Group A
Atletico Madrid
Last seasons runners up and current La liga champions, will have a tough ask to repeat last seasons achievements. They were 2 minutes away from lifting this trophy last season, only to lose to rivals Real Madrid in extra time. Mario Mandzukic will have to fill the huge void of Diego Costa, whilst the loss of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is another blow. Arda Turan, Antoine Griezmann and Alessio Cerci will trouble most defences. They should easily get out of the group, and a quarter final seems realistic.
Key player - Mario Mandzukic
Group prediction finish - 1st
Champions League odds - 20/1
Juventus
A disappointing campaign in this competition last season. Getting knocked out in the group behind Real Madrid and Galatasaray. With a good mix of youth and experience they should get out the group this time around. Carlos Tevez will be their main goal threat, along with exciting forward Alvaro Morata bought from Real Madrid. Last 16 knockout stage should be a must, with a favourable draw maybe quarter finals at most.
Key player - Paul Pogba
Group prediction finish - 2nd
Champions League odds - 25/1
Olympiacos
Greek Superleague champions were some what of a surprise package last season, getting through the group ahead of Benfica on goal difference. They caused the shock of the season beating Man United 2-0 at home in the last 16 knock out, only to lose the 3-0 in the return leg. Joel Campbell a big star from last season returns to Arsenal, but former forward Konstantinos Mitroglou returns after an injury hit 6 months at Fulham. Eric Abidal has been brought in to add experience in their defence. Whilst Pajtim Kasami and Ibrahim Afellay strengthen the midfield. They'll push Juventus for 2nd place but will narrowly miss out on the knock out stage.
Key player - Konstantinos Mitroglou
Group prediction finish - 3rd
Champions League odds - 400/1
Malmo FF
Allsvenskan champions came through 3 rounds of qualification to get into the group stage for the 1st time in their history. They become the 1st Swedish team in the groups for 14 years. Forward Markus Rosenberg joins on a free and will be their main player, but he doesn't have the best goal scoring record, especially against big teams. Not expected to do much in the group, they should just enjoy their time in Europe.
Key player - Markus Rosenberg
Group prediction finish - 4th
Champions League odds - 500/1
Group B
Real Madrid
Last seasons winners will again be one of the favourites. With an already impressive team, they strengthened in the summer. World Cup winner Toni Kroos joins along with the Golden boot winner James Rodriguez. Whilst last seasons final man of the match Angel Di Maria has left for Man United, and Xabi Alonso moves to Bayern Munich. Question marks remain over goalkeeper Iker Casillas it could give new signing Keylor Navas a chance in the group games. With Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema there's goals in this team. But slight question marks remain due to the high amount of attacking players in the squad and are known to concede. Shouldn't get troubled much in the group, but against better teams in the knock outs they might struggle. Semi finals should be a minimum expectation.
Key player - Cristiano Ronaldo
Group prediction finish - 1st
Champions League odds - 10/3
FC Basel
Despite beating Chelsea home and away last season, they still got knocked out in the group stage. Walter Samuel joins on a free from Inter Milan but at 36, the pace of Champions League might be to much for him. Goalkeeper Yann Sommer has left and has been replaced by Tomas Vaclik. Forward and captain Marco Streller will be the main goal threat in a group which they'll be playing out for a place in the Europa League.
Key player - Marco Streller
Group prediction finish - 3rd
Champions league odds - 500/1
Liverpool
Back in the Champions League for the 1st time since 2009. Brendan Rodgers took Liverpool from 7th to 2nd last season, narrowly missing out on the title to Man City. A key player to last seasons achievements was Luis Suarez who has since left for Barcelona. He is irreplaceable, and Liverpool will have to hope that other players can chip in with goals to fill his void. Mario Balotelli has been signed and is a world class player. It remains to be seen as to whether he will fit into the hard working ethic of the club. With Steven Gerrard getting older, this will be a big season for Jordan Henderson in the midfield. With exciting English players like Raheem Stirling and Daniel Sturridge, they will defiantly entertain, and a quarter final place should be achieved.
Key player - Raheem Stirling
Group prediction finish - 2nd
Champions League odds - 28/1
Ludogorets
Cosmin Moti might not be a household name around Europe, but the Romanian is a hero in Bulgaria after getting Ludogorets into the group stage for the 1st time in their history. When goalkeeper Vladislav Stoyanov got sent off in the last few minutes of extra time, in their play off game against Steaua Bucuresti, having used all their subs, Moti went in goals. In the resulting penalty shootout Moti scored the 1st goal and then saved 2 of Steaua's to send Ludogorets through. That's probably as good as it's going to get for the Bulgarians who will just enjoy the trips to Real and Liverpool. They'll be happy if they manage a goal in the group.
