UEFA Champions League 17/18: Group Stage

The most important clubs tournament in the world is about to begin this season. Yesterday the groups of the UEFA Champions League 2017/2018 were drawn, this edition will have several clubs that return and others that finally seek to success in the competition. In this post I will put the groups and those that in my opinion are favorites to go to the round of 16 this season.

A comfortable group for Manchester United, team led by Jose Mourinho looking for succeed in the Champions League after winning the Europa League last year. On the other side we have Benfica, champion of Portugal and great candidate to the second place in this group "A", where surely Basel and CSKA Moscow will fight for the third place that gives them access to the Europa League.

Two favorites to take the trophy are in this group, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, so there will not be many surprises in the final result of the group, unless the French team managed to get the first place. Anderlecht, champion of Belgium and Celtic, champion of Scotland do not have many opportunities to transcend in this group, reason why surely we will see them fighting for the third position.

This is where the big matches that make us love this tournament begin. Chelsea return to the Champions League and do so as England champion, but they will face against the always strong Atletico Madrid and a weakened but competitive Rome. Although the logic indicates that the English and the Spanish will lead this group, it can not rule out that the team now led by Eusebio Di Francesco can surprise and get in the round of 16. The Qarabag, champion of Azerbaijan and debutant in Champions League, will be a spectator of luxury in this great group.

Juventus and Barcelona, ​​another candidates to reach the final round will face each other in the group stage. The runners-up, led by Massimiliano Allegri reached the final (Lost 4-1 vs Real Madrid) and will seek to regain the title they have not won since 1996. Barcelona, ​​now led by Ernesto Valverde, has had an irregular performance in the Last Champions League,
Despite the title in 2015, they have remained in the quarterfinals in the last two, so they seek, with Lionel Messi as they leader, reign again in Europe. Sporting Lisbon have it very difficult in this group, but they will not have any problem to finish as third.

A similar group to the previous one, with two teams far superior to the other two. In this case, Liverpool and Sevilla are unquestionably favorites to pass the group stage. Spartak Moscow will probably be the third in this group.

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City will face three teams below their level, there is no doubt that they are favorites in this group, Maurizio Sarri's Napoli also has an interesting squad that should be enough to be in the knockout stages. Feyenoord surely occupies the third position.

One of the weakest groups of the draw, but it also will have interesting duels. Monaco comes from being semi-finalist and although it is difficult that it obtains, will try to repeat this feat this season. Porto was second in the Portuguese league and will look to at least be in the last 16, but the Leipzig that was a surprise in Germany will not make things easy for them. Like Besiktas, team that signed to Pepe and Gary Medel in this transfer window. Although none of these teams are favorites in this Champions, they will play on one of the most equal groups at this stage. My bet is for Monaco and Leipzig.

The last group and probably the most complicated of them all. On one side we have Real Madrid, two-time winner of the Champions and one of the favorites for this edition. On the other, we have Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham Hospur, third and second of their leagues respectively. Although I think that Real Madrid will be the leader of this group, it will be hard, and the fight for second place will be very interesting between two teams that play a beautiful football. The APOEL did not have the luck of others and they will be in the hardest group , where unfortunately will not have options nor for the third position.

And so culminates my review of the groups of this Champions League that promises to have a great level and great matches on this group stage, greetings to all the community of Steemit.