UEFA Champions
League-The biggest and the most prestigious trophy in club football is back
18 Yard Box analyses
what’s in store for the fans this season.
The draws are out and the games are set to begin this month.
With each year, the Champions League is getting bigger and better. 18 Yard
Box’s Pranav takes a look at Group F, the group with last year’s finalists and
gives his verdict as to who will go through and who will go out.
Group F
A. Bayern Municch
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B. Valencia
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C. Lille
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. D BATE Borisov
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Bayern Munich
The big wigs of this group certainly should be happy with their opponents for the Group stages. With reinforcements like Mario Mandzukic, Xherdan Shaqiri and most notably Javi Martinez there is no way this team can afford to put a foot wrong in the group stages. As always, the dangerous duo of of Robben and Ribery will cause enough headaches for the opposition. Add to it Schweinsteiger,Gomez,Muller and Neuer between the posts, they look like a side which can go all the way. It should be an easy passage for the 2011-12 Runners’ Up and a semifinal spot should be the least this team must be looking at.
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| All eyes on the trophy |
Valencia
The perennial dark horses of La Liga face a tough challenge against Lille and Bayern Munich in their group. Having not gone past the group stages the last time round Valencia will have to show the audiences that they are a really good team. Jordi Alba, who was instrumental in their campaign last season will be sorely missed by the fans. Roberto Soldado is the man to look at when it comes to Valencia, a regular goal-scorer, certainly one of the underrated forwards of the game. If he starts firing, the opposition better watch out.
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| Goal Machine |
Lille
Losing Hazard was probably imminent but it does leave big shoes to fill in this French outfit. They got through the playoffs without much trouble but Final 32 will be a different thing altogether. Tulio de melo and Salomon Kalou do form a potent strike force but it remains to be seen how they will function without the services of Hazard and not to forget Joe Cole. Overall, going ahead of the group stages will be a good performance for them.
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| Kalou and Tulio- Deadly Duo! |
BATE Borisov
Hardly anyone knows about this Belarusian outfit who are making their 2nd successive Champions League appearance this season. Having been Belarusian Champions for the past six years, BATE are surely no pushovers. Alexander Hleb is the only big name in the side, but then they look like a well-knit unit. Looking at the group, BATE have the slimmest chance of qualifying but then an upset is something the neutrals would love to see. Former Gunner Alexander Hleb will be the man to watch out for the opponents.
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| Watch out for BATE |
FINAL VERDICT
Bayern Munich should clearly finish on top of the table. It’s the battle for the 2nd spot which will be worth looking forward to. With experience on their side, expect Valencia to finish ahead of Lille. The French outfit should find themselves in a Europa League spot with BATE Borisov at the bottom, unless they have some other plans.
Written By,
Pranav Byatnal
Pranav is an Editor and Writer at 18 Yard Box.
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