Top 5 Storylines for 2014/15 Champions League Matchday 1
The Champions League returns in earnest for the 2014/15 season as the group stage kicks off with its Matchday 1 fixtures this Tuesday and Wednesday.
One of the most intriguing matchups thrown up by the group stage draw in August sees 10-time winners and holders Real Madrid in the same group as group-stage debutants Ludogorets of Bulgaria, while NK Maribor will be taking part in only their second-ever group-stage campaign.
As we look forward to 16 mouthwatering fixtures across Europe this week, here are the top five storylines that will make for even more interesting viewing on Matchday 1.
Liverpool vs. Ludogorets: A Tale of Two Drama Lovers
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On Tuesday, Anfield will host its first Champions League game in five years since Liverpool’s 1-2 loss to Fiorentina in December 2009, a measure of the Reds’ progress during Brendan Rodgers’ tenure at the club.
As five-time winners, Liverpool are one of the premier clubs in the competition and have a historic penchant for dramatic results and storylines that serve to further the European folklore among their fans—none less than their triumph in the 2005 final in Istanbul 10 seasons ago.
Our 10 facts about Ludogorets covers their story in more detail, but to set the tone, Ludogorets were only promoted to the Bulgarian first division in 2011, and they have gone on to win the A Group title in all three of their seasons since—the first two of which were both sealed in dramatic fashion late on the last day.
So while on paper the visit of Ludogorets may be a mismatch in terms of history and tradition, in reality their shared love of theatre makes Anfield the perfect venue to host an engaging matchup between two teams who have had their share of footballing drama.
England vs. Germany: Eternal Rivals
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There’s not much that needs to be said about England’s footballing rivalry with Germany on the international level, but in recent years it has very much extended to club football in the Champions League.
Perhaps due to the fact that the group-stage draws are seeded—but also that both the Premier League and Bundesliga send four teams to Europe almost yearly these days—England and Germany have been drawn together multiple times.
This season, apart from Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen, the remaining six representatives from these two countries have found themselves in the same group again—and all against opponents they faced in last season’s tournament.
Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal—likewise respective champions Bayern Munich and Manchester City—shared a win each last season and meet again this year, with the curious record of all wins coming at their opponents’ homes, while Chelsea scored six goals without reply against Schalke 04 last season.
The Start of a Champions League-Winning Campaign for Chelsea?
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But Chelsea deserve a storyline of their own, for Schalke 04 likely provide the sternest threat to what appears to be a straightforward group stage once again for the Blues.
Featuring alongside Chelsea and Schalke in Group G are Sporting CP and Maribor, the latter of which are in their second group-stage campaign in the history of the Champions League.
Things don’t look too good for Schalke or Sporting either: The Germans find themselves third from bottom in the Bundesliga with just one point from their opening three matches, while the Portuguese are eighth in the Primera Liga.
By contrast, Chelsea have opened their Premier League campaign with a 100 percent record and a set of convincing wins, with new signings Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa notching six assists and seven goals respectively in just four league games.
With Manchester City, on paper their closest challengers for the Premier League title this season, already having stumbled in league play, Chelsea have already become hot favorites to reclaim the title in England. What’s to say a smooth group-stage campaign won’t set them on their way in Europe as well?
Contrasting Fortunes for France’s Super-Clubs
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Over in France, where just a season ago Ligue 1 were gearing up for two new super-clubs to represent them in Europe, things can’t have panned out more differently.
As Paris Saint-Germain continue to thrive and spend lavishly—to the extent that Financial Fair Play rules were enforced during their summer transfer period—AS Monaco have reined in their spending, letting go of star players Radamel Falcao and James Rodriguez in the process.
Reports about owner Dmitry Rybolovlev suffering a huge loss in his personal wealth due to a divorce settlement have been brushed aside by the club, according to a report by Paul Doyle in The Guardian, but the reality is that PSG and Monaco are now on very different paths.
The French champions are currently two points behind leaders Lille, while Monaco are second from bottom in Ligue 1.
Will Juventus and Roma Do Italy Proud?
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Over the past few seasons, it’s safe to say Italian sides haven’t fared too well in the Champions League, and this year’s installment features only two teams from Serie A in the group stage.
Yet Juventus and Roma have undisputedly the two strongest squads in Italy, and both have started their league campaigns with two wins out of two, placing joint second behind a seemingly resurgent AC Milan side under Filippo Inzaghi.
Their group-stage draws couldn’t be any more different: Juventus only have La Liga powerhouses Atletico Madrid as a serious threat on paper in Group A, with Olympiakos and Malmo FF making up their two other opponents, while Roma find themselves in the “Group of Death” alongside Bayern Munich, Manchester City and CSKA Moscow.
Recent years have seen Spain and Germany rise to the top of the Champions League, while we’ve already discussed the strength of Chelsea this season. It’s about time Italy had something to say about their place at the top table of European football again.
