CHAPTER 91: The New Conquest for Europe begins......

"It's the journey that counts. In a one-off game anything can happen, the difficult part is getting to the last hurdle." - Marcello Lippi

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Champions League is now set. The biggest club football tournament is bound to begin come middle of September. They will be more eager eyes and eager expectations this time around, more so than the last season (as always). Players being transfered between clubs, all clubs strengthening in their own ways in order to win the European Cup.

Well,…….who will win this time around?.............
Of course, bar Juventus, the usual suspects are there. And each has their own strengths (as well as limitations and shortcomings). And the usual bookies’ favorites….(& not forgetting some underdogs too)...
Also, there’s the matter of the draws.
Some interesting groups, some interesting matches coming up to savor, or some matches some people would not be looking forward to.
As usual, UEFA ‘mixed and matched’ the groupings, but what the hell is this:

Undoubtedly, the toughest group.
I suppose that the Chelsea-Barcelona duels were always going to happen again ever since UEFA seeded Chelsea in the second pot (and thus the availability of being paired with Barca was always a possibility). I think it’s fu-kin’ rigged. The whole show was a set-up just so that UEFA can reap in big rewards by televising what is possibly the biggest clash of present European football.
You know, ever since Chelsea was seeded second, I had a little feeling that Barca would be facing Chelsea early. But before the draw of the competition was made, it was just a small thought that lingered on my mind. Then, as the day of the draw loomed closer, the possibility became more and more inevitable in my mind. And then when I switched on ESPN which was showing live some parts of the CL draw, and when I saw on the teletext below the screen as it was moving through, then I saw the inevitable.
The feeling was like laughter and pissed manner at the same time (just like how UEFA mixes things up for the draw).
But what was that made it worst was the inclusion of Werder Bremen. And to add some spice up, the last team to be paired in Group A is Levski Sofia. The first ever Bulgarian squad to enter the Champions League, and, wah heiiiiiii, they are starting their CL adventure in the worst possible conditions (first meeting Barca, then second game playing against Chelsea) with their chances of making through the group, with what is almost everybody’s opinions: NIL .
Bullsh-t.
The Barcelona-Chelsea clashes will certainly be the most anticipated of matches in the group stages (the ‘superstars’ and Jose vs. Frank factors). As to whether we’ll be seeing great football played, that we have to wait & see.

Anyhow, I want to stress another point.
Why is that, when it comes to the CL draw and pairings, we always end up seeing clubs who are going to face up with a club they’d already met last season or the seasons before?
I mean like, Chelsea being paired with Barcelona is one thing. But, last season, you already have like Barcelona-Bremen, Madrid-Lyon, Benfica-Manchester United, and Bayern Munich ends up playing against another Italian team, and they’re being repeated again this season. If I'm not mistaken, Liverpool have played PSV some seasons ago as well.
What’s the deal with all these?

Anyway, there will be some intriguing matches. Liverpool’s group seems interesting. So is Arsenal’s. The match up between Celtic and Man U could be interesting. Another one would be Roma-Valencia.
The most ridiculous group is the last group. IMO, if AC Milan, fails to top the group or qualify for the second round early, then there could be trouble with the Rossoneris.

Besides the draw, there was also the event of the crowned players of last season’s Champions League. Fantastic day for Barca, with Puyol (Best Defender), Deco (Best Midfielder), Eto’o (Best Striker) and Ronaldinho (Best Player).

-- the four core of Barca --

With everything set, I suppose the contestants are all ready to rock ‘n roll.
The European Cup will once again be lifted come 23 May 2007, the Olympic Stadium awaits in Athens.
Let the Champions League begin.

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"Bring 'em on!!"