Hello all, welcome back to the blog. The next 2 days in football are very important, as Thursday will see the Champions League group stage draw and Friday will see deadline day. Having done a post about deadline day this morning, now it’s time for my Champions League draw one. I’m simulating the UCL draw 3 times on draw.inker.one, and while the last Champions League playoff matches are not done yet, it shouldn’t matter all that much, so let’s do it now anyway. We have a lot to get through, so let’s begin.
Draw 1
Group A features Napoli, Porto, Red Star, and Celtic. It should be a breeze for Napoli, although we don’t know their status after losing Spalletti. Porto should be well placed to go through or even win the group, but don’t count out Red Star or Celtic.
Group B features Barcelona, Man Utd, Shakhtar, and Union Berlin. Barca get their rematch with the team that knocked them out of Europe last season, and while Shakhtar and Union Berlin are good, they shouldn’t be a problem for the 2 favourites.
Group C is definitely the group of death. Bayern and Atlético headline the major teams, while we also have last season’s semifinalists AC Milan and Lens, who nearly beat out PSG for Ligue 1 last season. Bayern have had tough draws in the last few years but they’re amazing in the group stage so they should get at least 15 points, AC Milan may be favourites to get second over Atleti after the Spanish side finished bottom of a very weak group last season, but Lens really got unlucky with this draw.
Group D sees Feyenoord, Arsenal, Copenhagen, and Sociedad. For Arsenal this is a great draw as it’s really a Europa League level group, and it’ll be a coin toss between Feyenoord and Sociedad for second place.
Group E will simulate a spicy rematch between PSG and Real Madrid, a big question for the top of the group, while RB Salzburg and Galatasaray shouldn’t provide too many problems for the two.
Group F is Man City’s group, which is surprisingly difficult by their standards. We see a UCL final rematch as they draw Inter, with Braga and Young Boys bringing up the rear. They should still top it easily, of course.
Group G features Benfica, Leipzig, Rangers, and Newcastle which should be a very open group. Even Rangers, the weakest team on paper have a shout at going through.
Finally, Group H features Sevilla, Dortmund, Lazio, and Antwerp. This is another very open group, but I still think that Dortmund and Lazio are favourites against bottom half Sevilla and Antwerp.
Draw 2
Group A features PSG, Leipzig, Braga, and Young Boys. PSG should win no problem, and Leipzig should be good enough to beat Braga and Young Boys.
Group B features Benfica, Real Madrid, Milan, and Newcastle. Madrid still win easily, while it’s a major coin flip between the other 3 for second. I’ll say Milan for their experience.
Group C sees Napoli, Atleti, Copenhagen, and Celtic. I see this playing out exactly how I ordered it.
Group D features Bayern play Man Utd in an entertaining match, along with Salzburg and Sociedad. Bayern will finish 1st obviously, and I think Man Utd will finish second although it’ll be close.
Group E sees Man City play Dortmund, Shakhtar, and Galatasaray. Once again, that’ll go exactly as I ordered it.
Barca and Arsenal will play in a group of death in group F. Joining them are Lazio and Union Berlin. I see Arsenal topping it, Barca in second.
Group G is open once again, with Sevilla, Inter, Rangers, and Lens. I think Inter and Lens will progress, with Inter winning it.
Group H is also strangely weak, with Feyenoord, Porto, Red Star, and Antwerp. Porto will win it, with Feynoord second.
Draw 3
In Group A, Bayern plays Real Madrid in one of the best matchups possible. They’re joined by Copenhagen and Young Boys. I still think Bayern wins the group, Madrid second, with a big gap between the other two.
Group B features Benfica, Inter, Salzburg, and Antwerp. It’s another easy group for Inter to top, but Benfica will also place second easily.
Group C features Napoli, Man Utd, Rangers, and Sociedad. Man Utd wins it, I think, with Napoli second.
In Group D we see PSG, Leipzig, Braga, and Newcastle. PSG tops it easily, and I think Newcastle will be too much for Leipzig and finish 2nd.
Atleti gets another easy group in Group E, getting Feyenoord, Shakhtar, and Galatasaray. I mean surely they don’t bottle it again? They’ll finish 2st, with Feyenoord second.
Group F sees Barca get Porto, Milan, and Union Berlin. It’s a tough group but nothing they can’t overcome, and they’ll finish 1st, with Milan finishing 2nd.
In Group G, Man City will face Dortmund, Red Star, and Celtic. It shouldn’t be a real problem for them, easily winning it, and Dortmund will finish 2nd.
Arsenal get another easy group in Group H, playing Sevilla, Lazio, and Lens. It’ll be easy for the Gunners, and I reckon Lens will pull out a shock 2nd place.
That concludes this one, I can’t wait for the Champions League draw tomorrow. Hopefully one of these groups will actually come to fruition, but we’ll see. I have to be out for the whole day tomorrow, so my group stage reaction will come a while after the draw. See you then.