Champions League Draw

The Rooster

The Draw takes place today (Thursday) at 3pm. The seedings have been announced as follows:

1st Seeds
1 FC Porto (POR) Title-holders 99.969
2 Real Madrid CF (ESP) 146.350
3 Valencia CF (ESP) 139.350
4 FC Barcelona (ESP) 134.350
5 Manchester United FC (ENG) 119.511
6 FC Bayern München (GER) 105.331
7 RC Deportivo La Coruña (ESP) 104.350
8 Arsenal FC (ENG) 103.511

2nd Seeds
9 AC Milan (ITA) 93.531
10 Liverpool FC (ENG) 90.511
11 Juventus FC (ITA) 84.531
12 FC Internazionale (ITA) 82.531
13 AS Roma (ITA) 78.531
14 Olympique Lyonnais (FRA) 70.947
15 Chelsea FC (ENG) 67.511
16 Panathinaikos FC (GRE) 65.467

3rd Seeds
17 PSV Eindhoven (HOL) 65.247
18 Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER) 62.331
19 Celtic FC (SCO) 60.600
20 AC Sparta Praha (CZE) 54.914
21 AS Monaco FC (FRA) 51.947
22 RSC Anderlecht (BEL) 49.528
23 AFC Ajax (HOL) 48.247
24 Paris Saint-Germain FC (FRA) 45.947

4th Seeds
25 Rosenborg BK (NOR) 42.226
26 FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) 41.300
27 Olympiacos CFP (GRE) 40.467
28 SV Werder Bremen (GER) 37.331
29 FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) 17.300
30 Fenerbahçe SK (TUR) 16.656
31 Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC (ISR) 14.012
32 PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS) 8.572

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Wouldn't mind this draw for Manchester United:

S1: Manchester United
S2: Lyon/Panathanaikos
S3: Anderlecht
S4: Maccabi Tel-Aviv

The Rooster

Liverpool against either Valencia or Real Madrid would be very very interesting with the Benitez and Owen links - but they'll probably get Barca as usual :rolleyes:

Likewise, Chelsea v Porto would be good fun.

mr_angry

Arsenal always end up playing as far off in Eastern Europe as possible. Something like:

Roma
Sparta Prague
Shakhtar Donetsk

I assume teams from the same country are protected from playing against each other, yeah?

_blank_

mr_angry wrote:

I assume teams from the same country are protected from playing against each other, yeah?

Yeah, teams from the same Association can't be drawn against each other.

midget lord

im taking the lazy option here but is that 3pm cet or gmt?

The Rooster

1600 Cet

eirebhoy

Porto
Panathinaikos
Celtic
CSKA Moskow

That'll do.

Someone on another thread asked what channel is it on. Sky Sports News.

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eirebhoy wrote:

Porto
Panathinaikos
Celtic
CSKA Moskow

If Celtic do draw Porto it'd be really interesting. They'll have to tie Martin O'Neill up or something.

Actually, eirebhoy, would you not like to see Celtic play Manchester United, test themselves against Premiership opposition, to see if they'd make the grade?

Or perhaps Liverpool or Chelsea from Pot 2?

KdjaCL

Bets possible draw i can see is
Man Utd
AC Milan
Celtic
Werder Bremen

That be nice to watch .

kdjac

Grimlock

seansouth wrote:

Actually, eirebhoy, would you not like to see Celtic play Manchester United, test themselves against Premiership opposition, to see if they'd make the grade?
QUOTE]

Of course they'd make the grade, this happens everytime they get draw against premiership opposition, just look at their UEFA cup run the year before last, they beat blackburn and liverpool.
TBH I don't think they could challenge for the title but they'd sit comfortably in the top half of the premiership imho.
Besides any games would be in cups, (UEFA, Champs league) which would not give a proper view of how they would perform week in week out in the premiership but if you want to compare; then celtic have proved they can mix it with most prem teams in cup comps.

PiE

What are the seeding points based on?

_blank_

PiE wrote:

What are the seeding points based on?

Co-efficients.

Now, that is complicated territory, and I am sure it is explained in all it's pernickity detail at www.uefa.com .

