Photocredit: forbes.com
Typically, it takes only four games for us to know how things are going to play out in the Champions League. As stated in a previous article a few weeks back after teams had played two games, I mentioned how since teams still have four more games to right the ship even if they get off to a rocky start, they likely would. This year, particularly Real Madrid and Tottenham. But even the so called groups of death appear to be decided. Granted, something yet may be possible in them.
Group A is settled with PSG and Real Madrid. Once Madrid got the 2 wins over Galatasaray any chance of them blowing a top two spot went out the window. PSG also appears to have already locked in first.
Group B looks settled as well now with Tottenham getting the two wins over Red Star. Just like group A, first appears locked in as well with Bayern in first.
Manchester City look set in first in Group C with it just coming down to whether Donetsk or Zagreb can outperform the other in the remaining two games to finish second. Neither team are ones people are excited about and I wouldn't call either a massive upset over the other either. Zagreb does have the benefit of playing Man City in the final game when City will likely have nothing to play for, whereas to ensure first, they would still want to win their next game at home to Donetsk.
Group D was a pretty boring group until Leverkusen got the win over Atletico. It likely won't make the difference and will rather just decide first and second but still nice to see something unexpected happen. Will still likely finish Juve and Atleti.
E will just be Liverpool and Napoli.
Group F is still the interesting group as it was expected to be. Barcelona kept the group open by failing to beat Slavia Prague at home who deserve great credit for the results they have managed against three traditional European outfits. Slavia could have a huge part to play in who advances in this. Barcelona has a huge advantage in that it will go through so long as it doesn't lose. I can't see them losing, especially when everything is on the line. This will remain a tight group but I see Dortmund getting a Draw and a Win and Barcelona getting the 2 draws it needs which would mean a win and draw isn't enough for Inter. We won't know much until the last match day assuming Inter wins its next game.
Group G seemed a boring group from the start and appears to be Leipzig and Lyon.
Group H looks like the most interesting group of all with 3 clubs deadlocked on 7 each but when you consider Valencia has to play it's last 2 games against the other two clubs in that deadlock and have played all their games against Lille, it makes you realize they actually only have an outside chance. I fully expect this group to be Chelsea and Ajax.
With this all said, the Champions League can prove me wrong but it appears like almost everything apart from maybe group F is already decided.