Champions League group stage watchability rankings

MADRID, SPAIN - AUGUST 27: Players of Real Madrid pose for a photo with their 2016/2017 Champions League, La Liga and Bernabeu trophies ahead of La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Valencia at Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain on August 27, 2017. (Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) /

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VITORIA-GASTEIZ, SPAIN – AUGUST 26: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona scoring his team’s second goal during the La Liga match between Deportivo Alaves and Barcelona at Estadio de Mendizorroza on August 26, 2017 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images) /

3. Group D: Barcelona, Juventus, Olympiacos, Sporting

Sporting finished third in the Portuguese Primeira Liga last season. Olympiacos won the Greek league. They are both cannon fodder for Barcelona and Juventus.

Barcelona appear to have recovered from a shaky summer that saw them lose super-duper-star Neymar to PSG for a record breaking transfer fee. Barca then tried to sue the Brazilian for breach of contract, which was just kind of sad. For awhile it looked like the only replacement they would manage was 29-year-old Paulinho, who had been playing in the Chinese Super League. They spent £36 million on him. Desperate much?

But, after weeks of chasing, Barca finally completed the signing of Ousmane Dembele from Borussia Dortmund. While he still has a long way to go to be compared with Neymar, the 20-year-old is one of the most exciting young players in the world. Barcelona also have Lionel Messi, who is pretty good.

Juventus won Serie A and finished as runners-up in the Champions League last season. They have a rising star in Paulo Dybala, a steady goal-machine in Gonzalo Higuain and their nickname is “The Old Lady.” Now they begin their quest to avenge their 4-1 thumping by Real Madrid in the final last spring.

Coupled with Barcelona, Juve raise the watchability of this group into a top-three spot. Something truly weird has happened if either of these clubs fail to make the knockout round. But weird would be watchable too. Additionally, Dybala has become synonymous with cool hair. Which is something, I guess.

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