Barclays Premier League - Mid Season Review

Current Standings

1) Manchester United

2) Manchester City

3) Chelsea

4) Tottenham

5) Arsenal

6) Everton

7) West Brom

8) Stoke

9) Liverpool

10) Swansea

11) Norwich

12) West Ham

13) Sunderland

14) Fulham

15) Newcastle

16) Wigan

17) Aston Villa

18) Southampton

19) Reading

20) QPR

As expected, the Manchester clubs have been the table-toppers for the majority of the season, with Manchester United currently holding a seven-point edge over rivals Manchester City. The race is not completely over for the other clubs, as Chelsea and Tottenham are not completely out of it yet. It does look like another two-horse race, and United have a big advantage from their win at City.

Team to Rise Up the Table: Aston Villa

Things are very bleak for the Villans nowadays as they have shipped an astounding fifteen goals over their last three games while also failing to score. Injuries to key players Darren Bent, Richard Dunne and Gabby Agbonlahor (among others) have forced manager Paul Lambert into starting an extraordinarily young side. Despite some early success, this is not a sustainable strategy in the gritty Premier League, where experience is often a huge influence on a club’s place in the table. Villa’s youngsters have the talent to compete in this league, but they need their older players to help grind out results. Fortunately, these players will not be hurt forever, and I expect the return of players from injury to provide a major boost. After last year’s dreadful season under Alex McLeish, owner Randy Lerner will be desperate to improve the standing of his side and may buy some experienced players when the transfer window opens January 1st. I don’t see a dramatic change for Villa, but this team has more talent on its roster than their place suggests. Expect them to move up the table and avoid a relegation dogfight into the latter stages of the season.

Team to Move Down the Table: Stoke

The popular pick here is likely West Brom – but Stoke’s results seem to be a bit less sustainable than those of the Baggies. I don’t see a major decline from Stoke; Tony Pulis has built a sustainable model for the club since their promotion in 2008 and the Britannia has always been a tough place for Premier League teams to play. However, Stoke’s highest finish was 11^th place and they have finished in 12^th, 13^th and 14^th in their other three BPL seasons. This team could be more talented than many of Pulis’s other nit-and-grit sides, but nonetheless plays a physical, bruising style – Stoke’s leading goal scorer hasn’t topped twenty goals in this century. The team has scored just twenty one goals in twenty Premier League games this season, but do hold the best defensive record in the division. Don’t expect the Potters to slip too far, but a finish more aligned with their historical results should be in the cards.

The Final Two Champions League Spots

I think it’s fair to say that United and City are virtual locks for a minimum fourth-placed finish, so the final two places are in question. Chelsea seem to be putting it together as well – an initial slow start under Rafa Benitez has been quelled by some stunning attacking football. The fourth place spot is the most debatable, as there up to five teams to be considered as realistic contenders. I’m going to leave my preseason pick (Liverpool) out of it for now, as they are quite a distance back and aren’t playing nearly well enough to make a run right now. 

That leaves four sides to consider – Arsenal, Everton, Tottenham, and West Bromwich Albion. Arsenal have been in the Champions League places every year and despite some early turmoil at the club, the Gunners have improved greatly since the embarrassing Capital One Cup exit to Bradford. Cazorla has been a magician in the middle, Walcott looks comfortable in the striker’s role and the midfield has been boosted by the return of Jack Wilshere. Arsenal still have a leaky defense but should be considered favorites for a top-four finish among these clubs. Their cross-town rivals, Tottenham, currently sit above them in the table and will be a serious threat to capture a place in next year’s Champions League. After being snubbed last year despite a fourth place finish, Spurs also endured a slow start before starting to shine under Andre Villas-Boas. Tottenham and Arsenal look even on paper to me, but the experience of Arsenal gives them a slight edge in the Premier League. Tottenham are ahead in the table now but expect these two to be close to the conclusion of the season.

The last two sides are relative outsiders to the top quarter of the table. Everton have been a historically slow-starting side, but this year got off to a great start, leading fans to believe it could be the year to make a run at the Champions League places. David Moyes is one of the Premier League’s best managers and Everton have a number of star players who can sustain the current run of results. The suspension of Marouane Fellaini and injuries have dampened the outlook for the Toffees but if they can have a typical second-half Everton performance, they will be contenders. Lastly, West Brom are the true underdogs as their top-half presence is a surprise to most. They have defeated a number of good sides at the Hawthorns and have played a very positive style throughout the season. That being said, this is the least experienced or proven side in the top half of the table. Their attacking trio of Shane Long, Romelu Lukaku and Peter Odemwingie will pose a threat to any defense in the league. I don’t see West Brom being able to sustain a European place, but don’t expect a major drop off from the Baggies either. 

Relegation: Who Has Hope?

Of course mathematically every team has hope of survival at this stage of the season, but which teams could we actually see climb out of the relegation zone and escape? Reading and Southampton were expected to struggle in their respective returns to the top flight, but QPR’s inclusion would have been a surprise after a number of big-name players were brought to the club this summer. To say it has been a disaster at Loftus Road is a mere understatement. The squad is filled with overpaid, underachieving, mediocre footballers who did not come to play for former manager Mark Hughes and have only slightly improved under Harry Redknapp – both proven Premier League managers. When you consider the size of the contracts handed out to these players, it isn’t as surprising as initially thought to see the R’s at the bottom of the table. All hope is not lost – they aren’t too far from safety, and if Redknapp is able to transform pieces of the squad, they could be of the caliber expected at the beginning of the season. 

Reading and Southampton are in unfamiliar territory – both clubs have experience in the top flight but not recently, and both players and managers are inexperienced at this level. Reading’s Jimmy Kebe even called the Royals a “good Championship team” in response to a question about the club’s transfer policy over the summer. You can’t really disagree. Neither of the clubs brought in a number of quality players this summer (although Southampton did splurge on Gaston Ramirez) and are now battling it out to stay alive for another season. Both teams have defensive issues, but I give Southampton a slight edge at survival because of their attacking playmakers. Reading need to strengthen the squad during the transfer window or they will almost certainly go down. 

Liverpool

I decided to dedicate an entire section to Liverpool because they have yet again made me feel like a fool for picking them to place fourth. I don’t know what the expectations were from Liverpool fans but I certainly expected them to be far better than they are. The most worrying part is that the same problems they had under Roy Hodgson still persist – they don’t score enough goals from their chances and they don’t have enough scoring threats on the pitch. Luis Suarez has been their lone threat for over a year, and despite his at times brilliant (think the equalizer against Newcastle) play, the Reds have been constantly looking for someone to get them a goal. To be mid table at this point in this season is a huge concern for Brendan Rodgers, as his side is more talented than his Swansea side was, yet is performing no better. 