Imposter

lol @ Chelsea and Porto

PHB

I'd love Man Utd Panathinaikos Celtic CSKA Moskva

It would be a complete walkover

Teams I wouldn't want to hit are
AC Milan
Juve
Monaco
PSV

eirebhoy

Bollox! Celtic paired with Barca and Milan. :eek:

/edit Shaktaar make up the group.

eirebhoy

PHB wrote:

I'd love Man Utd Panathinaikos Celtic CSKA Moskva

It would be a complete walkover

Teams I wouldn't want to hit are
AC Milan
Juve
Monaco
PSV

A bit late.

Utd are paired with Lyon and Sparta Prague so far.

mr_angry

Poor Celtic!

mayordenis

depotivo
liverpool
monaco
olympiakos

dunno what to make of that at the moment

Boro

Group A
RC Deportivo La Coruña (ESP)
Liverpool FC (ENG)
AS Monaco FC (FRA)
Olympiacos CFP (GRE)

Group B
Real Madrid CF (ESP)
AS Roma (ITA)
Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER)
FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)

Group C
FC Bayern München (GER)
Juventus FC (ITA)
AFC Ajax (NED)
Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC (ISR)

Group D
Manchester United FC (ENG)
Olympique Lyonnais (FRA)
AC Sparta Praha (CZE)
Fenerbahçe SK (TUR)

Group E
Arsenal FC (ENG)
Panathinaikos FC (GRE)
PSV Eindhoven (NED)
Rosenborg BK (NOR)

Group F
FC Barcelona (ESP)
AC Milan (ITA)
Celtic FC (SCO)
FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)

Group G
Valencia CF (ESP)
FC Internazionale (ITA)
RSC Anderlecht (BEL)
Werder Bremen (GER)

Group H
FC Porto (POR)
Chelsea FC (ENG)
Paris Saint-Germain FC (FRA)
PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS)

midget lord

i can see liverpool qualifying from that group after taking full points at home and the odd few away. Its hard to say who will qualify with them. The rest of the groups are irrelevant

Boro

Think its a bit mad how Chelsea and Porto meet and also Barcelona meet Celtic again - a quick return home for Larsson. As per usual, Man U got one of the easier groups.

mr_angry

Good draw for Arsenal. Not quite the usual Eastern Europen adventure, thankfully. Although, having said that, Panathanaikos is quite a journey, and Trondheim is well of the beaten path, but providing the Rosonborg away game isn't in late November, we should avoid the dreaded frozen pitch.

Easy draw for United too - they couldn't have asked for it any easier really. Interesting one for Liverpool. The form of Monaco and Deportivo is questionable at the moment, but then again, so is Liverpool's! Olympiakos can be good on their day too.

Celtic's draw is almost laughably bad though. 2 massive European teams in the form of AC Milan and Barcelona, and then a horrible trip all the way to Donetsk - not good. They'll certainly be underdogs anyway. Maybe that'll help them. I wonder will Henrik Larsson be playing against them for Barca?

eirebhoy

Arsenal have certainly got the easiest group and IMO Celtic have got the most difficult. Milan are the champions of Italy and its between Barca and Madrid for the best team in Spain (Valencia or Depor won't win it). I don't know much about Shakhtar but I'm happy with them. The good thing is our great home record.

I hope Julius Aghahowa isn't as good as he is in CM01-02.

Boro

midget lord wrote:

i can see liverpool qualifying from that group after taking full points at home and the odd few away. Its hard to say who will qualify with them. The rest of the groups are irrelevant

My predictions :

A: Liverpool, Depor
B: Real, Roma
C: Ajax, Juve
ManU, Fenerbahce
E: Arsenal, PSV (i think Arsenal will lose some games here though)
F: Milan, Barca (just cant see Celtic getting the points away from home!)
G: Inter, Valencia
H: Chelsea, PSG

eirebhoy

Boro wrote:

just cant see Celtic getting the points away from home!

We know we can beat Barca at home as we did it last year and Milan are certainly beatable away from home, especially when there is over 60,000 Celtic fans singing for 90 minutes. We easily beat Lyon and Anderlecht at home last year and deserved to beat Bayern. If we win all our home games and beat Shakhtar we're guaranteed qualfication. Home form is vital and one win away from home will do.

