UEFA Champions Leauge group draw provides intrigue in early stages

This year's version of the UEFA Champions League provides an interesting start to the tournament. Normally each group would have 2 giants that would dominate smaller clubs for some of Europe's lesser know leagues. Usually the group stages were ignored as the more prestigious clubs waltzed though the group stages as if they were an annoyance, taking their attention away from getting a good start in their respected domestic leagues.



But the soccer gods seems to smile on this years tournament, and have offered some interesting intrigue for this year's tournament. While they may only be group stages, these matches will be great appetizers before European crown jewel of football, the knock-out stages of the Champions League (which to your typical American non-soccer sports fans you can describe as imagine if the BCS made a play-off system).



Group A seems to have intrigue with the bigger three clubs appearing to be equals, look for the matches with Maccibi Haifa to be the difference in terms of points and goals. Manchester United should rule group B with Wolfsburg and Moscow battling for second. Looks for Real Madrid and AC Milan to stroll though group C, and group D boast Chelsea, with Athletico Madrid perceived to be second, but FC Porto darling of last years party are back for more.



In the other half of the groups group E looks to be the most open, Liverpool should win, but the Reds form hasn't been stellar lately, the other 3 teams should provide a nice dog-fight for advancement. In group F Barca and Inter should advance, nothing else has to be said. Group G has to be the group of sleeper teams, Stuttgart, Sevilla, Rangers, and Unirea Urziceni are a group with not a lot of fan fair, (you know it is bad when the most recognizable team is a Scottish side that is not Celtic). Still the sides in group G could provide the Cinderella of the tournament. Finally there is group F, Arsenal will dominate, Olympiakos and Standard Liege will fight for second (though the Dutch-side looks a lot less dangerous without American Oguchi Onyewu)

Here is the order of how I believe the group stages will go

Group A: 1. Bayren Munich 2. Juventes 3. Bordeaux 4. Maccibi Haifa
Group B: 1. Manchester United 2. Wolfsburg 3. Moscow 4. Besiktas
Group C: 1. AC Milan 2. Real Madrid 3. Marseile 4. Zurich
Group D: 1. Chelsea 2. Porto 3. Atletico Madrid 4. Apoel Nicosia
Group E: 1. Liverpool 2. Lyon 3. Fiorentina 4. Debrecen
Group F: 1. Barca 2. InterMilan 3. Kiev 4. Moscow
Group G: 1. Sevilla 2. Stuttgart 3. Rangers 4. Unirea Urziceni
Group H: 1.Arsenal 2. Olympiakos 3. AZ Alkmaar 4. Standard Ligue

No matter the results (and please don't quote me on my predictions) this edition of the UCL will prove to be as great as the rest....but really it's on FSC????