Manchester City has been drawn alongside Bayern Munich, Villarreal and Napoli in Group A for champions league in group stage. It is the toughest group as Bayern Munich, 4 times UEFA champions and finalist two seasons ago, will be fighting to reach the champions league final which will be place at Allianz Arena, their own home ground. Jupp Heynckes will have a superb goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, Former Manchester City player Jerome Boateng and fast charging Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.
Villarreal had gain enormous experience in champions league in recent years and they won’t go down easily. The yellow submarine have Nilmar and Giuseppe Rossi who netted two goals in second play-off against Odense. Both Bayern Munich and Villarreal have passed tough tests in UEFA play-offs beating FC zurich and Odense 3-0 and 3-1 on aggregate repectively.
Napoli has recently been improving a lot, finished third in Serie A has Marek Hamsik, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani who was fourth contender of European golden boot. Napoli squad is more likely the same and managed to retain their best players. What a champions league debut for Manchester City?
Roberto Mancini's squad, are champions league debutants and considering their players’ talents and experiences, it won’t be surprising to see them making great champions league history on their first appearance. City have shown improvement since last season, winning FA cup and break in premier league top four last season and boosted by arrival of Gaël Clichy, Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri.
Trabzonspor and Athletic Bilbao benefit from Fenerbahce match fixing scandal
In Group B, Inter Milan the 2010 UEFA champions have been drawn alongside CSKA Moscow from Russia, French champions Lille and Turkey side Trabzonspor. Trabzonspor first runner-up in 2010 -2011 Turkish league benefited from Fenerbahce match fixing scandal. Athletic Bilbao is also celebrating as they have automatically qualified for UEFA Europa league. Athletic Bilbao was scheduled to play against Trabzonspor for UEFA Europa league qualification. The event is seen as respect of UEFA for national football association and a bid to fight corruption in football. Diego Milito played a moajor in Inter Milan success in 2009-2010 before Alexandre Pato's AC Milan steal the show in 2010-2011.
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| Diego Milito, Inter Milan striker will be looking to win the UEFA cup and the Scudeto lost to Alexandre Pato AC Milan |
In Group C Manchester United, the last season UEFA champions league’s finalist will start their campaign in same group as Benfica, FC Basel and Romanian minnows Otelul Galati. The Red Devils had brilliant performance last season but suffered 3-1 to Barcelona at Wembley stadium and a set to top this group.
Jose Mourinho on his mark to make history in La liga
In Group D, Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid the nine times UEFA champions will be trading his tactics against French side Lyon, Dutch club Ajax and Dinamo Zagreb from croatia. Real Madrid sees off Lyon in last year competition with 4-2 aggregate in fantastic secpnd round match. The Portuguese manager won only King cup last years and will be targeting La liga and champions league trophy.
Michael Ballack, Romelu Lukaku and Juan Mata to face former club in Group E
In Group E, Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas will be looking to achieve what Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant and Carlo Ancelotti failed. His first assignment for the Blues in Champions league level will be to secure finish at the top of Group E above Valencia, Bayer Leverkusen and Racing Genk.
Valencia will shot of its many former players like David Silva, David Villa and Juan Mata. The Stamford bridge club have signed Oriol Romeu, Romelu Lukaku and Juan Mata in a bid to strengthen the first team and play more attacking football. They will play Racing Genk and Valencia, in these matches Michael Ballack, Romelu Lukaku and Juan Mata will have test the challenge of their former club and the return of Sami Hyypia in England. AVB is ready for to face the Barcelona at any stage without fear.
Doubtfull Arsenal in a tricky group after knocking out Udinese
In Group F, Arsenal has been drawn in a tricky group with the Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund, Marseille and Olympiakos. Arsenal finished fourth in Premier league and had to overcome Udinese in play-off match, thanks to Theo Walcott goals in first and second leg matches. The Emirates club saw its Captain Cesc Fabregas, shinning midfielder Sami Nasri, left back Gael Clichy leaving for highly competitive teams.
UEFA Europa league champions back at top level to prove a point
In Group G, the last year Europa and Portugal champions, Porto was drawn as a top seed with Shakhtar Donetsk from Ukraine, Russia side Zenit St Petersburg and APOEL from Cyprus. AVB's former club will have tough season to prove its ability in champions league football. Radamel Falcao break the UEFA Europa league golas score in one season and Porto will be have to face the challenge of top defender this time without Falcao who moved to Athletico MaDRID.
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| Lisandro Lopez will be target reverge to Real Madrid but Radamel Falcao UEFA Europa league top scoer last season will be crucial miss for Porto in Super cup and Champions league |
Barcelona cruise their way to win the UEFA cup at Wembley beating Manchester United 3-1. The four times UEFA and current UEFA champions will face Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s AC Milan the Serie-A champions and seven times UEFA champions in Group H which also have Belarusian club BATE Borisov and Czech Republic side Viktoria Plzen another champion league debutant. Lionel Messi topped champions league goal scorer with a goal in the final as Criatiano Ronaldo clinch Pichichi and European golden boot.
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| Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will compete for top honours at Barcelona and Real Madrid as well as individual. Last season ronaldo won La Liga and European Golden Boot while Lionel Messi won La liga trophy, UEFA Champions league cup, became UEFA top scoer and UEFA best player |
2011-2012 UEFA Champions League group stage draw
Group A
FC Bayern München (GER)
Villarreal CF (ESP)
Manchester City FC (ENG)
SSC Napoli (ITA)
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Group B
FC Internazionale Milano (ITA)
PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS)
LOSC Lille Métropole (FRA)
Trabzonspor AŞ (TUR)
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Group C
Manchester United FC (ENG)
SL Benfica (POR)
FC Basel 1893 (SUI)
FC Oţelul Galaţi (ROU)
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Group D
Real Madrid CF (ESP)
Olympique Lyonnais (FRA)
AFC Ajax (NED)
GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)
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Group E
Chelsea FC (ENG)
Valencia CF (ESP)
Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER)
KRC Genk (BEL)
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Group F
Arsenal FC (ENG)
Olympique de Marseille (FRA)
Olympiacos FC (GRE)
Borussia Dortmund (GER)
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Group G
FC Porto (POR)
FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
FC Zenit St Petersburg (RUS)
APOEL FC (CYP)
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Group H
FC Barcelona (ESP)
AC Milan (ITA)
FC BATE Borisov (BLR)
FC Viktoria Plzeň (CZE)
