TopNaija’s Champions League Draw reactions

Finally, the draw UEFA promised fans of Europe’s most club competition, the Champions League is out, and those lucky to be a part of the tournament, now know their place going into the tournament.

And like a lottery, some clubs got favors from the draw, while others are left sweating it off as to the opponents they get to face before going into the knock out phase.

Obviously, by some draws, it can be said that a lot of clubs already know their fates and where they stand to reach going into the competition even before the round leather ball is kicked.

Realism before optimism at the end is what is looked at in determining the odds.

So who got the favors, and who do not? Who stands most certain to be kicked out early or go all down to win it? Can Real Madrid go all the way? Can Barcelona prove themselves once again or will it be the same history facing against the almighty Bayern Munich that is knocking it on all fronts?

So here are the groups of 32 teams that were seeded from 4 Pots and are to take part in the first phase of the tournament starting in September.

𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐏 𝐀

Ajax

Liverpool

Napoli

Rangers

𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐏 𝐁

Porto

Atletico Madrid

Bayer Leverkusen

Club Brugge

𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐏 𝐂

Bayern Munich

Barcelona

Inter

Viktoria Plzen

𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐏 𝐃

Eintracht Frankfurt

Tottenham

Sporting CP

Marseille

𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐏 𝐄

AC Milan

Chelsea

Salzburg

Dinamo Zagreb

𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐏 𝐅

Real Madrid

RB Leipzig

Shakhtar Donetsk

Celtic

𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐏 𝐆

Manchester City

Sevilla

Borussia Dortmund

FC Copenhagen

𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐏 𝐇

Paris Saint-Germain

Juventus

Benfica

Maccabi Haifa

Of the Eight groups, there is the agreement that Groups A and C carry with it teams of heavy hitters in the set up who are all capable of damaging the ambitions of the members in their groups, compared to the other Eight groups.

In group A, we have teams of heavy lifters such as Liverpool, Ajax, Napoli drawn together trying to find a way out into the Round of 16, and any slip ups by any could drastically see them in a tight battle. Then there is a mention of Rangers who last season were Europa League finalists who were very much unlucky not to have won it against eventual winners Eintract Frankfurt.

Rangers like every other underdog would be looking to making a statement, and then there is the fact that, it is the very first time in years that a Scottish club makes it into the tournament. This time, we have 2 in Celtic and Rangers. Liverpool, Napoli already have their own history in this competition along with Ajax who are 4 times winners of the competition.

So by all accounts, Group A looks very much the tight call.

Then there is the Group C of Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan facing off against each other, with Viktoria Plzen thrust in as the unlucky champs in a bitter war they obviously knew nothing about.

You can argue that UEFA ever since the 8-2 fiasco, have very much being looking for ways to keep humiliating Barcelona time and time again by pitting them consecutively against German engines, Bayern Munich. And for some reason, they added Italian side, Inter Milan into the trouble.

Looking at all these draws, it seems like another cake walk to the final for Real Madrid who would obviously have no troubles dispatching RB Leipzig, Shaktar Donetsk and Celtic on their route to number 15.

Who could stop them? Manchester City? Obviously the Pep Guardiola led side have troubles of their own in dealing with Borussia Dortmund and Sevilla. Could it be Chelsea at the final?

Chelsea’s group is very much the challenge they would welcome and the thoughts of facing former player, Antonio Rudiger would be an exciting prospect for the Blues as they march on in the tournament.

But obviously, clubs like FC Copenhagen, Maccabi Haifa, Shaktar Donetsk, Viktoria Plzen, Dinamo Zagreb will be leaving the competition early in search of other campaigns to concern themselves with.

For the eventual Champions of the tournament, Real Madrid looks to retain it again or perhaps Bayern Munich to haunt those aspirations. Although, one thing is certain, Real Madrid has never lost a Champions League final.

However, it would be a thing of poetry if Liverpool vs. AC Milan were to happen again in this decade at Istanbul, the very stadium of their last clash far back in 2005.

So who wins this year’s edition of the Champions League?