Champions League Group Stage: Predicting Each Group's 2 Qualifiers

The UEFA Champions League draw is done, prompting widespread speculation as to who will qualify from each group.

Here is Bleacher Report's guide to each group and who we expect to qualify to the knockout stages.

The likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United are all but assured qualification from favourable groups, but how will Manchester City, Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund fare?

Group A

Porto may have lost key personnel this summer, but they're still a force to be reckoned with in this mediocre group.

Dinamo Kiev and Dinamo Zagreb are weak enough to make themselves nonfactors, so the race for first place comes down to the Portistas and the Parisians.

Paris Saint-Germain's dream team haven't quite shaken off the chains of uncertainty yet and appear to be struggling under the buckling weight of expectation, but the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ezequiel Lavezzi should star on the world stage.

Qualifiers: PSG, Porto

Group B

Arsenal, like Paris Saint-Germain, simply can't gel and get results immediately—goals have been an issue despite recruitment in the striking department.

A tough UEFA Champions League group stage draw could have been potentially devastating fore the Gunners, as boing out early would destroy confidence and harm finances.

As it is, they've done favourably this year. An out-of-form, Olivier Giroud-less Montpellier are just there for the ride and Olympiakos, too, seem a makeweight in the competition.

That leaves Schalke 04 as the logical favourites for second place in the group, but even their star-studded lineup had issues in the Bundesliga's opening fixture.

Surprises afoot here?

Qualifiers: Arsenal, Schalke

Group C

A lot of pre-draw speculation centred on the possibility of a weak Milan side slipping up in the group stage. While this is a Rossoneri that is reeling from the departures of key men Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva, they shouldn't have too many issues topping this group.

The Malaga six months ago could have given them a real run for their money, but having suffered key losses themselves, the oil-rich Spaniards face an uphill battle to qualify.

Anderlecht, like most of the teams from pot four, are nonfactors in the qualification race, but Zenit St. Petersburg could be a real hiccup for some.

It's never easy to win on synthetic turf in arctic conditions, so the Russians hold an extra advantage here.

Qualifiers: Milan, Zenit

Group D

Not again.

Roberto Mancini will be cursing his luck tonight after his side landed in the "Group of Death." Again.

Ajax have lost valuable personnel and appear to be heading straight for fourth place, though they will provide a stern test for any visiting side.

Real Madrid have the nous and the talent to squeeze through top and I fully expect them to, but I'm going to predict that Manchester City fluff their lines for the second season running.

Their Italian tactician has a lot to prove and his record in Europe is not great—considering the fact that Borussia Dortmund appear stronger this season than last, I'm tipping the Bundesliga champions to do the business.

Qualifiers: Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund

Group E

Defending champions Chelsea have to earn their spot in the knockout rounds of the competition, as the usually favourable draw forgot to help them out this year.

Italian champions Juventus may be reeling from a managerial farce, but their squad is strong and the talent is there to win this group. Shakhtar Donetsk, too, are a formidable foe and it's incredibly tough to beat the Hirnyky on their own turf.

Poor, poor Nordsjaelland.

Qualifiers: Juventus, Chelsea

Group F

Bayern Munich will be satisfied with this draw—they have the talent and squad depth to win this group at a canter.

Valencia, the group F team who came from pot two, will be most people's favourites to progress, however it's a team from France that represent another truly testing fixture.

I believe Lille have the quality to advance. Many believe losing Eden Hazard destroyed the team, but with £32 million to spend, Rudi Garcia has made an excellent acquisition in Marvin Martin.

Watch BATE Borisov so you can watch Bressan play—they don't offer too much else.

Qualifiers: Bayern, Lille

Group G

This group looks like one of more closely contested on offer, with Celtic, Benfica and Lille all vying for second spot behind the mighty Barcelona.

Goal difference could be a huge factor here, so teams need to be careful about how many they concede at the Nou Camp.

As alluded to before with regard to Zenit St. Petersburg, Russia is a horrible place to go when your used to playing football in a certain way, in certain conditions.

The Krasno-Belye squad is packed with talent, too, as Romulo, Ari and Kim Kallstrom head a formidable outfit.

While Benfica knocked Manchester United out of this competition last year, I've got Spartak down to top the Benfiquistas in the table.

Qualifiers: Barcelona, Spartak

Group H

Manchester United lucked out, sure, but I distinctly remember saying that last year too.

Sir Alex Ferguson never makes the same mistake twice, so expect United to move through this group comfortably and with clean sheets galore.

Galatasaray represent a stern test for anyone's credentials and with Hamit Altintop and Felipe Melo on form, Gala have a chance.

I believe Braga will make it though, and qualify for the knockout rounds in second place. Portuguese football is getting stronger—the unprecedented three UEFA Champions League spots available in Liga Sagres is evidence of this—and beating Udinese will have them gunning for the rest of Europe.

Follow @stighefootball