Your guide to this season’s Champions League groups with David Pleat’s expert analysis

GROUP ABayern Munich

League position 2010-11 3rd (Germany)

Champions League best Winners (2001) Player to watch: Mario Gómez

The striker scored eight goals in as many games in last year’s Champions League, and 39 in all competitions Odds 20-1

Villarreal

League position 2010-11 4th (Spain)

Champions League best Semi-finals (2006) Player to watch: Giuseppe Rossi

The former Manchester United striker scored 32 goals last season and will be keen to impress on his return to the city Odds 66-1

Manchester City

League position 2010-11 3rd (England)

Champions League best First appearance Player to watch: Yaya Touré

Experience could be key in City’s maiden Champions League campaign. Touré won the competition in 2009 with Barcelona Odds 11-1

Napoli

League position 2010-11 3rd (Italy)

Champions League best First appearance Player to watch: Edinson Cavani

The latest Uruguayan forward to thrive in Europe, Cavani scored 26 goals in 35 games to propel Napoli to third place in Serie A Odds 80-1

David Pleat’s verdict

Since Louis van Gaal’s departure, Jupp Heynckes has reinvigorated Bayern. The coach tends to favour a 4-2-3-1, with Mario Gómez his main scorer, having seen off the competition of Miroslav Klose, and has exciting wide players in Arjen Robben and Franck Ribéry. Thomas Mueller, too, and Bastian Schweinsteiger are fine providers. Indeed Bayern, despite not winning the Bundesliga last season, look the best of the German teams involved. Yet City can still defeat them over two games. Roberto Mancini’s team will find Villarreal difficult opposition in Spain, where Giuseppe Rossi will continue to score regularly having been priced out of a move to England this summer by a high buy-out clause. Walter Mazzarri’s Napoli are newcomers on this stage and may struggle to make an impact but Edinson Cavani, their Uruguay forward, will be a threat.

Predicted qualifiers: Man City and Bayern Munich

Fixtures

14 Sep: Man City v Napoli, Villarreal v Bayern

27 Sep: Bayern v Man City, Napoli v Villarreal

18 Oct: Man City v Villarreal, Napoli v Bayern

2 Nov: Villarreal v Man City, Bayern v Napoli

22 Nov: Napoli v Man City, Bayern v Villarreal

7 Dec Man City v Bayern, Villarreal v Napoli

GROUP CManchester United

League position 2010-11 1st (England)

Champions League best Winners (1999, 2008) Player to watch: Nemanja Vidic

Injury could rule him out of United’s opening match but the tough centre-half will be crucial to the team’s hopes in the knockout stage Odds 11-2

Benfica

League position 2010-11 2nd (Portugal)

Champions League best Quarter-finals (1995, 2006) Player to watch: Luisão

A Benfica backline missing David Luiz and Fábio Coentrão has been hit hard by recent player sales. The captain will need to be at his best Odds 125-1

Basel

League position 2010-11 1st (Switzerland)

Champions League best Group stage (2009) Player to watch: Xherdan Shaqiri

At 19 the midfielder is the first name on the Swiss national teamsheet. He scored against England last September Odds 500-1

Otelul Galati

League position 2009-10 1st (Romania)

Champions League best First appearance Player to watch: Gabriel Giurgiu pictured

The former Rubin Kazan midfielder is something of a late bloomer, making his Romania debut against Brazil in June at the age of 28 Odds 1250-1

David Pleat’s verdict

The television companies will be disappointed with Manchester United’s opponents given the English champions are the advertising money-spinner, but Benfica will be interesting rivals. They retain the Argentinians Javier Saviola and Pablo Aimar and the winger Nolito, even if the likes of David Luiz and Fábio Coentrão have been lost. They should progress. Basel, under the stewardship of the German Thorsten Fink, play a more adventurous 4-4-2 these days. In Marco Streller they have a gifted if ageing scorer, while Benjamin Huggel is experienced. But this is a club that functions on an annual budget of £40m and will struggle to punch their weight. Once again, Romania have a contender in Otelul Galati, but they are merely there to make up the numbers so Uefa can mask the early stages.

