Chapter 106: The Group of Death on Paper

Although the outside world has mixed opinions about Magath's tactics, there are various concerns about the prospects of Schalke 04 throughout the season.

But whatever the future holds, at least they're out of trouble right now. After defeating Nuremberg, they beat Bochum 3-0 in their first home game of the new season. The league started with two consecutive victories.

On the other hand, everyone agrees that Bayern will bottom out in the new season... At least there is no such sign at the beginning.

The first round was tied 1:1 away by Hoffenheim, followed by a tie with Werder Bremen with the same score. The start of two consecutive draws is better than the disastrous start of last season, but in terms of the strength of Bayern's lineup, such a start is absolutely unsatisfactory.

The Munich media corrected their mentality and regarded Schalke 04 as the main opponent for the championship. The pick is higher than Dortmund. But the sad reminder is that this is just the beginning, and there is already a four-point gap in the standings.

Fortunately, after two rounds of the Bundesliga, at the end of August, the draw ceremony for the UEFA Champions League group stage of the new season began, and the mainstream European media focused their attention. The pressure of public opinion facing Van Gaal has eased slightly. In the Champions League, Bayern's record is really not weak.

Previously, UEFA officially announced the top 32 of the Champions League this season. The grading rules are based on the ranking of the European War points in the past five years.

Pot 1: Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Barcelona, ​​Sevilla.

Pot 2: Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Schalke 04, Lyon, Juventus, Alkmaar, CSKA Moscow, Rangers.

Pot 3: Stuttgart, Bordeaux, Besiktas, Fiorentina, Dynamo Kiev, Atletico Madrid, Olympiacos, Marseille.

Pot 4: Wolfsburg, Uniria (Romania), Standard Liege (Belgium), Debrezen (Hungary), Rubin Kazan, Zurich, APOEL (Cyprus), Maccabi Haifa (Israel).

As soon as the results of this classification come out, no matter whether it is the media of the five major leagues or other second- and third-tier small leagues, there is no one who does not want to fry.

Especially in the second tier, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Juventus, and Schalke 04. The performance of these four teams last season and their actions this season are enough to put the pressure on the first seeded team. These four teams are very likely to create at least two groups of death!

Especially Real Madrid, because they were eliminated by Liverpool in two rounds in the quarter-finals last season, which severely lowered their European points in the past five seasons, so they were divided into second-tier teams in the new season.

However, their strength definitely makes the eight first-seeded teams want to stay away.

For the third and fourth tier teams, there are very few ways to survive, and basically they can only be reduced to fish on the chopping board of the giants.

Therefore, "Aspen", "The Times" and other influential media in Europe have accused the current Champions League classification rules as unreasonable.

If a season like Real Madrid suddenly convulses and downshifts on its own, how will the advantages of the seeded teams in the coming year be reflected?

However, the result of this division is a good thing for Schalke 04, avoiding Real Madrid and Inter Milan, which have the strength of the first tier. In the remaining first tier, as long as they are not unlucky enough to meet Barcelona, ​​the other seven Each seeded team has the power to fight.

The entire draw process started calmly, and the eight seeded teams were placed in order, namely, Bayern in Group A, Manchester United in Group C, Milan in Group C, Chelsea in Group D, Liverpool in Group E, Barcelona in Group F, and Seville in Group G. Ya, Group H Arsenal.

Then it was the turn of the second-tier teams to draw lots, and the Chinese fans who stayed up all night cheered up.

CCTV commentator He Wei looked at the eight seeded teams and said: "According to the rules of different groups of teams from the same country, Schalke 04 will definitely not be drawn into Group A. For the remaining seven groups, Group F is the most difficult for Barcelona. , the strength is obviously stronger than Schalke, it is most beneficial to be drawn into Group G, and Sevilla is relatively the weakest. Of course, it is the most interesting to enter Group B. Although Manchester United introduced Owen as a substitute for Ronaldo’s departure,

But judging from the situation in the first round of the opening of the Premier League, the effect is not so good. Schalke 04 should have a chance for revenge. "

A few minutes later, the suspense was revealed.

UEFA Secretary-General David Taylor took out the order of the teams in the second tier one by one. Juventus entered Group A-Bayern and Juventus, the two giants gathered together, and the direction of the group of death is getting closer. step.

And Schalke 04 also missed the chance to revenge Manchester United for the time being. The second-tier team entering Group B is the Russian Super League champion CSKA Moscow.

Real Madrid, which everyone hides, was drawn into Group C to fight against AC Milan, and in Group D, Schalke 04 was finally drawn.

"Oh? Schalke 04 and Chelsea are in the same group, haha! The two teams just played against each other in the pre-season training, but Magath took the initiative to rotate most of the main players. Now, there is a chance to compete with real strength. Just because they almost overthrew Manchester United last season, it is not impossible for Schalke 04 to beat Chelsea."

Blues fans in front of the TV began to look forward to the midfield match between Zhou Tiancheng and Lampard.

In addition, the second-tier teams in Group E to Group H are Lyon, Inter Milan, Glasgow Rangers, and Alkmaar.

Halfway through the draw ceremony, Bayern Juventus in Group A, Real Madrid and AC Milan in Group C, Barcelona and Inter Milan in Group F, there are already signs of death in three groups. The match between the Western Super League duo and the Milan duo is one of the highly anticipated highlights.

Of course, Schalke 04 and Chelsea are also counted, but with the highlights of the top giants, the matchup in Group D will be relatively eclipsed.

After the first two pots are drawn, the team enters the third pot, which is really exciting. Which group can become the group of death is usually determined by the third team.

Stuttgart, "Vola" Fiorentina, and La Liga's "Bed Sheets" Atletico Madrid are all enough to act as spoilers.

According to the rules, Schalke will definitely not be in the same group as Stuttgart, but it is such an unfortunate fate that they bumped into Atletico Madrid, the fourth place in La Liga last season!

He Wei suddenly exclaimed: "Atletico Madrid's strength is the highest in the third tier, and now it actually falls in Group D where Schalke 04 is. In this way, there are three strong teams in Group D: Schalke 04, Chelsea, and Atletico Madrid. , Although this matchup is definitely not sparks hitting the earth, but it has been confirmed that at least one team at the quarterfinal level will be eliminated after the group stage. On paper, it is considered a death group. But it is not necessarily true for Schalke. Chelsea have just played against each other. As for Atletico Madrid, they were defeated by Schalke in the UEFA Champions League qualifying match last season. Atletico Madrid's lineup in the new season did not have much reinforcement, but sent Maniche, Luis Garcia, Bane Plus and Franco are the main players, with the current lineup, Schalke should be stronger than their opponents."

Many Chinese fans in front of the TV clapped their hands excitedly - they felt that this grouping could not prevent Schalke 04 from qualifying, but would be more beneficial. As long as they don't fall into the encirclement of giants, the opponents in the group stage are stronger, which clears away potential obstacles for the knockout stage.

PS: There is another chapter before ten o'clock

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