2013

[Man of Steel]

I would have picked Arsenal (Wenger>Rafa) but they've got a thin roster and three days to do something about it. I don't think Napoli will be serious challengers or anything but at least in depth they've got the advantage over Arsenal.

[cgf]

The thing is that arsenal are still just as talent as Napoli if Ramsey's growth is real. Hamsik is a stud, insigne a crafty devil and they're sound in defense and with their holders, but the firepower is just so disappointing other than the two I've mentioned, while arsenal at least have Wilshere and Cazorla to create magic.

Then when you factor in wenger v rafa and arsenal's advantage is strong enough assuming wengers a bunch of money on some mediocre depth to level that disadvantage a little.

[5DOM]

I don't think Wenger's much of an upgrade over Benitez tbh. Tactically, I think Benitez is actually ahead. He does get results when he doesn't over-rotate his squad.

[cgf]

Benitez is also a lot more prone to getting his tactics completely wrong. Arsene's not innovative right now, but he rarely handicaps his team with his tactics. Benitez does. And that to me is the big difference that gives Arsene a big advantage over rafa.

[Slava]

Tactically Wenger has been stagnant since 2006, Benitez is great at adapting and a better a manger over a single game, which is why his cup record is much better than his league records.

Things just have a habit of going totally wrong for him at times though.

[El Turco]

3 quarter finalists and a team with highest coefficient on pot 4 yeesh

[Javanar]

In my opinion ;

Group A : ManU, Shakhtar
Group B : Juve, Real Madrid
Group C : PSG,Benfica
Group D : Bayern, ManCity
Group E : Chelsea, Schalke
Group F : Dortmund, Arsenal
Group G : Atletico Mad., Porto
Group H : Barcelona, Ajax

People underrate some teams like Arsenal, Ajax and Shakhtar and overrate some other teams like Leverkusen, Napoli.

Arsenal are not that bad, they look unable to cope with rich teams owned by Arab Sheikhs or Russian oligarchs in EPL, but that does not mean they can not cope with Marseille and Napoli...

Shakhtar are a lot better team than Leverkusen and a lot more experienced than Soceidad. Lucescu is an experienced manager and competent tactician.

Ajax were able to stand in last year's death group and they managed to keep their players. I think they are better than AC Milan too....

In Group B, Real Madrid do not look better than last year... In first matchday, if Galatasaray get a win against Madrid at Ali Sami Yen, it will be hard for Real Madrid to qualify from this group...

[Foye]

Arsenal are not that bad, they look unable to cope with rich teams owned by Arab Sheikhs or Russian oligarchs in EPL, but that does not mean they can not cope with Marseille and Napoli...

Marseille will finish 4th in this group. Napoli, they proved 2 seasons ago they can escape a group of death. It remains to be seen how well Higuain adapts but I generally expect Hamsik to lead them into the knockout stages.

Shakhtar are a lot better team than Leverkusen and a lot more experienced than Soceidad. Lucescu is an experienced manager and competent tactician.

A lot better might be hyperbole and it remains to be seen how their new Brazilians adapt to European soccer but yeah I would generally rate them over Leverkusen and also Sociedad.

However, if Leverkusen can somehow escape Old Trafford with a point on day 1 I wouldn't be surprised to see Man United getting in deep trouble in this group.

Ajax were able to stand in last year's death group and they managed to keep their players. I think they are better than AC Milan too....

Nope, I don't think so. Dortmund and Real Madrid pretty much wiped the floor with them in 3 of 4 games. And even in the first game that Dortmund won only 1-0 they were the much better team.
City just blew it big time.
Even with Eriksen I would rate AC Milan over Ajax...and now Eriksen will likely be sold.

In Group B, Real Madrid do not look better than last year... In first matchday, if Galatasaray get a win against Madrid at Ali Sami Yen, it will be hard for Real Madrid to qualify from this group...

It would be awesome but I really can't see it coming

[mas1977]

Ajax were able to stand in last year's death group and they managed to keep their players. I think they are better than AC Milan too....

Nope, I don't think so. Dortmund and Real Madrid pretty much wiped the floor with them in 3 of 4 games. And even in the first game that Dortmund won only 1-0 they were the much better team.
City just blew it big time.
Even with Eriksen I would rate AC Milan over Ajax...and now Eriksen will likely be sold.

I don't agree with you about the first game. Ajax were the better team there, they had the better chances and the better play. They lost that one because Moisander made one mistake and lost his man.
And I think it's too easy to say that City blew big time. Ajax outplayed them two times.

