UEFA Champions League group stage ashes: The anticipated and sudden

The UEFA Champions League group stage got here to an in depth final Wednesday, and what a quick one it was. Having begun the primary full week of September, we had CL galore because the golf equipment performed their 6 matches over a 9 week span as a result of upcoming World Cup, when this stage normally takes a full further month to play out.

The draw for the Round of 16 occurred on Monday, that means the stage and matchups are set for the knockout section, which begins on February 14th. But the group stage didn’t go away us with out some sudden outcomes, as some favorites didn’t dwell as much as the expectations and a few underdogs rose to the event. If you’re questioning which of them these have been, we’ve obtained all of it coated by group.

THE EXPECTED

GROUP A

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The truth Napoli and Liverpool made it out of this group is not any shock in any respect. I even predicted in an earlier article that Ajax (being the Netherlands’ high membership) would fall quick, because the Italians have been simply too robust a staff. Scottish membership Rangers have been predictably nowhere close to. If there’s one thing I didn’t anticipate nevertheless, it was Napoli profitable the group. Sure, they surpassed Liverpool on mere objective distinction, as they completed tied with 15 factors, however I anticipated Liverpool to run away with this one. Despite this small shock, the group nonetheless performed out very a lot as anticipated.

Key second: Napoli proved even stronger than I predicted and confirmed it after they defeated Liverpool within the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium with a 4-1 pouncing of their opening CL match. Goes to indicate how a lot each recreation issues. That consequence proved the distinction ultimately, because it not solely gave the Napolitanos the three factors, but it surely gave them the objective distinction they wanted to win the group.

GROUP D

The truth Tottenham gained the group places it within the anticipated class. Antonio Conte on the helm won’t enable for much less. And whereas we knew the remainder of the groups have been fairly evenly matched, nevertheless, I didn’t suppose they’d all be in it until the very finish. This group was the closest of all, however the truth Eintracht Frankfurt are as excessive up as they’re within the Bundesliga this yr, it makes for this consequence an anticipated one ultimately, though I had Marseille as favorites for 2nd.

Key second: This group’s key second was actually the second half of each matches this previous Wednesday. Heading into the halftime break of their video games, each Sporting CP and Marseille held 1-0 leads, which momentarily had them each transferring on. Eintracht Frankfurt and Tottenham each obtained clutch targets within the second half to seize respective 2-1 victories on the highway and every clinch a spot within the subsequent spherical. Had the halftime outcomes held up, this group would’ve been within the sudden column.

GROUP E

Chelsea and Milan. Those have been the 2 favorites, in that order. Chelsea dropping to Dinamo Zagreb within the opening match made it nearer than what it ought to’ve been, however the arrival of Graham Potter rapidly corrected that. Milan’s robust performances in Serie A over the previous couple years made them a simple decide for 2nd, whereas Red Bull and Dinamo simply don’t have the items this yr to maintain up with these elite golf equipment.

Key second: Matchday 4. Milan dropping 0-2 to Chelsea at house. They got here into that match tied atop the group, and regardless of Chelsea having dominated them 3-0 at Stamford Bridge the week earlier than, this was Pioli and firm’s likelihood to get even and reclaim the group with two video games left. They failed, proving why Chelsea have been favorites to win this group from the beginning. In the top, Chelsea outscored them 5-0 of their head-to-head matchups. Enough mentioned.

GROUP F

There have been solely two issues that didn’t go the best way I pictured for this group: 1) Real Madrid misplaced a match. I anticipated them to win 5 and draw 1, however even with their loss, they nonetheless gained the group; 2) Celtic have been considerably worse than I anticipated. I assumed third place can be very shut between Celtic and Shakhtar. Turns out the Scottish membership have much more to work on than I assumed. Other than that, the group completed simply as I anticipated, with Real Madrid first and RB Leipzig second.

Key second: RB Leipzig’s opening CL match 1-4 loss at house to Shakhtar. It turned out to be the Ukrainian aspect’s solely victory of the event and is what in the end opened up the lane for Real Madrid to win the group as was initially predicted, because the Germans by no means recovered sufficient to get forward of Real. The Spanish membership are going for a panoramic sixth orejona in 10 years.

