This season will be special for lovers of Calcio, because just four Italian teams will participate in the group stage of the Champions League. The previous time this happened exactly ten years ago, in the 2008/09 season, when Italy was represented by Inter, Roma, Juventus and Fiorentina. This decade was not easy. The Italian championship took positions, dropping in the coefficient table. It was not uncommon to draw the Champions League when the third team could not qualify, and the group was only two representatives of Serie A. It seems that the troubled times have ended. The updated format and, most importantly, the successes of Italians in the European Cups guarantee them four straight places.
Serie A in the current euro-season, alas, was not without losses - it's about Atalanta, which flew out of the League of Europe, losing to Copenhagen in a series of 11-meter. The departure of the team Gasperini is offended twice: firstly, she performed very effectively in the previous qualifying stages (16 goals in 4 matches!) And had an overwhelming game advantage in both matches against the Danes. Secondly, bergamaski sensationalized in last year's LE and had every opportunity to repeat this rock concert. What, without it, only the old guard remained in the ranks - the six most famous clubs in Italy.
Juventus Champions League, a group with Manchester United, Valencia and Young Boys What they want: to win the Champions League What they will get: from the group will come out, about the spring yet do not make a guess Leaders: Chiellini, Pjanic, no longer Dibala, but not Ronaldo Attention: Kancelu - incredibly technical defender with overtraining manner of the game, Szczesny - Buffon's reliable substitute "La Gazzetta dello Sport" the next day after the draw came out with a spectacular first lane, having determined on the grounds of the draw of Inter and Napoli to Hell, and Juventus and Roma to Paradise. You can argue about Juve, the lot is not a resort. Facilitates the problem of the crisis of the United States and the inexperience of Valencia, which, it seems, should be fought among themselves for secession from the group. From the "Bianconeri", however, do not wait for extravaganza at this stage of the Champions League. A year ago, they were inferior to Barcelona and suffered with Sporting, before that - they won Lyon with difficulty and could not beat Borussia from Monchengladbach. Juventus has traditionally only gained defenses to accelerate in the spring.
Feature: Juventus did not meet with Manchester United since the second group stage of the season-2002/03, and then the English were stronger (2: 1 and 3: 0 victories), although the Turinians eventually climbed to the final. Intrigue confrontation "Pogba vs Juventus" and "Cristiano vs MJ and Mourinho". In addition, the "old lady" got "young boys". What a space for imagination!.
Napoli Champions League, a group with PSG, Liverpool and Crvena Zvezda What they want: to leave the group, go through one or two stages in the playoffs What they get: it looks like another spring without Champions League leaders: Coulibaly, Insigne, in the locker room - Hamchik Who to draw Attention: Allan - tenacious Brazilian midfielder started the season perfectly, Milik - the game ahead is now designed for this inveterate striker Poor Neapolitans. Again, they get a "death group" (immodestly write in those and last year, with Man City and Miner). Extract from the third basket unusually dangerous now Liverpool - the maximum degree of the non-eye. It was Clopp's team that Ancelotti's team flew into the offseason with a score of 0: 5. On the ambitions and capabilities of the PSG and mention once again is not worth it. Bookmakers put Napoli in third place, which is quite logical. Hope only for the experience of the head coach, the success of Pope Carlo in the Champions League will envy anyone. He already surprised in the two starting rounds of the championship, although from his team many were waiting for a failure.
Feature: Ancelotti vs PSG and ultras Napoli vs fans Crvena Stars - the departure of Serbs to Naples can get extremely hot.
