How the Premier League clubs will fare in Champions League
by Andy Townsend
by Andy Townsend
Last updated at 3:13 AM on 29th August 2008
a
Four Barclays Premier League powerhouses, but where is the threat to stop another English invasion of the Champions League Final? Barcelona are the natural challengers with a new coach in Pep Guardiola and a different way of playing, Jose Mourinho will love keeping Roman Abramovich waiting for another year and beware Bayern Munich under Jurgen Klinsmann. He means business on their return to the competition.
The hardest draw is Real Madrid’s group, where UEFA Cup holders and Russian champions Zenit will pose a serious problem to the established powers. One of Madrid or Juventus might struggle to find a way through.
The eye-catching matches involving the English teams are the return of Fernando Torres to Atletico Madrid, Chelsea’s visit to Roma and — of course — Manchester United’s journey north to Glasgow. The defending champions have unfinished business in Scotland. And a certain former Rangers centre forward in their dug-out has a long memory.
The eye-catching matches involving the English teams are the return of Fernando Torres to Atletico Madrid, Chelsea’s visit to Roma and — of course — Manchester United’s journey north to Glasgow. The defending champions have unfinished business in Scotland. And a certain former Rangers centre forward in their dug-out has a long memory.
Manchester United
Scots everywhere you look with Fergie, Gordon Strachan and Bruce Rioch, the former Arsenal manager, at Aalborg. United have far too much quality to be troubled, though they will want to improve on their attacking threat after two indifferent performances at the start of the Premier League season.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s return should help! There are also no long-haul trips, which will please Fergie as he looks to keep his side fresh for domestic action. Villarreal are a difficult obstacle for Celtic. With Giuseppe Rossi leading the line, they will challenge for second slot and Celtic must overcome their rotten away record to advance. They may need points in Denmark to keep in the hunt.
Scots everywhere you look with Fergie, Gordon Strachan and Bruce Rioch, the former Arsenal manager, at Aalborg. United have far too much quality to be troubled, though they will want to improve on their attacking threat after two indifferent performances at the start of the Premier League season.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s return should help! There are also no long-haul trips, which will please Fergie as he looks to keep his side fresh for domestic action. Villarreal are a difficult obstacle for Celtic. With Giuseppe Rossi leading the line, they will challenge for second slot and Celtic must overcome their rotten away record to advance. They may need points in Denmark to keep in the hunt.
Chelsea
There is little here to damage Chelsea. Roma are hard to beat on home turf, but rarely travel well — remember the seven they conceded at Old Trafford? They have good players, including former Liverpool man John Arne Riise and, especially, Francesco Totti if he gets out of bed on the right side, but Luiz Felipe Scolari will expect to go through with games to spare.
Bordeaux are an average team from a declining league and Chelsea can target maximum points home and away. They will be rushing for the reference books to learn more about CFR, the champions from Romania. Watch Chelsea sail through.
There is little here to damage Chelsea. Roma are hard to beat on home turf, but rarely travel well — remember the seven they conceded at Old Trafford? They have good players, including former Liverpool man John Arne Riise and, especially, Francesco Totti if he gets out of bed on the right side, but Luiz Felipe Scolari will expect to go through with games to spare.
Bordeaux are an average team from a declining league and Chelsea can target maximum points home and away. They will be rushing for the reference books to learn more about CFR, the champions from Romania. Watch Chelsea sail through.
Liverpool
If you thought it was hard for Liverpool against Standard Liege, stand by for another bumpy ride. The highlight of the draw is the trip to Atletico Madrid, where ace goalscorer Torres and keeper Pepe Reina will visit old friends. Madrid can be the leading team in this group with quality players in Maniche, Simao, Luis Garcia and Diego Forlan.
Marseille won at Anfield last season and ran Liverpool close in the group stages. We know all about the quality of PSV, who regularly qualify from this stage. This is a difficult draw, but none of the teams have the firepower of Liverpool. They should go through, but maybe only as runners-up to Madrid.
If you thought it was hard for Liverpool against Standard Liege, stand by for another bumpy ride. The highlight of the draw is the trip to Atletico Madrid, where ace goalscorer Torres and keeper Pepe Reina will visit old friends. Madrid can be the leading team in this group with quality players in Maniche, Simao, Luis Garcia and Diego Forlan.
Marseille won at Anfield last season and ran Liverpool close in the group stages. We know all about the quality of PSV, who regularly qualify from this stage. This is a difficult draw, but none of the teams have the firepower of Liverpool. They should go through, but maybe only as runners-up to Madrid.
Arsenal
Difficult away matches, experienced opponents. If Arsene Wenger was waiting for the draw before deciding whether to move into the transfer market, he should be on to the bank manager this morning. Porto topped Liverpool at this stage last season and have Euro know-how. They don’t have great attacking might, but then neither do Arsenal.
Fenerbahce gave Chelsea a fright in the quarter-finals last season and the Turkish club will be a hard place to go, especially with former Spain boss Luis Aragones in charge. Kiev were hopeless last season, but Moscow is a long, testing trip. Arsenal might have to settle for second place.
Difficult away matches, experienced opponents. If Arsene Wenger was waiting for the draw before deciding whether to move into the transfer market, he should be on to the bank manager this morning. Porto topped Liverpool at this stage last season and have Euro know-how. They don’t have great attacking might, but then neither do Arsenal.
Fenerbahce gave Chelsea a fright in the quarter-finals last season and the Turkish club will be a hard place to go, especially with former Spain boss Luis Aragones in charge. Kiev were hopeless last season, but Moscow is a long, testing trip. Arsenal might have to settle for second place.
No comments:
Post a Comment