Predicted qualifiers: Man Utd and Benfica

Fixtures

14 Sep: Benfica v Man Utd, Basel v Otelul Galati

27 Sep: Man Utd v Basel, Otelul Galati v Benfica

18 Oct: Otelul Galati v Man Utd, Basel v Baselenfica

2 Nov: Man Utd v Otelul Galati, Benfica v Benficaasel

22 Nov: Man Utd v Benfica, Otelul Galati v Basel

7 Dec: Basel v Man Utd, Benfica v Otelul Galati

GROUP EChelsea

League position 2010-11 Second (England)

Champions League best Runners-up (2008) Player to watch: Fernando Torres

The striker has shown improvement at the start of the season. Offers an alternative to the smash-and-grab style of Didier Drogba Odds 8-1

Valencia

League position 2010-11 Third (Spain)

Champions League best Runners-up (2000, 2001) Player to watch: Roberto Soldado

Led Valencia’s scoring charts to propel his side to a third-place La Liga finish after signing from Getafe in 2010 Odds 50-1

Bayer Leverkusen

League position 2010-11 Second (Germany)

Champions League best Runners-up (2002) Player to watch: Stefan Kiessling

The Bundesliga’s second highest scorer in 2009-10, injury limited his playing time last season but he still managed a goal every other game Odds 80-1

KRC Genk

League position 2010-11 Champions (Belgium)

Champions League best Group stage (2003) Player to watch: Thomas Buffel

Was fans’ player of the season in 2009-10. The attacking midfielder was vital to Genk’s title-winning season in 2010-11 Odds 500-1

David Pleat’s verdict

Chelsea will be pleased that the familiar Michael Ballack will be an opponent, possibly partnered by the experienced German Simon Rolfes, 29, in midfield. Yet the vibrant days of Lúcio at centre-half and Dimitar Berbatov scoring goals for this club have long gone. Valencia boast some history and will be intimidating opponents at the Mestalla. Rafael Benítez will advise the young coach Unai Emery on any chinks in Chelsea’s armour and Roberto Soldado is a good replacement for David Villa, but this is a club who have seen the cream of their talent leave in recent years. Genk have done well to emerge beyond Anderlecht, Standard Liège and Bruges and retain several promising Belgian youngsters who are emerging into the national team. But, while they will enjoy this experience, they are unlikely to threaten.

Predicted qualifiers: Chelsea and Valencia

Fixtures

13 Sep: Chelsea v Bayer, Genk v Valencia

28 Sep: Valencia v Chelsea, Bayer v Genk

19 Oct: Chelsea v Genk, Bayer v Valencia

1 Nov: Genk v Chelsea, Bayer v Valencia v Bayer

23 Nov: Bayer v Chelsea, Valencia v Genk

6 Dec: Chelsea v Valencia, Genk v Bayer

GROUP FArsenal

League position 2010-11 Fourth (England)

Champions League best Runners-up (2006) Player to watch: Jack Wilshere Arsenal need Wilshere on top form if they are to hit anything close to the heights of 2005-06, when they reached the final Odds 25-1

Marseille

League position 2010-11 Second (France)

Champions League best Winners (1993) Player to watch: Steve Mandanda Last year’s Ligue 1 goalkeeper of the year. Will hope good performances can win him a place for France at Euro 2012 Odds 66-1

Olympiakos

League position 2010-11 Champions (Greece)

Champions League best Quarter-final (1999) Player to watch: Albert Riera Providing more assists than anyone else in the Greek Superleague last season, the winger was vital to Olympiakos’s title win Odds 250-1

Borussia Dortmund

League position 2010-11 Champions (Germany)

Champions League best Winners (1997) Player to watch: Mario Götze Götze’s technical skill and creativity in midfield has set tongues wagging around Europe Odds 33-1

David Pleat’s verdict

Arsenal will travel to the intimidating Vélodrome, where Didier Deschamps is overseeing a more prudent Marseille these days even if the owner, Robert Louis-Dreyfus, has invested to a point. Loïc Rémy and André Ayew are dangerous forwards, while Rod Fanni and Stéphane Mbia are reliable defenders. Olympiakos’s passion at home should be easily quelled by Arsenal, and I see them as the weakest team in the group despite being drawn from pot three. Dortmund had a tremendous season with a young manager, at 44, in Jürgen Klopp who has taken the Bundesliga by storm. Mario Götze is an outstanding midfielder, while Ivan Perisic, the Croat who was the leading scorer in the improving Belgian league last season with 22 goals, will catch the eye. They are a threat.

