UCL Group Stage 06/07

Gunnerman · September 11th, 2006, 08:45 AM

Tomorrow sees the kickoff for the Group stages of the 2006-07 UEFA Champions League. With that in mind time to look at the groups. Remember the top two finishers in each group advance to the knockout round. My picks in bold.

GROUP A
Barcelona (ESP)
Chelscum (ENG)
Werder Bremen (GER)
Levski Sofia (BUL)
Barca and the scum should advance but Werder Bremen does have some quality and could make things interesting.

GROUP B
Inter Milan (ITA)
Bayern Munich (GER)
Sporting Lisbon (POR) - Slight upset here
Spartak Moscow (RUS)

GROUP C
Liverpool (ENG)
PSV Eindhoven (NED) - Being the only Dutch side, the pressure is on.
Bordeaux (FRA)
Galatasary (TUR)

GROUP D
Valencia (ESP)
AS Roma (ITA)
Olympiakos (GRE)
Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)

GROUP E
Real Madrid (ESP)
Lyon (FRA)
Steaua Bucharest (ROM)
Dynamo Kiev (UKR)

GROUP F
Manchester United (ENG)
Celtic (SCO)
Benfica (POR) - Between Benfica and Celtic for 2nd I like the Portuguese
FC Copenhagen (DEN)

GROUP G
Arsenal (ENG)

FC Porto (POR)
CSKA Moscow (RUS)
Hamburg (GER)

GROUP H
AC Milan (ITA)
Lille (FRA)
AEK Athens (GRE) - Probably the toughest group to pick 2nd.
Anderlecht (BEL)

Matchday 1 begins tomorrow and continues into Wednesday. The fixtures are as follows.
Tuesday, 12 September 2006
Barcelona v Levski Sofia
Bayern Munich v Spartak Moscow
Chelscum v Werder Bremen
Galatasaray v Bordeaux
Olympiakos v Valencia
PSV v Liverpool
Roma v Shakhtar Donetsk
Sporting v Inter Milan

Wednesday, 13 September 2006
AC Milan v AEK Athens
Anderlecht v Lille
Dynamo Kiev v Steaua Bucuresti
FC Copenhagen v Benfica
FC Porto v CSKA Moscow
Hamburg v Arsenal
Lyon v Real Madrid
Man Utd v Celtic

So even though Arsenal's domestic form has not yet produced a win hopefully the Gunners can go to Germany and put a few in the net at Hamburg. Of course the biggest match that all the media will be following is the Man United and Celtic match which has the potential to be a fantastic watch.

C'MON THE ARSENAL!!!

BtownJay · September 11th, 2006, 08:58 AM

Sweet! Great info Gunny, thanks. Any clue if we are going to get any of these televised in the states? FSC or Gol??? I'd like to get to see some of these teams i've never heard of, and the ones that i have but never get a chance to watch.

Gunnerman · September 11th, 2006, 09:01 AM

Once again the Champions League will be on ESPN. I didn't look to see who they are televising this week. But if they remain true to form then expect at least one game either Tuesday or Wednesday then when the knockout stages start they should go to two games a week.

Liverpool TV on GOL TV should also provide at least quality highlights of the Liverpool games.

Of course live updates as well though the internet just to make it fun again HA!

BtownJay · September 11th, 2006, 09:15 AM

Damn me and my lack of DVR. Tuesday ESPN has the Liverpool and Barca matches, and Wednesday they have Real Madrid and Man U v. Celtic.

Gunnerman · September 11th, 2006, 09:40 AM

ESPN2 has the PSV - Liverpool match on Tuesday and on Wednesday the Man United - Celtic match. The other ones I think are on ESPN Deportes.

BtownJay · September 11th, 2006, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunnerman

ESPN2 has the PSV - Liverpool match on Tuesday and on Wednesday the Man United - Celtic match. The other ones I think are on ESPN Deportes.

