of the most prolific goalscorers in the world.
Bayer Leverkusen’s attacking midfielder Renato Augusto is a player with plenty of pace and the ability to take on opposition players. However, the Brazilian has been injury-plagued so his fitness is a key factor in the club’s push for the Round of 16. Argentine playmaker Ever Banega is the heartbeat of Valencia’s midfield and his accurate passing and smart movement has become all the more important since the departure of David Silva to Manchester City.
GROUP F
1. Borussia Dortmund
2. Arsenal
3. Marseille
4. Olympiacos
Key Players: Borussia Dortmund’s reliable centre-back Mats Hummels will have a major part to play in Die Borussen’s attempt to progress to the Round of 16 and beyond. His coolness in defence provides a platform for his teams attacking style of play under manager Jurgen Klopp. Embattled Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will be hoping new boy Gervinho can deliver the goods. The former Lille player’s tenacity and willingness to take on defenders will be pivotal in Arsenal competitiveness after a lacklustre start to the domestic season. Marseille’s Loic Remy and Olympiacos’ Australian-born Greek centre defender Avraam Papadopoulos are both vital for their respective teams.
GROUP G
1. Shakhtar Donetsk
2. FC Porto
3. Zenit St. Petersburg
4. APOEL Nicosia
Key Players: Shakhtar Donetsk captain Darijo Srna is a player who has had interest from many of the world’s biggest clubs over the last few years, but he has been loyal to the club that signed him back in 2003. Srna’s driving runs and accurate crossing from wide areas mean he is a constant danger to the most experienced of defences. FC Porto’s Alvaro Pereira was close to sealing a move to Chelsea during the summer transfer window, however luckily for Porto it never eventuated and they held onto a defender with Champions League experience with Romanian side CFR Cluj.
GROUP H
1. Barcelona
2. AC Milan
3. Viktoria Plzen
4. BATE Borisov
Key Players: For Barcelona, it is incredibly difficult to split Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, however current FIFA Ballon d’Or winner Messi is a player who can change and/or win match in an instant. The Argentine’s stunning display in last year’s Champions League final against Manchester United will go down in history as one of the best performances ever in a final of a major competition. AC Milan’s Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has played for no less than five different clubs in the Champions League, will be relishing the opportunity to play against his former employers Barcelona. His technique for a man his size (6 ft 5 in) is unbelievable, however his short fuse and tendency to go missing in the big games could be not only his, but AC Milan’s downfall.
FINAL PREDICTIONS
Winner: Barcelona
Runners-Up: AC Milan
Top Goalscorer: David Villa (Barcelona)
Player of the Tournament: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Daniel Baricevic is a first-year Bachelor of Journalism (Sport) student at La Trobe University. This is his first piece for upstart. Follow him on Twitter: @danielbara4
