The biggest club competition in the world is back. The group stage draw concluded yesterday in the iconic city of Monaco. The qualifying clubs have kept their schedule tight. History will be created, players will be immortalized.
GROUP D
The “group of death” features champions from four different countries. Every fixture is set to be a mouth-watering clash. The battle for the two spots is going to be intense and entertaining. Real Madrid are an extremely strong side in the group stages and even though they will face four gruelling encounters against Man City and Dortmund, they are expected to progress. Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund have relatively less experience compared to the Los Blancos, but have a superb squad at their disposal and will fight to the finish. Ajax Amsterdam should find it extremely difficult to prevail against their counterparts but they will not be pushovers.
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1) Real Madrid (Spain)
The Spanish champions have a relatively unchanged side but Modric’s arrival adds crucial quality to the Los Blancos. Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo will finally make an appearance in Manchester since his move from Manchester United. Xabi Alonso, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric will know the conditions in Manchester pretty well. Real Madrid have not failed to progress from the group stages for a long time, but will face their sternest test yet. Real Madrid have a poor record in Germany and Dortmund will not make it any easy for them.
KEY PLAYER: Cristiano Ronaldo
Other key players: Sergio Ramos, Mesut Ozil, Iker Casillas and Xabi Alonso
2) Manchester City (England)
The English champions have been drawn into the group of death for a second successive year and will hope this year is nothing like the last. This group is comparatively more tougher than last year’s group. Manchester City are looking to add players before the end of the transfer window to improve their squad. Manchester City will be happy that Carlos Tevez is back to his former self . Mario Balotelli however, will be Mancini’s trump card, as he relishes the big games. Manchester City need to ramp up their away performances or a similar fate could wait for them at the end of the group stages.
Carlos Tevez’s Champions League experience will come in handy for the Citizens
KEY PLAYER: Carlos Tevez
Other key players: Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure, David Silva and Mario Balotelli
3) Ajax Amsterdam(Netherlands)
The Dutch champions find themselves in the midst of another clash with historical rivals Real Madrid. Frank De Boer’s side lack a quality forward after losing El Hamdoui to Fiorentina. Their squad is not very strong compared to the other teams in this group, but Frank De Boer makes full use of his players. Ajax will be relieved with Christian Eriksen’s decision to stay put. Will the Dutch champs give us our first major surprise in the Champions League? A third place spot won’t hurt Ajax because the Europa League final is in the Amsterdam arena.
Erikson’s efforts correlate to Ajax’s success
KEY PLAYER: Christian Eriksen
Other key players: Siem De Jong, Miralem Sulejmani, Toby Alderweireld and Gregory Van Der Wiel
4) Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
The successive German champions have enthralled the whole of Germany but have yet to shine in Europe. Jurgen Klopp’s side believe in the art of micro-tactics. Micro-tactics involves a careful analysis of the opponents and exploiting their every weakness. This tactic will cause many a problem for Real Madrid and Manchester City. Borussia Dortmund have beaten Bayern Munich five times out of the last six meetings, an enviable record not possessed by their group opponents. Their home form should be better this time around. Marco Reus adds a superb edge to an already quick team.
Marco Reus will be hard to suppress
KEY PLAYER : Marco Reus
Other key players: Robert Lewandowski, Mats Hummels, Ilkay Gundogan and Jakub Blaszczykowski