GROUP G

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Manchester City. That’s all you actually should say, isn’t it? They have been as dominant as anticipated, didn’t lose a single match, and pressed on the fuel after they wanted to as Guardiola and firm comfortably cruised to 1st place within the group. I figured it will be a dogfight between Borussia and Sevilla for 2nd, however I used to be incorrect, because the Germans ran away with the honors early on.

Key second: Sevilla’s 1-4 loss at house to Borussia Dortmund in Matchday 3. That consequence put them 5 factors aside with simply half of the matches left, and Sevilla by no means obtained shut once more. I anticipated Sevilla to be higher, contemplating they have been 4th in La Liga final yr, however the truth they’re within the relegation zone this yr explains lots of why this group went the best way it did.

THE UNEXPECTED

GROUP B

This group was by far the largest shock. It was fully turned the wrong way up in comparison with my unique take. First off, there’s no means Atlético de Madrid might’ve missed making it out of this group. Not THIS one. No knock on the opposite groups, however you may’t have the standard and expertise Simeone’s squad have and never make it. Well, not solely did they miss the knockout section, however they even missed the Europa League spot. Their European competitors is over this season.

Bayer Leverkusen confirmed some nice issues within the Bundesliga final yr, ending third, so I anticipated them to complete 2nd, truly. Didn’t know what to anticipate from FC Porto, as they’ll look good at occasions, however their latest monitor document within the CL didn’t persuade me a complete lot. And Club Brugge I anticipated to struggle for third with Porto at greatest. So a lot for this reasoning, huh?

Key second: Matchday 4. Both matches that day determined the final word destiny of the group, as each highway groups obtained large outcomes. Club Brugge went to Madrid and escaped with a scoreless draw. Meanwhile, Porto traveled to Germany and pounced on Bayer Leverkusen 3-0. Those outcomes surprisingly put the group out of attain with two matches nonetheless to go.

GROUP C

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Bayern Munich did greater than I anticipated, though their final putting didn’t change. They absolutely might’ve drawn one and presumably even misplaced one other. Despite that, I nonetheless anticipated them to win the group. My shock, nevertheless, got here with Inter Milan transferring on with them. With Xavi on the helm and the addition of celebrity Robert Lewandowski (who scored 5 targets within the stage), I used to be positive Barca had what it took to beat Inter for runner up. With the Catalanes lacking the knockout section final yr and contemplating Inter aren’t even in Europa League spots in Serie A at present, there was no means the blaugranas missed out this yr in my thoughts. I used to be incorrect. Barca are as soon as once more headed to the Europa League.

Key second: Matchday 4; Barca and Inter’s 3-3 draw at Camp Nou. After dropping to Inter the week prior on the Giuseppe Meazza, Barcelona trailed Inter 7-4 in factors. With the rematch set in Barcelona, Xavi’s squad had taken a 1-0 lead into the half. However, they allowed Inter to show it round and barely saved face due to Lewandowski’s two clutch scores, tying it twice on the finish. Had they gained, they’d’ve evened up in factors and began another time with two matches left. That consequence nevertheless, allowed the Italian membership to remain in entrance of Barca and by no means look again.

GROUP H

This group must be labeled as a shock as nicely. Now, I’ve to say that in an earlier article, I did select Juve as one of many bigs that wouldn’t make it out of the group stage. PSG are simply so darn good offensively and so robust to maintain in test, whereas Benfica have confirmed how gritty they’re and one way or the other all the time discover a approach to get by way of to the knockout section. They have been additionally concerned in Barca not making it previous this stage final yr, so the Portuguese aspect know what they’re doing relating to coping with elite golf equipment. With that being mentioned, by no means did I believe they have been able to equalling, not to mention profitable a bunch with Messi, Neymar, and people dangerous boys.

Despite being candidates to fail of their group, every time a membership like Juve do, it’s all the time a shock. I can let you know I didn’t see them going 1W, 0D, 5L, and far much less dropping a match to Maccabi Haifa. But as they rebuild and retool that squad, that’s simply the place they’re today in age. They’ll attempt their luck within the Europa League.

Key second: Benfica’s 6-1 highway victory over Maccabi Haifa within the closing match of the group stage. Those 6 away targets evened Benfica and PSG’s targets scored and targets allowed to the quantity, and since they tied each of their head-to-head matches 1-1, that compelled the subsequent tiebreaker which is whole away targets scored. Benfica gained that due to all these scores in Israel, which is why they’re transferring on as group winners.