What can they do? For one, they need to buy a striker – the injury to Fabio Borini and the loan departure of Andy Carroll have left Suarez as the only attacking threat, and he simply cannot do it alone every game. Midfield is also a concern, as Stewart Downing is not a name that should be reoccurring on a top-four side’s team sheet. The defense isn’t bad, nor is it superb, so reinforcements would be helpful there as well, but the main prerogative has to be obtaining a true striker. Liverpool will finish higher than they are right now, but it’s hard to see them push for a Champions League spot without major reinforcements. It’s too early to tell if Rodgers is the right man, but the pressure will certainly mount if the Reds don’t start making a serious charge soon.

The Rafa Effect

Throughout Rafa Benitez's first three home fixtures in charge, the chant "there's only one Di Matteo" rang throughout Stamford Bridge several times a game. If I was there, I would have gladly joined. The decision to replace the man who had won Chelsea its first Champions League crown less than four months into the new season is one of Roman Abramovich's most questionable moves. It was even more undesirable when considering his replacement was Rafa Benitez, the man who had voiced his displeasure with Chelsea fans numerous times during his tenure with Liverpool.

If there was any logical methodology in hiring Rafa, it would be that he brings a better defensive approach, and he had an existing successful relationship with Fernando Torres. Getting Torres going had been the unsolvable puzzle for each Chelsea manager, and reuniting him with his old boss appears to be his last chance with the club. The team had also become uncharacteristically mistake-prone and flimsy at the back, and simple mistakes were costing the team results. If Rafa could institute his defensive style and reignite the fire under Torres, the switch would prove successful.

Although initial results were poor, Rafa's effect on the team can now be properly gauged. Defensively, the team is greatly improved. Chelsea conceded two goals or more in seven of Di Matteo's last nine games in charge, while they have conceded two goals or more just once in Rafa's first nine games, including three clean sheets. The decision to move David Luiz to midfield has been a key switch. Luiz has loads of talent and a wide skill set, but he has proven time and time again that he makes too many silly errors to be a central defender in the Premier League. In a holding midfield position, Luiz can take the chances he takes as a center back, but have the cover of the defense in case he makes a mistake. The results have been good - Cahill and Ivanovic have been strong in the center and Luiz has showed his attacking skills with numerous through balls and the wonderful free kick against Aston Villa. Azpilicueta has been strong down the right hand side, whipping in crosses for the forward line to attack, while providing a bit more pace than Ivanovic did in that spot. As a unit, the defense looks far more compact even without the experience of John Terry.

The relationship between Rafa and Torres was widely discussed following the former's appointment, with the hope being that Rafa could trigger the lagging form that plagued the No. 9 throughout his time at Chelsea. Since the switch, Torres has looked far more pacy and hungry for goals. He has scored seven goals in nine games under Benitez, and Chelsea have won every game he scored in. It makes you think twice about the upcoming window - the rumor is that Chelsea would purchase Falcao. Clearly, Falcao is a world-class player, but with Torres in this kind of form, it may not be necessary to spend so much at this time. Waiting until the summer could be a better move than splashing the cash now. But as always with Chelsea, that decision is up to Abramovich.

Chelsea fans are never going to completely warm to Benitez - the Liverpool days have done too much damage to completely forget his past. But the steady improvement of the side since he took over, and the possible addition of players in January, could turn the tide further in Rafa's favor. It's time for Chelsea fans to give him a chance - the Premier League is far from over.

UEFA Champions League - Matchday 5

A quick run-down of this week's games - I expect most of these ties to be very close. Some teams have already been eliminated, but most have it all to play for and are fighting to stay alive. It makes for some aggressive, tight football that usually culminates in more goals as teams get more desperate for points. With the quality of the teams in this competition, this could be the best matchday of the group stage.

HEADLINER: Juventus v. Chelsea

Juventus host Chelsea trailing both the Blues and Shakhtar (who visit Nordsjaelland) by a point. Juve have a much greater sense of urgency to win this game, while Chelsea would be happy with a point, as a very winnable home fixture against Nordjaelland awaits. A loss and a Shakhtar win would eliminate the Old Lady ahead of next matchday's showdown in Ukraine. Chelsea must not play this fixture too carefully, as a loss and a Shakhtar win would set them to be eliminated with a draw in Donetsk between the two. I expect Chelsea to play on the counter but also to show some conviction going forward, especially considering how fragile their defense has been without John Terry. Juventus gave them a ton of trouble at Stamford Bridge and it may behoove the Blues to start off on the front foot rather than waiting for the Italians to come at them. I expect lots of chances given Chelsea's attacking prowess and their messy defense. An early goal would force Juventus to attack with much more force, which could be provided by in-form attackers Juan Mata and Eden Hazard. Juventus have stepped up their goal-scoring recently as well, scoring ten goals in their two games prior to Saturday. This is the game to watch of the week.

Prediction: Juventus 2-2 Chelsea

UPSET ALERT: Anderlecht v. AC Milan

Anderlecht gave Milan all they could handle on Matchday 1, leaving with a point in a 0-0 draw. Milan have been in peril all season long, and the issues within the club only seem to be escalating. The Belgians are just a point behind and a victory would put them in pole position to reach the knockout stage. Milan desperately need something to turn the club's fortunes around, and their only win in the competition so far came away from home (in Russia). I don't see it. This looks like a lost season for Milan, with the only bright spot being the emergence of Stephan El Shaarawy as a legitimate goal scorer. After last matchday's win over Zenit, Anderlecht could be this year's Pot 4 team to go through. Anderlecht have a number of experienced players who will not be afraid to attack the struggling Milan defense. Christian Abbiati has come under particular scrutiny for his role in their concession of five goals in the last two games. Anderlecht should be rocking for this game. Upset alert on full blast for the Italians.

Prediction: Anderlecht 1-0 Milan

GROUP D WILL BE INTERESTING IF...

Manchester City and Ajax both win at home, against Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund respectively. Dubbed the "group of death" of this season's competition, the matches have failed to disappoint; however, the dramatics have, as City and Ajax both need wins today to have any chance of going through. Unfortunately, I can't see it happening. City have been miserable in Europe this season and now must beat arguably the best team in the world to have any chance. Last weekend's thrashing of Aston Villa will provide some spark but there is an obvious difference in quality and organization between Villa and a Mourinho-coached Madrid. Ajax played well against City, and are vastly underrated - if they'd finished the job and won at the Etihad, this group would have a whole different complexion. But Dortmund have been very strong in Europe this year on both sides of the field, so it will be very difficult for the Dutch. It looks like we're heading for a boring final matchday, as I expect Madrid and Dortmund to frustrate their opponents and acquire the necessary results to all but send them through. I give Ajax a better chance of grabbing a win and spicing up the group, but two draws could be on the cards for this week's Group D fixtures.

