UEFA Champions League Analysis – Group A
Wednesday’s Champions League matches concluded the third round of the group stage. We are now midway through the group stage and already some of the continental giants are close to cementing their presence in the next round. For the likes
of Roma and Marseille however, it has been a time to forget. We now look at the groups and analyze the teams in detail.
Group A
Inter Milan
We have the reigning European champions Inter Milan leading the group following their victory over Tottenham Hotspurs on Wednesday. Nerazzuri have 7 points from their three matches and will definitely top the group. Inter will now travel
to White Hart Lane on match day four to play Tottenham for the return leg. Nerazzuri will eke out a draw at the least but with likes of Van der Vaart and Bale playing for the English side, the match will be an interesting affair. Even if the reigning champions
lose to Spurs on match day four, Nerazzuri will be playing Twente at home and Bremen in Germany. Rafa’s men will win both the matches and top the group with 13 points.
Tottenham Hotspurs
Spurs stand second in the group with four points. Prior to their latest match, Tottenham was level on points with Inter. Even a Bale hat-trick could not get them a point as Inter proved too strong an opposition for the English side. With
Van der Vaart returning from his suspension and Defoe nearing full fitness, Spurs stand a decent chance when they face the Italian giants.
Even if Spurs do win against Inter, repetition of a 4 – 3 score line is out of question. Spurs have a goal difference of positive 2 while Inter boast a far superior positive of 5. Even if Spurs do manage to win their remaining fixtures,
they will finish on level points with Nerazzuri but will finish second owing to an inferior goal difference.
Werder Bremen
Bremen was always likely to struggle following the sale of star man Mesut Ozil. The club had done little to dispel such notions and Bundesliga ‘also-rans’ are struggling to make any sort of impact on European stage. The German outfit is
yet to register a victory; both their points have been achieved through draws. Die Grün-Weißen started off with a 2 – 2 draw against Spurs at home but were thumped 4 – 0 by Inter on match day two. On Wednesday, Bremen could only muster a draw against FC Twente
playing away from home. With the club also struggling on domestic front, there is little room for optimism.
As things stand, Bremen is likely to finish ahead of FC Twente in the group. A third position will get them a Europa League spot. Two out of three remaining fixtures will be played at Weserstadion, home advantage might see them win against
Twente but even the vocal supporters cannot make up for the gulf in class that is evident between the teams.
FC Twente
Despite winning the Dutch Eredivisie last season, Twente was never expected to make it to the next round. The reigning Dutch Champions can target a Europa league spot at the most but with negligible Champions League experience in their
ranks, Twente are favourites to finish last in the group.
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