The Champions League draw always brings millions of viewers and on Thursday afternoon, football fans from all around the world tuned in to see who would be playing who in this years UEFA Champions League. Here's a short breakdown on each of this years Groups.
Group A:
Manchester United
Shaktar Donetsk
Bayer Leverkusen
Real Sociedad
Group A promises to bring some exciting fixtures. Premier League Champions, Manchester United are looking favourites to finish top, however, the group also holds the Ukrainian Champions, Shaktar Donetsk and it won't be easy for United. Along with the two Champions are Bayer Leverkusen and Real Sociedad. Sociedad have improved massively over the past few years and will certainly challenge United, although the La Liga outfit will struggle to make it through, along with Bayer Leverkusen. Both sides will provide some upsets and may surprise myself and finish in the top two but they should be competing for the third spot, to give them Europa League.
Look out for: Real Socidead, although the La Liga outfit aren't anywhere near as good as Manchester United & Shaktar Donetsk on paper the 'hipster' team could surprise a few as they try to push on to the knockout stages.
Teams to progress: Manchester United and Shaktar Donetsk
Group B:
Real Madrid
Juventus
Galatasaray
Copenhagen
Group B hosts two of the top sides in Europe, 9 time winners, Real Madrid and Italian Champions, Juventus will battle it out for first place. Meanwhile, Galatasaray could slip in a win against one of the giants like they did against Manchester United last year while FC Copenhagen are expected to finish bottom of the group as the underdogs.
Look out for: Galatasaray. Although the Turkish side don't have the depth of Real Madrid or Juventus, they always manage to provide a few upsets. Not only could they provide a few but with the small snips of top quality in their side they may just, just, scrape second.
Teams to progress: Real Madrid, Juventus
Group C:
Benfica
PSG
Olympiakos
Anderlecht
French Champions, Paris Saint-Germain are favourites to top Group C, while Benfica will do well to challenge with them. Whilst PSG are expected to cruise to the top of Group C. It looks to be a battle for second place and a pass into the knockout stages between Benfica and no one else. Benfica should manage to easily beat off any competition and proceed into the knockout rounds. Anderlecht are regarded as underdogs of Group C and I see them finishing last. Group C looks to be the predictable one. With PSG first. Benfica second, Olympiakos third and Anderlecht in fourth.
Look out for: No one. There really isn't any team who could ruin PSG and Benfica's chances of going through.
Teams to progress: PSG, Benfica.
Group D:
Bayern Munich
CSKA Moscow
Manchester City
Viktoria Plzen
Group D hosts last years winners, Bayern Munich and 2011/12 Premier League winners, Manchester City. It won't be easy for City but they should make it through along with Bayern. CSKA Moscow should cruise into third place and the Europa League while it looks bleak for Viktoria Plzen who are the underdogs Group D.
Look out for: No one. This group also seems set in stone as to who will go through.
Teams to progress: Bayern Munich, Manchester City
Group E:
Chelsea
Schalke
Basel
Steaua Bucharest
Chelsea seem to have the easiest group out of the English sides drawing Shalke, Basel and Bucharest. Chelsea are by far the strongest side in Group E and should finish top with no trouble. Shalke are the second best team on paper but can be inconsistent at times and Basel could scrape second place. Steaua Bucharest are predicted by many to finish last in Group E and I can;t see them finishing anywhere near Chelsea and the others.
Look out for: Basel. They caused an upset against Manchester United two seasons ago and could easily do it again.
Teams to progress: Chelsea, Shalke
Group F:
Arsenal
Dortmund
Marseille
Napoli
Group F seems to be the hardest group in this years Champions League. Although there are no champions in Group F, each side is strong and has plenty of depth to deal with travel and the extra games. Arsenal met Dortmund in 2011's Champions League and it was a great spectacle. Now, though with Dortmund loosing in the final last season, they have strengthened and Group F will be fascinating to watch. It's hard to predict but I'm going to take a punt and go with Dortmund and Napoli to go through. Arsenal in third.
Look out for: No one to look out for, you know how good all of these teams are.
Teams to progress: Dortmund, Napoli (if Arsenal do not strengthen before the end of the transfer window):
Group G:
Porto
Zenit St Petersburg
Atletico Madrid
FC Austria Vienna
There are always groups which you think will be the least exciting and prove you wrong. Group G will be one of them for sure. With the flair of Porto's players and Atletico Madrid's revived David Villa we're sure to see some goals. For me, those two will progress, with Zenit finishing third and Vienna in fourth. Of course it doesn't have half as many big names stars as Group F or Group C but it should a good group for the neutrals.
Look out for: This group also doesn't seem to have a team that will cause a big upset.
Teams to progress: Atletico Madrid, FC Porto
Group H:
Barcelona
Milan
Ajax
Celtic
Neil Lennon's reaction when Celtic were drawn in Group H describes this group. With Champions League giants, Barcelona, AC Milan and Ajax holding a combined total of 16 European Cup/Champions League wins, it's easy to see why the Celtic manager put his head in his hands on hearing of his team's drawing in Group H. Barcelona and Milan are the two biggest sides in Group H and I'm 100% sure they will finish in the top 2 unless something goes drastically wrong in Catalonia. AC Milan should also easily qualify for the knock-out stages. However, Celtic did manage to beat Barcelona last season and they don't tend to loose at home, even when playing top teams like Juventus and Barcelona. The Glaswegian club could provide a few upsets for us that will be refreshing to watch.
Look out for: Ajax. The Dutch team could spring a surprise. Although AC Milan and Barcelona both have double the quality of Ajax, they could manage to grab a pass to the knockout rounds. It'll be extrenely hard though.
