Ranking the 2019 UEFA Champions League groups
By Orri Benatar
2. Group H (Chelsea, Ajax, Valencia, Lille)
Talk about a group with clubs all trying to prove something. Chelsea is a team full of youngsters under new management, Ajax has lost some of the core catalysts that had them seconds away from the final, and Valencia and Lille are seen as underdogs from the top leagues. This is not an easy group for anyone and the top two is up for grabs. Also if you are an American, you gotta watch all these games.
Ajax has the most seasoned squad in the group and Chelsea has the most anticipated with everyone wondering how Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount can perform under the lights of Europe. Valencia and Lille won’t shy away from this challenge and have the potential to be in those draw pots in December. Group H will be ultra-competitive and each team can prove to the world they can still compete at the top-level of Europe. Now, time for the group of death this year.
1. Group F (Barcelona, Dortmund, Inter, Slavia Praha)
As you are reading this, give a moment of silence to Slavia Praha who most certainly will finish last in this group and know it.
Group F by far has the best collection of teams with the top-three being favorites Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, and Internazionale. All three teams needed to add attacking options after last season and did. Antoine Griezmann is on Barca now and Neymar could join him along with Messi and Suarez when they are match fit. Borussia Dortmund made numerous purchases to increase their Bundesliga chances while Inter Milan added Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez who seek rebirth after short stints in Manchester.
Next. Juventus clash Napoli and Rome Derby set Serie A tone. dark
Barcelona doesn’t want a repeat of last year and is starting to get into that dire position of going another season without Champions League success. This group won’t make it easy for them if Dortmund’s young stars can shock the system in Europe and if the new-look Inter gels. This surely will have the must-watch games of the competition and mid-September can’t come soon enough for all this madness to begin.