The 2017-18 Uefa Champions League Draw ceremony has just been concluded, with the final at Kyiv’s NSK Olimpiyski. The draw features six British clubs in the group stage, the last time being the 2007-08 editions. There are lots of expectations from the draw.
Group A: Benfica, Manchester United, Basel, and CSKA Moscow
Man Utd under the handling of Jose Mourinho has woken from its slumbers, having lifted the UEFA Europa cup.
A very strong team in the competition and tipped to make a statement in this year’s tournament. United and Benfica are the top group favorites.
Group B: Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-German, Anderlecht, Celtic
Bayern Munich a five-time winner of the UEFA competition and reigning Bundesliga champion is a strong favourite to win the competition, also is PSG, a team backed by Gulf oil-rich state Qatar which recently acquired Neymar in a world record transfer with some fantastic players is clearly a team to watch out for in the elite’s game. Bayern Munich and PSG are tipped to qualify from the group.
Group C: Chelsea, Athletico Madrid, Roma, Qarabag
With a fantastic coach - Antonio Conte, Chelsea is looking forward to its second lifting of the tournament having done that once in 2012. The club has been in the best of shape, lifting the premier league in a commando style. Another to closely monitor in the competition is Athletico Madrid, a thrice runner-up; losing twice to Real Madrid in 2014 and 2016, indeed a great team in the tournament to watch out for. Chelsea and Athletico Madrid are the group favorite to qualify.
Group D: Juventus, Barcelona, Olympiakos, Sporting Lisbon
Barcelona and Juventus are the group favorites to qualify. Both have met in the finals of the competition in 2015, with Barcelona, a five-time winner emerging the victor.
Barcelhashave not been in the best of shape of recent, having lost a key player in the deadly MSN trio - Neymar to PSG and Suarez out injured. However, its still a team to be feared anytime, having one of the best footballers in football history – Lionel Messi.
Group E: Spartak Moscow, Sevilla, Liverpool, Maribor
Liverpool, a five-time winner of the competition is welcomed back into the competition after a long break, a wonder team in UEFA games and history, it still remains a threat in the tournament. Also is Sevilla, a team accustomed with UEFA Europa cup victories, they are not to be taken for a minnow in the competition. Sevilla and Liverpool are the group favorites to qualify.
Group F: Shakhtar Donetsk, Manchester City, Napoli, Feyenoord
Manchester city would be looking forward to their first ever UEFA trophy, having invested so much money to secure a great squad and coach, it would not take things likely this time around having knocked out of the competition last year by Monaco. So we watch out; as they slug it out in the highly competitive tournament. Manchester City and Napoli are the group favorites.
Group G: Monaco, Porto, Besiktas, RB Leipzig
Monaco, a big money spender which almost paid off in the last tournament is a team to watch out. A key player in the team - Mbappe is on the verge of joining PSG, we hope this doesn't weaken the team which still reminiscence its painful loss to Fc Porto in 2014 finals, and would see no better opportunity than this to hand out a bitter revenge to Porto.
Monaco and Porto are the group favorites to qualify.
Group H: Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham, APOEL
Real Madrid the defending champion and highest winner of the competition, winning it twelve good times, a winner of the UEFA Super Cup defeating Manchester United, presently the La Liga reigning champion is not only a favorite for the group ticket but also to clinch the title. Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund are the group favorites to qualify.
UEFA Champions league is an annual football competition featuring top contenders from top-division European countries league. The UEFA final is the most watched annual sporting event, its 2012-2013 final tournament had the highest TV ratings up till date, with up to 360 million television viewers.