UEFA Champions League Preview: Groups E-H

Lionel Messi, centre, led Barcelona to the Champions League title last season. (David Ramos/Getty Images)

After a long summer break, 32 of the best soccer teams from across Europe begin their quest to be crowned continental kings when the group stage of the 2011-12 UEFA Champions League kicks off this week.

Defending champions FC Barcelona, nine-time tournament winners Real Madrid, English powerhouse Manchester United, Italian giants AC Milan and a host of usual suspects will all be trying to survive the opening round and progress through the knockout stage in order to earn a spot in the final next May at Munich’s Allianz Arena.

Last season, Barcelona won its fourth crown in team history. Can they repeat as champions?

CBC Sports commentator Nigel Reed offers this analysis and predictions below for Groups E, F, G and H.

To read about Groups A, B, C and D, click here.

Group E: Bayer Leverkusen (Germany), Chelsea (England), Genk (Belgium), Valencia (Spain)

Nigel Reed: He has already won European silverware but can the new coach of Chelsea repeat the feat at the elite level? Andre Villas-Boas was head-hunted by the Londoners after leading FC Porto to Europa League glory but now there’s pressure to do the same in the Champions League.

Chelsea is a regular contender and I expect them to top this section ahead of Valencia. The question is how far can they go? Not even AVB’s mentor, Jose Mourinho, was able to collect Europe’s greatest prize during his time in charge at Stamford Bridge.

Despite losing young Spanish international midfielder Juan Mata to Chelsea, Valencia still have enough in reserve to advance to the knock out tages. They are traditionally quick out of the blocks and the Mestalla Stadium remains of the real fortresses of European soccer.

It is 10 seasons since Beyer Leverkusen got all the way to the final. They lost to Real Madrid and have never scaled the heights again. Despite the influence of experience of Michael Ballack, the Germans have it all to do, while Genk face a mountainous task after losing central defender Torben Joneleit to a long-term injury.

Prediction: 1) Chelsea, 2) Valencia, 3) Bayer Leverkusen, 4) Genk

Group F: Arsenal (England), Borussia Dortmund (Dortmund), Olympique Marseille (France), Olympiacos (Greece)

Reed: Is Arsenal the spent force of Europe? Plenty of observers believe the Gunners’ best days are behind them and recent Champions League history seems to support the claim. Since reaching the semifinals in 2009 there has been a gradual decline. Last season Arsene Wenger’s team bowed out in the round of 16.

The loss of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri is going to hurt. Players of that calibre are virtually impossible to replace in the short-term, though the arrival of Mikel Arteta somewhat softens the blow. Robin Van Persie must stay healthy and be clinical if Arsenal is to make a significant impression.

In an open group, Marseilles will give any team a run for its money. Coach Didier Deschamps believes Borussia Dortmund will be a force to be reckoned with on its return to the Champions League and thinks the Germans will be particularly tough on home soil.

Olympiacos accompanied Arsenal into the knockout stages last season, but I think the Greeks will find the going much tougher this time around. They will certainly play spoiler at home and earn some points along the way but it is difficult to see them surviving the group phase this term.

Prediction: 1) Arsenal, 2) Marseille, 3) Borussia Dortmund, 4) Olympiacos

Group G: APOEL (Cyprus), FC Porto (Portugal), Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine), Zenit St Petersburg (Russia)

Reed: Two questions spring to mind regarding Group G. Can the Ukrainians repeat what they did last season, and how will FC Porto fair without the man who brought so much success? Time will tell of course, but both will have high hopes of advancing beyond the group stages.

Shakhtar topped its section and famously beat AS Roma home and away last term before being brushed aside by Barcelona. Brazilian born duo Eduardo and Luiz Adriano are back for more and if they click again the Ukrainians could be the team to beat.

Andre Villas-Boas led Porto to an unprecedented treble last season but his departure to Chelsea leaves a question mark against the Portuguese champions. His former assistant Vitor Pereira has big shoes to fill and his cause isn’t helped by striker Falcao’s move to Spain.

Zenit are back after a three-year hiatus and, with Luciano Spalletti at the helm and experience on the field, there’s a chance they could cause problems for both Shakhtar and Porto. APOEL proved much tougher than many thought in their maiden Champions League campaign, but the Cypriots are likely to bring up the rear again in 2011.

Prediction: 1) Shakhtar Donetsk, 2) FC Porto, 3) Zenit St Petersburg, 4) APOEL

Group H: AC Milan (Italy), FC Barcelona (Spain), Bate Borisov (Belarus), Viktoria Plzen (Czech Republic)

Reed: It is the group which will produce the tie of the round and the most predictable pair to advance to the round of 16. Barcelona and Milan will qualify from Group H and probably in that order as the Spanish champions kick off the defence of their title.

Before a ball is kicked, Barcelona must be considered the outstanding favourites to become the first club since Milan in 1990 to successfully defend their crown. The squad has changed little but the homecoming of Fabregas only adds to the quality in midfield, while Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez will be sidelined for some time with a torn hamstring.

Milan will feel it is overdue some European success. The seven-time champion has failed to reach the quarter-finals in three attempts since last lifting the trophy in 2007. The Italian champions will certainly make the round of 16 and have the quality to go much deeper in the competition.

The Belarusians of BATE are becoming familiar Champions League participants but in this company that is all they are, while Viktoria Plzen of the Czech Republic knocked out both Rosenborg and Copenhagen to qualify for the first time. Their ‘cup final’ has already come and gone.

Prediction: 1) FC Barcelona, 2) AC Milan, 3) Bate Borisov, 4) Viktoria Plzen