Champions League 11/12 Preview - Group D

Group D

Olympique Lyonnaise

Last season:

3rd Ligue 1
Champions League, Round of 16

Manager: Remi Garde

Key Man: Michel Bastos

Stadium: Stade de Gerland, Capacity 40,494



The dominant force in French football over the last few years, have struggled to recreate their strong domestic form on the European stage. Semi-finalists two years ago, and with new manager Remi Garde in charge, and a new sense of excitement around the club, Lyon will look to challenge once again. They qualified for the group stage by beating Rubin Kazan 4-2 on aggregate.

Lyon are quite familiar team around the world, Lisandro Lopez, undoubtedly their best striker, will miss the next month of action through injury, but should return to have an impact in the latter half of the group matches. Michel Bastos, the Brazilian flying winger, is the man to watch out for.

Best Starting XI:



GNK Dinamo Zagreb

Last season:

1st Prva HNL
Croatian Cup winners
Europa League, group stages

Manager: Krunoslav Jurcic

Key Man: Milan Badelj

Stadium: Stadion Maksmir, Capacity 38,923



The Croatian champions have reached the Champions League group stage for the first time in 10 years, making a long awaited return. They beat Malmo 4-3 on aggregate over two legs in the last round.

Players to look out for in the Zagreb squad include; 24 year old midfielder Sammir, who already has 3 goals in 5 Champions League games this season. Also promising full back Sime Vrsaljko, and deep lying playmaker Milan Badelj who has been watched by some English Premiership clubs. Familiar faces in the squad include club captain Igor Biscan, who won the Champions League as a Liverpool player. Jerko Leko, who used to play for Monaco and defender Josip Simunic who spent nine years playing in Germany, with Hertha BSC.

Best Starting XI:



Real Madrid CF

Last season:

2nd La Liga
Copa Del Rey winners
Champions League, Semi-final

Manager: Jose Mourinho

Key Man: Cristiano Ronaldo

Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu, capacity 81,254



The biggest club in the world, what we can automatically tell is that they have closed the gap on rivals Barcelona, and I expect them to reach this year’s final. A manager with a game plan, and two Champions League titles to his name, Jose Mourinho will look to formulate a plan to get Real’s hands back on the trophy, which has eluded them for nine years.

They’ve added Fabio Coentrao and Nuri Sahin to their current crop of fantastic players, and the nine times champions will look to match winners Ronaldo, Di Maria and Ozil to take them further than last season.

Best Starting XI:



AFC Ajax

Last season:

1st Eredivisie
Champions League, group stage

Manager: Frank De Boer

Key Man: Christian Eriksen

Stadium: Amsterdam Arena, Capacity 52,960



The four times Champions League winners last collected the title in 1995. Since then, major European teams in leagues with bigger budgets and greater competition have lured away some of their brightest talents, causing them to no longer be the major European powerhouse they once were. They returned to group stage last season after spending a couple of years in the Europa League, and have now secured back to back seasons in the group stages.

The current squad, as usual, feature some of brightest talent in Europe. The key men in this team include; Danish playmaker Christian Eriksen, who is just 19 years old and already, has represented his national team at senior level, and was instrumental to their first Eredivisie win in seven seasons.

Icelandic Kolbeinn Sigþórsson is the main striker at the Amsterdam Arena at the moment. He signed from AZ in the summer and at the moment has 4 goals in 4 games for his new side. He has fantastic movement, and as his record shows, an eye for goal.

They no longer have Dutch number one Marten Stekelenburg, who has joined Roma, so Kenneth Vermeer is the new number one. New club captain Jan Vertonghen is a quality left footed centre half, who partners fellow countryman Toby Alderweireld, another great prospect.

Best Starting XI:

UEFA Champions League 10/11 Preview - Group's A-D

Group A

Inter Milan

Last Season: Champions League Winners, Serie A Winners

Manager: Rafael Benitez



Key Man: Wesley Sneijder

Stadium: Stadio Guiseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy

Last year’s winners have had a slow start to their season this year, but with a new man in charge, its no real surprise. Inter have the same squad which won the trophy last season, the only change being Jose Mourinho’s departure to Real Madrid, with Rafael Benitez taking over at the helm. Benitez of course won the Champions League with Liverpool in his first season in charge.

