UEFA Champions League Continued 2015/16

[Gingerfinch]

The whole seeding is a joke...just pick 8 groups of 4, if that means that Chelsea,Arsenal,Liverpool and Man City are all in the same group, so be it.

But you may (very unlikely) get madrid, barca, bayern, and say Chelsea in one group, and 4 minnows in another, and end up with a not so good last 16. I like seedings, but they do seem unfair.

[Aidan11]

I know I'm in a minority here but I would like to see a proper league made up of the best European teams. It could still run alongside the domestic leagues.

Formatting and scheduling would need to be worked out of course but it could happen.

[Gingerfinch]

I know I'm in a minority here but I would like to see a proper league made up of the best European teams. It could still run alongside the domestic leagues.

Formatting and scheduling would need to be worked out of course but it could happen.

I do like the current CL format, bar the seedings. A bit like the NFL league, groups, then knock-out, and it works round the national leagues fine.

[The Waugh Twins]

I know I'm in a minority here but I would like to see a proper league made up of the best European teams. It could still run alongside the domestic leagues.

Formatting and scheduling would need to be worked out of course but it could happen.

I do like the current CL format, bar the seedings. A bit like the NFL league, groups, then knock-out, and it works round the national leagues fine.

I don't care what they do as long as Man U get through to the knock out stages comfortably, and I have no doubts they shouldn't face any real opposition.

[Gingerfinch]

The Champions League returns tonight, with the sometimes predictable group stages, cut and pasted below. I expect the normal lot will be contesting the knock-out stages, and then the final, in Berlin.

Chelsea to win it?

UEFA Champions League Table Group A

Atl Madrid
Juventus
Malmö
Olympiakos

UEFA Champions League Table Group B

FC Basel
Liverpool
Ludo Razgd
Real Madrid
UEFA Champions League Table Group C

Bayer Levkn
Benfica
Monaco
Zenit

UEFA Champions League Table Group D

Arsenal
Bor Dortmd
Galatasaray
Anderlecht

UEFA Champions League Table Group E

CSKA Moscow
Bayern Mun
Man City
Roma

UEFA Champions League Table Group F

Ajax
Apoel Nic
Barcelona
Paris St G

UEFA Champions League Table Group G

Chelsea
FC Schalke 04
NK Maribor
Sporting team

UEFA Champions League Table Group H

Ath Bilbao
BATE Bor
FC Porto
Shakt Donsk

[Gingerfinch]

Week one

Juventus v Malmö
Olympiakos v Atl Madrid
Liverpool v Ludo Razgd
Real Madrid v FC Basel
Benfica v Zenit St P
Monaco v Bayer Levkn
Bor Dortmd v Arsenal
Galatasaray v Anderlecht
Bayern Mun v Man City
Roma v CSKA Moscow
Ajax v Paris St G
Barcelona v Apoel Nic
Chelsea v FC Schalke 04
NK Maribor v Sporting
Ath Bilbao v Shakt Donsk
FC Porto v BATE Bor

[rich1uk]

good tests for both arsenal and man city this week to see just how competitive they might be

Liverpool you would expect to win comfortably

schalke wont be easy for Chelsea but again would expect them to win at home

[Gingerfinch]

Are Dortmund still as good as they were? Intimidating stadium, and fans will be tough for Arsenal though. A draw will be a good and likely result. Yes, City have a hard opening game. Home win?

[rich1uk]

Are Dortmund still as good as they were? Intimidating stadium, and fans will be tough for Arsenal though. A draw will be a good and likely result. Yes, City have a hard opening game. Home win?

they are probably not quite as strong after losing gotze and lewandowski to Bayern the last 2 summers but would still expect them to be pretty tough at home , they did spend around £50M bringing in players this summer

immobile , the Italian striker being the biggest acquisition I think , always thought that was a very unfortunate name for a centre forward

[Gingerfinch]

Are Dortmund still as good as they were? Intimidating stadium, and fans will be tough for Arsenal though. A draw will be a good and likely result. Yes, City have a hard opening game. Home win?

they are probably not quite as strong after losing gotze and lewandowski to Bayern the last 2 summers but would still expect them to be pretty tough at home , they did spend around £50M bringing in players this summer

immobile , the Italian striker being the biggest acquisition I think , always thought that was a very unfortunate name for a centre forward

Ha, yes. Bit like being a bowler called 'piethrower'

[rich1uk]

hummels missing for Dortmund tonight

bellerin makes his first team debut for arsenal , some place to be making your debut

[Gingerfinch]

Real Madrid three up already.

[dan08]

Are Dortmund still as good as they were? Intimidating stadium, and fans will be tough for Arsenal though. A draw will be a good and likely result. Yes, City have a hard opening game. Home win?

Best 2 players, Reus and Hummels, are missing tonight.

Anyway, it's 1-0 now!

[Gingerfinch]

immobile scores.

[Gingerfinch]

2-0. My draw's not looking good.