All group stage participants are known.

The composition of the group stage of the Champions League was formed. The 26 teams that signed up following the results of the national championships were joined by six teams who passed the sieve of qualifiers. Let’s take a closer look at who these heroes are and what path they had to overcome.

Copenhagen, Denmark)

For Copenhagen, so far not everything is perfect in the Danish championship, where after six rounds the team only takes fifth place. However, all the forces were thrown in to get through the Champions League qualification and the task was accomplished. Only one round had to be passed, but the opponent looked very serious: the Turkish Trabzonspor.

The key was Copenhagen’s first home game, in which the Danes won with a score of 2: 1. Furthermore, the first goal was scored by our well-known Viktor Klasson. In the return match, the Danes resisted away, achieving a goalless draw.

Victoria (Pilsen, Czech Republic)

The path to the Champions League group for Victoria proved to be much longer. He has passed three qualifying rounds. In the first phase, it was relatively easy to face HJK – 2: 1 away and 5: 0 at home. Then there was the confrontation with the Moldovan sheriff, who caused a sensation in the Champions League last season. It will not be possible to repeat this result, because Victoria defeated him twice with a score of 2: 1.

In the playoff round, the decisive battle was with Qarabag, who got a draw at home – 0: 0. The Azerbaijani team looked worthy away, even managed to score first thanks to Ozobich’s efforts. But in the second half, Victoria recovered and scored two goals, winning with their favorite score.

And Qarabag could take offense, because it was already the fourth qualifying round for him. Previously he eliminated the Polish “Lech”, the Swiss “Zurich” and the Hungarian “Ferencvaros” of former Russian national coach Stanislav Cherchesov. If it were possible to pass “Victoria”, the route would be fabulous for “Karabakh”.

Benfica (Portugal)

Perhaps one of the most status participants in the Champions League playoff round. And he joined the group without problems. Eagles are generally impressive early in the season. Roger Schmidt’s team does not know defeat and flies on the wings of the attack. In the championship, he also scored six points out of six possible at the start.

Before the play-offs, Benfica beat Midtjylland 4-1 and 3-1 without much difficulty in two games. And already in the playoffs, he faced Dynamo Kyiv for a clear advantage – 2: 0 and 3: 0. You can be sure that in the Eagles group they will not be acceptable opponents to any opponent.

Maccabi (Haifa, Israel)

A slightly unexpected participant in the group stage, especially considering that he had to face three qualifying rounds. And in each of them, this team was not a favorite. She was expected to leave in the first clash with Olympiacos, which have a much more recognized name. But now the Greeks “are no longer the same”. Away, they took a draw with a score of 1: 1 and lost at home, and big – with a score of 0: 4. Perhaps the most famous player of the Haitian national team FranzdiPierro flashed there, scoring a brace.

By the way, Pierro didn’t stop there and scored in the next round against Apollo. “Maccabi” won at home with a score of 4: 0, but the double is already on Ali Muhammad’s account. In addition, the Israelis scored two out of four goals in the majority after being sent off in the 61st minute to Apollo. It was probably a decisive episode, because the Apollo won at home, but only with a score of 2: 0, which was not enough.

But in the playoffs no one believed in Maccabi. There he was challenged by a much more experienced European Cup fighter: the Red Star. The match in Israel was dramatic. Pierro opened the scoring, then the Serbs scored twice and took the lead. But in the second half Maccabi scored another double (Pierro scored another double) and won.

This victory guaranteed nothing to Maccabi and by the 44th minute of the second away match the Israeli team was losing with a score of 0: 2. However, she managed to win back a ball. It all went into extra time, until Pavkov’s own goal in injury time happened, which buried the Red Star’s hopes. Perhaps the most important dramatic round of the playoffs.

Dinamo (Zagreb, Croatia)

More successful was the current leader of the Croatian league – Dinamo Zagreb. The Croatians started with a not very convincing victory over the modest Macedonian “Shkupi” (2: 2 and 1: 0). Then they swung and faced the Bulgarian Ludogorets with greater confidence (2: 1 and 4: 2). And in the play-offs they ran into daring Norwegian side Bodø-Glimt, who made their mark last season with a spectacular performance against Roma in the Europa League.

The Norwegians, who again include Russian goalkeeper Nikita Khaikin, continued to impress this time, beating Dynamo 1: 0 at home. However, away they finished most of the time with a score of 1: 2. The match moved on to the extra phase, where the Dinamo class still conditioned, and the Zagreb club took the matter to victory with a score of 4: 1. So we will only see Boude-Glimt in the Europa League again. However, this team is still capable of surprises.

Rangers (Scotland)

Perhaps the most intriguing and status couple in the playoffs were the Rangers and PSV. Especially considering the opponents on the coaches’ benches respectively van Bronkhorst and van Nistelrooy. PSV in addition, before that, he eliminated Monaco from the Champions League selection, so he entered without hesitation into tough European competition.

At the same time, the “Rangers” were warming up on the unknown Belgian “Union”, who in the first match managed to lose with a score of 0: 2, but then won a landslide victory – 3: 0. Comparison with PSV It wasn’t easy for the Scots either. In the home game, first they conceded goals, then they took the lead, but did not keep the advantage and the match ended in a draw – 2: 2.

It seemed to be beneficial PSV alignment. And the Dutch, in fact, found themselves well at home in the second leg. But only a big mistake in defense erased everything. On Colak’s goal in the 60th minute PSV he could not answer with anything, so, unexpectedly for everyone, he falls in the Europa League. And Rangers will join Celtic in the Champions League. Two Scottish clubs in the group at the same time – powerful.

Basket composition

And now you can name all the participants in the group stage of the Champions League and at the same time distribute them to the baskets determined for the draw. Until it passes, there is time to fantasize for oneself about both a “death group” and a “weak group”.

First basket: Real Madrid (Spain), Eintracht (Germany), Manchester City (England), AC Milan (Italy), Bayern Munich (Germany), PSG (France), Porto (Portugal), Ajax (Netherlands);

Second basket: Liverpool (England), Chelsea (England), Barcelona (Spain), Juventus (Italy), Atletico (Spain), Sevilla (Spain), Leipzig (Germany), Tottenham (England);

Third basket: Borussia (Dortmund, Germany), Salzburg (Austria), Shakhtar (Ukraine), Inter (Italy), Naples (Italy), Benfica (Portugal), Sporting CP (Portugal), “Bayer” (Germany);

Fourth basket: Marseille (France), Brugge (Belgium), Celtic (Scotland), Victoria (Pilsen, Czech Republic), Maccabi (Haifa, Israel), Rangers (Scotland), Copenhagen (Denmark), Dinamo (Zagreb, Croatia).