2006 UEFA Champions' League Group Draw - Reaction
| 11
|
by user Alex Holowczak
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
|---|---|---|---|
 Barcelona
|  Inter Milan
|  Liverpool
| Valencia
|
| Chelsea
|  Bayern Munich
|  PSV Eindhoven
| AS Roma
|
| Werder Bremen
|  Sporting Lisbon
|  Bordeaux
|  Olympiakos
|
 Levski Sofia
|  Spartak Moscow
|  Galatasaray
|  Shakhtar Donetsk
|
| Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H |
| Real Madrid
| Manchester United
| Arsenal
| AC Milan
|
| Lyon
|  Celtic
| Porto
| Lille
|
 Steaua Bucharest
| Benfica
| CSKA Moscow
| AEK Athens
|
| Dynamo Kiev
|  F.C. Copenhagen
| Hamburg
|  Anderlecht
|
The draw for the Group Stages of the UEFA Champions' League put the two best sides in Europe on paper together in Group A, Barcelona and Chelsea. Add to that group a German Bundesliga leading team in Werder Bremen, and there's the "Group of Death" for this competition.
The Chelsea-Barcelona rivalry is raging, after last year's Second Round encounter, when Assier del Horno made a challenge on Lionel Messi which was fair. But the idiotic Argentine made a fuss, as is sadly now the norm in mainland Europe, and because it was a little tiny bit dangerous, del Horno had to go. Chelsea Manager Jose Mourinho was obviously disgusted, but many felt that he had been caught out by his own game, and laughed a bit more at him. Generally, only the real Chelsea fans actually were fully behind their team in that debate. It will be a lively couple of games this time around.
In most other groups, the top 2 are clear favourites to advance each time.
In Group C, Galatasaray are a potential banana skin for favourites Liverpool and Eindhoven. Groups F and H look to be lightweight.
Gorup F is not going to be short of drama as England take on Scotland with Manchester United against Celtic, in their first ever meetings. Both sides have great chances of qualifying for the knockout stages. Man U would be expected to advance, but the draw could see Celtic into the last 16 for the first time in living memory.
Group H is weakened by the overrated French League, and AEK Athens will start as favourites to grab second behind obvious favourites AC Milan, who should walk the group.
Group D is another strong one, with the top three teams all in with realistic chances of qualification.
For those that don't know, the groups play home and away matches, and after 6 games, the top 2 in the group advance to the last 16. There then ensues home and away ties, until the Final, which is a one-off game in a neutral venue (a la the Super Bowl - hence, it may occasionally not be neutral).
From an English perspective, of course we will all be supporting all the teams, even if we don't domestically. It's par for the course. Chelsea is a different matter of course, as no-one seems fully behinf them in England other than their outright fans. So I will be hoping that Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool can do well this year. As for the Chelsea thing, let's go Werder Bremen!
Date
Fri 08/25/06, 1:53 am EST
