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All the fans receiving live feeds on the draw and the participating team coaches trying to control their anticipation and anxiety eventually knew their group-stage opponents en route to the final at Lisbon as the excitement finally came to a still as the UEFA champions league draw for the 2013-14 season was made in Monte Carlo.Few of the teams will be well pleased, and a few would be chewing on the thought, “nothing is impossible”. The Greek Goddesses called Fates can’t smile on all, can they? Let’s take a look at the prospective winners and losers of the draw made in Monaco.Winners:
Trending
Chelsea: According to many it was through Lady Luck’s grace that Chelsea won their maiden European cup in 2012 and it seems she has continued to bestow her precious blessings upon them. The Londoners will be all-smiles to face a declining Schalke, and familiar Europa league foes in Basel and Steaua Bucharest. Jose Mourinho will get a chance to reminisce his historic Champions League victory with Porto in Gelsenkirchen almost a decade ago. The Swiss and the Hungarian champions seem to be a good omen for the blues as they beat them on their way to the Europa league final.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic of PSG
PSG: After a long absence the Parisians made a pompous return to the European stage last season almost knocking out Barcelona in the quarters. They will be confident of advancing from Group C as winners which contains the likes of Portuguese heavy-weights, Benfica, group-stage specialists Anderlecht of Belgium, and the Greek outfit, Oympiacos. Benfica might have a solid European pedigree, but such is the squad of PSG that they are even being considered a potential European powerhouse. Laurent Blanc will be relaxed enough to see his side avoid stronger opponents from pot 1 and a top spot seems to be virtually guaranteed for the French champions.
Manuel Pellegrini
Manchester City: Being new comers on the Champions league stage City have had a tough time in their first two seasons with two group stage exits to their name. They might get third-time lucky as they face the champions Bayern Munich, the army men from Russia, CSKA Moscow and the Czech champions Viktoria Plzen. With a host of new signings and a high-caliber tactician in Manuel Pellegrini. City should be strong enough to challenge the Bavarians for a top-spot. CSKA are no pushovers and they will make it as difficult as possible for City and Munich to make it through the knockout rounds. Viktoria Plzen look just a bit more than whipping boys of the group.
Losers:
Arsene Wenger
Arsenal: Few clubs can boast the European consistency maintained by Arsenal as they enter their 14th consecutive Champions league group stage but even from their most optimistic followers’ view-point, they have got the worst possible draw. They will face a very talented and gifted Dortmund side, who look contenders for the crown even after losing their best player in Mario Gotze, followed by a rejuvenated Napoli under Rafael Benitez and the French challengers, Marseille. Last time Arsenal faced Dortmund and Marseille in the group-stages the Germans were eliminated.
But, Dortmund have gone from group-stage casualty to Champions League runner up in a season. Napoli will be inspired from their previous performances against Manchester City and Chelsea whom they beat convincingly in Naples. Marseille are no slouches themselves having ousted Dortmund the last time they met. Although Arsenal might look weaker on paper Arsene Wenger’s team have never exited at the group-stage since the turn of the millennium and they have escaped from tougher situations before.
David Moyes
Manchester United: The Red Devils under a new manager who lacks European experience would have hoped for a more favorable draw. Compared to Arsenal’s fate it looks easier but still the group looks evenly poised as United face old nemesis, Bayern Leverkusen of Germany, and first time meetings against an improving Shakthar Donetsk from Ukraine, and the La Liga‘s surprise package of Real Sociedad.
United’s three opponents may lack the European experience but have more than enough threat to trouble United. David Moyes managerial prowess at the continental level will be put to stern test as United face daunting trips to Leverkusen, Basque country, and far away Ukraine. Shakhtar produced two fantastic displays against Chelsea accounting for their group-stage exit and can give a tough game to anybody.
Leverkusen have never beaten United but were responsible for their semi-final exit in the 2001-2002 season thanks to the away-goals rule. United were left red-faced by a brilliant Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League two seasons back, and Moyes has to be on top to improve United’s treacherous recent record against Spanish opponents as they face Real Sociedad for the first time in their history.
Celtic
Celtic: The Bhoys will be counting on the thought, “nothing is impossible “as they prepare to take-on the might of Barcelona, Milan and Ajax. After a dramatic play-off win against an unknown Shakthar Karagandy of Kazakhstan Celtic boss, Neil Lennon would have prayed for an easier group than this.
Barcelona is virtually assured of a top place thanks to the presence of an average Milan side who look to be in transition. Ajax may have the talent but like the bite to seriously pose a challenge. This might seem like an opportunity for Celtic, but they themselves have lost some key players in the transfer window and their plight can be gauged by the difficulty they encountered in overcoming the Kazakh champions.
The above list is not intended to undermine any side’s chances rather it just presents an opinion on their chances of progressing to the next round based on the recent form and previous performances. Whatever are the challenges, the contenders and the pretenders will fight till the end to stop Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich to set a record by successfully defending the Champions league crown and carve out their own names on the famous trophy.