Predictions: Manchester City 1-1 Real Madrid, Ajax 0-0 Dortmund

Full Predictions (Rankings in parentheses): 

BATE - Lille : DRAW
Valencia - Bayern Munich (4) : DRAW
Juventus (7) - Chelsea (3) : DRAW
FC Nordjaelland - Shakhtar Donetsk : AWAY WIN
Spartak Moscow - Barcelona (2) : DRAW
Benfica (21) - Celtic (25) : HOME WIN
Zenit (15) - Malaga (14) : HOME WIN
Anderlecht - AC Milan (18) : HOME WIN
Galatasaray - Manchester United (6) : HOME WIN
CFR Cluj - Braga : AWAY WIN
Manchester City (5) - Real Madrid (1) : DRAW
Ajax Amsterdam - Borussia Dortmund (8) : DRAW
Dynamo Kiev - PSG (9) : AWAY WIN
FC Porto (23) - Dinamo Zagreb : HOME WIN
Arsenal (12) - Montpellier : HOME WIN
Schalke (10) - Olympiakos : HOME WIN

UEFA Champions League - Matchday 4

Last matchday featured a number of upset specials. The early upset darling, BATE, were run over by Valencia to extend their point-less run against Spanish opposition to six games. However, Dortmund knocked off Real Madrid, Schalke won at the Emirates (boom), Ajax dismantled Manchester City and Shakhtar beat Chelsea. The biggest shock to me was Ajax's win, not because of the result itself but because of the performance. They were better for nearly the whole match, as City's goal came against the run of play. Rather than falter, Ajax responded with three second half goals to stun the City hierarchy. One point from three is not good enough for Roberto's men - I don't care who you're playing.

Matchday 4 is a reverse of Matchday 3 - so it's the same matchups but at the opposite team's home field. For some ties, it makes an even better matchup, as AC Milan and Malaga should be very tight, as will Dynamo Kiev and Porto, among others. However, the better sides that played away from home last week should have a much easier go of it at home - Valencia, City, and Benfica should all come away with three points this week. Lots of points to think about, though.

HEADLINER: Schalke 04 v. Arsenal

I'm not going to choose a game from Group D this week (although I know Real Madrid and Dortmund should be a great game) because I think you can take a lot more from this tie. Arsenal are in a perilous state at the current time and in much need of a victory to retake first place in Group B and settle concerns from fans. Schalke are performing very well at the moment and should have nine points in the group, but conceded late against Montpellier. After winning at the Emirates, Schalke will have nothing to fear against the Gunners, who have scored just seven goals in six Premier League games away from home. Despite having the best defensive record in the Premier League, Arsenal's defense has proven mistake-prone during the last few years, and I expect nothing different in Germany. Schalke are rotating the squad quite a bit recently to keep players fresh, but should have most of their first team on the field Tuesday. Expect the Germans to come away with a minimum of a point but more likely take all three points to send Arsenal further into the mire. An Olympiakos win could threaten a knockout stage appearance as well.

Prediction: Schalke 2-1 Arsenal

UPSET ALERT: Braga v. Manchester United

Manchester United are on upset alert again in Portugal where the Red Devils have historically struggled. Braga have been in the best run of their club's history, but have dropped two of three so far in the Champions League. They moved through United's defense easily in the first half before capitulating in the second during one of United's vintage comebacks. United struggled in Romania and still came out with a win, but this game sets up as a trap game after big domestic wins over Chelsea and Arsenal, as well as a comfortable lead at the top of Group H. Braga are not at the level of their domestic rivals but can compete with bigger clubs, reaching the Europa League final two years ago after defeating Liverpool, Dynamo Kiev and Benfica before losing narrowly to Porto in the final. United may take this game too lightly and their defense is not strong enough to grind out a result in a difficult place to play. Braga could grab a point in this contest and could maybe nick a win with a solid performance.

Prediction: Braga 1-1 Manchester United

OLD RIVALS: Celtic v. Barcelona

Celtic and Barcelona face off again in Glasgow after the Catalans snatched a 2-1 victory in injury time after going a goal down in the first half. It was a surprisingly close encounter, as many of Celtic's fans could hardly believe they were in the game for so long. Unfortunately for the Hoops, the result means the performance was all for nothing, although they still do hold second place in Group G. That type of performance is very difficult to duplicate against Barcelona, and although Celtic are historically very tough at Celtic Park, Barcelona should be a huge favorite in this one. The goals could be flying in left and right but I expect a more subdued game. Celtic will set up to strike on the counter while Barcelona typically dominate possession. I like to root for the underdog but it would take an even better performance for Celtic to grab a share of the spoils on Wednesday. Barcelona won't take them so lightly this time.

Prediction: Celtic 0-2 Barcelona

Full Predictions (Rankings in parentheses): 

Real Madrid (1) - Borussia Dortmund (8) : HOME WIN
AC Milan (18) - Malaga (14) : DRAW
Schalke (10) - Arsenal (12) : HOME WIN
Manchester City (5) - Ajax Amsterdam : HOME WIN
PSG (9) - Dinamo Zagreb : HOME WIN (potentially very ugly)
Olympiakos - Montpellier : DRAW
Dynamo Kiev - FC Porto (23) : HOME WIN
Anderlecht - Zenit (15) : AWAY WIN
Celtic (25) - Barcelona (2) : AWAY WIN
Valencia - BATE : HOME WIN
Juventus (7) - FC Nordsjaelland : HOME WIN
Bayern Munich (4) - LOSC Lille : HOME WIN (also potentially very ugly)
Braga - Manchester United (6) : DRAW
Chelsea (3) - Shakhtar Donetsk : HOME WIN
CFR Cluj - Galatasaray : AWAY WIN (no logical reasoning, just instinct)
Benfica (21) - Spartak Moscow : HOME WIN

UEFA Top 25 - November 6

With the Champions League coming up it's time for a new Top 25. There's a degree of stability at the top and a somewhat major drop-off after number 8 (Dortmund) and even more so after 11 (Atletico). Teams 12-25 are good but are not on the same level as the top 11. Look for this gap to increase in the table as the season wears on.

