GROUP A
Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, RB Leipzig, Club Brugge
If City and PSG don`t run away with this group then something serious is wrong. However, I think Leipzig will fancy their chances against the big two as much as they will not fancy their games with the Bundesliga outfit. I think the key to the top two is who, out of PSG and City, do best against RB and more to the point how City handle a very good German side.
City or RB Leipzig and PSG to qualify.
GROUP B
Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, FC Porto, AC Milan
Wow, Liverpool did not deserve this grouping. I take Atletico and Liverpool to go through but Milan, with the ageless Zlat the Terrible and Olivier Giroud could be the team that has a big say on the top two. It could be very tight and go down to the wire and if that is the case Liverpool may just edge out the Serie A side
GROUP C
Sporting, Borussia Dortmund, Ajax, Besiktas
At the time of the UCL draw Sporting and Benfica were neck and neck, unbeaten, in Primeira Liga, after three games and along with Dortmund must be favourites to progress. But Ajax are always capable of causing an upset so the two sides, from Portugal and Germany will need to be at their best if they are to avoid dropping into the Europa League.
Sporting and Dortmund to progress
GROUP D
FC Sherriff Tiraspol, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Shakhtar Donetsk
One of those stories you couldn`t make up centres on FC Sherriff Tiraspol, a team from a country that does not exist, being drawn with Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk. Sherriff play in the Moldovan National Division but they are located in a `breakaway state named Transnistria – honest- that is not recognised internationally.
Well, except for three other countries, also not recognised by the international community; Abkhazia, Artsakh and South Ossetia – keep up. I think the last words on a team that must be the outsidest, I know that`s not a word, of outsiders to ever compete at European football`s top table must be the following fact: Tramsnistria`s economy is frequently described as dependent on contraband and gun running. But that`s another story.
Real will be a different prospect under the wily Ancelotti and a sign of his acumen is the way he has embraced Gareth Bale back into the Bernabeu fold. Inter have a star-studded squad with the kind of UCL experience that can bear fruit all the way to the final, especially with the impetus of Italy`s Euro triumph.
I can`t see any other outcome than Real and Inter progressing.
GROUP E
Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Benfica, Dinamo Kyiv
Bayern Munich and Barcelona should top the group but will be fully aware that either of the other two teams, Benfica and Kyiv, are more than capable of throwing the cat amongst the pigeons. That said Benfica are probably more likely to fancy their chances of splitting the big two.
I think status quo will be maintained and Bayern and Barca will top the group. I mean, after the draw put PSG and Manchester City together you have to think at some point Messi will face Barca.
Top two should be Bayern and Barcelona
GROUP F
Villarreal, Manchester United, Atalanta, Young Boys
I read somewhere that someone had asked `why do Manchester United always seem to get the easiest group of all English teams`. POINT OF ORDER – look up last season`s Europa League Final!!!!!!
Atalanta will have their day sooner or later and Young Boys will be no push over. So IF United are to progress their mind set will have to be right, in every game, not always the case with the Reds. Otherwise they could end up dropping into the Europa League again.
Villareal may not have had the best of starts in La Liga so far but on the European stage they harbour optimistic hopes of closing in on the status of their more illustrious fellow La Liga compatriot.
Shock! Atalanta and Villarreal to progress
GROUP G
Lille, Sevilla, Saltzburg, Wolfsburg
Lille`s toppling of PSG in Ligue 1 last season was on a par with, if not better than, Leicester City winning the Premier League. And I expect them to relish to UCL challenge ahead. I expect them to progress with Sevilla, most neutrals` favourite Spanish side outside Madrid and Barcelona.
Sevilla are past-masters of winning European trophies and are making slow but steady progress towards achieving a similar standing in the UCL.
I am expecting Lille and Sevilla to progress with no real interference from Saltzburg or Wolfsburg.
Lille and Sevilla to top the group
GROUP H
Chelsea, Juventus, Zenit St Petersburg, Malmo
The games between Chelsea and Juventus offer much promise so I hope we are not disappointed. Thomas Tuchel hit the ground running with silverware aplenty since he arrived at Stamford Bridge while Juve have reappointed their former coach Massimiliano Allegri after sacking legend Andrea Pirlo. De javu it might be and that is what Juve fans will be hoping for as Allegri`s Juventu side won five consecutive Serie A titles. He also took them to two UCL Finals.
I cannot see beyond the big two, whether Ronaldo is at Juventus or not, for the top two places to complete what promises to be a fantastic knock-out phase.
Group H top two, Chelsea and Juventus.
