Champions League Group Stage

The groups have been announced! Earlier today the draw was conducted. In each group of 4, the top 2 teams advance to the knockout stage, and the 3rd team enters the Europa League at its knockout stage. Here are the groups (the numbers in parenthesis are club ranking in Europe).

Group A:

Bayern Munich (8), Juventus (29), Bordeaux (38), Maccabi Haifa (90)

Group B:

Man U (2), CSKA Moscow (26), Wolfsburg (77, though this is somewhat misleading; Wolfsburg just finished their best season in club history, winning the German Bundesliga, but because rankings are based upon record in tournament competition for the last 5 seasons; Wolfsburg are most likely better than Besiktas, so I put Wolfsburg first), Besiktas (61)

Group C:

AC Milan (7), Real Madrid (14), Marseille (25), Zurich (94)

Group D:

Chelsea (3), Porto (18), Atletico (35), APOEL (158)

Group E:

Liverpool (4), Lyon (11), Fiorentina (33), Debrecen (187)

Group F:

Barca (1), Inter Milan (12), Dinamo Kiev (40), Rubin Kazan (128, though similar situation as Wolfsburg: won domestic league last year, but haven't performed well enough in the 5 year period to merit a high ranking; certainly much better than the low ranking would suggest).

Group G:

Sevilla (6), Rangers (20), Stuttgart (44), Unirea Urziceni (124, similar situation as Rubin and Wolfsburg; perhaps stronger than ranking implies).

Group H:

Arsenal (5), Alkmaar (37), Olimpiakos (39), Liege (91)

More detailed analysis coming later as well as full updates on Europa League playoff results.