Yeah they are... which, come to think of it, i don't know if i get. Which is weird considering i have like 2 million channels. But, i guess i shall be following them on the net the next two days. What do you guys think will be the best site to follow live updates? soccernet.com?

ssigman · September 11th, 2006, 09:48 AM

yea and the games are at 2:30...another reason for dvr jay...how many times i gotta tell ya??

my picks:

goup a
barca
chelsea

b - group of death i think
inter will make it
any of the 3..bayern has to play better...and spartak could surprise a few at home

c
liverpool should get thru
galtasaray in a bit of a surprise

d
valencia
roma...agree with gunny

e
madrid
lyon....both by far the classiest of this group

f
united
celtic/benfica...whoever wins the games against each other

g
arsenal
porto...agree with gunny....only reason arsenal makes it is cause the draw is the easiest

h
milan
lille....all three teams are similarly equal...i think the french team will make it cause the overbearing stink from them will turn the greeks off to close marking..leaving opening for them to score

Gunnerman · September 11th, 2006, 09:53 AM

Nice picks there ssigs, I also gave heavy consideration to Galatasary, but since PSV is the only Dutch side I figured they had to be the standard bearer for the respect of the whole nation.

ssigman · September 11th, 2006, 10:46 AM

i feel like psv is on a downswing....player wise its not where it used to be...that whole league i think is down a bit

Gunnerman · September 12th, 2006, 01:24 PM

Almost kickoff for Matchday 1, just found this on the pre-match buildup for the scummers game.

Pre-match: Ashley Cunt starts his first game in a Chelscum shirt, looking like a complete twat, as the Premiership champions launch their Champions League campaign against Werder Bremen.

C'MON BREMEN!!! Break that dickwad's ankles!

BtownJay · September 12th, 2006, 01:50 PM

LOL! I think you should go out and buy a Cole jersey... he's obviously your favorite player!

On a side note... i'm sure you saw Henry is out of tomorrows match with a foot injury... that can't be good for business.

Gunnerman · September 12th, 2006, 01:57 PM

Yeah I saw Henry is out, Probably means van Persie and Adebayor up front.

Iniesta scores for Barcelona 1-0 over Levski Sofia.

BtownJay · September 12th, 2006, 02:01 PM

Boooo... no Crouchinho or Gerrard starting for Liverpool today! And it also appears they are using a 5-3-2, this is not at all normal for them... but is it a tactic many teams apply?

Gunnerman · September 12th, 2006, 02:11 PM

That is an unusual formation. But maybe Rafa thinks he needs to shake up the squad after that drubbing at Everton.

Gunnerman · September 12th, 2006, 02:12 PM

Feck, Essien puts the scummer in the lead on what looks like a real gift.

September 11th, 2006, 08:45 AM	#1
Gunnerman Join Date: 04-01-2004 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 5,519	UCL Group Stage 06/07 Tomorrow sees the kickoff for the Group stages of the 2006-07 UEFA Champions League. With that in mind time to look at the groups. Remember the top two finishers in each group advance to the knockout round. My picks in bold. GROUP A Barcelona (ESP) Chelscum (ENG) Werder Bremen (GER) Levski Sofia (BUL) Barca and the scum should advance but Werder Bremen does have some quality and could make things interesting. GROUP B Inter Milan (ITA) Bayern Munich (GER) Sporting Lisbon (POR) - Slight upset here Spartak Moscow (RUS) GROUP C Liverpool (ENG) PSV Eindhoven (NED) - Being the only Dutch side, the pressure is on. Bordeaux (FRA) Galatasary (TUR) GROUP D Valencia (ESP) AS Roma (ITA) Olympiakos (GRE) Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) GROUP E Real Madrid (ESP) Lyon (FRA) Steaua Bucharest (ROM) Dynamo Kiev (UKR) GROUP F Manchester United (ENG) Celtic (SCO) Benfica (POR) - Between Benfica and Celtic for 2nd I like the Portuguese FC Copenhagen (DEN) GROUP G Arsenal (ENG) FC Porto (POR) CSKA Moscow (RUS) Hamburg (GER) GROUP H AC Milan (ITA) Lille (FRA) AEK Athens (GRE) - Probably the toughest group to pick 2nd. Anderlecht (BEL) Matchday 1 begins tomorrow and continues into Wednesday. The fixtures are as follows. Tuesday, 12 September 2006 Barcelona v Levski Sofia Bayern Munich v Spartak Moscow Chelscum v Werder Bremen Galatasaray v Bordeaux Olympiakos v Valencia PSV v Liverpool Roma v Shakhtar Donetsk Sporting v Inter Milan Wednesday, 13 September 2006 AC Milan v AEK Athens Anderlecht v Lille Dynamo Kiev v Steaua Bucuresti FC Copenhagen v Benfica FC Porto v CSKA Moscow Hamburg v Arsenal Lyon v Real Madrid Man Utd v Celtic So even though Arsenal's domestic form has not yet produced a win hopefully the Gunners can go to Germany and put a few in the net at Hamburg. Of course the biggest match that all the media will be following is the Man United and Celtic match which has the potential to be a fantastic watch. C'MON THE ARSENAL!!!

