It's not a bad group for Madrid who want to respond to their sworn rivals taking home the cookie last year. All eyes are pretty much on PSG, but beyond that, it's pretty much a group that Real should really push on from, and even probably top.
But Malmo can still be counted and Shakhtar KNOW this competition well and their only hope is what they can do in Ukraine and any scraps they can take off of Real and PSG away from their cribb.
This group is going to be pretty much about PSG and Madrid the MAX points against Shakhtar and Malmo and then, the duel between both of them for who will come top. PSG may have the most talented squad as a whole, but Real have one of the most lethal finishers in club football, as well as the very underrated Modric who will go up against Veratti in the midfield. So there is quality between both teams, but I am more concerned with the dudes sitting on the bench, as football is a game of strategy and tactics and very often, it's the smarter manager who edges out his opponent.
It will be tough for Malmo. For them to make it out of the group is next to impossible. You can always have shocks and better teams having a bad day, but Real and PSG would have to have a REALLY bad day for Malmo to beat them. The Swedes beat Celtic who have not been relevant on the European stage since the days you could find Aristotle drinking in the streets. So to go from that to Madrid and PSG and even the very experienced Shakhtar, is too much of a mountain. It's possible they can get third, because I think they can beat Shakhtar who almost didn't even qualify when they played Rapid Vienna. But I can't give them any chance whatsoever of coming out of this group.
As for Shakhtar. They will make Madrid and PSG work for their wins. I saw them against Vienna, and they are a good team who always seem to attract Brazilians...and sell them off. Their only shred of chance is they have to win ALL their home games and really use that Ukraine home patch to their advantage. Madrid are a very good away team and know how to get the job done, but maybe they can get PSG on a bad day which would give them more of a chance of beating them as opposed to Malmo. In reality, it's looking like Europa for them.
I'm looking forward to it. Real against PSG and maybe to see if by some great miracle, Blanc has improved as a coach...but I know that would be wishful thinking. Of course, it's going to be yet another year of whether Ibrahimovic can live up to the hype and lead PSG beyond the quarter finals, and deliver on the big stage because he always seems to flop during these Champions League matches. Another question is how hungry are Madrid, and how much do they want another Champions League crown. For my very good arrogant self-obsessed friend, Cristiano, is he really going to allow Messi to have more Champions League crowns than him without putting up a fight?
HH
