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The draws for the 2015/16 Champions Leaue group stage were conducted yesterday in Monaco and have produced some really tentalizing match-ups, coupled with a few reunions.With certain new rules and regulations to be abided by, this seasons first round draw have pitted teams against the ones whom they have seldomly clashed with, or otherwise, never at all. Some teams were given a staright-forward start whereas for some, a cumbersome task of reaching the last 16 awaits.Here are some of the interesting matches from the groupround that you wouldnt want to miss.
#1 Manchester United vs Vfl Wolfsburg
Champions League nights will return to Old Trafford as Manchester United are back in the competition after a year's absence. Manager Louis van Gaal must be fortunate to be handed a kind introduction to the tournament proper as his side will take on Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven, CSKA Moscow, but have a stern assessment against the might of Vfl Wolfsburg.
The Wolves finished second only to Bayern Munich in the league last term, but ended their 6-year wait for a silverware with a victory over Dortmund in the DLF Pokal cup and also beat the Bavarians marginally to claim the German Supercup. Indeed, they are the ones whom the Red Devils should be most wary of.
Manchester United, who have an illustrious history in the Champions League, will not be contended with just a group stage finish. A progress to the next round is least expected and finishing the group as the leaders is vital to have a favourable draw in the next round. But standing in their way is the Lower Saxony outfit, who vaunt a squad brimmed with talent.
In Naldo and Felipe Lopes, they have an unbreachable defence. In Kevin de Bruyne, they have the most productive engine of Europe. And in Nicklas Bendtner and Bas Dost, have a really potent striker force.
In Wolfsburg, Manchester United certainly have some sturdy opposition.
Fixture schedule:
1st leg – 30th September 2015, Old Trafford, Manchester.
2nd led – 8th December 2015, Wolkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg.
#2 Bayern Munich vs Arsenal
Well, we have come across this fixture for quite a number of times in the recent years, but it still remains a high-profile clash, nonetheless. Arsenal is tasked with facing Bayern Munich sized hurdle, in their quest to reach the knock-out round, for the third time in the last four years. It has always been a difficult start for the Gunners and the pattern has certainly subsisted this time as well.
While Olympiakos and Dinamo Zagreb aren’t much of a competition for them, Pep Guardiola’s side well and truely are. They have ended up on the losing side twice in their last four meetings, all of which have come in the last 16, and have won once.
This time around, Arsenal have the talismanic Alexis Sanchez to bank on to do the job up front and a proven quantity in Petr Cech patrolling the net. However, that may still not be enough to prevail over a Bayern side, who have the depth in every department. The FC Hollywood are one of the tournament favourites again this time and Guardiola, who is into his final season in Munich, will be hoping to go all the way in the finals in Milan.
Fixture schedule:
1st leg – 20th October 2015, The Emirates, London.
2nd leg – 4th November 2015, Allianz Arena, Munich.
#3 Barcelona vs AS Roma
Luis Enrique is set to return to his old stomping ground as his Barcelona have been pitted with AS Roma in the group stages, apart from Bayer Leverkusen and BATE Borisov. The Asturian coach led the capital club for a sole season in 2011/12, and now returns to Stadio Olimpico in the rival camp.
Although the two sides tussled as recently as 8th of this month when AS Roma were battered by the Catalans in the Joan Camper Trophy, their last competitive meeting came way back in 2002, when the Italian side beat Barcelona 3-0 in Rome, before holding them 1-1 in Catalonia. This time though, a result of the same measure is hypothetical for La Maggica.
Barcelona have been the most successful side in the Champions League in the 21st century, having lifted the title four times, most recent one in May this year. They are once again heavy favourites for the title and nothing less than a last four finish is satisfactory for a club of their stature.
Roma were abjectly subjugated last season by Bayern and City at this stage and this year, they run the risk of being a punching bag of another heavyweight of Europe that is Barcelona.
Fixture schedule:
1st leg – 16th September 2015, Stadio Olimpico, Rome.
2nd leg – 24th November 2015, Camp Nou, Barcelona.
#4 Juventus vs Manchester City
Ever since Manchester City have stepped into Europe’s elite competition, they’ve always been handed a rough start. Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and AS Roma have been some of their opponents in the group games in the last few years and this time, they are lumbered with another European giant in Juventus, who were the runners-up of last season.
Having simply conceded their Premier League title to Chelsea last term, Manuel Pellegrini’s side have laid down the gauntlet to their rivals with an encouraging start to the campaign winning all three opening games, scoring 8 times and conceding none. Whereas for their adversaries from Italy, they have started off the campaign to a whimper as they went down 0-1 to Udinese at home.
Their last meeting in Europe came at the same stage but in the Europa League back in 2010, where both the ties ended all square at 1-1. Both the sides have undergone seamless transition since and are poised to lay out better quality and results than the last when they meet this year.
Both sides boast multifarious talents amongst their ranks and sparks are set to fly when one of the meanest defence in Europe meets one of the most potent attacks.
Fixture schedule:
1st leg – 15th September 2015, The Etihad, Manchester.
2nd leg – 25th November 2015, Juventus Stadium, Turin.
#5 Paris St.Germain vs Real Madrid
Lastly, we have a nerve-jangling clash of the titans. Paris St.Germain and Real Madrid will be going head-to-head in the Champions League for the very time and superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be renewing their rivalry.
Both the sides have played out 2 friendlies between 2013 and 2014 but never have they met in a competitive game before. So the excitement will naturally be at it’s peak when PSG and Real take to the field in the following months.
The French champions have always boasted a squad full of stellar names but have flattered to deceive in Europe. PSG haven’t managed to get beyond the quarter-finals in the Champions League, and changing the stat a little would be their main objective this time. Los Blancos, on the other hand, are the team with a point to prove as they ran out empty-handed last term, losing out to Barcelona on all the three fronts.
With a new manager in Rafael Benitez at the dugout, Real will be aiming to get back to the summit of Europe and for that, winning the Champions League is imperative.
Fixture schedule:
1st leg – 21st October 2015, Parc de Princes, Paris.
2nd leg – 5th November 2015, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid.
