Reflections : UCL Match Day 5

At the end of match day 5, let us take a look at the position in the different groups and also comment on the overall prospects and performances of some of the teams.

Group A - Bordeuax has quite simply been the most pleasantly surprising team of the competition so far. Even though they had already qualified at the end of match day 4, it is commendable that they put in such a determined and impressive performance in their match against Juventus. Now they have even ensured that they top the group. Major competitions often have one surprise team - an unfancied team which over performs. This year Bordeuax seems to be the best bet for being that team. As for the two giants in this group, Juventus and Bayern Munich, it can be reasonably argued that neither of them deserve to go to the next round. And it's hard to say who's been more shambolic than the other. Pitted in some of the other groups, they would have deservedly made their exit. And to think that Goal.com actually predicted Juventus would play the UCL final in 2010. This writer certainly did not share their enthusiasm but still did not expect them to capitulate so badly. As it stands one of Juventus or Bayern Munich will go through as the second team from this group. Bayern need to beat Juve in Turin to progress. Any other result will see Juve advance.

Group B - Manchester United had already qualified but last night's defeat to Besiktas at home would raise a lot of questions. They have not yet ensured top spot in their group and may not do so. Not many first teamers were missing last night and they were playing at home. On the whole it wouldn't be incorrect to say that ManUtd are going through a slump. Most would point to the exit of superstar C.Ronaldo but their key midfielders Giggs and Scholes not having the legs any more and the team not having found anyone of similar levels of competence to replace them has also adversely affected ManUtd. They may even have to make shrewd use of the January transfer window. As it stands ManUtd do not look like one of the favorites for the title this year. The other spot in this group is open and will go to either of Wolfsburg or CSKA. Wolfsburg have to play at home against ManUtd but will need to at least match the result of CSKA playing away at Besiktas in order to qualify.

Group C - Marseille have really given the giants of Real Madrid and A C Milan a good fight in this group. While they never reached the performance levels shown by compatriots Bordeaux, they could even be considered a little unlucky. As it stands qualification has become virtually impossible for them. Even if in the unlikely scenario they beat Real Madrid at home, they have a 3-0 deficit from the match day 2 result to turn over. So it's now just a question of which of the traditional giants would top the group. Milan will play away to Zurich and in spite of the shock result on match day 2, they now look sufficiently recovered to claim a victory there. If Milan win then Real must beat Marseille away in order to bag top spot as any other result will see Milan topping the group.

Group D - It's all over here. Chelsea have topped the group. Porto have also qualified. Chelsea this season look like one of the hottest favorites for the UCL title. Also they could end up making this season's EPL a one horse race.

Group E - Liverpool is out. It can be argued with good reason that had Benitez been in charge of any other one of the big clubs in Europe, he would have been out of the job by now. Why does Benitez get so much leeway? There are a number of reasons for this. Winning UCL in 2005 against all expectations gave the Kop faithful a taste of such glory after a very long time. This more than anything else has produced some sentimentalism towards him in a considerable section of the Liverpool fans. Add to that the fact that the fans hate the American owners and Benitez smartly manipulates the media to keep the blame away from himself. With all this he still in spite of everything manages to retain the faith of a good number of Liverpool fans. To this we must also look at the American owners who may be successful businessmen but are so completely ignorant about football that they are unable to take the right decisions at the right time and execute them properly. Finally Benitez has just signed a new contract and sacking him now would mean a huge payoff while if a top class manager such as Guus Hiddink were to be brought in, he would not come cheap. The massive debt that the club has would perhaps make this a step not worth taking. The net result is that Benitez stays in the job with Liverpool's season objectives being limited to aim for 4th spot in EPL and try to win the FA Cup or the Europa League - clearly not the most prestigious of competitions. Fiorentina have been a revelation. While being inconsistent in Serie A, they have managed to qualify for the knock stage in UCL after more than 10 years. The ever consistent Lyon joins them. Fiorentina's success has made it possible for Serie A to boast as many as 4 teams in the knock outs - something EPL and La Liga would be unable to do. The top spot still remains to be decided. In their next match Lyon would be expected to beat Debreceni at home. Fiorentina will play away to Liverpool in the last match which would mean nothing to the latter side and they could use it to experiment with fringe players unless they really want to exhibit their now severely damaged pride instead. A victory for Fiorentina would make them the group winners. A defeat would hand the honor to Lyon. A draw would make it a matter of overall goal difference.

Group F - Finally the reigning European champions demonstrated their true mettle and came up with one of their best performances of the season in spite of missing their two best forwards - Messi and Ibrahimovic. They only need to avoid a heavy defeat of 2-0 or by three goals or more when playing Dynamo Kyiv away and they will be through. Inter on the other hand while being so dominant domestically just don't convince anyone that they are ready to lay their hands on the UCL trophy. They seem to have a major mental block and play with a certain degree of trepidation in any major UCL match. This is all the more surprising since they are led by one of the greatest motivators in Jose Mourinho. A victory against Rubin Kazan at home is what Inter need to qualify and in spite of all of Inter's struggles and Rubin's surprises they should be able to get just that. A 0-0 draw or a 1-1 draw will also see Inter qualify if Dynamo do not beat Barcelona.

Group G - Sevilla had already qualified. In spite of their away loss to Unirea last night this team can go a long way in this competition because of the overall competence and balance in their squad and being led by a coach who may not be one of the elite but has performed remarkably well within the resources available to him and is by now very familiar with the club and the team. Still Sevilla have not ensured top spot yet but need only a draw at home against the hapless Rangers to get just that. The second spot in the group is still open. The excitement is multiplied by the fact that the two contenders Unirea and Stuttgart play each other with Unirea being at home. Stuttgart need to win this match to qualify as any other result will see Unirea go to the knock outs instead.

Group H - Arsenal have qualified and ensured top spot. This writer just has to say that right now it must be really frustrating to be an Arsenal supporter. The kind of attacking flair that this team possesses can be matched by very few teams in Europe. Yet dropping points carelessly and not getting the results when they would be easily expected to continues to dent their chances in major competitions. Not many people take them seriously in the EPL title race. And while they are more than capable of giving a game to the best of teams in UCL, they are also perfectly capable of capitulating against the lower rated ones. Still one thing that this writer would hope and expect is that no matter who they face, they at least put up a fight instead of a repeat of the very meek performance in the first leg of last season's semi final against ManUtd. It's incredible that Standard Leige who have just 4 points till now are still not out of the competition. However the only way they can go through is if they beat AZ Alkmaar at home and Olympiacos lose to Arsenal at home. Any other scenario would see Olympiacos take the second spot.