Champions League Preview.

With the UEFA Champions League group stage returning tonight, we look at the groups and how our English clubs will fare in this season’s competition. Last year was disappointing with only Arsenal and Manchester United making it out of the group stages, and both were knocked out in the Round of 16 by eventual Champions Bayern Munich and Real Madrid respectively.

Chelsea missed out on qualification, despite finishing with the same amount of points as Shakhtar Donetsk, while Manchester City finished rock bottom of the ‘Group of Death’ - Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid and Ajax - after mustering just 3 draws. This season with Manuel Pellegrini at the helm, who took Malaga to the quarter-finals, City will be hoping for a good run.

GROUP A - Manchester United, Shakhtar Donetsk, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Real Sociedad

UNITED qualified from Group H last season as champions, and were given a stern test by Real Madrid in the Last-16. With a 1-1 draw secured at the Bernabeu they had to win at Old Trafford, but an inspired Madrid led by Jose Mourinho ran away as 2-1 winners, knocking United out.

SHAKHTAR qualified ahead of Chelsea in last season’s competition but, like United, were eliminated in the Last-16 after losing 5-2 on aggregate to Dortmund.

LEVERKUSEN only participated in last season’s Europa League, where they qualified from the Group stages, but were knocked out by finalists Benfica in the Last-32.

SOCIEDAD haven’t participated in a European competition since they reached the Last-16 in the 2003-04 campaign, where they lost to Lyon. A 4th placed finish in last year’s La Liga earned The Basques a place in this year’s competition.

Prediction: I should think that despite the managerial changes, United should qualify whether that’s first or second, and Shakhtar are also a very good team, although the impact of losing Willian and Fernandinho could impact them. Either way, they should make up the top 2, with Sociedad dropping down to the Europa League, and Leverkusen leaving European competition completely.

http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/standings/round=2000479/group=2002724/index.html

GROUP D - Manchester City, Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow, Viktoria Plzen

CITY were a disappointment last year, that much is clear to anyone. After a promising start at the Bernabeu where they twice took the lead against Real, they ultimately lost 3-2. Their away form was poor after losing 3-1 at Ajax and 1-0 at Dortmund, but their home form wasn’t much better where they picked up 3 draws; 1-1 against Dortmund and Real, and 2-2 against Ajax. Manuel Pellegrini led Malaga to the quarters last year, so City will be hoping to qualify from a qualifiable group.

BAYERN won the competition last year, beating German rivals Dortmund 2-1 in the final at Wembley. Now under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, the Bavarians will be hoping for a repeat of last year’s success where they won the treble under Uli Hoeness.

CSKA were poor in Europe last season, going out in the Europa League qualifying round to Swedish side AIK Futbol, so like City they will have a lot to prove. Their last venture in the Champions League was in the 2011/12 season when they reached the Last-16, only to be knocked out by Real Madrid (5-2 agg.)

PLZEN played in the Europa League last season, qualifying top of Group B and beating Napoli 5-0 on aggregate in the Last-32, but they were knocked out by semi-finalists Fenerbache in the Last-16. The Czech champions finished a respectable third when they were last in the Champions League, behind AC Milan and Barcelona.

Prediction: Bayern should be by far and away the group winners, and there is no reason for City not to qualify this year, with respect to Plzen and CSKA. Plzen are unbeaten this season, so they are in a strong position to claim third place which would see them drop to the Europa League, while for CSKA I think a fourth place finish is their fate.

http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/standings/round=2000479/group=2002727/index.html

GROUP E - FC Basel 1893, FC Schalke 04, FC Steaua Bucharest, Chelsea

BASEL played in last season’s Europa League, where they were knocked out by Chelsea as The Blues went on to win the competition. They last competed in the Champions League the season before where a 3-3 draw and 2-1 victory against United helped them qualify for the knockout stage, but after a 1-0 first-leg win against Bayern Munich, the Swiss side were stuffed 7-0 and bowed out.

SCHALKE qualified top of Group B ahead of Arsenal last year, but were knocked out in the Last-16 by Galatasaray (4-3 agg.). They face Chelsea, still with talented attacking midfielder Julian Draxler among their ranks, with whom The Blues were linked so his performance against them will be interesting.

STEAUA were another team Chelsea knocked out on their way to Europa League glory. Despite losing 1-0 in Bucharest, a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge knocked the Romanians out. From that though, Bucharest could be a difficult place to go in the group, so their hopes will be high.

CHELSEA are the current Europa League holders, and will be looking to add a third European trophy in a row by reclaiming the Champions League. With Mourinho back at the helm, and arguably one of the most talented squads in Europa, The Blues should be considered a major force in this season’s competition.

Prediction: Chelsea should finish top, no question. Basel and Schalke are both experienced European teams and it will be close between them for second and third place, while I think the odds are against Steaua who will bow out.

http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/standings/round=2000479/group=2002728/index.html

GROUP F - Borussia Dortmund, Olympique de Marseille, Arsenal, Napoli

DORTMUND reached last season’s final where they lost 2-1 to rivals Bayern Munich, but they did catch the eye of European football both with their impressive displays - most notably their 4-1 dispatch of Real Madrid in the semi-final - and impressive club structure. Expectations will be high after the only loss from last season’s impressive squad was Mario Götze to Bayern.

MARSEILLE surprised many as they bowed out of the Europa League in the group stage, but they make the Champions League after a second placed finish in Ligue 1. Their last appearance in the CL was in a group alongside Arsenal and Dortmund, and they finished in second behind Arsenal, while Dortmund finished bottom; that could be different this year..

ARSENAL have yet again qualified for the Champions League, arguably one of Wenger’s finer achievements, although they are still yet to win a major European trophy. Last year The Gunners bowed out to Bayern on away goals, despite an inspired comeback at the Allianz Arena, so they will be hoping for a better run this year in a difficult group.

NAPOLI, now under the leadership of Rafa Benitez, are already in a better position than last year’s Europa League flop, and having made some good signings this summer they will want to qualify and go on a run. Their last run in the Champions League saw them qualify from the group stage, which included Man City, Bayern and Villareal, but they were knocked out in the Last 16 by eventual champions Chelsea.

Prediction: One of this year’s toughest groups, I would expect Dortmund to finish top, with Arsenal and Napoli scrapping to finish second. I’m not convinced Marseille will have enough quality to overcome three very good teams.

http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/standings/round=2000479/group=2002729/index.html

By @willtm10