Best Starting 11:

4-3-3



Werder Bremen

Last Season: Europa League Last 16, 3rd in the German Bundesliga

Manager: Thomas Schaaf

Key Man: Marko Marin



Stadium: Weserstadion, Bremen, Germany

The very fluid and impressive German side have been a mainstay in the Champions League group stages for the past few seasons. Blessed with an array of technically gifted yet gritty players, they surpassed Sampdoria in the qualification round. Look out for talented 21 year old Marko Marin, as well as fellow German’s Tim Borowski, Aaron Hunt and the tricky Zlatan Ibrahimovic style Austrian Marko Anautovic.

Best Starting 11:

4-2-2-2



Tottenham Hotspur

Last Season: 4th in the Premiership

Manager: Harry Redknapp



Key Man: Gareth Bale

Stadium: White Hart Lane, London, England

The North London club compete in their first ever Champions League campaign, and deservedly so after beat Manchester City to 4th spot in the Premiership. A solid yet attacking side, have the man motivator Harry Redknapp in charge, while the inform and highly talented Gareth Bale paired with Luka Modric will cause any teams in Europe problems. Most impressively for Spurs would be their array of forwards including Jermaine Defoe, Peter Crouch, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Robbie Keane.

Best Starting 11:

4-4-2



FC Twente

Last Season: Eredivisie Winners

Manager: Michel Preud’homme



Key Man: Bryan Ruiz

Stadium: AFAS Stadion, Alkmaar, Netherlands

This free flowing attacking Dutch side will not be a easy to beat as people may think. Formidable at home, boss Michel Preud’homme took over from the departed Steve McClaren this summer and has the talented Bryan Ruiz attacking from the left to get the goals, while 29 year old free kick specialist Theo Janssen and the experienced Denny Landzaat form the engine room in midfield.

Best Starting 11:

4-3-3



Group B

Olympique Lyonnais

Last Season: Champions League Semi-finals, Ligue 1 2nd Place

Manager: Claude Puel



Key Man: Yoann Gourcuff

Stadium: Stade de Gerland, Lyon, France

The French superpower were beaten semi-finalists last season, and its widely believed that if any French side is too collect the Champions League title, Lyon are the best equipped side. A squad boasting a strong and healthy French influence including the likes of star goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, left back Aly Cissokho and the inspirational Yoann Gourcuff who made the switch from Bordeaux last season, combined with talented players such as Lisandro Lopez, Miralem Pjanic and Kim Kallstrom, mean Lyon could be the dark horses this year.

Best Starting 11:

4-4-2



Benfica

Last Season: Portugeuse Liga 1st, Europa League Quarter-finals

Manager: Jorge Jesus



Key Man: Pablo Aimar

Stadium: Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal

The best way to describe the Portuguese champions would be some-timish. They have undoubted quality, but do not seem to make it far in major competitions. This year around they will look to get out of the group and ruffle a few feathers. Oscar Cardozo and Javier Saviola up front have more than enough European pedigree, while 30 year old iconic playmaker Pablo Aimar will pull the strings. Benfica’s two centre backs; David Luiz and Luisao are fundamental to the Portuguese sides’ challenge.

Best Starting 11:

4-4-2 Diamond



FC Schalke 04

Last Season: 2nd Bundesliga

Manager: Felix Magath



Key Man: Manuel Neuer

Stadium: Veltnis-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany

The Bundesliga runners up last season have a very different array of talents in their side, with over 18 different nationalities in their squad! Some of the most impressive names on that list include German goalkeeper, and club captain; Manuel Neuer. He had a great World Cup and is expected to be vital if Schalke are to make it from the group. Many continental football fans remember Schalke relying on striker Ebbe Sand to get their goals, now they have the legendary Raul to call upon, paired with deadly Dutch finisher Klaas-Jan Huntelaar who looks to get his stuttering career back on track.

Best Starting 11:

4-4-2



Hapoel Tel Aviv

Last Season: Israeli Premier League 1st, Europa League last 32

Manager: Eli Guttman



Key Man: Vincent Enyeama

Stadium: Bloomfield Stadium, Jaffa, Israel

An unknown quantity at this level, as they make the Champions’ League group stages for the first time, after knocking out Salzburg in the previous round. Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama had an impressive World Cup and is the clubs penalty takers, (scoring 8 times in 84 matches) so keep an eye for him. Hapoel will rely on Israeli striker Itay Shechter to get the goals, having scored 22 goals in 34 appearances last season.

