Europe's top club competition to hold draw on Thursday
The 32 teams that will participate in the Champions League Group Stage have been confirmed after five more teams sealed their place.
After Partizan Belgrade, Sporting Braga, Hapoel Tel-Aviv, Werder Bremen and Basel secured their spots on Tuesday, the final games were played on Wednesday.
AJ Auxerre, MSK Zilina, Ajax Amsterdam, FC Copenhagen and Tottenham Hotspur join the other 27 teams who dream of lifting the trophy in Wembley Stadium in London in May.
AJ Auxerre advanced 2-1 on aggregate after netting two goals in a 2-0 victory of Zenit St. Petersburg.
MSK Zilina went through 3-0 on aggregate after downing Sparta Prague 1-0 at home.
Ajax, who trailed Dynamo Kiev 1-2 after the first leg, were led by Luis Suarez as they defeated their opponent 2-0 to advance.
FC Copenhagen went through on away goals, ending their two-legged affair at 2-2.
Tottenham Hostpur, who suffered a shock defeat to Young Boys last week, dominated at White Hart Lane as Peter Crouch netted a hat-trick. The English side won 4-0, advancing 6-3.
The group stage draw will play out 26 August 2010 at 12:00 EST in Monaco.
The teams have been divided into four pots which are determined by the team's performance in Europe over the past five seasons, as well as the strength of the domestic league in which they participate. Teams from the same country cannot be grouped together.
Pot 1 includes Inter Milan, Barcelona, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, AC Milan and Olympique Lyonnais.
Werder Bremen, Real Madrid, Roma, Shakhtar Donetsk, Benfica, Valencia, Marseille and Panathinaikos are in Pot 2.
Pot 3 includes Tottenham Hotspur, Rangers, Ajax, Shalke 04, FC Basel, Sporting Braga, FC Copenhagen and Spartak Moscow.
Hapoel Tel-Aviv, Twente, Rubin Kazan, Auxerre, CFR Cluj, Partizan Belgrade, MSK Zilina and Bursapor round out Pot 4.
Barcelona and Inter are the heavy favorites entering the group stage. Inter were crowned champions a year ago after Diego Milito scored two goals as they defeated Bayern Munich in the final.
Two teams to look out for are Chelsea and Real Madrid. The Blues have been in stellar form in England, opening the season with a two 6-0 victories.
A new Real Madrid will look to take home another championship as Jose Mourinho takes control of the capital club.
Mourinho has gone a spending spree this summer as Real Madrid have brought in Sergio Canales, Pedro Leon, Angel di Maria, Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil. Their lack of success in the Champions League as of late has mounted the pressure on “The Chosen One” in his first season.
One thing to look out for will be the “Group of Death” that we always see in group stage football.
Last year's edition, which included Fiorentina, Lyon, Liverpool and Debrecen, provided us with the first shock of the tournament as Liverpool were ousted early on.
This year's Group of Death could be unprecedented. If a group including, Inter, Real Madrid, Tottenham and Rubin Kazan is formed, a tournament favourite could exit early just as Liverpool did a year ago.
The games will start in September as 32 of Europe's most talented clubs embark on the ride to the final.
Only one team will be left standing when the dust clears. Whether it is a giant from Europe's top leagues or a minnow whose hope is to just advance out of the group stage, the treat of Champions League group stage football is right around the corner.
Tags: