The UEFA Champions League is just days away. The games are all set to
begin. 18 Yard Box’s Pranav analyzes what’s in store
for the fans from Group B.
Here is a look at Group B, which includes North Londoners Arsenal placed alongside French League Champions Montpellier, Greek Champions Olympiacos and German outfit FC Schalke 04.
Group B
A. Arsenal FC
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B. FC Schalke04
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C. Montpellier FC
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D. Olympiacos
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Arsenal FC
A 15th consecutive appearance in Europe’s top club competition is an achievement in itself for any club. 3rd place finish last season in the League sees them enter directly into the Champions League group stages. This season, Arsenal are off to a steady start in their domestic campaign having kept a hat-trick of clean sheets in as many games.
The arrivals of Lukas Podolski (from FC Köln), Santi Cazorla (from Malaga CF) and Olivier Giroud (from Montpellier FC) alongwith the return of Abou Diaby have given the fans something exciting to look forward to. Cazorla in particular has become an instant hit with fans after putting up impressive displays in all the matches played so far. It’s the goals upfront which are a cause of concern for the Gunners but with the defence holding tight at the back the historical 'One-Nil To The Arsenal' is something the fans won’t mind. Certainly the favourites to top the group.
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| Cazorla is surely the buy of the season for the Gunners |
FC Schalke
The 2010-11 semi-finalists would have had mixed feelings about the group they are placed in. They will have to fight tooth & nail against their opponents if they are to come out of this group and qualify to the next round. A 3rd place in the Bundesliga last season and a quarter-final exit in the Europa League is something they will surely look to better this time.
Germans Benedikt Höwedes (Captain), Lewis Holtby and Julian Draxler are some of the many talents Schalke can boast about. Expectations are going to be high from Dutch Striker Klass Jan Huntelaar who has reinvented himself at Schalke after some below-par seasons at Real Madrid and AC Milan. Schalke fans shouldn’t be too confident, because Montpellier and Olympiacos both are more than capable of advancing to the Knockout stages.
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| Huntelaar is the MVP for Schalke |
Montpellier FC
The new boys of the Champions’ League will get taste of what it is to play against Europe’s elite. Not much is known about the French Champions who powered their way to the Ligue 1 title last season thanks to Olivier Giroud who netted 21 times in the league for them. But with his departure to group opponents Arsenal, comes a great responsibility on the shoulders of Mapou Yanga –Mbiwa and Younus Belhanda to not let the fans down and put on a good show.
Surely, a great team to look forward to and even for the players it will be a new challenge altogether, even if they don’t make it to the next round.
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| It will be an early homecoming for Giroud |
Olympiacos
The 39-Time Greek Champions are not at all new to this competition making their debut in UEFA European Cup way back in 1959-60. In fact they face Arsenal yet again in the group stages having met them in the same round last season. Its one memory their fans will cherish having beaten the North Londoners 3-1 at home, and something Vito Mannone would love to forget.
Olympiacos have a strong home record and it won’t be easy to pull them down. Captain Torosidis and Fetfatzidis are the players to watch out for. Not the fancied team to progress, yet they will put in a tough challenge for sure.
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| Captain fantastic |
FINAL VERDICT-
This group is certainly not going to be as easy as it seems. Arsenal will have to work hard and get their home games counted if they are to secure safe passage into the Round of 16. First timers Montpellier will have something new to offer & might just pull out an upset while Schalke and Olympiacos have to really put their best foot forward.
Arsenal at the top with Schalke joning them in the Round of 16 courtesy of their European experience is what I feel. Montpellier are favourites to scrape through to the Europa League.
Written By,
Pranav Byatnal.
Pranav is an Editor & Writer for 18 Yard Box.
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