UEFA Champions League Analysis – Group D
FC Barcelona was always the favourites to top the group and indeed they sit atop the charts with 7 points from opening three games. With FC Kobenhavn, Rubin Kazan and Panathinaikos in Group D there are three teams worthy of a knock out stage berth however
Panathinaikos has disappointed so far.
FC Barcelona
Predictably, Blaugrana are the current group leaders following three rounds of football. Barca recorded easy home victories against Kobenhavn and Panathinaikos while Rubin Kazan held them to a 1 – 1 draw in Russia. Like last season, Barcelona found it hard
breaking down a resilient Rubin backline. The freezing atmosphere in Russia was too much to handle for Guardiola’s men. In the next three rounds, Barca will welcome Rubin to Nou Camp while they will travel to Greece and Denmark for the remaining fixtures.
Catalan giants are very much likely to win all the remaining fixtures. Barcelona will easily retain the top spot in the group with 16 points and will manage to avoid bigger teams in the round of sixteen.
FC Kobenhavn
The Danish Superliga side played in the Champions League after years of absence and stand second in the group. Rubin and Panathinaikos in particular have a stronger squad then Løverne and it is arguable whether they will be able to retain the second spot
in the group. Kobenhavn will play Barca at home in the next round of fixtures before a dreaded trip to Russia. The final match day will see Kobenhavn play Panathinaikos at home. Løverne are unlikely to get a result against Barcelona while Rubin are too strong
at Tsentralnyi Stadion, the freezing weather in Kazan won’t play to their advantage either. Kobenhavn’s only hope of getting any points will depend on the home game against Pana on match day six. Kobenhavn will win the fixture on the back of a vocal home support
and finish with nine points. Such turn of events will see FC Kobenhavn progress as the surprise runner ups from the group.
Rubin Kazan
Expectations were high from the Russian Premier League outfit going in to the group stage. The reigning Russian champions managed to upset FC Barcelona last year and with the squad strengthened this time around, Rubin were expected to finish second. The
results however, have been disappointing. Volzháne stand third in the group with just two points, courtesy of two draws. Kurban Birdyev’s side managed draws against Barcelona and Panathinaikos while their travels to Denmark resulted in a defeat. In the coming
three matches, Rubin play Panathinaikos and Kobenhavn before making the trip to Barcelona on match day six. AS Barca would bear testimony, playing in Kazan is as arduous a task as it can get. With Russian Premier League coming to an end, Rubin should manage
to defeat both the oppositions but a trip to Catalunia will be too tough a nut to crack. Volzháne will finish third in the group with 8 points and will feature in the Europa league from January onwards.
Panathinaikos FC
Our Greek participants have been the true surprise package of the group so far. Greece Nikos Nioplias has a wealth of talented players at his disposal. The likes of Sotiris Ninis and Sebastian Leto bring youthful exuberance to the squad while players like
Gilberto Silva and Sidney Govou come with bundles of continental experience. Trifylli should have managed a second place in the group but as things stand, Pana are set to finish last in the group.
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