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German and British Teams Grouped Together in Champions League German and British Teams Grouped Together in Champions League
(about 4 hours later)
The four German teams in the UEFA Champions League all were matched against English Premier League opponents on Thursday in the draw for the competition’s group stage in Monaco.The four German teams in the UEFA Champions League all were matched against English Premier League opponents on Thursday in the draw for the competition’s group stage in Monaco.
Bayern Munich, the defending champion, was placed in a group with Manchester City. Manchester United will play Bayer Leverkusen, and Chelsea will meet Schalke, Switzerland’s F.C. Basel and Steaua Bucharest in one of the weakest groups. Arsenal got one of the toughest draws, matched against last year’s beaten finalist, Borussia Dortmund; the powerful Italian contender Napoli; and Olympique Marseille of France in the so-called Group of Death.Bayern Munich, the defending champion, was placed in a group with Manchester City. Manchester United will play Bayer Leverkusen, and Chelsea will meet Schalke, Switzerland’s F.C. Basel and Steaua Bucharest in one of the weakest groups. Arsenal got one of the toughest draws, matched against last year’s beaten finalist, Borussia Dortmund; the powerful Italian contender Napoli; and Olympique Marseille of France in the so-called Group of Death.
Barcelona is in what amounts to a Group of Champions with A.C. Milan, Ajax Amsterdam and Glasgow Celtic; those four clubs have combined for 16 European championships. Barcelona’s Spanish rival, Real Madrid, will play Juventus, Turkey’s Galatasaray and F.C. Copenhagen of Denmark.Barcelona is in what amounts to a Group of Champions with A.C. Milan, Ajax Amsterdam and Glasgow Celtic; those four clubs have combined for 16 European championships. Barcelona’s Spanish rival, Real Madrid, will play Juventus, Turkey’s Galatasaray and F.C. Copenhagen of Denmark.
The groups:The groups:
Group A: Manchester United; Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine); Bayer Leverkusen; Real SociedadGroup A: Manchester United; Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine); Bayer Leverkusen; Real Sociedad
Group B: Real Madrid; Juventus; Galatasaray; F.C. CopenhagenGroup B: Real Madrid; Juventus; Galatasaray; F.C. Copenhagen
Group C: Benfica; Paris St. Germain; Olympiakos; AnderlechtGroup C: Benfica; Paris St. Germain; Olympiakos; Anderlecht
Group D: Bayern Munich; CSKA Moscow; Manchester City; Viktoria Plzen (Czech Republic)Group D: Bayern Munich; CSKA Moscow; Manchester City; Viktoria Plzen (Czech Republic)
Group E: Chelsea; Schalke; F.C. Basel; Steaua BucharestGroup E: Chelsea; Schalke; F.C. Basel; Steaua Bucharest
Group F: Arsenal, Dortmund; Marseille; NapoliGroup F: Arsenal, Dortmund; Marseille; Napoli
Group G: Porto, Zenit St. Petersburg; Atlético Madrid; F.C. Austria ViennaGroup G: Porto, Zenit St. Petersburg; Atlético Madrid; F.C. Austria Vienna
Group H: Barcelona; A.C. Milan; Ajax; Glasgow CelticGroup H: Barcelona; A.C. Milan; Ajax; Glasgow Celtic
The group stage begins Sept. 17 and ends Dec. 11.The group stage begins Sept. 17 and ends Dec. 11.
The 32 teams in the group stage were placed on four pots for the draw after being assigned coefficients based on their success in European competition the past five years and the relative success of their national leagues in the tournament. Because of that, the Champions League has become more of an exclusive club in recent years; 14 of the 32 teams have won the title, and a third of the field hails from three countries: Germany and England, with four each, and Spain with three. The 32 teams in the group stage were placed on four pots for the draw after being assigned coefficients based on their success in European competition the past five years and the relative success of their national leagues in the tournament. Because of that, the Champions League has become more of an exclusive club in recent years; 14 of the 32 teams have won the title, and more than a third of the field hails from three leagues: Germany’s Bundesliga, England’s Premier League and Spain’s each have four entries.
Despite that concentration at the top, it remains as tough to win as ever. No English teams reached the quarterfinals last year, and no club has repeated as European champion since A.C. Milan in 1990.Despite that concentration at the top, it remains as tough to win as ever. No English teams reached the quarterfinals last year, and no club has repeated as European champion since A.C. Milan in 1990.