Distribution: England 6, Italy 4, Spain 4, France 3, Germany 3, Portugal 2, Russia 2, Scotland 1

1 (1) Real Madrid CF (ESP)
2 (2) FC Barcelona (ESP)
3 (3) Chelsea FC (ENG)
4 (4) Bayern Munich (GER)
5 (5) Manchester City FC (ENG)
6 (7) Manchester United FC (ENG)
7 (6) Juventus FC (ITA) 
8 (8) Borussia Dortmund (GER)
9 (12) Paris Saint-Germain FC (FRA)
10 (13) Schalke 04 (GER)
11 (10) Atletico de Madrid (ESP)
12 (9) Arsenal FC (ENG)
13 (11) SSC Napoli (ITA)
14 (14) Malaga CF (ESP)
15 (15) Zenit St. Petersburg (RUS)
16 (16) Olympique de Marseille (FRA)
17 (19) CSKA Moscow (RUS)
18 (17) AC Milan (ITA) 
19 (18) Olympique de Lyon (FRA)
20 (NR) FC Inter Milan (ITA)
21 (20) Everton FC (ENG)
22 (21) SL Benfica (POR)
23 (NR) FC Porto (POR)
24 (23) Tottenham Hotspur FC (ENG)
25 (25) Celtic FC (SCO)

Out of rankings: 22) SS Lazio (ITA), 24) BATE Borisov (BLR)

Notes:

1-10: Chelsea, Bayern, and Juventus all lost their first ties of the season to high-quality rivals Manchester United, Inter, and Bayer Leverkusen respectively. Curiously, all of those losses came at home.. I really like what I see from Schalke, despite the recent loss to lowly Hoffenheim, where they rested a number of starters. Their historic win at Arsenal was a mark of their own quality rather than Arsenal's obvious shortcomings. What was a hot start for a talented team is shaping into a season where they can contend in both the Champions League and Bundesliga for a long while.. PSG seem to be finally putting it together, going top of Ligue 1, while bouncing back to take second in Group A. Many doubt PSG's credentials despite their influx of talent, likening their rise to Manchester City, citing domestic success but struggles in Europe. The teams were built differently but you can certainly see the similarities in thrusting a bunch of skilled players together too quickly. PSG will struggle against more experienced clubs.. As for City, they are still struggling in Europe a year later. Rock bottom of Group D, it would take a near miracle to take them through. Ajax took them apart in Amsterdam, and this team just does not feel as potent as last year's champions. Fulham and Everton have both scored more goals in the Premier League.. Barcelona have been stunningly consistent this season result-wise, despite defensive lapses against Deportivo, Sevilla and Spartak. Their attacking force is the best in the world and can carry them to another domestic crown. The European title is a different story. Poor defensive positioning and a lack of offensive diversity cost them dearly against Chelsea.

11-25: Let's start off with the current mess that is Arsenal FC. There was a similar panic last year when Arsenal were hammered by United and showed no cutting edge after selling Fabregas and Nasri. However, this year has the feeling of 09-10 Liverpool more so than last year's third place finish. Is it time for Wenger to go? I don't think so - but if you do remove him you'd better have a big-name replacement. Wenger has made questionable subs and team selections this season, but the real problem is the players on the field. Andre Santos does not belong in the Premier League and Giroud has been awful in a Gunners shirt, just to name a few. Whether these decisions are the scorned board's or Wenger's are hard to tell. It is a difficult time for Arsenal. The Theo Walcott situation only makes it worse.. After over a year in the dark, Inter are officially back. The 3-1 win at Juventus (which pulled them within a point of the Old Lady) was a great performance, especially after being down less than twenty seconds into the game. This is a reloaded side under Andrea Stramaccioni, although their "old guard" of Milito, Cambiasso, Samuel, and Zanetti are still around. With rivals AC Milan still struggling and Napoli beginning to come back down to earth, Inter could be the second-best team in Italy by the end of the season.. Porto reenter the ranks as well after surging to the top of Group A as well as the Portuguese Liga on goal difference over Benfica. The goals are flying in and they are in a good position to put last year's embarrassing group stage exit to bed. The win over PSG was most impressive, as domestically, Porto and Benfica are rarely challenged nowadays. The emergence of Braga is the only threat to change that.. Is there a big club more under the radar than CSKA? After a shock loss to AIK in the Europa League playoffs, CSKA have reeled off ten wins out of eleven in what is arguably the most talented Russian Premier League of all time. Despite the run, big spenders Anzhi and Zenit are still right on their tail, just one and three points behind respectively. CSKA still have a lot of work to do, but can keep their players fresher, as the other two sides are both participating in European competition.

UEFA Champions League Matchday 3 - Preview

After a three week break, the Champions League is back with a number of scintillating matchups on the cards. The way the first two rounds have gone, it is simply must-see.

This year we have another fourth pot team making some noise, in the form of BATE Borisov. After last matchday's shocking 3-1 win over Bayern Munich, they must now be seriously considered as contenders to make the knockout round. A quick background on BATE - their name is pronounced bah-tay; their home stadium holds 5,402 people from the town of Barysaw, a town in central Belarus of about 150,000 people; this is their 14th consecutive year in European competition; they have won six straight domestic titles and are seven points clear this season. A mini-giant, so to speak, despite being located in a relatively small city. They haven't had much success in Europe, but clearly now they are in great shape, as they not only have been winning games, but playing with much more fancied and skilled opponents. Valencia will be another test this week, but this isn't the strong Valencia side of recent years, and they have been dreadful away from home. I'm not as optimistic still on BATE as I was with APOEL last year, but I think at the very least, they will take a point from the contest. This game is just as big - a loss along with two of their last three ties being away from home would leave their chances in the balance. It's nice to see another underdog doing well though - a reminder that money doesn't completely run the football world. Still, just an "almost."

HEADLINER: Borussia Dortmund v. Real Madrid

Again, it has to be Group D, as Dortmund hosts Real Madrid, making the group 3/3 in my headliner choices. The two-time German champions have been much stronger this year in the Champions League in both performances and results. They have struggled a bit domestically, but the quality is there to make this a great game to watch. Madrid are back to rolling along after a tough start, as it was only a matter of time before they corrected their problems. This game matches up two teams that are typically in attack mode and rarely play defensively, so I think we see an open game with plenty of scoring opportunities for both sides. Dortmund will feel hard done by after they should have taken all three points in Manchester, while Real could be a little more conservative as they are away from home. Dortmund should continue their solid European form and could take all three points, but Madrid will come prepared and will likely earn a share of the spoils.

Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Real Madrid

UPSET ALERT: Arsenal v. Schalke 04

Arsenal had another roller-coaster summer and their season is again off to a disappointing start. A pitiful performance in a loss to Norwich on Saturday lacked creativity and cutting edge, leading to very few scoring chances and a 1-0 result. The Gunners do not get Jack Wilshere back quite yet, and Olivier Giroud has hardly been a replacement for Robin Van Persie, so it does not appear promising against German power Schalke. The addition of Ibrahim Afellay has added more width to an already strong attacking side, and they match up very well against a very average Arsenal defense. Arsenal are historically dominant at home in Europe, but Schalke can break them down and inflict a damaging result away from home. Look for this game to also feature plenty of scoring chances and the Germans be in position to snatch a shock victory.

