2018-19 UEFA Champions League Discussion

[DusterDave]

We had a bit of action on the boards for this summer's FIFA World Cup so I figured why not create a Champions League discussion? The group stage draw was held yesterday and there are some very interesting groups. Here is how it played out....

GROUP A
Atletico Madrid (Spain)
Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
Monaco (France)
Club Brugge (Belgium)

GROUP B
Barcelona (Spain)
Tottenham Hotspur (England)
PSV Eindhoven (Holland)
Inter Milan (Italy)

GROUP C
Napoli (Italy)
Liverpool (England)
Paris-Saint Germain (France)
Red Star Belgrade (Serbia)

GROUP D
Porto (Portugal)
Galatasaray (Turkey)
Lokomotiv Moscow (Russia)
Schalke 04 (Germany)

GROUP E
Bayern Munich (Germany)
Ajax (Holland)
AEK Athens (Greece)
Benfica (Portugal)

GROUP F
Lyon (France)
Shakhtar Donestk (Ukraine)
1899 Hoffenheim (Germany)
Manchester City (England)

GROUP G
CSKA Moscow (Russia)
Real Madrid (Spain)
Roma (Italy)
Viktoria Plzen (Czech Republic)

GROUP H
Juventus (Italy)
Young Boys (Switzerland)
Manchester United (England)
Valencia (Spain)


At first glance you have to say that Group B and Group C are easily the two toughest groups while Group D is by far the easiest. I can't say I'm too pleased with the draw as I am a big fan of Inter Milan. They won the tournaments back in 2010 but haven't qualified for the tournament since 2011, so it sucks to be given such a tough draw after a 7 year absence from the tournament. The favourites are the usual suspects: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, PSG, Manchester City and Juventus. For those unaware, the top 2 teams in each group qualify for the Round of 16 knock-out phase while the 3rd place teams qualify for the Round of 32 knock-out stage of the Europa League (2nd tier European club competition).

I am not very confident my team (Inter Milan) will do very well, in fact I expect them to finish last in the group. I was confident in a place of the Round of 16 until they were given a harsh Gorup Stage draw. I'd even settle for a 3rd place finish and a birth into the Europa League knock-out phase where they can be a true contender. Time will tell.

Did your club qualify for the tournament, are you pleased with the draw?

All the action kicks-off on September 18!

[renello]

Tough draw for your team. If they play Barca in the last game that could be an edge for placement. If Barca win their first two they may rest starters in last game. I think Inter has a better chance than you think. Don't follow Italian league as much but they sure give some of the Spanish teams fits at times. Like last year when Barca crashed out of Champions league. It is soccer and odd things can happen when you only play 3 games and scoring is relatively low at least compared to hockey. lol. I am a Barca fan simply because of Messi. His play is what draws me to watch soccer and now I follow a lot of players and teams.

[DusterDave]

Tough draw for your team. If they play Barca in the last game that could be an edge for placement. If Barca win their first two they may rest starters in last game. I think Inter has a better chance than you think. Don't follow Italian league as much but they sure give some of the Spanish teams fits at times. Like last year when Barca crashed out of Champions league. It is soccer and odd things can happen when you only play 3 games and scoring is relatively low at least compared to hockey. lol. I am a Barca fan simply because of Messi. His play is what draws me to watch soccer and now I follow a lot of players and teams.

Group stage consists of 6 matches, 3 home and 3 away playing each team twice.

I am also a big fan of Leo Messi's. I've even had the opportunity to see him play live twice, memories that I will take to my grave.

[renello]

Yeah, sorry I stand corrected. I like the home and away bit. You are so very fortunate to have watched that wizard play. What games if you don't mind me asking? I have extended family in southern France. Figure I need to go to Barcelona one time in my life. He he.

[DusterDave]

The matches I seen weren't in Europe, they were international friendlies at Giants Stadium in New Jersey. I have a bit of Argentinian in my background and my father raised us to be die-hard fans of the Argentina national team so both matches were a dream come true. The first match was vs. USA which was a great experience but the second time was a once in a life time opportunity. It was a friendly vs. Brazil dubber Messi vs. Neymar. Leo Messi scored a sensational hat-trick and the match had it all. 7 goals, 2 red cards and a 4-3 Argentina victory. Some say it is even the greatest friendly of all-time.

Here are the extended highlights:

[renello]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing that. Priceless. His vision, dribbling, weighted passes, free kicks.....best of all time and it is not even close.