Breaking Down The Champions League Group A

This is the first of my Champions league breakdown articles. We will start with group A. In this group are Bordeaux, Juventus, Bayern Munchen, and Maccabi Haifa. This is one of the more competive groups in the Champions league with 3 "big name teams" Many felt that Juve and Bayern will advance throught but Bordeaux have played spoiler and are in firt in the group. In this article I will breakdown each team in the group and look at their background, give instigth on what to watch for, and tell you about their qualifying chances.
At the end of the article I will make my fearless prediction on about who I feel will advacne to the knockout stage.
OK
Lets start

Bordeaux

Lets start with the leaders. To the shock of some Bordeaux and not Juve or Bayern are leading group A. They are atop group A with 10 points just a 2 point lead over second place Juve. They have a perfect home record in the competition 2-0 and have a win and a draw on the road. They started out their campain with a 1-1 draw away to Juve and ever since have won 3 striaght. 2-1 over Bayern, 1-0 over Hafia, and a 2-0 defeat over Bayern again. They have a goal difference of plus 4.
Some players to watch for them include Chamack who was wanted by many clubs such as Arsenal and Man city.
Chances in the group are very promising for the side another win will secure them in to the knockout stage.
Next match against Juventus(home)

Juventus

Juventus who most did pick to advance in this group are in second and only 2 points behind the leaders and 4 points ahead of 3rd place Bayern. Juve look to be in a strong spot to quialify for the next round. They are second in the group with 8 points. Both in home and away matches they have 1 win and 1 draw. They have scored very little but also have been very tight on the defensive end. Leaving them with a goal difference of plus 2. They strated they campain with a 1-1 draw at home to Bordeaux. They then went on to draw against Bayern 0-0. After a some what rocky start Juve got it back on track with 2 wins over Hafia.1-0 at home and 1-0 away.
Players to watch for Juve: Buffon(possibly the best kepper in the world.) Melo, Grosso, and Cannavaro
Chances: Very good for qualifing a possiblity of winning the group.
Next Match: Bordeaux(away)

Bayern Munchen

To the suprise of most Bayern is in third place in the group and are in serious danger of not qualifying for the Knockout stage. Many may have not expected this but after seeing them picked apart last year, some very well knew that this situation was a possibility. Bayern are in 3rd place with just 4 points and are 4 points behind second and 6 behind the leaders Bordeaux. Bayern have their only win away from home but also have a loss. They are yet to win at home with a draw and a loss. They have given up 4 goals but have scored 4 as well, leaving them with a goal difference of 0. Bayerns only win is 3-0 over bottom feaders Hafia and have managed a draw againts Juve.
Players to watch for Bayern: Ribery, Luca Toni, Bastian Schweinsteiger, and Arjen Robben.
Chances: to win the group basically impossible. To advacne possible need to win both remaining matches against Hafia and Juve.
Next Match: Hafia(home)

Maccabi Haifa

Hafia is right where everyone predicted that they would be at the bottom of the group. They have 0 points. They have lost a game to every team in the group. 2 defeats at home and 2 away. They have failed to score in the competition and have let up 6. Their goal difference is negative 6. One of the losses that will be remember is the 3-0 defeat to Bayern handing Bayern its only win in the competition. Even thought they have been mathmatically eleminated the can still play spoiler by defeating Bayern and practically sending Juve through.
Players to watch: Alon Harazi
Chances: Mathmatically eleminated.
Next Match: Bayern(away)

Predictions

I predict that the two teams that will advance to the Knockout stage are:

BORDEAUX IN FIRST PLACE
JUVENTUS IN SECOND

Bayern defeat Hafia and Juve loses to Bordeaux. Setting up a winner advances match with Batern and Juventus in Italy.
In a thriller Juve wins 2-1.

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