Prediction: Arsenal 1-2 Schalke

CONTRASTING FORTUNES: Malaga v. AC Milan

How things can change. Eight months ago, AC Milan were challenging for another Scudetto and competing in the knockout round of the Champions League, while Malaga were struggling to hold on to the success the new owners had promised due to a financial crisis. Today Malaga are third in La Liga and top of Group C after two 3-0 wins, while Milan are 15th in Serie A and in complete turmoil. Predictably, there are problems on both ends of the field after selling their best attacker and defender to PSG. I thought they would go down to Zenit, but took advantage of a team in more disarray than their own to steal a victory. In this matchup, they face a disciplined, though slightly inexperienced, in-form side in Malaga. They will be prepared to play. While it could be called an upset because of the difference in the histories of the two clubs, Malaga should come away with a victory. They are simply in much better form and things don't appear to be getting better anytime soon for the Italians.

Prediction: Malaga 2-1 AC Milan

Full Predictions (Rankings in parentheses):

Spartak Moscow - Benfica (21) : DRAW
FC Nordsjaelland - Juventus (6) : AWAY WIN
BATE Borisov (24) - Valencia CF : DRAW
LOSC Lille - Bayern Munich (4) : AWAY WIN
Shakhtar Donetsk - Chelsea FC (3) : DRAW
Barcelona (2) - Celtic FC (25) : HOME WIN
Galatasaray - CFR Cluj-Napoca : DRAW
Manchester United (7) - Sporting Braga : HOME WIN
Zenit St. Petersburg (15) - RSC Anderlecht :  HOME WIN
Dinamo Zagreb - PSG (12) : AWAY WIN
FC Porto - Dynamo Kiev : HOME WIN
Arsenal (9) - Schalke 04 (13) : AWAY WIN
Montpellier - Olympiakos : HOME WIN
Malaga (14) - AC Milan (17) : HOME WIN
Ajax Amsterdam - Manchester City (5) : AWAY WIN
Borussia Dortmund (8) - Real Madrid CF (1) : DRAW

International Review - FIFA World Cup Qualification

There were a number of intriguing international results in this week's games. This was expected because the matchups were far more even than previous weeks - the first two days were primarily made up of heavy victories for the bigger countries. However, there are some results to pull out of the pile that may have long-term significance.

Result: Romania 1-4 Netherlands

What it means: The Romanians and Dutch both started with three wins from three, and this game was a test to see if the Romanians were for real after several years of domestic scandal and international turmoil. They failed - miserably. The Dutch dominated the game and showed that there is a large difference in quality between the two sides. It is not devastating for the Romanians - they are level on points with second-place Hungary, who lost to the Dutch by the same scoreline in September. Holland showed yet again that despite some of their stars aging, this is still one of the premier teams in Europe. Last year's disastrous showing at the Euros is behind them and they are a full-go for the World Cup. They will have no trouble qualifying from this group and could possibly go ten for ten.

Result: Ukraine 0-1 Montenegro

What it means: Montenegro go level on points at the top of Group H with England while Ukraine fall five points off the pace. Group H features both hosts of last summer's European Championship, but Montenegro are out to prove that their play-off appearance in the qualification for that tournament was no fluke. Montenegro are never going to overwhelm the public with their style of play, but they are very solid at the back and rarely concede more than one goal. This is a huge win to pick up away from home. For Ukraine, the first three qualification games have brought some bright spots but very poor results. Their 1-1 draw in England was a solid performance and a good result, but that was countered by a poor 0-0 draw in Moldova. Now this loss sets them back quite a bit. There is very little margin for error left for the Ukrainians if they wish to finish in the top two.

Result: Germany 4-4 Sweden

What it means: Definitely the most shocking result of the day - not because Sweden was able to gain a point, but because they trailed by four goals with a half hour remaining and somehow managed to snatch an equalizer in stoppage time. A truly improbable and spectacular comeback from the Swedes, who looked to be in a bit of trouble after struggling through a 2-1 win against the Faroes on Friday. The Germans will still be favorites in this group but questions must be asked of their defense in the second half - we know they can score but their defense was all over the place in the second half and Manuel Neuer had one of his worst games in goal. This seems like more of a wake-up call than anything for Germany. They have been progressing quickly with a very young batch of players and this could be a reminder that they need to continue working hard in order to reach their goal of winning a major trophy. Look for the Germans to improve immensely on the defensive end of the field as they win this group.

Result: Spain 1-1 France

What it means: Olivier Giroud's last-second equalizer gave France a draw in Spain, meaning a win in the return fixture would likely give the French an automatic spot in the World Cup. For the French, the performance was just as key as the result. France played with Spain with most of the match, although they were kept in it by Fabregas's missed penalty (which followed an abysmal challenge by Koscielny on Pedro). They had more possession than was expected and dominated the last twenty minutes. It's a very encouraging sign for Didier Deschamps. For Spain, they must know that a target will be on their back wherever they go, having won the last three major tournaments. Their key players should still be young enough (and effective enough) to feature at the World Cup, but games like this are a reminder

Result: Portugal 1-1 Northern Ireland

What it means: Portugal trip over a very short hurdle at home against Northern Ireland, dropping them into third in Group F. It seems that in every qualification, Portugal have a game like this - for Euro 2012 it was a 4-4 draw against Cyprus. One bad result is typically not killer, but these types of performances have been preventing Portugal from coming in first in their groups, forcing them to qualify through the playoffs. If Portugal ever want to be on the same level as their Iberian neighbors, they must be more disciplined and ruthless to take three points from this game. It's not as if this is the Northern Ireland that defeated Spain and England in the last decade. They drew with Luxembourg in their last match.

Result: USA 3-1 Guatemala

What it means: The USA are through to the next round of CONCACAF qualifying while Guatemala is out. The USA needed this win and got it - it was not as easy as it should have been but the result is what mattered. The more I see the USA, the more I find it hard to imagine them winning a game without Clint Dempsey. The man has come into his own over the last twelve months, moving into a more forward position (and thriving) at Fulham and playing the same role with the USA and Tottenham. He is by far the most important player on this team, which is a testament to his form, but also to the lack of form from the rest of the squad. Dempsey himself mentioned the team being occasionally "jet-lagged" for their away fixtures, as many more players than ever before are playing in Europe. Whatever the issue is, it must be sorted out immediately, because if the Americans don't start playing to a much higher level, they may miss out on the World Cup. While I do believe they will squeak through, temper your expectations.

Result: Bolivia 4-1 Uruguay

What it means: Lowly Bolivia hammered South American champs Uruguay, meaning they have now conceded eleven goals in their last three away fixtures in qualifying. Uruguay are now barely in the qualification places, only because Chile has been just as awful. You do see some shocks in South America but this question re-asks the questions about Uruguay's midfield. We know they have the forwards to compete with anyone but to better their fourth-place finish in the World Cup, they will need to strengthen their defensive strategy. For Bolivia, this is an unlikely lifeline. They are only four points behind with plenty of matches to go. Stranger things have happened.

UEFA Top 25 - October 17

Top 25 for this week. There are a number of important ties coming up after the international break involving these squads so keep a look out the next few weeks.

