Inter highlights Panathinaikos’ Champions League journey

Panathinaikos was paired with Italian Champions Inter Milan in the group stage draw for the 17^th edition UEFA Champions League. As well as Inter, Germany’s Werder Bremen and Cypriot title holders Anorthosis Famagusta join the ‘Tryfilli’ in a tricky Group B.

Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan are clear favourites to win the group, and with a formidable line-up it will be quite the task to keep them away from the pole position in Group B. Georgios Karagounis, a former member of the ‘Nerrazurri’ faces a return to the San Siro.

It’s another reunion of sorts for Panathinaikos and Werder Bremen; both sides met in the group stages of three years ago. Managing to beat the Germans 2-1 in Athens, Panathinaikos was then romped 5-1 at the Weser Stadion. Confidence could be with Panathinaikos as Werder Bremen found it uneasy to cope against Olympiacos last season.

Anorthosis Famagusta round out the group and Panathinaikos will make sure they learn from Olympiacos mistakes against the Cypriot champions. Eliminating the Greek Champions in the third and final qualifying round, Anorthosis Famagusta makes it Champions League group stage debut this season.

The draw produced other interesting matchups in the remaining groups. Rome’s Stadio Olimpico will be the venue for the May’s final, and tenants, AS Roma, face a bumpy route in their bid to reach the climax. The Romans will encounter Chelsea FC, Bordeaux, and Romanian club CFR Cluj.

Semi-finalists last year, FC Barcelona will meet with Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon, Swiss side Basel, and Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk. Like the Catalan club, Liverpool reached the final four as well. PSV Eindhoven joins the ‘Reds’ in Group D; but like last year, Liverpool will face a visit from French club Marseille. The headline matchup could be a return to Spain for Fernando Torres, with the Spain international facing a return to his former club, Atletico Madrid.

Defending Champions, Manchester United, begin their title defense in Group E. The ‘Red Devils’ have been drawn against Spanish club Villarreal, Scottish rivals Celtic FC, as well as Danish club AaB Aalborg. Bayern Munich returns to the Champions League after a one year absence, and the Bundesliga Champions face encounters with Olympique Lyon, Steaua Bucuresti, and fellow returnees Fiorentina.

Arsenal headlines a very competitive Group G, as the English club is joined by Portuguese league winners FC Porto, Luis Aragones’ Fenerbahce, and Ukrainian outfit Dynamo Kyiv. The final group could play out as the group of death, as the most successful club in Champions League history make their introduction. Spain’s capital club Real Madrid are joined by Serie A contenders Juventus, UEFA Cup Champions Zenit St. Petersburg, and Champions League new boys BATE Borisov.

Group A:
Chelsea FC (England)
AS Roma (Italy)
FC Girondins de Bordeaux (France)
CFR 1907 Cluj (Romania)

Group B:
FC Internazionale Milano (Italy)
Werder Bremen (Germany)
Panathinaikos FC (Greece)
Anorthosis Famagusta FC (Cyprus)

Group C:
FC Barcelona (Spain)
Sporting Clube de Portugal (Portugal)
FC Basel 1893 (Switzerland)
FC Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine)

Group D:
Liverpool FC (England)
PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands)
Olympique de Marseille (France)
Club Atlético de Madrid (Spain

Group E:
Manchester United FC (England)
Villarreal CF (Spain)
Celtic FC (Scotland)
Aalborg BK (Denmark)

Group F:
Olympique Lyonnais (France)
FC Bayern München (Germany)
FC Steaua Bucureşti (Romania)
ACF Fiorentina (Italy)

Group G:
Arsenal FC (England)
FC Porto (Portugal)
Fenerbahçe SK (Turkey)
FC Dynamo Kyiv (Ukraine)

Group H:
Real Madrid CF (Spain)
Juventus (Italy)
FC Zenit St. Petersburg (Russia)
FC BATE Borisov (Belarus)