UCL returns: Preview, stats and what to look out for

The UEFA Champions League (UCL) resumes today across various stadia in Europe with eye-catching games to look out for. As Usual, the 32 teams competing for the prestigious title have been split into eight groups of four teams each.

15 different countries are well represented in this year’s edition of the Champions League. Players and fans alike cannot wait for the action to begin.

The group stage matches will be played within a little less than two months. This is unlike it used to be when the matches are rounded up in December. Reason for the adjustment is because of the upcoming FIFA World Cup scheduled to begin in November.

MEET THE PARTICIPANTS

Five Bundesliga clubs will participate in the UEFA Champions League games this season. This is more than the number of clubs any other European country has this year.

This is due to the fact that German side Eintracht Frankfurt won last year’s Europa League. Winners of the second-tier European club competition automatically qualify for the Champions League the following season.

Others are Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig.

England has four representatives. Manchester City, who are the league champions, alongside last season finalists Liverpool will parade their stars on the European stage.

Two-time winners Chelsea and North London side Tottenham are the other English sides in the 2022/23 UCL.

Also Read: The winners and losers of the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League draw

For France, only 2020 beaten finalists Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille will appear in this year’s edition. Portugal, meanwhile have three teams that made it to the group stages – FC Porto, Benfica and Sporting Lisbon.

Italy and Spain are represented by four teams each. The Serie A clubs present for the UCL this term are Napoli, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus.

Spain, on the other hand, have regular suspects Real Madrid and Barcelona in the mix of things. Sevilla and Atletico Madrid are also in the competition.

Scottish champions Celtic are once again Champions League participants after a four-year absence while Rangers return to the competition for the first time in 12 years. Interestingly, Celtic beat Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side 4-0 over the weekend.

Some countries have only one club representing them. They are Copenhagen (Denmark), Maccabi Haifa (Israel), Salzburg (Austria), Viktoria Plzen (Czech Rep.) and Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia). Others are Club Brugge (Belgium), Ajax (Netherlands) and Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine).

PREVIEW

There is plenty to look out for in the upcoming weeks and months of the European club football competition. Real Madrid are one of the big boys (as they’ve always been) and will seek to win back-to-back titles.

Carlo Ancelotti and his boys have already started the La Liga season very well. They will hope their rich vein of form is carried into Europe.

Los Blancos face Celtic in Scotland in their first match in Group F while they also battle Leipzig and Shakhtar.

Chelsea have had a staggering start to their league campaign having won 50% of their matches so far. Despite being European big spenders during the summer transfer window, the team has failed to gel well.

With the late addition of Denis Zakaria, Wesley Fofana and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, they hope to get their rhythm soonest. They have to overcome the challenges of Dinamo Zagreb, Salzburg and AC Milan in Group E in order to advance.

Their performances in the UEFA Champions League games against these sides will go a long way in defining their season.

Already described as the Group of Death, Group C sure promises to render some juicy fixtures. With Barcelona, Bayern and Inter all slugging it out, you will be forgiven to write off Viktoria Plzen.

Also Read: I will be ready for you in December – Joshua replies Fury

Expected to be the ‘whipping boys’ in the group, the Czech side have nothing to lose. Quality wise, they cannot match the other teams and their anticipated annihilation could even begin tomorrow when they face Barcelona.

PSG and Juventus are likely to dominate Group H. Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi will be ready to paint the tournament with goals. They’ve started already in the French Ligue 1 and they will only look to continue the momentum.

Still searching for a first UCL trophy, Paris must be at their best throughout the competition to eventually land it. Christophe Galtier and his boys will also face Portuguese giants Benfica and Israeli outfit Maccabi Haifa.

Manchester City brought in Erling Braut Haaland from Borussia Dortmund and he has been on fire. 10 goals in six league appearances is a special achievement and Haaland will only continue to score goals. He has scored an impressive number of goals in UEFA Champions League games for Salzburg and Dortmund.

Although City scored a lot without an out-and-out striker, the Norwegian adds athleticism, pace and a new style to the team.

BVB fans will be excited to see one of their own again when they face City in Group G. FC Copenhagen and Spanish side Sevilla are the other teams in the group.

Jurgen Klopp will hope to have a more interesting story to tell by the time the UCL group stages are concluded. The Reds failed to win any of their first three league matches but have gradually gotten themselves back.

A resounding 9-0 victory over Bournemouth on matchday 4 was enough response to their first three poor outings.

Meanwhile, they have followed up that result with another win against Newcastle and a barren draw in the Merseyside derby.

Pitched in Group A alongside Liverpool, Rangers and Ajax, Napoli have been an interesting side so far this season.

The Partonopei have been driven by the form of Victor Osimhen, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Kim Min-jae and Georgian Khvicha Kvarratskhelia.

In five league matches, Napoli have won three, drawing the remaining two. Luciano Spalletti will hope his charges can prosecute their UEFA Champions League games excellently.

STATS

• Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic spent six years on the books at Dinamo at the start of his career and was just 16 years and 198 days when he scored on his debut in 2010.
• Last season, Salzburg emerged as the first side from Austria to advance to the knockout round of the Champions League.
• Belgian side Club Brugge became the first club ever to concede four goals or more on four successive UCL matches last season.
• FC Copenhagen are the only club from Denmark to ever reach the knockout rounds of the competition.
• Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reached a record ninth Champions League semi-final last season, breaking Jose Mourinho’s previous record.
• In 2002/2003, Maccabi Haifa made their debut in the group stage of the competition. They were the first team from Israel of qualify for the Champions League proper.

• Real Madrid have never failed to make it through the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.
• In the 2021/22 season, Barcelona failed to make it through the group stage for the very first time
• Only Barcelona and Real Madrid (27) have appeared in more UCL group stage campaign than Porto (26 times).

MATCHDAY ONE FIXTURES

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

• Dinamo Zagreb – Chelsea (17:45)
• Borussia Dortmund – Copenhagen (17:45)
• Salzburg – AC Milan (20:00)
• Celtic – Real Madrid (20:00)
• RB Leipzig – Shakhtar Donetsk (20:00)
• Sevilla – Manchester City (20:00)
• PSG – Juventus (20:00)
• Benfica – Maccabi Haifa (20:00)

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

• Ajax – Rangers (17:45)
• Frankfurt – Sporting (17:45)
• Napoli – Liverpool (20:00)
• Atletico – FC Porto (20:00)
• Club Brugge – Bayer Leverkusen (20:00)
• Barcelona – Viktoria Plzen (20:00)
• Inter Milan – Bayern Munich (20:00)
• Tottenham Hotspur – Marseille (20:00)