Key player - Svetoslav Dyakov
Group prediction finish - 4th
Champions League odds - 750/1
Group C
Benfica
For the past 2 seasons Benfica have finished 3rd in the Champions League group and ended up runners up in the Europa League. They've been handed a very tough group this time around where any place is up for grabs. Jonas has come in from Valencia to strengthen the forward line, whilst Julio Cesar joins on a free from Q.P.R to rival Artur for the number 1 jersey. Holding on to Nicolas Gaitan whilst Jan Oblak and Lazar Markovic left is a major plus. Again it looks like a fight for 3rd and a spell in the Europa League.
Key player - Lima
Group prediction finish - 3rd
Champions League odds - 100/1
Zenit Saint Petersburg
The Russian club will look to their home form to help them get out of this group. With Hulk and Salomon Rondon they have a genuine goal threat. Javi Garcia and Ezequiel Garay have been brought in to strengthen. They have a solid team and under Andre Villas-Boas they should have an attacking flair about them. Away form could be their biggest downfall, but I would expect them to progress to the last 16.
Key player - Hulk
Group prediction finish - 2nd
Champions League odds - 125/1
Bayern 04 Leverkusen
For the 2nd season running Bayern are in the group stages. They got to the last 16 last season before losing to PSG. They were poor in defence (conceding 9 against Man United over 2 games) and will look to put that right this time around. They probably have the most impressive front line of this group with 2 exciting young players in Josip Drmic and Son Heung-min and the experienced Stefan Kießling. Along with Simon Rolfes and Lars Bender in the midfield I think they will be disappointed not to top this group and get a minimum of the last 16.
Key player - Stefan Kießling
Group prediction finish - 1st
Champions League odds - 100/1
Monaco
When Monaco finished runners up in the Ligue 1 last season they would have been looking forward to this season. With exciting youngster James Rodriguez and the fully fit Falcao they would have fancied their chances of a successful campaign. But both players have left along with Eric Abidal, Emanuel Rivière and Sergio Romero, and there hasn't been any replacements, apart from Maarten Stekenlenburg in goals. They still have some quality players in Joao Moutinho, Dimitar Berbatov and Jeremy Toulalan. But that might not be enough and I think it'll be 3rd and Europa league at best for them this season.
Key player - Joao Moutinho
Group prediction finish - 4th
Champions League odds - 100/1
Group D
Arsenal
Arsenal must win this group, for the past few seasons 2nd has given them a tough tie in the last 16, drawing Bayern Munich, Barcelona and AC Milan, and lost all 3. Winning this group won't be easy, but it's do able. The key thing will be keeping players fit. Aaron Ramsey was a key player last season but missed the Bayern games through injury, making many fans think what if?. With Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil they have genuine World class, although Ozil hasn't shown the form of Real Madrid for Arsenal lately. Olivier Giroud will miss the whole group stages, so new signing Danny Welbeck and youngster Yaya Sanogo will need to get amongst the goals. Defence isn't the strongest and an injury or 2 at the back and it will be panic stations. They will look to get past the last 16 this time around and a quarter finals should be the least they achieve.
Key player - Aaron Ramsey
Group prediction finish - 1st
Champions League odds - 20/1
Borussia Dortmund
The runners up from 2 season ago have lost forward Robert Lewandowski to rivals Bayern Munich on a free transfer, but have replaced him with Ciro Immobile who was top scorer in Serie A last season. Former stars Nuri Sahin and Shinji Kagawa return after moves away to Real Madrid and Man United didn't work out for them. With quality players like Mats Hummels, Marco Reus, Henrikh Mkhitarayan and Iikay Gundogan remaining they have a quality team to push Arsenal right to the end for top spot in this group. A quarter final for them should be achievable.
Key player - Marco Reus
Group prediction finish - 2nd
Champions League odds - 25/1
Galatasaray
Visiting teams will be walking into Hell. Turkey is one of the hardest places for European teams to visit, If they can make it hard at home for visiting teams, they have an outside chance of upsetting this group and getting through. Didier Drogba has left to return to Chelsea and Goran Pandev has joined. Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder will be the main playmaker for the team and can pop up with a goal or 2 here and there. With enforcer Felipe Melo in the centre they have a strong midfield and have a genuine goal scorer in Burak Yilmaz. 3rd place looks likely but they have the ability to upset Arsenal and Dortmund.
Key player - Wesley Sneijder
Group prediction finish - 3rd
Champions League odds - 250/1
Anderlecht
Unfortunately for Anderlecht they've been given a tough draw, and baring a miracle will probably finish bottom. With key players like Cheikhou Kouyate and Massimo Bruno leaving, Anderlecht becomes some what of a selling club. With Belgium football not the greatest of leagues young promising players leave to go elsewhere. With some good youngsters in this squad, they should take this chance to try and catch the eyes of big European clubs. Midfielder Steven Defour joins from Porto and brings experience, and they have a tricky winger in Matias Suarez. Bottom of the group seems realistic for the Belgium club.
Key player - Steven Defour
Group prediction finish - 4th
Champions League odds - 500/1
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