September 11th, 2006, 08:58 AM	#2
BtownJay Join Date: 07-14-2004 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 27,926	Sweet! Great info Gunny, thanks. Any clue if we are going to get any of these televised in the states? FSC or Gol??? I'd like to get to see some of these teams i've never heard of, and the ones that i have but never get a chance to watch.

September 11th, 2006, 09:01 AM	#3
Gunnerman Join Date: 04-01-2004 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 5,519	Once again the Champions League will be on ESPN. I didn't look to see who they are televising this week. But if they remain true to form then expect at least one game either Tuesday or Wednesday then when the knockout stages start they should go to two games a week. Liverpool TV on GOL TV should also provide at least quality highlights of the Liverpool games. Of course live updates as well though the internet just to make it fun again HA!

September 11th, 2006, 09:15 AM	#4
BtownJay Join Date: 07-14-2004 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 27,926	Damn me and my lack of DVR. Tuesday ESPN has the Liverpool and Barca matches, and Wednesday they have Real Madrid and Man U v. Celtic.

September 11th, 2006, 09:40 AM	#5
Gunnerman Join Date: 04-01-2004 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 5,519	ESPN2 has the PSV - Liverpool match on Tuesday and on Wednesday the Man United - Celtic match. The other ones I think are on ESPN Deportes.

September 11th, 2006, 09:48 AM	#7
ssigman Join Date: 03-15-2004 Posts: 27,132	yea and the games are at 2:30...another reason for dvr jay...how many times i gotta tell ya?? my picks: goup a barca chelsea b - group of death i think inter will make it any of the 3..bayern has to play better...and spartak could surprise a few at home c liverpool should get thru galtasaray in a bit of a surprise d valencia roma...agree with gunny e madrid lyon....both by far the classiest of this group f united celtic/benfica...whoever wins the games against each other g arsenal porto...agree with gunny....only reason arsenal makes it is cause the draw is the easiest h milan lille....all three teams are similarly equal...i think the french team will make it cause the overbearing stink from them will turn the greeks off to close marking..leaving opening for them to score

September 11th, 2006, 09:53 AM	#8
Gunnerman Join Date: 04-01-2004 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 5,519	Nice picks there ssigs, I also gave heavy consideration to Galatasary, but since PSV is the only Dutch side I figured they had to be the standard bearer for the respect of the whole nation.

September 11th, 2006, 10:46 AM	#9
ssigman Join Date: 03-15-2004 Posts: 27,132	i feel like psv is on a downswing....player wise its not where it used to be...that whole league i think is down a bit

September 12th, 2006, 01:24 PM	#10
Gunnerman Join Date: 04-01-2004 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 5,519	Almost kickoff for Matchday 1, just found this on the pre-match buildup for the scummers game. Pre-match: Ashley Cunt starts his first game in a Chelscum shirt, looking like a complete twat, as the Premiership champions launch their Champions League campaign against Werder Bremen. C'MON BREMEN!!! Break that dickwad's ankles!

September 12th, 2006, 01:50 PM	#11
BtownJay Join Date: 07-14-2004 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 27,926	LOL! I think you should go out and buy a Cole jersey... he's obviously your favorite player! On a side note... i'm sure you saw Henry is out of tomorrows match with a foot injury... that can't be good for business.

September 12th, 2006, 01:57 PM	#12
Gunnerman Join Date: 04-01-2004 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 5,519	Yeah I saw Henry is out, Probably means van Persie and Adebayor up front. Iniesta scores for Barcelona 1-0 over Levski Sofia.

September 12th, 2006, 02:01 PM	#13
BtownJay Join Date: 07-14-2004 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 27,926	Boooo... no Crouchinho or Gerrard starting for Liverpool today! And it also appears they are using a 5-3-2, this is not at all normal for them... but is it a tactic many teams apply?

September 12th, 2006, 02:11 PM	#14
Gunnerman Join Date: 04-01-2004 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 5,519	That is an unusual formation. But maybe Rafa thinks he needs to shake up the squad after that drubbing at Everton.

September 12th, 2006, 02:12 PM	#15
Gunnerman Join Date: 04-01-2004 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 5,519	Feck, Essien puts the scummer in the lead on what looks like a real gift.