Pivotal Factors That Will Decide Champions League Group G
The Champions League group stage gets underway this week, as 32 teams set off (or continue) on the long road toward next June's final in Berlin.
The usual suspects will have strong ambitions of following in Real Madrid's footsteps and becoming champions of Europe, but there are bound to be a number of surprises and upsets along the way. There always are.
First things first, the 32 teams in the competition need to be whittled down to 16, as the top two from each of the eight groups bid to get into the knockout stages. Group G contains the following teams:
- Chelsea
- Schalke
- Maribor
- Sporting Lisbon
Only two can progress. Click on for some of the pivotal factors that could decide which two sides are left standing at the end of this phase.
Can Anyone Stop the Cesc Fabregas-Diego Costa Axis?
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It is fairly clear that Chelsea are the class of this group—they might be the class of Europe this season, judging by the way they have started the campaign—and should progress with a little bit to spare.
What also appears clear is the route they will take to any success they have this season; Cesc Fabregas providing the bullets, with Diego Costa knocking down the targets.
The Spaniards have combined to devastating effect already this season, with Costa notching seven goals in just four league games to date. Stopping them will be a problem for any side, but that will be the key to any hopes the other three sides in the group have of causing an upset.
Will William Carvalho Take the Next Big Step in His Career?
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It is clear that William Carvalho has a big future in the game but, at the same time, there are obvious aspects—both technical and tactical—where he still has a lot of work to do. When watching him it is not hard to see why he has been linked with so many of Europe's biggest clubs; equally, however, it is not hard to work out why none of those moves have materialised yet.
Back in the Champions League, Sporting Lisbon can expect to be on the back foot throughout their games against Schalke and Chelsea. That makes Carvalho's role all the more crucial—as the destroyer at the base of their midfield, he will have to cover a lot of ground and put in a lot of tackles to deny the time and space the opposition will want to build their attacks.
His success in doing that will have a big influence on Sporting's immediate fortunes. It may also have a significant say in how soon one of those long-mooted moves to new, flashier pastures comes to fruition.
Can Schalke Recover from a Horrible Start to the Season?
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Chelsea have won every single one of their league encounters so far this season; Schalke are yet to notch their first victory. The weekend's 4-1 defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach was a nadir for the Ruhr club, with Jens Keller facing increasing scrutiny about his methods and future.
The Bundesliga side have a talented, if slightly lightweight, squad, but on paper would appear to be the second favourites to progress from a group that once again sees them paired with Chelsea.
Having said that, surely confidence must be very low after such an abject start to the new season—if they cannot arrest the slump soon, perhaps Sporting Lisbon will feel confident of taking advantage.
Have Maribor Got One More Shock in Store?
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The Champions League has never really been about champions—it's been about the biggest clubs in the biggest leagues competing in the most lucrative circumstances possible. Maribor might be champions—unlike any of the other teams in this group—but they come from Slovenia, and as such they are rank, rank outsiders.
Having beaten Maccabi Tel-Aviv and Celtic to get to this stage, Maribor have already far exceeded expectations. They probably cannot go any further, but if they can nick a result here or there it could potentially derail one of the other side's pretensions at the same time.
Can Julian Draxler Summon Last Season's Impact?
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Schalke joined Chelsea in progressing from a group that also included Basel and Steaua Bucharest last season, and they had Julian Draxler to thank for making the difference.
The young German playmaker scored three important goals—including the deadlock-breaker in both pivotal wins over Basel. If he can do the same against Sporting Lisbon this time around, then the club's route to the last 16 becomes all the easier.
The problem, however, is that Draxler's form has not quite reached those heights in the past nine months, although he was part of the victorious World Cup-winning squad.
Perhaps he was affected by the failure of a much-touted January move to materialise, but Schalke will need him to be nearer his best if they are to repeat some history in this group.
Is Complacency the Only Thing That Can Undermine Chelsea?
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Chelsea have the best individual talent, the deepest squad at their disposal and, in his mind at least, the best manager in the world. It is very hard to look beyond them as comfortable group winners.
Having said that, it is worth noting that Chelsea were beaten home and away by Basel last season in the group stages—perhaps hinting that complacency can be a problem for them on occasions.
Having beaten Schalke 3-0 twice in that same group, it is not inconceivable that they go into their latest battles with the German club thinking they have already won.
Grasping at straws it may be, but perhaps only complacency can prevent Chelsea from cruising here.
