Thursday, 28 August 08, 12:50 PM · Comments (28)

Barça will have no complaints after being drawn against Sporting Lisbon, Basel and Shakhtar Donetsk in the group stage of this season's Champions League. With the likes of Juventus (who are in Real Madrid's group), Roma and Bayern Munich as possible rivals we have to admit to a relatively easy group. As I write the full calender has not been announced but the first games will be played on the 16th and 17th of September and the final games take place on the 9th and 10th of December.
Group A
Chelsea
Roma
Bordeaux
CFR Cluj
Group B
Inter Milan
Werder Bremen
Panathinaikos
Anorthosis Famagusta
Group C
Barcelona
Sporting Lisbon
Basel
Shakhtar Donetsk
Group D
Liverpool
PSV Eindhoven
Marseille
Atletico Madrid
Group E
Man United
Villarreal
Celtic
Aalborg
Group F
Lyon
Bayern Munich
Steaua Bucharest
Fiorentina
Group G
Arsenal
Porto
Fenerbahce
Dynamo Kiev
Group H
Real Madrid
Juventus
Zenit St Petersburg
Bate Borisov
Game dates:
16/17 September
30 September/1 October
21/22 October
4/5 November
25/26 November
9/10 December
No problems for Barca. All four Spanish teams have a good chance to advance to the next round. I expect Barca to advance further while the other three will fall by the way side !! My biggest fear; seeing Valdes, Abidal and Marquez on the pitch at the same time. A disaster waiting to happen !! This is just my personal opinion and I respect others who think otherwise . However, if I were the coach( which I am not), I would NOT start any of them .
Donetsk had the highest coefficient among fourth pot so they were my biggest fear apart from Fiorentina of course to be drawn with. Can't complain though, and we have Basel in our group, they also have red and blue kits. Anyway, we should win our group.
Is Sporting a bad club? They are second in Portugal, and Portugese League is strong, isn't it?
And, by the way, Champions League is never a walk in the park, it never was and it never will be, no matter what club you face. Still, we cannot afford to lose a group, that is almost impossible. But winning is never easy.
Guys, i think this is what we need..i agree with Laporta when he said:
“On paper, it looks like a manageable group but we have enough experience to know that we need to be attentive and not over-confident,” he told UEFA’s official website.
“We have to respect all our rivals and work hard. Nothing is easy and we will take this very seriously,” he added.
Most important thing in Champions League is always respect our opponents.
go away madrid fan!
that said..... this is not a hard group at all. obviously u cant approach it like playing kids but we should easily have the capacity to play our game and get through. and sporting is def the hardest but no, the portugese league isnt very good. so as they show off some impressive skills and attacking flair they should be beatable, especially in spain
HMadrid:
Why don't you go to Hell ?!! You should worry about your own club. They will be knocked out rather sooner than later !!
Nic, can you please "zap" this Madrid fan!!! WE come here to talk to each other not to THEM!!!
@Hala Mandril
I know Real Mandril are a pathetic team, and too boring to be reading news about, let alone find a website about them and post something over there, but could you PLEASE get a life or something? If you don't have any, there are plenty of other places on the internet where you can make friends you know.
we'll show you the walk in the park you arrogants....
FORÇA SPORTING SEMPRE!!!
Diatus:
I agree with you. That guy is very annoying !!
Dear all, remember Figo, Quaresma, Simão? We've got more where they came from. Be aware. Hopefully, you'll get to know Yanick, well enough and if you don't hurry, those m*$# f*$#$#! from R.Madrid will get him first.
See (beat) you in September!
Again why is anyone who is not a Barca fan over here ? Are you just trying get angry so you can make us angry as well ? @ Pedro, The group stage as all should be a walk in the park. Even If we didn't win both sporting games that shouldn't be problem. Besides this is a Barca site what did you expect, that you will come here and read Barca is scared of facing sporting. Fans should always cheer and say that they are easy games. As for the Madrid fan, Sorry guys he said nothing wrong, he praised Bojan and Messi. As I said before any one can write comments as long as its polite and civilized, This time he did nothing wrong ! Again I'm wating to hear what you think Nic. This is your site and your rules. Sorry If I crosed the line.
