UCL 2016-17: Analysing the draw and each group matchup
The draw for the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League group stage was made this week as the anticipation and excitement for the globe's most exciting and prestigious club football competition hotted up.
There are already some intriguing storylines shaping up including whether or not Real Madrid can become the first club to successfully defend their UCL crown by picking up their 12th European title, whether last season’s surprising Premier League champions Leicester City can hold their own against some of the best teams around and if Lionel Messi can put his tax-evasion scandal and international see-sawing behind him to power Barcelona to the grand final next summer with some typically majestic performances.
We’re sure to be treated to some classic encounters between now and the culmination but for now, let’s cast our eye over how the draw panned out and examine who we think will emerge from each of the eight groups as winners and runners-up.
Also Read: UEFA Champions League 2016-17 Draw
Group A
Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, FC Basel, PFC Ludogorets
For Arsenal and PSG, getting out of their group is an objective they will be aiming for at the very least. However, while both teams will be keen to avoid slipping up early on, it's the Gunners and boss Arsene Wenger in particular who will be feeling the pressure of getting past the round of 16 for the first time since 2010. However, there’s sure to be even more pressure on the cantankerous Piers Morgan after he tweeted that he'd wear Gary Lineker’s pants if they didn't make it through.
The French champions will look to get one over the north London side as it will be their battles that determine who gets the potentially easier opponent in the knockout stage. Having lost Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Manchester United, they have also seen their top European goalscorers leave (having scored five and assisted eight last term) so that will make their task of hitting the back of the net that much more difficult. Still, with Angel Di Maria, Hatem Ben Arfa and Jese they have real flair to boost them – and they’ll need it, too, seeing as Edinson Cavani is going through a very rough patch.
The remaining pair of Basel and Ludogorets probably won’t do too much damage to either top seeds’ qualification hopes but they are decent outfits. The Bulgarians became the first since CSKA Sofia in 1983 to win four domestic titles in a row, while the last time Swiss champions Basel competed at this level they finished behind Real Madrid in their group, managing to fend off Liverpool and, interestingly, Ludogorets for the runner-up spot in 2014/15.
Prediction: Arsenal and PSG to qualify.
Group B
Benfica SL, SSC Napoli, Dynamo Kiev, Besiktas
It’s not unreasonable to suggest that any of these four teams might emerge into the next round.
Indeed, Dynamo coach Serhiy Rebrov labeled it “a very even group” in the aftermath and that was the general consensus across the board.They've brought in close to £30 million from the sale of Marko Pjaca, Josip Brekalo and Marcelo Brozovic so they have some funds to beef up their squad in the coming weeks, but it's always a gamble trying to replace quality with quality, make no mistake. If they get that experiment right, they could overpower the rest – but it’s a big if.
It’s difficult to look past Benfica as the marginal favourites to top this group, though. Last season they reached the quarter-final stage where they pushed Bayern Munich hard over both legs with a narrow 3-2 aggregate defeat. The Glorioso are coming into this edition on the back of a three-in-a-row league win, and although the loss of Renato Sanches and Nicolas Gaitan will be tough to take, they still have a core squad of hardened warriors ready to go for the jugular of the best teams around.
Napoli cannot be discounted either. Ironically, it was Gonzalo Higuain who sent the club into the UCL with his record-breaking goal spree but now that he has left their ranks they will have to fend without him. That said, they have acquired quite a few quality players to make up for the Argentine’s departure such as Arkadiusz Milik and they will fight hard to make their mark.
Besiktas could well wind up bottom of the pile and even the potential arrival of Samir Nasri on loan won’t be enough for them to avoid that fate.
Prediction: Benfica and Dynamo (only just) to qualify.