Best Starting 11:

4-4-2



Group C

Manchester United

Last Season: Premiership 2nd, Champions League quarter-finals

Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson



Key Man: Paul Scholes

Stadium: Old Trafford, Manchester, England

It’s a wonder how Sir Alex Ferguson has only guided Manchester United to two Champions League titles in 18 seasons. However Manchester United is one of the best teams in Europe and are certainly capable of challenging this time round. Star striker Wayne Rooney will be leading the line once again, while Dimitar Berbatov is returning to form and the side are backed by the evergreen Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs.

Best Starting 11:

4-4-2



Valencia

Last Season: 3rd La Liga

Manager: Unai Emery

Key Man: Juan Mata



Stadium: Mestalla, Valencia, Spain

Valencia lost both David Villa to Barcelona and David Silva to Man City, while Carlos Marchena joined Villarreal. With this calibre of players leaving, it would seem fair to believe that Valencia’s challenge would be dismissed. However boss Unai Emery signed Roberto Saldado from Getafe, Albert Costa from Montpellier and Ricardo Costa from Lille to add experience and quality to the squad. Second place is up for grabs in this group, while Valencia are undoubted favourites.

Best Starting 11:

4-4-2



Rangers

Last Season: 1st Scottish Premier League, Champions League Group Stage

Manager: Walter Smith



Key Man: Madjid Bougherra

Stadium: Ibrox, Glasgow, Scotland

Scottish champions Rangers have had financial troubles over the last few years, not allowing them to strengthen their squad for Champions League campaign. However sometimes this isn’t such a bad thing, as the squad grows a stronger nucleus and players achieve a greater understanding of each other. It’s this team work and work ethic that Rangers will need if they are to make it out of the group, or into the EUROPA League.

Best Starting 11:

5-4-1



Bursaspor

Last Season: Winners of Turkish SuperLig

Manager: Ertigal Saglam

Key Man: Ozan Ipek



Stadium: Bursa Ataturk Stadium, Bursa, Turkey

A somewhat surprise title winner last season, they compete in their first ever Champions League. An unknown quantity at this level, they will have to continue their great form in order to cause a few upsets in this campaign, although EUROPA League qualification would be more of a realistic option.

Best Starting 11:

4-4-2



Group D

FC Barcelona

Last Season: La Liga Winners, Champions League Semi-Final

Manager: Pep Guardiola



Key Man: Lionel Messi

Stadium: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain

A semi final defeat last season, was somewhat seen as a failure for the Catalan club. Now; Barca left licking their wounds, will be looking to win back the Champions League trophy. Yaya Toure left for Man City, Zlatan Ibrahimovic went to AC Milan, Henry and Marquez both went the MSL, and Chygrnskiy returned to Shaktar Donetsk, while Spanish striker David Villa joined from Valencia, Javier Mascherano joined from Liverpool and Adriano joined from Sevilla. Barcelona are still as strong as ever and are the favourites this time round.

Best Starting 11:

4-3-3



Panathinaikos

Last Season: Greek Super League Winners, Europa League last 16

Manager: Nikos Niaplias



Key Man: Djibril Cisse

Stadium: Athens Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece

The Greek champions have made a few interesting signings this season in order to compete in this year’s competition. In comes Sidney Govou, Jean Alain Boumsong and former Liverpool attacker Luis Garcia to add Champions League experience to the likes of Djibril Cisse and Gilberto Silva.

Best Starting 11:

4-2-3-1



Copenhagen

Last Season: Danish Superliga Winners, Europa League last 32

Manager: Stale Solbakkan

Key Man: Jesper Gronkjaer



Stadium: Parken, Copenhagen, Denmark

The Danish champions are another team returning to the Champions’ League group stage. The highly organised side will look to compete with Panathinaikos directly for second spot. They will rely on former Chelsea winger Jesper Gronkjaer for creativity, while Dame N’Doye is the man who will look to get the goals.

Best Starting 11:

4-4-2



Rubin Kazan

Last Season: Russian Premier League Winners, Champions League Group Stage, Europa League last 16

Manager: Gurban Berdyev

Key Man: Carlos Eduardo



Stadium: Tsentralnyi Stadium, Kazan, Russia

Rubin Kazan will be the least fancied team in the group; however they have it in their make up to surprise and upset the big boys. Their home form will be vital if the to cause these upsets. Look out for gifted winger Carlos Eduardo who made his name at Hoffenheim in Germany, made the big money move to Russian giants, while former Newcastle and Inter Milan striker Obafemi Martins leads the line.

Best Starting 11:

4-4-2