UCL 17/18 : The European Elite Football Clubs

[Spring]

With the penultimate group games completed last night, City n Spurs have won their groups whilst Pool, Chelsea n United are sitting on top of their respective groups with Chelsea already qualifying whilst Pool n United need a point from their last game.

 

Spurs finishing top in the group of death is a real credit to them n shows their rise in UCL which they have seldom taken part in the past n shows progression under Poch.

 

City sweeping all before them n will be aiming to become the first English team n only the 7th overall to win all 6 group games.

 

Pool displaying Jekll n Hyde character with a good first half display followed by an atrocious second half display. Their defensive frailties which seem to be improving recently has come back to haunt them n it’s a real pity cos I still feel their game is suited to UCL n they could go far if they sort out this defensive issue which some pundits feel is equally the Midfielders fault as much as the defenders.

 

Chelsea reportedly putting their main eggs in the UCL basket as they feel it will be difficult to overcome City in EPL. Conte being the wily tactician he is can bring them far but their squad is too light IMO.

 

United with JM’s pragmatic tactics backfiring when he wanted to hold out for a point they needed to top the group but was caught out with a late goal. Just wonder if this method of playing will bring United far? But JM did win UCL with Porto n esp Inter playing this kind of game but with the abundance of attacking talent they possess, it seems wasteful but we shall see.

Edited November 23, 2017 by Spring

[Maxus-MIFA9]

Pool need a point to qualify for knockout stage.....

 

Let have beef steak this wed morning by cutting Mos-cow into pieces .... 

[Spring]

So the line up for the last 16 in the UCL is finally completed with 5 English, 3 Spanish, 2 Italian n 1 each from France, Portugal, Ukraine, Germany, Turkey n Switzerland in the draw on Monday.

 

Some interesting stats after the completion of first round include:

The highest ever overall goals tally in the group stage surpassing the record in 2000-2001

CR7 becoming the first player ever to score in all 6 first round games.

 

I’m looking forward to the draw as there will bound to be heavyweight clashes as teams like Chelsea, Bayern, Real n Juventus finished runners up n may likely face group winners like Roma, PSG, Barca n the 4 English teams though same country rules mean those from the same federation will not meet. These 11 teams alone are so strong n there is always the dark horses like Besiktas, Porto n Shakhtar makes this one of the strongest ever line ups.

[Blueray]

Who is in the Champions League round of 16?

 

 

 

Group winners

 

A: Manchester United (ENG)

Can play: Bayern, Juventus, Sevilla, Shakhtar, Porto, Real Madrid

Group stage: W5 D0 L1 F12 A3

Top scorer: Romelu Lukaku (4)

Last season: Europa League winners

Previous European Cup best: winners x3 (1968, 1999, 2008)

B: Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)

Can play: Basel, Chelsea, Juventus, Sevilla, Shakhtar, Porto, Real Madrid

Group stage: W5 D0 L1 F25 A4

Top scorer: Edinson Cavani, Neymar (6)

Last season: round of 16

Previous European Cup best: semi-finals (1995)

C: Roma (ITA)

Can play: Basel, Bayern, Sevilla, Shakhtar, Porto, Real Madrid

Group stage: W3 D2 L1 F9 A6

Top scorer: Edin Džeko (3)

Last season: UEFA Europa League round of 16

Previous European Cup best: runners-up (1984)

D: Barcelona (ESP)

Can play: Basel, Bayern, Chelsea, Shakhtar, Porto

Group stage: W4 D2 L0 F9 A1

Top scorer: Lionel Messi (3)

Last season: quarter-finals

Previous European Cup best: winners x 5 (1992, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015)

E: Liverpool (ENG)

Can play: Basel, Bayern, Juventus, Shakhtar, Porto, Real Madrid

Group stage: W3 D3 L0 F23 A6

Top scorer: Roberto Firmino (6)

Last season: N/A

Previous European Cup best: winners x5 (1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 2005)

F: Manchester City (ENG)

Can play: Basel, Bayern, Juventus, Sevilla, Porto, Real Madrid

Group stage: W5 D0 L1 F14 A5

Top scorer: Raheem Sterling (4)

Last season: round of 16

Previous European Cup best: semi-finals (2016)

G: Beşiktaş (TUR)

