Champions League 2016-17 Predictions: Barcelona, Real Madrid, PSG, Bayern Munich Among Winners of Group Stage Draw
The Champions League Group stage was announced on Thursday. As expected some of the top teams benefitted from easier draws while other groups look to be more contentious. Here is a break down of the winners and losers in each group.
Group A
Paris Saint-Germain will likely be happy with draw. Arsenal should not be particularly upset, those FC Basel could present some problems. Ludogarets Razgrad will be the punching bag in the group.
Prediction: PSG wins the group with Arsenal a second-place finisher.
Group B
One of the more interesting groups overall. Napoli stands to be the favorite, though Benfica will have a lot to say about how this winds up. Dynamo Kyiv is no slouch and Besikstas could yet surprise as well.
Prediction: Napoli wins the group with Benfica finishing second.
Group C
The most intriguing of groups pits Pep Guardiola against the team that he led to greatness. Manchester City is still the underdog here talent-wise, but the Catalan could pull an upset against Barcelona. The other two sides are essentially after thoughts and major losers.
Prediction: Barcelona wins the group with Manchester City finishing second
Group D
Another group in which PSV Einhoven and Rostov are likely looking at early exits. Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid will face off again after a tight semifinal last season, making for two must-watch games.
Prediction: Bayern Munich wins group and Atleti finishes second.
Group E
Arguably the group of death with no clearcut favorite. Tottenham could be the winner here, though history has shown English sides to be particularly susceptible to this competition. No team is an obvious minnow with Monaco potentially providing some surprises.
Prediction: Monaco wins the group with Bayer Leverkusen in second place.
Group F
The defending Champions face a nemesis that has given them trouble before. But this Borussia Dortmund is not the Jurgen Klopp iteration and is not quite the team that destroyed Madrid in 2012-13 and troubled them in 2013-14 on their way to the title. Sporting CP and Legia Warsaw are the losers here.
Prediction: Madrid wins group with Dortmund in second.
Group G
Leicester City is likely thrilled at its draw with only Porto truly presenting a challenge. The other groups could surprise those as neither the English team or the Portuguese side are powerhouses.
Prediction: Porto wins group and Leicester finishes in second.
Group H
The toughest group with Juventus, Lyon and Sevilla competing for a top-two spot. Juventus is the favorite here and Sevilla should find a way as well, though defensive problems could hamper them long-term.
Prediction: Juventus tops group; Sevilla finishes second.
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