Roma Champions League, the group with Real, CSKA and Victoria What they want: to leave the group, ideally to repeat the success of the last season What will be: in the group of problems will not be Leaders: Fazio, Kolarov, Dzeko, in the locker room - De Rossi Who to look for : Kluivert-junior - fast-footed krayek with non-standard dribbling, Pastore - creative attacking midfielder The only Italian team with an undeniably successful draw. Victoria, with all the local successes - a clear underdog, CSKA in the summer started a global restructuring, sharply rejuvenating the composition. To have problems in such a company you still have to contrive. Roma is unlikely to be capable of this, even though she is stormy at the beginning of the season - the team digests the departure of leaders, and Di Francesco experiments with tactics. Nevertheless, on paper this group is the only of eight, where one should not wait for intrigue in the struggle for the first two places.
Inter Champions League, a group with Barcelona, ??Tottenham and PSV What they want: to quit the group What they get: non-admission from the group Leaders: Khandanovich, Perisic, Ikardi Who to look for: Politan - the harsh marginal striker, Martinez is one of the most promising strikers of South America Inter will be more interesting with Inter, is not it? Six long years of "Nerazzurri" did not fall in the Champions League. She met them not very welcoming, and even an amendment to the fourth basket with lots is not particularly appropriate - Tottenham was perhaps the worst option from the basket number 2. Like Napoli, Inter are not quoted bookmakers, sending to third place in the group.
The problem is not only in dangerous rivals. Inter himself, seemingly stellar and regularly reinforced by Italian standards, is categorically inexperienced in the context of the Champions League. For example, how do you like this composition:.
Handanovich - D'Ambrosio, de Vray, Shkrinyar, Dalbert - Galliardini, Vesino - Candreva, Martinez, Politano - Icardi Looks impressive. Almost the foundation of Inter. This combination can be represented on the field in any important match. The catch is that all these players have never played in the Champions League! Even the experienced Khandanovich and the high-class Ikardi. Inter for today are star debutants, at risk of failing. Tottenham, unlike the interist, managed to fill the bumps in different stages. Barcelona has a tooth to Inter with the semifinals 2009/10. Welcome back to the big football, "Nerazzurri".
Feature: Luciano Spalletti lost four of his last matches in the Champions League without qualification - another reason for skepticism.
Now - a few words about the second European tournament.
Lazio European League, a group with Marcel, Eintracht and Apollo What they want: to leave the group, to reach the late stages of the playoffs. What will they receive: a difficult but successful struggle for secession from the group Leaders: Milinkovich-Savic, Luis Alberto, Immobile (we take into account, Who to pay attention to: Atcherby is a reliable replacement for the departed de Vrey, Badel is a versatile central midfielder The two teams from the top championships threw the stiff lot to the "eagles": the finalist of the previous LE draw and the German Cup winner. Not the most friendly company, especially if you compare it with last year's (Nice, Vitesse, Waregem). Lazio is nominally stronger, but will there be enough forces on the two fronts, will young people and newcomers pull out such rivals? There are no two equivalent compositions for the team, Inzaghi not only complains Lotito.
Feature: Kevin Strootman, one of the most hated players for the fans of Lazio (and that's it), has every chance to play against the "bianco", but for Marseille Milan Europa League, a group with Olympiakos, Betis and Dudelange What they want: to win the tournament What They will get out of the group, but there are further doubts. Leaders: Romagnoli, Suso, Chalkhanoglu (again, do not be surprised if Zapata, Borini and Sam Castillejo come instead). To whom to pay attention: Calabria is a progressing extreme defender, Lachalte - dynamic and iversalny flank player Peak Fame football Luxembourgish: Dudelange, flying out of the Champions League qualification, and passed three opponents on the LES, climbed into the group stage, where they will meet with yourself Milan. No jokes, very cool.
If the Luxembourgers are still exotic, then Betis and especially Olympiakos - not an easy walk, the Greeks have already knocked out a representative of the Premier League. "Rossoneri", however, are required to pass the group, and prevent it can only their own instability, coupled with laxity. Now, Milan has formed quite a decent reserve, which creates a margin of safety for LE. It's time, it's time to improve the ratio - the Milanians were only drawn to the second basket when they were drawn, next to Astana and Ludogorets.