Can play: Basel, Bayern, Chelsea, Juventus, Sevilla, Shakhtar, Real Madrid

Group stage: W4 D2 L0 F11 A5

Top scorer: Cenk Tosun (4)

Last season: group stage

Previous European Cup best: quarter-finals (1987)

H: Tottenham Hotspur (ENG)

Can play: Basel, Bayern, Juventus, Sevilla, Shakhtar, Porto

Group stage: W5 D1 L0 F15 A4

Top scorer: Harry Kane (6)

Last season: group stage

Previous European Cup best: semi-finals (1962)

 

Group runners-up

 

A: Basel (SUI)

Can play: Paris, Roma, Barcelona, Liverpool, Manchester City, Beşiktaş, Tottenham Hotspur

Group stage: W4 D0 L2 F11 A5

Top scorer: Dmitri Oberlin (4)

Last season: group stage

Previous European Cup best: quarter-finals (1974)

B: Bayern München (GER)

Can play: Manchester United, Roma, Barcelona, Liverpool, Manchester City, Beşiktaş, Tottenham Hotspur

Group stage: W5 D0 L1 F13 A6

Top scorer: Robert Lewandowski, Corentin Tolisso (3)

Last season: quarter-finals

Previous European Cup best: winners x 5 (1974, 1975, 1976, 2001, 2013)

C: Chelsea (ENG)

Can play: Paris, Barcelona, Beşiktaş

Group stage: W3 D2 L1 F16 A8

Top scorer: Eden Hazard (3)

Last season: did not play in Europe

Previous European Cup best: winners x 1 (2012)

D: Juventus (ITA)

Can play: Manchester United, Paris, Liverpool, Manchester City, Beşiktaş, Tottenham Hotspur

Group stage: W3 D2 L1 F7 A5

Top scorer: Gonzalo Higuaín, Mario Mandžukić (2)

Last season: runners-up

Previous European Cup best: winners x 2 (1995, 1996)

E: Sevilla (ESP)

Can play: Manchester United, Paris, Roma, Manchester City, Beşiktaş, Tottenham Hotspur

Group stage: W2 D3 L1 F12 A12

Top scorer: Wissam Ben Yedder (6)

Last season: round of 16

Previous European Cup best: quarter-finals (1958)

F: Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)

Can play: Manchester United, Paris, Roma, Barcelona, Liverpool, Beşiktaş, Tottenham Hotspur

Group stage: W4 D0 L2 F9 A9

Top scorer: Bernard (3)

Last season: third qualifying round

Previous European Cup best: quarter-finals (2011)

G: Porto (POR)

Can play: Manchester United, Paris, Roma, Barcelona, Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur

Group stage: W3 D1 L2 F15 A10

Top scorer: Vincent Aboubakar (5)

Last season: round of 16

Previous European Cup best: winners x 2 (1987, 2004)

H: Real Madrid (ESP)

Can play: Manchester United, Paris, Roma, Liverpool, Manchester City, Beşiktaş

Group stage: W4 D1 L1 F17 A7

Top scorer: Cristiano Ronaldo (9)

Last season: winners

Previous European Cup best: winners x 12 (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2017)

 

http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2523617.html#/

[Spring]

UCL second round draw:

 

Ties to be played Feb. 13, 14, 20 and 21 and March 5, 6, 12, 13

 

Juventus vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Basel vs. Manchester City

Porto vs. Liverpool

Sevilla vs. Manchester United

Real Madrid vs. Paris Saint-Germain

Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Roma

Chelsea vs. Barcelona

Bayern Munich vs. Besiktas

[Spring]

Think the two standout ties shld be Real v PSG n Chelsea v Barca.

The other 4 EPL teams seem to have straight forward draws by playing away first against Porto, Basel, Sevilla though the old lady Juventus may prove a tough nut for Spurs.

[kdash]

UCL second round draw:

 

Ties to be played Feb. 13, 14, 20 and 21 and March 5, 6, 12, 13

 

Juventus vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Basel vs. Manchester City

Porto vs. Liverpool

Sevilla vs. Manchester United

Real Madrid vs. Paris Saint-Germain

Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Roma

Chelsea vs. Barcelona

Bayern Munich vs. Besiktas

yeah Sevilla...

[Spurman]

Spurs n real madrid even if their pos are reversed in grp stages both will face almost the toughest opposition.