I do agree that Ajax ain't better than Milan. I watched both of Milan's games against PSV and Ajax always has problems with teams like that. I can see them maybe getting a result (draw) at home, but away they will lose big just like PSV did.

Especially now since they have lost Alderweireld and Eriksen. And question is when de Jong will be fit again.

Ajax will have to battle to get the third place and that will be hard enough, altho Ajax usually plays well against British teams.

[Foye]

I don't remember this game exactly but looking at the highlights on Rutube....

Hummels blew a penalty and Lewandowski other than his goal had 2 additional good chances.

The only good chance Ajax had was saved by Weidenfeller and then Ajax couldn't score although Weidenfeller was 20 meters in front of his goal.

[mas1977]

I don't remember this game exactly but looking at the highlights on Rutube....

Hummels blew a penalty and Lewandowski other than his goal had 2 additional good chances.

The only good chance Ajax had was saved by Weidenfeller and then Ajax couldn't score although Weidenfeller was 20 meters in front of his goal.

Ajax had a couple of good chances and that penalty didnt even was one. A call it even then. But that actually was quite a good game for Ajax even tho they lost. I think they were the closest to getting a result in Dortmund than any other team. And they would have deserved a draw

[bargs]

Man, what a group for napoli in the UCL. I'm confident we'll perform well tough, it won't be easy but the team doesnt lack of talent having Insigne,hamsik,callejon,mertens,higuain,zuniga and the warrior behrami (imho one of the most improved international players...). See you in napoli.

[diogo_pt]

Group A: Manchester United, Shakhtar Donetsk, Bayer Leverkusen, Real Sociedad
Group B: Real Madrid, Juventus, Galatasaray, Copenhagen
Group C: Benfica, Paris St-Germain, Olympiakos, Anderlecht
Group D: Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow, Manchester City, Viktoria Plzen
Group E: Chelsea, Schalke, Basel, Steaua Bucharest
Group F: Arsenal, Marseille, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli
Group G: Porto, Atletico Madrid, Zenit St Petersburg, Austria Vienna
Group H: Barcelona, AC Milan, Ajax, Celtic

[TheAdmiral]

I don't remember this game exactly but looking at the highlights on Rutube....

Hummels blew a penalty and Lewandowski other than his goal had 2 additional good chances.

The only good chance Ajax had was saved by Weidenfeller and then Ajax couldn't score although Weidenfeller was 20 meters in front of his goal.

Ajax had a couple of good chances and that penalty didnt even was one. A call it even then. But that actually was quite a good game for Ajax even tho they lost. I think they were the closest to getting a result in Dortmund than any other team. And they would have deserved a draw

I agree with this post. No way no how was Dortmund the MUCH better side between the two. Dortmund seemed shaky at times, more so than against Real or Man City. Ajax would have deserved a draw.

Dortmund raped Ajax in the second game though.

[cgf]

If Ajax had gotten the draw it wouldn't have been undeserved, but Dortmund where the better team in that game.

[AdamTheGreek]

Group C should be interesting. PSG should win the group, but Benfica and Anderlecht don't scare me though.

Olympiakos seriously has its best roster ever and we should have made the knockouts 2 of the past few campaigns. I will be quite pissed if we don't reach the knockout stage this year.

[mas1977]

I don't remember this game exactly but looking at the highlights on Rutube....

Hummels blew a penalty and Lewandowski other than his goal had 2 additional good chances.

The only good chance Ajax had was saved by Weidenfeller and then Ajax couldn't score although Weidenfeller was 20 meters in front of his goal.

Ajax had a couple of good chances and that penalty didnt even was one. A call it even then. But that actually was quite a good game for Ajax even tho they lost. I think they were the closest to getting a result in Dortmund than any other team. And they would have deserved a draw

I agree with this post. No way no how was Dortmund the MUCH better side between the two. Dortmund seemed shaky at times, more so than against Real or Man City. Ajax would have deserved a draw.

Dortmund raped Ajax in the second game though.

Still trying to forget that one

[MaliBrah]

Still think Napoli goes through with our ozil addition? I stick by my arsenal topping the group prediction :p

[Next Coming]

Still think Napoli goes through with our ozil addition? I stick by my arsenal topping the group prediction :p

Arsenal will too Napoli.

[El Turco]

after gala got the black ronaldo, i don't see how real makes it through their group