Predicted qualifiers: Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund

Fixtures

13 Sep: Dortmund v Arsenal, Olympiakos v Marseille

28 Sep: Arsenal v Olympiakos, Marseille v Dortmund

19 Oct: Marseille v Arsenal, Olympiakos v Dortmund

1 Nov: Arsenal v Marseille, Dortmund v Olympiakos

23 Nov: Arsenal v Dortmund, Marseille v Olympiakos

6 Dec: Olympiakos v Arsenal, Dortmund v Marseille

Group B:

Internazionale, CSKA Moscow, Lille, Trabzonspor

David Pleat’s verdict Inter have enjoyed a slight resurgence with the same old guard, but I would not expect them to go too far in the competition. Lille, if they retain the clever Eden Hazard, could be the team most likely to challenge them for the top spot in this section.

Predicted qualifiers: Internazionale and Lille

Group D:

Real Madrid, Lyon, Ajax, Dinamo Zagreb

David Pleat’s verdict This is tricky to predict. Zagreb will be difficult hosts, Ajax will play football, while Lyon have recent experience but, under Rémi Garde, they face a task to be as prominent as in recent years. Real Madrid, of course, have the untouchable José Mourinho.

Predicted qualifiers: Real Madrid and Ajax

Group G:

Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Zenit St Petersburg, FC Apoel

David Pleat’s verdict

Travelling east will not be easy for Porto, but they continually have a big presence as a result of their brilliant scouting system. Expect the Europa League holders to go through. Shakhtar Donetsk and Zenit St Petersburg are wealthy and awkward opponents.

Predicted qualifiers: Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk

Group H:

Barcelona, Milan, Bate Borisov, Viktoria Plzen

David Pleat’s verdict Barcelona, the holders, have a comfortable group and should qualify most easily with Milan, who should consider themselves fortunate to have benefited from the presence of two of the weaker opponents from pots three and four.

Predicted qualifiers: Barcelona and Milan

Champions League 2011-12Champions LeagueManchester CityManchester UnitedBayern MunichVillarrealNapoliBenficaBaselOtelul GalatiChelseaValenciaBayer LeverkusenGenkArsenalMarseilleOlympiakosBorussia Dortmundguardian.co.uk

• Striker tested positive for cocaine in 2004
• Swiss Federal Court rejects Mutu’s final appeal

Adrian Mutu has been ordered to pay his former club Chelsea a record 17m Euros (£14.3m) in compensation after losing his final appeal in a legal battle which has lasted more than five years, the Swiss Federal Court has announced.

Mutu was sacked by Chelsea in September 2004 after testing positive for cocaine. The Romania striker received a seven-month ban from football, but the London club took a firm stance and sacked him before then suing him to recover the money they paid to sign him.

Mutu rebuilt his career first at Juventus and then at Fiorentina once he was able to play again, but the incident has dogged him ever since as Fifa, the world governing body, ordered him to pay compensation to Chelsea, and his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the fine failed.

He was given a glimmer of hope when the Swiss Federal Court temporarily suspended the fine, but it has now decided the 31-year-old must pay the full amount plus interest. The court confirmed today that it has upheld the decision made by Fifa and the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

In a statement it said: “In a ruling on 10 June, 2010, the Swiss Federal Court rejected the appeal formed by Adrian Mutu against the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The CAS ordered the Romanian professional footballer to pay a sum superior to €17m to his former employer, Chelsea Football Club Limited.”

“[The court] first rejected the arguments by which the footballer questioned the impartiality of two of the three arbitrators who rendered the decision. On those merits, the federal court recalled that, in the field of international arbitration, it does not retry the case, as a court of appeal would, but can check only certain aspects very limited to the basis of recorded facts in the imposed sentence.

“In this case, the federal court had only to consider whether the amount of damages/interest allocated to the London club violated the core values that all judicial systems should follow. They came to the conclusion that this was not the case, so that the Romanian footballer’s appeal was unfounded.”

Mutu is currently serving a nine-month ban after testing positive for sibutramine in January and will be allowed to return to football on 29 October 29.

Chelsea, who paid £15.8m for Mutu in August 2003, have declined to comment.

Chelseaguardian.co.uk