e-Spurs Champions League Group Stage Preview

After months of waiting, the draw for the group stages of this season's Champions League has been made. We have been drawn in Group E along with CSKA Moscow, Bayer Leverkusen and AS Monaco.

Article by Chris Duncan @coach_chris83

Although none of the most successful sides in Europe over the past few seasons are in this group, it does contain real European pedigree. Three of the teams have won The UEFA Cup and two have reached the final of The Champions League. In addition, all four have reached the quarterfinals of Europe's premier club competition on at least one occasion.

Below is a preview of our three group stage opponents:

Club: CSKA Moscow

Country: Russia

Stadium: Arena CSKA (30,000 capacity)

League Finish 2015/16: 1st

Best Champions League Appearance: Quarter Finals 2010

Manager: Leonid Slutsky

Star Man: Alan Dzagoev

One of the more favourable draws from pot one, Russian champions CSKA Moscow will provide a stern test, particularly on their own patch. Fortunately for us we will be travelling to the Russian capital on match day two, so the weather should be just about bearable. We host CSKA on match day six, when, fingers crossed, qualification to the knockout round will have already been secured.

CSKA have been regulars in the group stage for quite some time, and reached the quarter finals in 2010, losing over two legs to Internazionale. In 2005 CSKA became the first Russian side to win a major European title, defeating Sporting CP - in their own stadium - 3-1 in the final of the UEFA Cup.

Alan Dzagoev is CSKA's danger man and has been both scoring and providing goals aplenty since moving to Moscow in 2008. Other players to watch out for include goalkeeper and captain Igor Akinfeev, and forward Lacina Traoré, who is on loan from Group E rivals AS Monaco.

Club: Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Country: Germany

Stadium: BayArena (30,210 capacity)

League Finish 2015/16: 3rd

Best Champions League Appearance: Runners up 2002

Head Coach: Roger Schmidt

Star Man: Hakan Çalhanoglu

Our draw from pot two is another regular in the group stages, Bayer Leverkusen, who qualified following a third place finish in last season's German Bundesliga. Leverkusen will be our back-to-back opponents in the group stage. We travel to The BayArena for match day three and host the German side at Wembley on match day four.

A regular in European competition - we beat Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 away during our 2006/2007 UEFA Cup campaign - Bayer provide, in my opinion, our biggest challengers in Group E. Bayer also have good Champions League pedigree, having reached the final in 2002, where they lost to a sublime goal from Real Madrid's Zinedine Zidane. Like CSKA Moscow, Bayer Leverkusen have also tasted European success in the UEFA Cup, winning the trophy in 1988.

Bayer Leverkusen's biggest attacking threats are Spurs target Hakan Çalhanoglu and ex Manchester United striker Javier Hernández. However, Bayer can also call upon the attacking talents of long serving striker Stefan Kießling. Leverkusen are led by no nonsense, tough tacking, Germany international Lars Bender and have the highly rated Bernd Leno between the sticks.

Club: AS Monaco

Country: France

Stadium: Stade Louis II (18,523 capacity)

League Finish 2015/16: 3rd

Best Champions League Appearance: Runners up 2004

Manager: Leonardo Jardim

Star Man: João Moutinho

One of the toughest teams from pot four, AS Monaco qualified for the group stages via the playoff round, where the defeated Spanish side Villarreal 3-1 on aggregate having finished third in Ligue 1 last season. We open our Champions League campaign against AS Monaco at Wembley on match day one and travel to The Stade Louis II on match day five.

Another side who are no newcomers to The Champions League group stages, AS Monaco surprisingly reached the final of the competition in 2004, where they were comprehensively beaten 3-0 by FC Porto. AS Monaco have also previously reached the final of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, losing 2-0 to Werder Bremen in 1992.

Portuguese midfield João Moutinho is the creative spark in AS Monaco's midfield and is the player to keep an eye on. Another player to keep tabs on is ex Manchester United and Chelsea loanee, Radamel Falcao. Although Falcao struggled to find the back of the net during his time in England, there is no doubting his goalscoring ability, and he should not be taken lightly. AS Monaco have also strengthened defensively during the summer transfer window with the signings of Italian goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis and defenders Djibril Sidibé and Kamil Glik.

My View

I am very happy with the draw we have been handed. Although I was initially disappointed that we missed out on a glamour tie, once I analysed the teams we will be facing I realised that we have a genuine chance of not only progressing to the knockout stages, but doing so as group winners.

However, and before anyone says anything, I know it's a cliche, there are no easy games in the Champions League, especially away from home. Starting and finishing at home was a must and the club have done very well in securing us this. I am also pleased that we start our campaign against the side we have played - and beat - most recently, AS Monaco. Playing our toughest away fixture on match day two is also a decision I agree with, as I feel CSKA Moscow away is the one fixture we may lose. I would have preferred to play Bayer Leverkusen at home on match day three, instead of four, but that's just me. Travelling to AS Monaco on match day five could also be beneficial, as the Stade Louis II lacks an intimidating atmosphere. Finishing the group stage at home against CSKA Moscow may also be beneficial, as our fantastic supporters will help the team across the line, should we require a result on the night.

So, where do I think we'll finish? I genuinely think we will win the group. I think we will win all three of our home games and will also defeat either AS Monaco or Bayer Leverkusen on their own patch, with the other match ending in a draw. I do however, think we will lose away to CSKA Moscow.

© e-Media Group 2016 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be reproduced without consent of @e_media_group

Share on Google Plus