For the first time in what seems like forever, fans of the beautiful game can look up to match day 1 of a new UEFA champions league season with joy as new laws ensures the biggest teams meet at the group stage.
The new rule which states that all league winners in the top eight league in Europe be drawn in pot one means Barcelona could face Roma, Manchester City or Arsenal while Real Madrid who finished second last season and in pot two could have faces PSG, Chelsea, Bayern Munich in the group stages.
In Tuesday’s fixture of match day one, the biggest clash sees an-form Manchester City welcome a struggling Juventus. While City were able to move on unwanted players, Juventus had to deal with the loss of three of their most important players. Pirlo, Carlos Tevez and Arturo Vidal are all gone.
While those players have been ably replaced with the likes of Khedira, Dybala, Hernane, Mandzukic, there is still that feeling that Juve probably let too many star players leave.
City meanwhile bought well in Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne and Nicolas Otamendi. How Juve will recover from their poor start to the season (two loss and one draw in three league matches) will be seen tonight.
Real Madrid welcome Shakhtar Donetsk in what will be a tough match. The Ukrainians sold star striker Luis Adriano to AC Milan and that might come back to haunt them. Madrid also remain almost the same side as last season with only Danilo and Kovacic coming in while dead wood like Lucas Silva, Khedira and Illaramendi were moved on. Expect Madrid to triumph in that one with five star Ronaldo hoping for another five.
PSG’s Zlatan Ibrahimovich welcomes his childhood club of Malmo in Real Madrid’s Group A’s other match. The Parisians see this season as the one in which they finally cross the hurdle of champions league quarter-final disappointment.
In group B, Memphis Depay returns with Manchester United to the club he left just four months ago; Dutch champions PSV. PSV sold two of their most important players of last year, Wijnaldum to Newcastle and Depay to United but can count on Narsingh and Adam Maher to able replace them. Should be tough but the bookie bank on United to win this easily.
Wolfsburg welcome Ahmed Musa’s CSKA Moswow. Wollfsburg sold De Bruyne to Man City but quickly replaced him with Schalke’s Julian Draxler. Expect Wolfsburg’s home advantagge and motivation of five year’s absence from Europe’s top tier competition enough to grind out a win.
In other matches Benfica welcome FC Astana while Atleticco Madrid will hope Wesley Sneidjer will have an off day when they visit Lucas Podolski’s Galatasary.
Finally, Europa league holder’s Sevilla welcome Mochenglabach to Spain. For the first time in history five clubs from the same country will play in a champions league group stage.
Epect a cracker from all the teams set to play.
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