Here is the distribution by country: England 6, Italy 4, Spain 4, France 3, Germany 3, Russia 2, Portugal 1, Belarus 1, Scotland 1

1 (1) Real Madrid CF (ESP)
2 (2) FC Barcelona (ESP)
3 (6) Chelsea FC (ENG)
4 (4) Bayern Munich (GER)
5 (3) Manchester City FC (ENG)
6 (7) Juventus FC (ITA)
7 (5) Manchester United FC (ENG)
8 (8) Borussia Dortmund (GER)
9 (12) Arsenal FC (ENG)
10 (15) Atletico de Madrid (ESP)
11 (14) SSC Napoli (ITA)
12 (9) Paris Saint-Germain FC (FRA)
13 (13) Schalke 04 (GER)
14 (17) Malaga CF (ESP)
15 (10) Zenit St. Petersburg (RUS)
16 (16) Olympique de Marseille (FRA)
17 (11) AC Milan (ITA) 
18 (18) Olympique de Lyon (FRA)
19 (19) CSKA Moscow (RUS)
20 (23) Everton FC (ENG)
21 (20) SL Benfica (POR)
22 (24) SS Lazio (ITA)
23 (NR) Tottenham Hotspur FC (ENG)
24 (NR) BATE Borisov (BLR)
25 (NR) Celtic FC (SCO)

Out of rankings: 21. Borussia Monchengladbach (GER),  22. Ajax Amsterdam (NED), 25. Montpellier HSC (FRA)

Notes:

1-10: Real Madrid are finally returning back to form, clinging to that number one place after a Clasico 2-2 draw with Barcelona. Whether they can maintain their focus against the smaller clubs remains to be seen.. Atletico Madrid are one of the scariest teams to play right now. With Falcao in world-class form (8 goals in 7 games), Atleti have scored 18 goals in 7 games to go joint-top on points with Barcelona. It makes their board's decision to put a price on Falcao Monday even more questionable. Why disturb the team right now?.. Santi Cazorla looks like an early candidate for buy of the season, showcasing his talent with a cracking goal in Arsenal's 3-1 win over gritty West Ham. Cazorla has been the best player in Arsenal's team by a wide margin, and returns of Jack Wilshere and Bacary Sagna will boost their quality further. You can't help but think this is same-old Arsenal though, especially as Olivier Giroud continues to flounder around up top.. In the same vein, this is not same-old Chelsea. Free-flowing playmakers have tranformed Chelsea from the counter-attacking defensive scheme to a more attractive attacking style. It is still too early to hand Chelsea an edge in the title race, but despite having a young starting XI, Chelsea look to challenge for the length of the season. Young does not always mean inexperienced.. Dortmund showed against Manchester City that they are a much-improved side in Europe. Last year's fourth-place finish was the result of inexperience and injuries. Dortmund deserved all three points away to the English champions. It only reinforces my belief that they will navigate through that group with Real Madrid.

11-25: It's amazing how AC Milan have gone from being Italian champions two years ago to a middling side this year. I know it's early - but this is not a form problem, it's a talent problem. Very few clubs are built to sell their best two players in the summer and contend (pretty much only Arsenal, kind of). Bringing in Pep won't help. Milan need to buy big in January if they hope to qualify for next season's Champions League. Forget about the title.. Tottenham look very impressive under AVB. I'm glad to see him doing better than his short reign at Chelsea. It's simply a better fit for an overhaul. He also has young players who can play - whereas his Chelsea youngsters weren't quite good enough yet. Spurs could be a very dangerous side this season.. Well, well BATE. Nothing but praise for the Belorussian ride after they systematically took down Bayern Munich 3-1 in Borisov. They proved that their win against Lille was no fluke, and are now in a great position to go through the group. Their next UCL game, home to struggling Valencia, is even more important. Another win would virtually send them through, amazingly.. Celtic deserve some praise as well. They acquired just their second win in a rich European tradition by coming from behind to defeat Spartak in Moscow. Scottish football has taken a beating from many people, due to their recent poor performance in Europe and the recent collapse of Rangers. The Bhoys could do wonders for their country by qualifying for the next stage.. Napoli are just as strong as last season, despite selling Ezequiel Lavezzi to PSG. Goran Pandev has slipped seamlessly into the starting lineup, and the club have started with nineteen points out a possible twenty-one. Juventus are the best team in Serie A, but Napoli could establish themselves as a definitive second.. Zenit are leading the race of most disappointing team this season, if only slightly over PSG. The only team in Russia spending nearly as much money as Zenit are Anzhi, whom they trail by five points in the league. Couple that with two listless Champions League defeats to teams who sold off their best players this summer in Malaga and AC Milan. There is too much of a talent gap for Zenit to not recover domestically, but their European campaign looks dead in the water.

UEFA Champions League - Matchday 2

The first matchday was a great encapsulation of what the Champions League is all about. We had high-quality competitive matches between top sides, tentative performances between lower-tier ones, as well as a few shocks. Real Madrid's 3-2 win over Manchester City was dubbed the match of the week and did not disappoint, as Madrid came from 2-1 down in the last three minutes to snatch a 3-2 win in stoppage time. Rivals Barcelona also had to come from 2-1 down to defeat Spartak Moscow 3-2. Defending champions Chelsea played out a tight 2-2 draw with Juventus in a game featuring many chances. The level of play was very high and was great to see across the board. The three German sides in the competition all won and Spanish sides won three of their four matches, while Russian, French and Italian sides combined to win just one of their seven matches. Nothing is easy in Europe, as ten of the sixteen matches in Matchday 1 were decided by a goal or less. This field was anticipated to be tough, and it's looking like a very competitive year throughout the groups.

The shock of the round was secured by BATE, the Belorussian champs who ran out to a 3-0 first half lead away to Lille before holding on to win 3-1. Could BATE be this year's surprise package? There are very few recognizable names in their squad (unless you are familiar with Belorussian football), but the most noticeable is the return of former Arsenal and Barcelona man Aleksandr Hleb. Even if Hleb's skills are not as honed as they once were, he will bring professionalism and experience to the squad. Their credentials will be tested quickly - Bayern Munich come to town this week. The win at Lille looks like it could be the highlight of their European campaign, but a shock performance against Bayern could have me believe they have a chance of getting out of this group. They still have quite a bit to prove.

The most impressive and most calamitous performance in the first match day came from the same game. Malaga's 3-0 win over Zenit was both a scintillating performance by the cash-strapped Spanish club as well as a disastrous output from the high-spending Russians. Malaga have certainly proven that they can still excel despite their club's questionable financial strategy, and a positive result in Belgium this week could really send them off to a flying start. Eleven points in five La Liga games have given the club's supporters good reason to hope for more success. On the other hand, Zenit have been very poor since Hulk and Axel Witsel joined the club for a fee in the region of 80 million Euros. Many of the long-serving players are rumored to be asking for pay raises after the club's spending spree. It is up to manager Luciano Spalletti to right the ship as AC Milan, another big club in poor form, head to St. Petersburg.

