Champions League Preview - Part 2

Time for part two of the Champions League preview, here are groups E to H.

Group E
Chelsea - Schalke - Basel - Steaua Bucuresti

This should be a routine group stage for Chelsea after their shock exit last year. Schalke and Basel will both have a chance however. Schalke beat Arsenal to top the group last time around and Basel have caused Manchester United problems in the past. Steaua shouldn't be a threat to any of the other three. They are champions of Romania but won't come close to qualification.

Group F
Arsenal - Marseille - Borussia Dortmund - Napoli

Group F is undoubtedly this years group of death. Last year's finalists Borussia Dortmund will be confident of making it through the group but it will be difficult for them as they come up against Arsenal, Marseille and Napoli who will all feel they have a chance of going through. This will be a close group with a couple of shock results and some entertaining matches. It should be exciting.

Group G
Porto - Atletico Madrid - Zenit St Petersburg - Austria Wien

Another close group, all four teams will hope to make it through. Madrid might struggle a bit having lost a number of their star players in the summer but David Villa seems to be a great signing and has been playing really well. Porto are another strong team and Zenit have been making a few big name signings. It could be an interesting group.

Group H
Barcelona - AC Milan - Ajax - Celtic

Group H reunites two teams who were in the same group last year. Barcelona and Celtic faced off in Group G and Celtic pulled off a shock win, beating the Catalan giants in Glasgow. Barcelona met Milan in the round of sixteen and dispatched them reasonably comfortably en route to a semi final exit. Ajax and Celtic should both struggle but you never know when it comes to the Champions League.

Teams in the Round of 16
I think that the following 16 teams will make it through to the next round. I have also predicted how far I think they will go.

Manchester United (QF)
Shakhtar Donetsk (16)
Real Madrid (SF)
Juventus (QF)
PSG (16)
Benfica (16)
Bayern Munich (SF)
Manchester City (16)
Chelsea (QF)
Basel (16)
Borussia Dortmund (Final)
Arsenal (16)
Atletico Madrid (16)
Porto (16)
Barcelona (Winners)
AC Milan (QF)

This all obviously depends on the draw but just from the groups this is what I think will happen. I would love for Dortmund to win it this year but unfortunately I think that Barcelona will have too much quality.