Grimlock

GROUP A
Deportivo La Coruna (Spain)
Liverpool (England)
Monaco (France)
Olympiakos (Greece)

Hmm not too bad, can see Shels,sorry dep and Monaco with pool a close 3rd

GROUP B
Real Madrid (Spain)
AS Roma (Italy)
Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)
Dynamo Kiev (Ukraine)

Wow! too hard to call this group, it's nasty!

GROUP C
Bayern Munich (Germany)
Juventus (Italy)
Ajax Amsterdam (Holland)
Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel)

Another tough group, I'll go for Bayern and Ajax


GROUP D
Manchester United (England)
Olympique Lyon (France)
Sparta Prague (Czech Republic)
Fenerbahce (Turkey)

Not too bad, no such thing as an easy group but can't not see united get through

GROUP E
Arsenal (England)
Panathinaikos (Greece)
PSV Eindhoven (Holland)
Rosenborg Trondheim (Norway)

As above, Arsenal should go through with panathinaikos

GROUP F
Barcelona (Spain)
AC Milan (Italy)
Celtic (Scotland)
Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine)
Tough call, will put on my green tinted glasses and call celtic and AC


GROUP G
Valencia (Spain)
Inter Milan (Italy)
Anderlecht (Belgium)
Werder Bremen (Germany)
Can't see any but the top 2 qualify from this one.


GROUP H
Porto (Portugal)
Chelsea (England)
Paris St Germain (France)
CSKA Moscow (Russia)
Ha, Chelski got to Porto AND Moscow again top two should go through,


What does everyone else think?

mr_angry

I think thats being just a wee bit optimistic eirebhoy. 4 wins from 6 for Celtic? In that group? I know Donetsk don't travel well, but they're a reasonable threat at home, and having 60,000 Shakhtar fans singing and tooting those bloody horns for 90 minutes wont be a great experience for the away teams either. They beat Arsenal 2-0 out there a couple of years ago. (Admittedly after Arsenal had already qualified.)

I don't like the way that one of the top teams will have to meet the runner-up of that group in the second round. Someone's gonna be stung...

Boro

eirebhoy wrote:

If we win all our home games and beat Shakhtar we're guaranteed qualfication. Home form is vital and one win away from home will do.

What if Barca and Milan win their home games and both beat Shaktar also? You wouldnt be guaranteed qualifying from the group (only to the uefa cup). It could come down to goals scored, and without Larsson, Celtic might struggle a bit.

Im not trying to put a downer on Celtic... I hope they do well too, just dont see it happening im afraid.

eirebhoy

Boro wrote:

What if Barca and Milan win their home games and both beat Shaktar also? You wouldnt be guaranteed qualifying from the group (only to the uefa cup).

There's as much chance of winning the Lotto. No team has ever got 11 points and not qualified for the next round so 12 points pretty much guarantee's (Ferguson said last year that he aims to get 10 points so that'll put 12 into perspective).

mr_angry, 4 wins from 6 is the very most we need. We'll need 4 wins if Barca and Milan don't draw a match and Shakhtar don't get a point. Winning all our home games and a draw away from home is what should be the aim (if we fail on goal difference, tough luck).

BTW, I just found out Shakhtar paid 8mil for a Brazilian this year.

LizardKing

think liverpool and chelsea and celtic have tough groups and may find it difficult , think Utd. and Arsenal should easily qualify ..

eirebhoy

Fixtures (.pdf)

PHB

Group A
RC Deportivo La Coruña (ESP)
Liverpool FC (ENG)
AS Monaco FC (FRA)
Olympiacos CFP (GRE)

Here comes the real test for Liverpool.
I don't think you can call an easy winner in this group.
I think Deportivo didn't look great, but once they get into the swing of things I think they might be very good, but none the less beatable.

