Groups Betting Champions League

The 2011 Champions League Groups was drawn in Monaco and it has brought up some interesting matches, as the best that Europe has to offer battles it out to reach the final at Wembley on 28th May, 2011. Firstly, last years Champions League winners Inter Milan have landed in a really tough group including English side, Tottenham Hotspur, German cracks, Werder Bremen and Dutch stunners FC Twente. It looks to be a tough time ahead for Harry Redknapp’s Spurs outfit but we’ll talk more about this later in our Champions League betting preview.

Other British interest sees Manchester United pegged alongside Glasgow Rangers, Chelsea squaring up to Marseille and Russians, Spartak Moscow. Arsenal can be pleased with their lot although tricky away ties to Belgrade and Ukraine await. All in all, it has been a kind draw to British clubs, perhaps Rangers have drawn the short straw.

Below you can find our early Champions League group betting analysis on whom we (Free Betting Online – the home of free bets) feel has got the right stuff to proceed through to the round of 16.

Champions League Group A : Inter Milan, Werder Bremen, Tottenham Hotspur, FC Twente

Inter start as favorites to win this group, although the champs have now departed ways with former coach Jose Mourinho. Former Liverpool manager, Rafael Benitez, does have a fairly decent pedigree and should steer the good ship Inter into the last 16. I feel for Spurs, I really do. It is certainly a baptism of fire into the Champions League for Tottenham who proved against Young Boys they can mix it in Europe at home. FC Twente and Werder Bremen will be difficult to beat, but are not unbeatable. 2nd place is possible for Spurs, home matches will be vital of course.

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Champions League Group B: Lyon, Benfica, Schalke, Hapoel Tel-Aviv

Stand-out’s in the Champions League group are Lyon and Benfica. Schalke 04 were runners-up in the Bundesliga last year and could push for 2nd spot. Whipping boys are certainly Hapoel Tel-Aviv, although they could cause a few upsets in Israel.

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Champions League Group C: Manchester United, Valencia, Rangers, Bursaspor

Bet the Manchester police were spitting their tea out when they seen this group taking shape. Manchester United should canter this group with Valencia a close second. However, you can be sure Rangers will be up for a fight and could steal points of both teams at home. Bursaspor are the real unknowns. They won the Turkish Süper Lig last year, so no doubt can play – plus Turkey is never an easy place to go and win points from.

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Champions League Group D: Barcelona, Panathinaikos, Copenhagen, Rubin Kazan

Barcelona to win this Champions League group without barely breaking a sweat. Now you have three teams left who could take second place. Greek outfits, Panathinaikos, have probably just got a better Champions League pedigree but Rubin Kazan did alright last year in the Champions League beating Barcelona away and drawing with them at home. Copenhagen will rely heavily on home form to progress.

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Champions League Group E: Bayern Munich, Roma, Basle, Cluj

Bayern and Roma face a tussle to see who ends up top dog. Rumanian outfit Cluj seem a dogged team to beat at home and don’t be surprised if they take a few scalps. Swiss team, Basle, will be looking to emulate their success of 5 years ago when they progressed through the group stages of the Champions League.

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Champions League Group F: Chelsea, Marseille, Spartak Moscow, MSK Zilina

Chelsea will be looking to win this tournament outright this time around – and judging from their blistering start to the Premiership they do look like a very good prospect in the Champions League betting stakes. However, away games to Moscow and Slovakia do not make for a nice intinerary.

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Champions League Group G: AC Milan, Real Madrid, Ajax, Auxerre

The group of death. Ajax must be kicking themselves being placed into group G. Still, this is where the big boys play and if Ajax wish to recapture those glory years then they’ll need to start getting comfortable again alongside the likes of AC and Real Madrid. Think it would be football suicide not to pick either AC milan or Real Madrid to qualify from this group – it would need to be some upset for that to happen.

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Champions League Group H: Arsenal, Shakhtar Donetsk, FC Braga, Partizan Belgrade

Arsenal should be pretty comfortable with their draw although there are a few potential banana skins waiting there for them – Shakhtar Donetsk and FC Braga away, come to mind. It looks a toss-up for second place between Shakhtar Donetsk and FC Braga. Serbians, Partizan Belgrade, will no doubt be technically useful, as they normally are, but I can’t see them doing much away from home, hence my bet for 4th spot.

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