Champions League Preview

Nate’s 9: Reasons to Enjoy Champions League

Not that it matters cause the passion’s gone, but it is a bit strange not having two huge heavyweights – Manchester United and AC Milan – out of the Champions League this season.  With that said, I do think it will be very entertaining, and there’s no club that looks to have this trophy in the bag (we can all thank Atletico Madrid for giving the minnows hope).  Here are my 9 things to look forward to as the Champions League season begins.

#9 – James will be in it again.  When FC Porto sold James to AS Monaco last season, we were all deprived of his skills for a full season.  Now that he is at Real Madrid, we will be blessed to receive his gifts once again.

#8 – Ajax, Barcelona and PSG all got drawn into the same group.  So no matter what, on any particular match day, two of these giants will collide.  It should make for must see TV.

#7- Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund see each other again.  For anyone that was able to see these games last season, is was non-stop pulsating for almost the full ninety minutes.  Neither team is afraid to have a go away from home, and we should get two more great games this season.

#6 – Nani is still in Champions League.  Maybe back at his old club Sporting will help.  Nani at his best is still one of the great players in football to watch.  It’s just a shame it only happens once every six months or so.

#5 – Real Madrid vs Liverpool.  Two of the more historical beasts of the competition, and we will get to see them meet up twice.  Signing Mario Balotelli for Anfield was interesting; he could push them far or be the reason they crash out with multiple red cards and the like.  Still, these two games should leave us wanting more.

#4 – The aforementioned absence of AC Milan, Manchester United and Inter Milan.  I don’t think I can recall a Champions League that was missing three heavyweights the way this one is.  I actually like it to be honest as it gives teams like Benfica, Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal a chance to win the entire tournament.  While I still believe that the winner will come from one of the classics (Real Madrid, FC Barcelona), I think that there are more clubs that could leave an imprint on the competition just because there’s a little firepower missing.  It’s not a bad thing.

#3 – Zlatan Ibrahimovic.  While his career is winding down, some of his exploits on the field are simply astonishing. I don’t really think the world appreciated him while he was at Juventus, Inter or Barcelona, and it was only gradually getting better at AC Milan.  While he has always scored the amazing goals no matter where he’s gone, he’s really taken it to a whole new level while playing for PSG.  It seems like every week he’s doing something special.  It’s tough to get a hold of the French league in the U.S., but with PSG in one of the toughest groups, there may be a lot more of Zlatan in the near future.

#2 – Group C.  I know most of you won’t be getting excited about a group that drew Bayer Leverkusen, Monaco, Benfica and Zenit.  But I couldn’t be happier.  I love the groups that are so hard to predict the winner, let alone 2nd place.  I could see any two of these four clubs getting through to the next round.  Anyone could win any place.  It should make for a stimulating and entertaining round of matches.

#1 – Bayern Munich, Manchester City, CSKA Moscow, Roma.  Speaking of groups of death, how about a group that has 4 perennial league champions?  I think Bayern is the clear favorite in Germany, City a co-favorite in England, CSKA a co-favorite in Russia, and Roma another co-favorite in Italy.  Every game in this group will be extremely important, and then some.  All four teams can slouch off in the league for a week or two and still win a trophy.  3 dropped points in Group D?  See you next season.