 

Spurs faces a tough battle for top 4 in the league...

 

Though cl had been a good ride so far. The old lady might seems too experienced in the cl for spurs to progress.

 

Nonetheless bring it on. Coys..

[Beregond]

Spurs n real madrid even if their pos are reversed in grp stages both will face almost the toughest opposition.

 

Spurs faces a tough battle for top 4 in the league...

 

Though cl had been a good ride so far. The old lady might seems too experienced in the cl for spurs to progress.

 

Nonetheless bring it on. Coys..

up to this stage, u just need to beat every 1 else

[Jamesc]

Thank you Xabi

 

[Fooblack]

spurs and Chelsea both handed very tough draws in the last 16. Dun think Chelsea can get past Barca.  Spurs might have give Juve a run of its money and the tie is probably 50-50. 

 

City seems to have the easiest draw followed by Utd.  Pool's tie with Porto is probably not the best but also not the worst. 

[Spring]

spurs and Chelsea both handed very tough draws in the last 16. Dun think Chelsea can get past Barca. Spurs might have give Juve a run of its money and the tie is probably 50-50.

 

City seems to have the easiest draw followed by Utd. Pool's tie with Porto is probably not the best but also not the worst.

Most pundits expecting United, City n Pool to sail thru with quite a few expecting Spurs to overcome n aged Juventus team. Most predict Barca to overcome Chelsea n if they are right 4 out of 8 quarter finalists is very good indeed!!

[Jamesc]

spurs and Chelsea both handed very tough draws in the last 16. Dun think Chelsea can get past Barca.  Spurs might have give Juve a run of its money and the tie is probably 50-50. 

 

City seems to have the easiest draw followed by Utd.  Pool's tie with Porto is probably not the best but also not the worst. 

 

I have confidence in Chelsea.

 

Pool always go thru against Barca

 

so Chelsea should too. 

 

 

 

 

Golfing buddies.

[Fooblack]

I have confidence in Chelsea.

 

Pool always go thru against Barca

 

so Chelsea should too. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Golfing buddies.

 

Pool not the same league as Chelsea..   Chelsea did beat them once in a UCL semi-final on route to their sole UCL title. 

 

On current form and players, you can't see Chelsea beating Barca.   Conte is in a bit of struggle recently with his squad and without Diego Costa, this team can't rough out 1-0 scores anymore.  

[Jamesc]

"Pool not the same league as Chelsea."

 

Yeah that's true.

 

We are so much better.

 

 

[Spring]

Pool not the same league as Chelsea.. Chelsea did beat them once in a UCL semi-final on route to their sole UCL title.

 

On current form and players, you can't see Chelsea beating Barca. Conte is in a bit of struggle recently with his squad and without Diego Costa, this team can't rough out 1-0 scores anymore.

I do agree Chelsea is having abit of a struggle but Barca though leading La Liga is not the Barca of few seasons back. The new Mgr is struggling to impart his ideas as he has made them more resilient rather than their normal free flowing style n the departure of Neymar has considerably weaken them.

 

If Chelsea can keep Messi in check (admittedly not an easy task but he has a poor record against EPL teams) n keep a clean sheet in the home leg, they might upset the Catalans.

[Fooblack]

I do agree Chelsea is having abit of a struggle but Barca though leading La Liga is not the Barca of few seasons back. The new Mgr is struggling to impart his ideas as he has made them more resilient rather than their normal free flowing style n the departure of Neymar has considerably weaken them.

 

If Chelsea can keep Messi in check (admittedly not an easy task but he has a poor record against EPL teams) n keep a clean sheet in the home leg, they might upset the Catalans.

 

Barca still top of the Spanish league and with Suarez and Messi still the among the ranks, they are still a very good team.  

 

Chelsea's season is blowing hot and cold. They are not showing the type of defensive resilience and clinical finishing of their attacks, as seen in their title-winning form of last season.  

 

I can't see Barca tripping over this tie at the moment.  The only possibility is through injuries to Barca's key players and Chelsea going out in the January market and splashing the cash on non-cup tied players.  

[v271981]

Hopefully the Chelsea boys will pull their socks up for this one, we are making too many silly mistakes in the prem at the mo, surely the focus must be champs league, the prem is already in the bag for city