Teams to progress: Barcelona, AC Milan
Agree, disagree? Let us know at @FootyForAll!
Written by Harry Robinson - @HRFootball.
Group A:
Manchester United
Shaktar Donetsk
Bayer Leverkusen
Real Sociedad
Group A promises to bring some exciting fixtures. Premier League Champions, Manchester United are looking favourites to finish top, however, the group also holds the Ukrainian Champions, Shaktar Donetsk and it won't be easy for United. Along with the two Champions are Bayer Leverkusen and Real Sociedad. Sociedad have improved massively over the past few years and will certainly challenge United, although the La Liga outfit will struggle to make it through, along with Bayer Leverkusen. Both sides will provide some upsets and may surprise myself and finish in the top two but they should be competing for the third spot, to give them Europa League.
Look out for: Real Socidead, although the La Liga outfit aren't anywhere near as good as Manchester United & Shaktar Donetsk on paper the 'hipster' team could surprise a few as they try to push on to the knockout stages.
Teams to progress: Manchester United and Shaktar Donetsk
Group B:
Real Madrid
Juventus
Galatasaray
Copenhagen
Group B hosts two of the top sides in Europe, 9 time winners, Real Madrid and Italian Champions, Juventus will battle it out for first place. Meanwhile, Galatasaray could slip in a win against one of the giants like they did against Manchester United last year while FC Copenhagen are expected to finish bottom of the group as the underdogs.
Look out for: Galatasaray. Although the Turkish side don't have the depth of Real Madrid or Juventus, they always manage to provide a few upsets. Not only could they provide a few but with the small snips of top quality in their side they may just, just, scrape second.
Teams to progress: Real Madrid, Juventus
Group C:
Benfica
PSG
Olympiakos
Anderlecht
French Champions, Paris Saint-Germain are favourites to top Group C, while Benfica will do well to challenge with them. Whilst PSG are expected to cruise to the top of Group C. It looks to be a battle for second place and a pass into the knockout stages between Benfica and no one else. Benfica should manage to easily beat off any competition and proceed into the knockout rounds. Anderlecht are regarded as underdogs of Group C and I see them finishing last. Group C looks to be the predictable one. With PSG first. Benfica second, Olympiakos third and Anderlecht in fourth.
Look out for: No one. There really isn't any team who could ruin PSG and Benfica's chances of going through.
Teams to progress: PSG, Benfica.
Group D:
Bayern Munich
CSKA Moscow
Manchester City
Viktoria Plzen
Group D hosts last years winners, Bayern Munich and 2011/12 Premier League winners, Manchester City. It won't be easy for City but they should make it through along with Bayern. CSKA Moscow should cruise into third place and the Europa League while it looks bleak for Viktoria Plzen who are the underdogs Group D.
Look out for: No one. This group also seems set in stone as to who will go through.
Teams to progress: Bayern Munich, Manchester City
Group E:
Chelsea
Schalke
Basel
Steaua Bucharest
Chelsea seem to have the easiest group out of the English sides drawing Shalke, Basel and Bucharest. Chelsea are by far the strongest side in Group E and should finish top with no trouble. Shalke are the second best team on paper but can be inconsistent at times and Basel could scrape second place. Steaua Bucharest are predicted by many to finish last in Group E and I can;t see them finishing anywhere near Chelsea and the others.
Look out for: Basel. They caused an upset against Manchester United two seasons ago and could easily do it again.
Teams to progress: Chelsea, Shalke
Group F:
Arsenal
Dortmund
Marseille
Napoli
Group F seems to be the hardest group in this years Champions League. Although there are no champions in Group F, each side is strong and has plenty of depth to deal with travel and the extra games. Arsenal met Dortmund in 2011's Champions League and it was a great spectacle. Now, though with Dortmund loosing in the final last season, they have strengthened and Group F will be fascinating to watch. It's hard to predict but I'm going to take a punt and go with Dortmund and Napoli to go through. Arsenal in third.
Look out for: No one to look out for, you know how good all of these teams are.
Teams to progress: Dortmund, Napoli (if Arsenal do not strengthen before the end of the transfer window):
Group G:
Porto
Zenit St Petersburg
Atletico Madrid
FC Austria Vienna
There are always groups which you think will be the least exciting and prove you wrong. Group G will be one of them for sure. With the flair of Porto's players and Atletico Madrid's revived David Villa we're sure to see some goals. For me, those two will progress, with Zenit finishing third and Vienna in fourth. Of course it doesn't have half as many big names stars as Group F or Group C but it should a good group for the neutrals.
Look out for: This group also doesn't seem to have a team that will cause a big upset.
Teams to progress: Atletico Madrid, FC Porto
Group H:
Barcelona
Milan
Ajax
Celtic
Neil Lennon's reaction when Celtic were drawn in Group H describes this group. With Champions League giants, Barcelona, AC Milan and Ajax holding a combined total of 16 European Cup/Champions League wins, it's easy to see why the Celtic manager put his head in his hands on hearing of his team's drawing in Group H. Barcelona and Milan are the two biggest sides in Group H and I'm 100% sure they will finish in the top 2 unless something goes drastically wrong in Catalonia. AC Milan should also easily qualify for the knock-out stages. However, Celtic did manage to beat Barcelona last season and they don't tend to loose at home, even when playing top teams like Juventus and Barcelona. The Glaswegian club could provide a few upsets for us that will be refreshing to watch.
Look out for: Ajax. The Dutch team could spring a surprise. Although AC Milan and Barcelona both have double the quality of Ajax, they could manage to grab a pass to the knockout rounds. It'll be extrenely hard though.
Teams to progress: Barcelona, AC Milan
Agree, disagree? Let us know at @FootyForAll!
Written by Harry Robinson - @HRFootball.