I think Monaco will take this group, with Liverpool taking second beating Deportivo
I've got a lot of faith in Benetiz :P

Group B
Real Madrid CF (ESP)
AS Roma (ITA)
Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER)
FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)

Real first Roma second.
Leverkusen just ain't what they used to be, ain't what they used to be, ain't what they used to be

Group C
FC Bayern München (GER)
Juventus FC (ITA)
AFC Ajax (NED)
Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC (ISR)

Bayern to take first with Juve a close second, Ajax gona get outclassed and will concede too many.

Group D
Manchester United FC (ENG)
Olympique Lyonnais (FRA)
AC Sparta Praha (CZE)
Fenerbahçe SK (TUR)

United to take this group, with Lyon a second.
I think this was an incredibly nice draw for United

Group E
Arsenal FC (ENG)
Panathinaikos FC (GRE)
PSV Eindhoven (NED)
Rosenborg BK (NOR)

Same goes here for Arsenal, who should have an easy run.
Assuming their defense is fully fit they will probably not concede a goal Maybe one againist PSV away

Group F
FC Barcelona (ESP)
AC Milan (ITA)
Celtic FC (SCO)
FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)


now thats gona be fun
I'm soo rooting for Barca in this group(my second favorite team) and I think its gona be very close between them and AC Milan.
Celtic have no chance

Group G
Valencia CF (ESP)
FC Internazionale (ITA)
RSC Anderlecht (BEL)
Werder Bremen (GER)

Valancia to walk it, with Inter a second.
Shouldn't be any problem

Group H
FC Porto (POR)
Chelsea FC (ENG)
Paris Saint-Germain FC (FRA)
PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS)[/QUOTE]

This could be a fun group
I'd love for Porto to beat Chelsea but I can't see it happening.
PSG might even pip em for second.

How I love the Champions League, gimma gimma igmma a super league please

mike65

RC Deportivo La Coruña (ESP)
Liverpool FC (ENG)
AS Monaco FC (FRA)
Olympiacos CFP

GROUP OF DEATH! :eek:

Well I don't like the look of it after Tuesday night....:(

Mike.

eirebhoy

PHB wrote:

Celtic have no chance

I'll quote you on that come December. Porto, Rosenborg, Anderlecht, Lyon, Juventus, Barca, Blackburn, Celta Vigo, Stuttgart, Boavista and Valencia have all come to Celtic Park over the last 3 years and went home empty handed. The last European team to beat Celtic at home was Ajax in 2001 but Celtic turned them over in the second leg. Celtic's home form compensates for the difference in quality between them and the very best in Europe.

Shred

mike65 wrote:

GROUP OF DEATH! :eek:

Well I don't like the look of it after Tuesday night....:(

Mike.

Dunno, I fancy Liverpool to either win the group or at least be runners up (I too have great faith in Benitez). United and Arsenal should breeze through but Celtic are screwed

PHB

quote me if you want
Its always good to look back and realise how right you're gona be

however I wish you luck
I hope they get through just so united can beat em

Big Ears

PHB wrote:

How I love the Champions League, gimma gimma igmma a super league please

hey , ive told you before that would ruin European football altogether .
and South American if you put in a few teams like Boca Juniors , River Plate , Corinthians , Vasco De Gama , Flamengo , Sao Paulo , Santos , Inderpendiate , Penaryol , I better stop .

jesus_thats_gre

Will be an interesting first round so

eyerer

though celtic probably won't make it, there's some good matches to look forward to, which is what CL is all about
very nice draws for united and arsenal

Jivin Turkey

I think Liverpool can make it out of the group and possibly win it. Deportivo dont look the best. Shelbourne more than gave them a run for their money. Monaco are without their 2 most influential players this year in Morientes and Giuly, and while I rate Deschamps as a coach very highly I dont think he will have found replacement in the same class as the two mentioned.

The Rooster

Dont forget that DLC were still in pre-season mode for their games v Shels. They dont play their first league game until this weekend. I'd rate them as favourites for that group, but Liverpool *should* finish ahead of monaco and Olympiakos.

ManU and Arsenal will waltz through their groups. I think Porto should be just as good as they were last year, but wont have the same luck. I'd tip them and Chelsea.

