Winners and losers from the Champions League draw
Thursday’s Champions League draw served up eight groups of varying difficulty. Some clubs will feel more apprehensive than others about their chances of reaching the knockout round. But UEFA itself can feel happy that there’s plenty of good television to come.
Here are the winners and losers from the day in Monaco:
Winner: Manchester United
The draw treated Manchester United well after a brief hiatus from the competition. As a result of winning last season’s Europa League title, the Red Devils landed a fortunate berth in Pot 2 to avoid, at the very least, the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.
And fate dealt United a good hand. By far the favourite ahead of Benfica, FC Basel, and CSKA Moscow, Jose Mourinho’s side has a great chance to enter the Round of 16 as an all-important first-place finisher.
Loser: Tottenham
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Things don’t get any easier for Tottenham.
Wracked by a poor record at Wembley Stadium, Spurs now need to win as many points as possible at their temporary home ground to have any hope of advancing to the knockout stage. Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund have significant experience in this tournament, and even APOEL Nicosia reached the latter part of the Champions League in recent years.
Tottenham’s progress as a club will be measured by its performances in the Champions League. With a new stadium being built, Spurs have promised the start of a new era. This is their chance to show everyone where they are as a team – or how far they still have to go.
To compound the misery, Mauricio Pochettino’s men must prepare for a daunting two-week stretch at the end of October in which they face Madrid twice, Liverpool, and United.
Winner: Russia
Considering all the available outcomes, Russian sides Spartak Moscow and CSKA Moscow should feel relatively pleased. As the winner of the Russian Premier League, Massimo Carrera’s Spartak side had the luxury of being a top seed, but Pot 2 and 3 still could’ve offered significant obstacles. Against Sevilla, Liverpool, and Maribor in Group D, Spartak can now expect to challenge for at least third place and direct entry into the Europa League’s Round of 32.
For CSKA, the minefield of possibilities was even tougher to navigate. Although they’ve been pitted against United, the Army Men should feel optimistic about taking points at home versus Benfica and Basel. CSKA has lost just two of its past 12 Champions League outings at the Arena Khimki.
Loser: Francesco Totti
The recipient of UEFA’s President Award, Francesco Totti was responsible for selecting the teams for the draw.
Unfortunately for the 40-year-old, he couldn’t bring former club Roma any luck.
The Giallorossi find themselves stuck in one of the proverbial groups of death with Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, and faraway Qarabag. On a competitive level, it’s difficult, and even the patsy of the four, Azerbaijani club Qarabag, isn’t necessarily an easy go. Located more than 3,000 kilometres away from Rome, the Baku-based side could surprise Roma, which hasn’t won any of its past seven away matches in the Champions League.
Winner: Liverpool
Liverpool was rewarded for its evisceration of Hoffenheim in the previous play-off round, drawing Spartak, Sevilla, and Maribor. That’s a manageable group for the Anfield outfit, which last booked a ticket to the knockout round in 2009.
Success in the Champions League is vital this season. For the past few years, Liverpool has fought to reclaim its credentials as a top club and attractive destination for elite footballers. The Reds now have an opportunity to make a deep run in the sport’s most prestigious showcase event and boost revenue.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)
