In the second part of this article I look at Groups E to H from the UEFA Champions League and assess the chances of those teams who have qualified for the knock out rounds beginning in February next year.
Group E
Barcelona, winners of the 2005-06 tournament, qualified from their group without losing a single game. Holders of some of the most exciting attacking players on the continent, any team drawn against them will have to be well organized and defensively capable to succeed. The likes of Iniesta, Xavi, and Messi complement each other brilliantly, and along with the return from injury of Eto'o and Deco they will hope that Ronaldinho and Henry can both find the kind of form they are capable of to help a push to reclaim the Champions League title. Barça can be drawn against any group runner up aside from Lyon.
Lyon themselves qualified on the last match day thanks to a 3-0 away win against Rangers. They left it late but the undoubted quality of their young attack, led by Benzema and Ben Arfa, show that the French champions are still a force in Europe to be reckoned with. Although not tipped as a big favorite for the title this year, they are capable of very good football and the likes of Kallstrom and Juninho Pernambucano are potential match winners on their day. They will face a group winner other than Barcelona but are more than capable of making life difficult for any team.
Group F
Manchester United qualified with ease from their group, winning five and drawing only the final meaningless game. When attackers such as Ronaldo, Tevez, and Rooney are on form there are few teams capable of matching the intensity and pace of United's attack, but equally the ever impressive Vidic commands and controls the defense and makes the Red Devils difficult to break down. Few teams will relish being drawn against United but the fact is they have continually underachieved in Europe for a giant of the modern game, their last final appearance coming back in 1999. They can be drawn against Schalke, Olympiacos, Celtic, Lyon, or Fenerbahce.
Roma secured their passage to the knock out stages to ensure three Italian teams make up the final 16. Although they are always a threat to play against with some very good players, Roma somehow always seem less of an obstacle than other Italian teams. They will hope for better fortune than last season when they were annihilated by Manchester United in the quarter finals, but I would not tip them to go much further again. They can play Porto, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Barcelona, or Sevilla in the first knock out round.
Group G
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