Barça? What is that? A regional club from Spain?
The 'cules' tend to be very arrogant and think you're th ebest but the truth is that you always see the great REAL MADRID winning everything there is to be won in Spain... and in Europe you're failing every year except 2 years ago when you beat Arsenal in the final of the Champions without knowing how!
SPORTING CLUBE DE PORTUGAL will gladly show you what a walk in the park is!
yo Leonino...go and worry abt ur own damn team alrite...As far as we are concerned, it may not be a walk in the park, but we got this group...We will def. qualify for the next round...Unfortuately, nothing is certain for ur team...I hope Juve and Zenit kick the livin hell outta u...Forza Juve...
Sporting fans:
Do you actually believe that Barca will have any trouble whatsoever with a small time club like yours ?!
Barca-Rotterdam, I truly hope Barça will have so much problems beating us as you have writing its name right...
Anyway, in football everything can hapen... green is the color of hope, white the color of peace. Therefore, and since our equipment consists on those two colors... I hope we'll beat Barça peacefuly!
Maverick977, are you scotish?! I love Scotland and its scotish people and its scotish accent and, most of all, its Celtic football team! If you're not scotish but irish, let me tell you tell I love Ireland and its irish people, and its irish coffee, and its irish accent, and Liam Neeson, and U2 and you too. If your not none of this nationalitys, I love you anyway. Hey you're not catalá, are you, because if you are, guess what: I love you too! Spooooooooorting!
To Ana..
lol...what makes u think I m either Scottish or Irish?? lol...do I write like one or somethin?? and no, I m not a Catala either...I m an American..lol....anyways, i love you too...and I will love u even more after Barca beats Sporting...lol
ana:
Take your paranoia elsewhere. I'm sure your Mickey Mouse club has a website where you can post. If you are unable to find one, just search under "DIVING " !!
Easy group for Barca, sure you already have both eyes on the knockout stages already. Unsure if you will meet Celtic this year though
Hail Hail
Easy group and by the way lordofthewing if we face celtic again this year we'll kick your sorry asses like we did last year!!!!
Barca-Rotterdam, what a humor... I can't imagine how you will feel when we beat the hell out of you! Jeeeeesus!
maverick977, yes, it was because of your writing that I thought you were from one of those countries. And look what I got because I brought up Celtic to the comment. I only referred Celtic because their equipment is like ours exactly. I didn't know they had beaten Barça. Barça is big, but I'm not particulary interested in the results they make! I only came here to play a little! Anyway, that is good to know they have a green-and-white stripes complex! It will make it easier for us. Ill make sure to recommend our coach to always play with the first equipment, because the alternative (away equipment) is white, and Barça is used to beat Madrid.
Spoooorting
PS - The closest thing we've got with mickey mouse in our country, is slb's president. And I refuse to write on a slb blog! Get well soon. Be happy, man!
easy group yeaaah but as they say never underestimate midgets hahahaha
personally i don't see a group of death unlike every year and i think all the groups r predictable
, seems like UEFA made a good choice this year if u know what i mean
Ana,
Get a life...in Portugal!
By the way, i hope you guys advertise everyone there, that "Sporting Clube de Portugal" is the only club in Portugal that promotes and organizes bullfights!
See to believe on there Official Site:
LINK
From SCP`s president to major portuguese player´s squad, all them love "Tourada do Sporting" - what a shame!
Good luck for the game on September, 16.
I`m embarrassed for being a Sporting`s supporter...
28 Comments · Add yours
this should a a walk in the park. games to watch man utd vs villareal,liverpoll vs atletico this draw was awfull not really any heart pumping games to look forward to like a chealse Vs barca or madrid vs united etc
Barca gets a walk in a the park, but still we shoudn't say that. Every time we think its an easy game we lose