Poor oul Celtic. Barca have improved immeasurably since Celtic beat them and Milan are Italian Champs. Barca v Milan would not be an unexpected final. However, they both have had early round hiccups in recent years, so you never know. But I honestly think Celtic will do well not to finish last.

I wouldnt rule out Werder Bremen (GER champs) from upsetting one of Inter or Valencia.

LizardKing

Who do people seriously think are Favourites and likely to be winners ... I think if Arsenal can do what they do to teams in the Premiership, then they will go unbeaten in Europe too... They are my favourites and I might even put a few quid on them ... heres the odds (from PaddyPower.Com)

Real Madrid 6 - 1
Arsenal 6 - 1
Chelsea 8 - 1
AC Milan 8 - 1
Man United 9 - 1
Barcelona 11 - 1
Valencia 14 - 1
Juventus 14 - 1
Roma 18 - 1
Bayern Munich 18 - 1
Liverpool 20 - 1
Inter Milan 20 - 1
Deportivo 22 - 1
Porto 33 - 1
Lyon 33 - 1
Ajax 40 - 1
Werder Bremen 40 - 1
PSV Eindhoven 40 - 1
Monaco 50 - 1
Paris St-Germain 50 - 1
B Leverkusen 66 - 1
Celtic 80 - 1
Panathinaikos 100 - 1
Sparta Prague 100 - 1
Olympiakos 125 - 1
Fenerbahce 150 - 1
Rosenborg 150 - 1
Shakhtar Donetsk 150 - 1
Anderlecht 150 - 1
CSKA Moscow 200 - 1
Dinamo Kiev 200 - 1
Maccabi Tel-Aviv 300 - 1

Mossy Monk

LizardKing wrote:

if Arsenal can do what they do to teams in the Premiership, then they will go unbeaten in Europe too...

thats the thing though, they seem to be a different side for CL, last year showed promise though with them going out to Chelsea but destroying Inter Milan at the San Siro

Pepe LeFrits

Mossy Monk wrote:

thats the thing though, they seem to be a different side for CL, last year showed promise though with them going out to Chelsea but destroying Inter Milan at the San Siro

It's more to do with the way teams play against them in the CL. Chelsea played very well in the CL games (well for about 120 mins of the 2 legs anyway); Inter played into Arsenal's hands in the 2nd game by coming onto them, in the first game they sat back and won 3-0. Teams defend a lot tighter in the CL.

Reyes adds another dimension to Arsenal's attacking play, i'm still not sure it'll be enough to give enough variety to break down the most stubborn defences. I think they need a more traditional winger (Pennant?) to give them width and a midfield playmaker for more invention against entrenched European defences. Oi! Fabregas! grow up quick(er)!

The Muppet

Tough draw for liverpool and Celtic. From what I have seen of Chelsea so far this year they are weaker than last so they could struggle. Utd have been far from convincing so far but have a few key players to come back so I will reserve judgement. That leaves Arsenal who are stronger that they were in the early stages last year and I fancy them to go further than any of the other British teams but I don't think their squad is strong enough to win it .

PHB

I think Real are gona destroy people this year I think, they've got everything but an amazing central midfielder,, but it ain't like Helgaura is half bad.
Watch this space

Big Ears

PHB wrote:

I think Real are gona destroy people this year I think, they've got everything but an amazing central midfielder,, but it ain't like Helgaura is half bad.
Watch this space

Woodgate and Samuel are out for a while .
Im not sure when the C.L. starts but they could still be caught out without those 2 players .

Drag00n79

Who do people seriously think are Favourites and likely to be winners

I'l go for Milan as winners and Bremen or Lyon as longshots.

Drag00n79

Woodgate and Samuel are out for a while .

I heard a stat on TV last week about Woodgate's injury-proneness. Woodgate during his career with Leeds and Newcastle has never played more than eight matches in a row :eek:

mr_angry

I think Valencia are worth a punt at 14-1. Their squad is pretty much intact after last year's La Liga victory, and they have an excellent Champions League record. Their style of play suits CL football, being tight at the back with Ayala and Pellegrino. I wonder if Mista is up to playing all those games on his own up front though. Still, it didn't seem to do their UEFA Cup campaign any harm last season.