This week does not feature as many top-quality ties, but in this kind of Champions League, almost every game will be competitive. There are a few games we should take a closer look at this week.

HEADLINER: Manchester City v. Borussia Dortmund

Group D is going to make headlines every matchday because the "Group of Death" features so much quality. City are coming off the 3-2 loss in Madrid while Dortmund got by Ajax 1-0. Dortmund have one of the most formidable attacking quartets, with Lewandowski heading the lines in front of playmakers Reus, Gotze, and Blaszczykowski. Man City's leaky defense will have a tough time keeping them out, but their own attacking force, boosted by the return of Sergio Aguero, is quite strong itself. Expect another high-scoring game, and at the very least, both sides to score. I'm still not convinced by City in Europe - I think a draw could be on the cards in a game similar to their tilt with Napoli last year. Regardless of the score, there will be lots of chances.

Prediction: Manchester City 1-1 Dortmund

UPSET ALERT: CFR Cluj v. Manchester United

Yes, Manchester United lands in this spot this week. While I do think they will come away from Romania with a victory, United have been very shaky in the back this year and have been generally poor away from Old Trafford. Now captain Nemanja Vidic is facing a lengthy absence, making already shaky matters even worse. The Red Devils did win both games against last year's Romanian champs Otelul, but Cluj are a much more formidable side. They have won three domestic of the past five titles and posted an impressive 2-0 win at Braga on the first match day. They have the attackers to cause United trouble, and last year's European form along with their current away form should give United fans some cause for concern. This game could be much closer than anticipated and United must put its stamp on the game early to avoid dropping points in Eastern Europe.

Prediction: CFR Cluj 1-2 Manchester United

DO OR DIE: Zenit St. Petersburg v. AC Milan

I touched on Zenit's issues earlier - the 3-0 loss to Malaga created a deep hole to pull themselves out of already, while Milan's uninspiring 0-0 draw with Anderlecht at the San Siro was almost as distasteful. Malaga and Anderlecht are by no means poor opposition, but for these two clubs, those results are far below expectations. Milan can't score. Excluding a 3-1 win at Bologna, they have scored one goal in their other four competitive matches. With Zlatan and Thiago Silva sold to PSG, Cassano to Inter, and Robinho injured, Milan's team sheet looks very, very ordinary. They look to be in a lot more trouble than Zenit, who have the talent, but lack team chemistry. It's more of a matter of time before Zenit gets it together, as Milan look more like they could endure a very tough season. If there is a loser in this game (especially for Zenit) they could be in a world of trouble - Anderlecht are better than they are given credit for and Malaga is on a roll. I expect Zenit to show some urgency and take the game to the Rossoneri.

Prediction: Zenit 2-0 AC Milan

Full Predictions (Rankings in parentheses):

Spartak Moscow - Celtic: HOME WIN
BATE Borisov - Bayern Munich (4): AWAY WIN
Benfica (20) - Barcelona (2): DRAW
CFR Cluj - Manchester United (5): AWAY WIN
Galatasaray - Braga: HOME WIN
Juventus (7) - Shakhtar Donetsk: HOME WIN
FC Nordsjaelland - Chelsea (6): AWAY WIN
Valencia - Lille: HOME WIN
Zenit St. Petersburg (10) - AC Milan (11): HOME WIN
Ajax Amsterdam (22) - Real Madrid (1): AWAY WIN
Anderlecht - Malaga (17): DRAW
Arsenal (12) - Olympiakos: HOME WIN
Dynamo Kiev - Dinamo Zagreb: HOME WIN
FC Porto - Paris Saint Germain (9): DRAW
Manchester City (3) - Borussia Dortmund (8): DRAW
Schalke 04 (13) - Montpellier (25): HOME WIN

UEFA Champions League Group Stage - Preview

Finally. The Champions League group stage is here. This is one of the strongest fields of recent years - there are very few teams left that will be severely over-matched. Here is a breakdown of each group:

Group A

Participants: FC Porto, Dynamo Kiev, Paris Saint-Germain, Dinamo Zagreb

Analysis: After a major summer overhaul, PSG start European life in a relatively easy group, despite being chosen from Pot 3. On paper, PSG are one of the most talented sides in Europe, and their progress should come to fruition on the continental stage. There is a major gulf in class between the Parisian side and the rest of the group. Porto are their toughest competitors, but they will have a hard time replacing Hulk after his departure to Zenit. Dynamo Kiev are also without their most formidable strike threat after Andriy Shevchenko retired this summer. Porto and Kiev are an interesting matchup - both have a strong history in Europe and are very tough to beat at home. I think Porto can edge the Ukrainians by gaining a draw away and winning at home to qualify. Dinamo Zagreb are hopeless - last year's campaign was a debacle with zero points from six games, including a suspiciously awful 8-1 loss to Lyon in their last game. They can only go up from last year, but it's hard to see them doing more than grabbing a point or two.

Prediction: 1. PSG 2. Porto 3. Dynamo Kiev 4. Dinamo Zagreb

Group B

Participants: Arsenal, Schalke 04, Olympiakos, Montpellier HSC

Analysis: Arsenal find themselves in a very easy group again this year, and I expect the Gunners to breeze through to the knockout stage. This is more about the weakness of the competition rather than Arsenal's strength - but in Santi Cazorla and a healthy Abou Diaby, Arsenal have enough quality in the midfield to control a game against any of these opponents. Schalke will be a difficult test, with the in-form Klaas-Jan Huntelaar leading the lines for the Germans. Schalke have experience in this competition from their semi-final run two years ago and should be expected to progress here. Olympiakos have been tough the last few years, but the loss of Kevin Mirallas (without any replacement) is a killer, and it will be difficult for the Greeks to come closer to the knockout stage than their narrow miss last year. Montpellier have only lost Olivier Giroud (to Arsenal) from last year's title-winning team, but French teams have not fared well in Europe recently, especially ones with little to no experience (ex. Auxerre two years ago). They will struggle against more seasoned opponents.

