Champions League Group G preview
Group G
European heavyweights A.C. Milan of Italy and Real Madrid of Spain are grouped with Ajax of Holland and Auxerre of France.
A.C. Milan
Outlook: No team in Europe has rebuilt their squad like AC Milan. By bringing in Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the Italian side have gone all-in for the 2010-11 campaign. With Andrea Pirlo in the midfield, Ronaldinho and Pato up top, and a stellar defence, Milan could be the team left standing. Being in the “Group of Death” does not help, but Milan may be the most feared team in the group, especially if Real Madrid continues to fail in impressing the world.
Most important player: Ronaldinho
Key Newcomer: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Barcelona)
Player to be missed: Marco Borriello (Roma)
Real Madrid
Outlook: Another team that has rebuilt, Real Madrid look like a good bet to make it very far. With Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain leading the attack, plenty of goals will be registered. The most important area that Madrid needed to improve, the midfield, has added Argentine starlet Angel Di Maria and Germany star Mesut Ozil. Real Madrid will have no problem getting through to the next round.
Most important player: Gonzalo Higuain
Key Newcomer: Mesut Ozil (Werder Bremen)
Player to be missed: Royston Drenthe (Hercules)
Ajax
Outlook: The Amsterdam club have fallen on hard times. The glorious days of Ajax dominating Europe seem like a distant memory. The team is solid, but they can't rely on one player to take them to where they want to be. Luis Suarez is without a doubt one of the top scorers in the world. His statistics last year were unbelievable. In 48 games last season, the Uruguayan star had 49 goals. Pair him up top with newcomer Mounir El Hamdaoui, and they have an attack to rival any club in Europe. But the rest of the squad does not meet up to the ability and talent of Europe's other big clubs. A spot in the Europa League sounds like the most probably finish for Ajax.
Most important player: Luis Suarez
Key Newcomer: Mounir El Hamdaoui (AZ)
Player to be missed: None.
Auxerre
Outlook: Auxerre finished a surprising third in the French league last season. This season, through five games, Auxerre sit at the bottom of the table with four draws and a loss. A surprise last season, Auxerre do not have what it takes to even worry their opponents this year. The team had a nice campaign in a down French league, securing a spot by one point. The team possesses no star and a weak central defence. With the ability of the forwards in the group, goalie Olivier Sorin will be very busy.
Most important player: Ireneusz Jelen
Key Newcomer: Anthony Le Tallec (Le Mans)
Player to be missed: Daniel Niculae (Monaco)
Prediction: Real Madrid and AC Milan destroy Ajax and Auxerre. The though of Ajax and Auxerre having to defend Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Ibrahimovic, Robinho and Higuain is just scary. Milan and Madrid continue, Ajax end up in the Europa League.
Tags: