in ,

A Closer Look At United’s Champions League Group Opponents

The Champions League draw for the compeititon’s group stages were announced yesterday in Monaco with Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and new boys Manchester City representing England. 

Looking at the groups in full, it should be an excititing prospect of getting to the Allianz Arena to contest the winners of the prestigious European Cup as it was once known and no doubt we will see lots of great games and goals along the way.

With Chelsea drawing Valencia and German Bundesliga runners-up Bayer Leverkusen, it ensures Andre Villas-Boas will not have an easy passage to the last 16 with two tricky opponents on his hands. Arsenal will be grumbling at the prospect of a trip to Greece while German champions Borrusia Dortmund present a fierce task for the Gunners.

Manchester City’s debut season in the Champions League looks like a group of death consisting of 2001 winners Bayern Munich, Villarreal and a return to Champions League football for Napoli with all 4 teams capable of qualification.

These 3 groups will no doubt be interesting and unpredictable to call but Manchester United themselves should have no doubts finishing top of group C with a relatively easy group for them. Old friends Benfica and Basel reacquaint themselves with Fergie’s men and unknown Romanian outfit Otelul Galati make up the group.

Let’s take a closer look at each team to see the threat they pose and if we should have any doubts about the Red Devils progressing as group C winners.

Benfica

On two occasions Manchester United were faced with Portuguese giants Benfica in the group stages eventually failing to progress in 2005 courtesy of a 2-1 loss in Lisbon. Revenge was achieved the following season as the double was over the Portuguese outfit with a 1-0 win in Lisbon followed by a convincing 3-1 win at Old Trafford to eliminate Benfica.

Since then Benfica have failed to progress from the Champions League group phases with last season seeing them return to the famous competition after seasons in decline in the Europa League. Semi-finalists Schalke and French giants Lyon progressed last season ahead of Jorge Jesus’s men.

They have since lost David Luiz to Chelsea for £25 million and Fabio Coentrão to Real Madrid who in themselves were huge players for them defensively. Luisão remains the solid rock at the back for them and have experience in former Valencia playmaker Pablo Aimar and Argentine hitman Javier Saviola and also this summer signing Axel Witsel who was classed as one of Europe’s finest up and coming young talents.

The biggest threat to United that Benfica have is Oscar Cardozo who finished last season as Benfica’s top goalscorer with 24 goals. The Paraguayan is known for his powerful left footed finishes and superb free kick abilities and is a striker who could cause our defence problems. Overall Benfica shouldn’t prove much threat to Manchester United as they themselves are going through a period of transition with a new team but i would expect them to still progress as runners-up.

Basel

We all remember that classic Ruud Van Nistelrooy goal in Switzerland nicking the ball rounding two players before smashing the ball in off the post from what seemed like an impossible angle. That was way back in 2002 which was the last time United faced Basel.

Back then United managed a 3-1 win in Basel and a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford with a weakened second string side with qualification already ensured. Basel themselves are the most successful Swiss team on the European front qualifying for the group stages on 4 occasions but failing to progress each time. They will be keen to put the record straight and finally qualify and will be optimistic of doing so.

Alexander Frei is their experienced frontman who is the all-time leading Swiss national team scorer as his record speaks for itself. He scored 27 goals last term proving his eye for goal doesn’t look like easing up even at 32 years of age. With 19 year old tricky winger Xherdan Shaqiri supplying him the full backs will be have to be on their toes dealing with him as we saw in the Euro 2012 qualifier with England but he is by no means the finished article.

The current Swiss champions should not be feared but not let off lightly as we saw in 2002 as they scored after 35 seconds to look on hand to cause a major upset. But we all know how that turned out don’t we. Expect a gritty fight with Benfica for 2nd place but Basel should really cause no worry to this young United team, who will feel confident of beating them twice.

Otelul Galati

The unknown Romanians make up group C and not even I am sure who they are, so I have done my research to try to bring you some insight on the minnows. Last season was the 1st time Galati won the Romanian league and qualified for the Champions League for the 1st time in their history.

They are managed by former Romanian legendary international Dorinel Munteanu who has lead the team to their greatest success in their history and knows how to get the best out of this team. Galati play their home games at the Stadionul Oţelul with a mere capacity of 13,500 highlighting the difference compared to the current Premier League champions.

This is their first time in the competition and they have nothing to lose and their players and fans will no doubt enjoy themselves over their 6 games. I will be surprised if they cause any of the teams any problems. Should be another case of Bursaspor for Manchester United and 6 points should be ensured in both these encounters.

In conclusion the three teams facing United shouldn’t provide any major worries. Away trips to Benfica and Basel could be tight affairs but United should be quite comfortable of finishing top of this relatively weak group in contrast to others.

Lest we hear the haters another year and another easy group for Manchester United but in this case we can have no arguments. We should all feel very confident that come when the draw is made for the Last 16 draw, United will be there and that the tough roach to Munich will really start in the New Year.

By Darren Hickey @DHick92

Manchester United v Arsenal Preview: Can United Add To Wenger’s Problems?

3 Players United Will Have To Be Wary Of – Arsenal