Prediction: 1. Arsenal 2. Schalke 3. Olympiakos 4. Montpellier

Group C

Participants: AC Milan, Zenit St. Petersburg, Anderlecht, Malaga

Analysis: Zenit were in the headlines this summer when they secured Hulk and Axel Witsel for a fee in the region of 80 million Euros. Hulk will provide more cutting edge up top for a team that struggled to score in the last year's competition and the Belgian will help the team's depth in central midfield. Zenit will be exciting to watch, and they have a great chance to win this group. Milan's late-summer sales of Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to PSG were well-publicized, and are now wide open for criticism. They have dropped two of their first three league games and have struggled to score - two 1-0 home losses to Sampdoria and Atalanta is unacceptable by Milan's standards. The Rossoneri still have enough quality to get through, but it will be much more challenging than previous years. Standing in their way is Malaga, the cash-strapped Spanish club managed by Manuel Pellegrini. Despite having to sell many of their key players, Malaga will be a formidable side on this stage and a tough out. The club have both the talent and spirit to cause the favored teams some trouble. Anderlecht are Belgian champions and will not be pushovers either. There is a strong European tradition and pride at the club as well as quite a bit of experience in the squad. Gillet, Jovanovic, and captain Lucas Biglia all have experience in international fixtures, and the side could make some noise in this group.

Prediction: 1. Zenit 2. AC Milan 3. Malaga 4. Anderlecht
 
Group D

Participants: Real Madrid, Manchester City, Ajax Amsterdam, Borussia Dortmund

Analysis: Group D is clearly the toughest group, with four domestic champions competing, three of which are from the top three ranked leagues in Europe. City and Dortmund both bowed out at the group stage last year, and will have an even tougher task to make the knockout round. Real Madrid look as strong as ever, and after toppling Barcelona in La Liga, it seems like Mourinho's primary objective to win another Champions League crown. It's hard to imagine Madrid going out before the knockout round. Despite their current poor form, I expect Madrid to have a very strong record in this group. On the other end of the spectrum, it's very difficult to see Ajax getting through here. Although Christian Eriksen is rightfully optimistic about his side's chances, the amount of quality in this group will be way too much for the Dutch side. They could pull a few good results through, but any place above third seems very unlikely. That leaves the last place to Dortmund and Man City - and I will select Man City to fall short of the group stage again this year. I believe their focus at heart is beating Man United in the Premier League, and with a group like this, any lapse of focus will be extremely costly. Dortmund have won the Bundesliga two years in a row now and will be more apt to display their style on the continental stage. Having a healthy Mario Gotze as well as adding Marco Reus should boost the side, despite losing Shinji Kagawa. It will be close, as it was with Napoli last year, but I think Man City will come up just short once again.

Prediction: 1. Real Madrid 2. Borussia Dortmund 3. Manchester City 4. Ajax

Group E

Participants: Chelsea, Shakhtar Donetsk, Juventus, FC Nordsjaelland

Analysis: The holders are in a difficult group, with an arduous trip to Ukraine coupled with a matchup with Italian champions Juventus, a country where Chelsea have historically struggled. Chelsea have the strongest squad in the group and should find themselves in the knockout round. The squad is full of experience at every position and if the Blues can find a consistent source of goals, it will be easier than many think. Juventus are still in dominant form despite losing manager Antonio Conte to suspension. The momentum from last year's undefeated season in Serie A has continued into this season for the Turin club, which has won its first three fixtures along with the Italian Super Cup. They will be stiff contenders with Chelsea for first place. Shakhtar have competed in the Champions League routinely during the last few years, with one of its greatest victories in its history coming in a 3-2 win at the Nou Camp. However, the side really struggled last year in a relatively soft group, winning just one game, albeit against an APOEL side resting many of its regulars. Shakhtar will be difficult to beat in Ukraine, but will have a difficult time troubling Chelsea or Juventus away from home. FC Nordsjaelland are a complete unknown in this competition. They were surprise Danish champions last year, beating out power club FC Copenhagen, but there are very few recognizable names in their squad. We should not expect much from an unknown and inexperienced side considering the caliber of competition in this group. 

Prediction: 1. Chelsea 2. Juventus 3. Shakhtar 4. FC Nordsjaelland

Group F

Participants: Bayern Munich, Valencia, Lille, BATE Borisov

Analysis: Bayern, last year's losing finalists, have a great draw against Valencia, Lille, and BATE. The Bavarians have been blazing out of the gates in the Bundesliga and are by far the strongest side in this group. Bayern will be in the mix for the final again this year and should navigate through without any bumps. Valencia are the second-strongest side, led by Jonas and Roberto Soldado. The Spanish side have been placing third or fourth in La Liga the last few years, and have the quality to do the same this year. Valencia always seems to find themselves in the knockout stage, with last year's drop down to the Europa League being quite the shock. Lille sold Eden Hazard to Chelsea this summer and have done little to replace him, although they do have talented French internationals Mathieu Debuchy and Marvin Martin in their side. Lille will be a tough side to play but do not figure on making in through this group. BATE are in the group stage again after taking out Ironi Kiryat Shmona in the playoffs. BATE have been playing in Europe consistently and will play a disciplined style - they just do not have nearly enough talent to get through this group. They could produce a shock to one of these sides but it's unlikely to expect much more than one or two positive results for the Belorussians.

Prediction: 1. Bayern 2. Valencia 3. Lille 4. BATE

Group G

Participants: Barcelona, Benfica, Spartak Moscow, Celtic

Analysis: Barcelona are among the favorites again for this year's competition despite the departure of coach Pep Guardiola.They were also handed a straightforward group - none of their three competitors will pose too much of a threat. I don't expect Barcelona to be perfect, but they should have no trouble winning this group. The other three sides in the group do not have much between them. Spartak defeated a good Fener side in the playoffs and look to be the strongest of the three. Russian football has been getting stronger and Moscow is always a difficult place to travel, especially in the winter. Celtic are historically dreadful away from home and will have to rely on their results at Celtic Park. The quality of Scottish football has been in a steep decline, and while Celtic feel they have something to prove, they are the most mistake-prone side of the three. Benfica won their group in last year's edition, but losing Witsel so late will harm a team that already needed to reload a bit. However, there is still plenty of quality and Benfica rarely lose at home. There will be no easy games in this group, but I will take the Russians to get through with Barcelona.

Prediction: 1. Barcelona 2. Spartak Moscow 3. Benfica 4. Celtic

Group H

Participants: Manchester United, Sporting Braga, Galatasaray, CFR Cluj

Analysis: United drew the easiest group of any of the four English clubs in the competition. Last year's group stage was an embarrassment for the Red Devils, as they were outplayed and at times outclassed by Benfica and Basel. This year United will make a point to qualify from this group without question, and although I still don't like their defensive set-up, they should have little trouble doing so. They could get exposed by Braga and Galatasaray, but those squads are both weaker than United's opponents last year, and they should be able to pull out the results. The rest of this group should be very close - again, there isn't much between any of the sides. I'm going with Braga to get through, as they have played well in Europe recently and are emerging as a Portuguese power along side traditionals Porto and Benfica. Galatasaray and Cluj represent federations that have seen better days, as both Romania and Turkey have been littered with major match-fixing scandals in the last decade. However, these sides will be very competitive and the fight for second will be close.

Prediction: 1. Manchester United 2. Braga 3. Galatasaray 4. CFR Cluj