It has rolled round to that time of year, the Champions League starts again in earnest in just over a weeks time, with Chelsea having a tough group to negotiate. With Europe’s top club competition the holy grail and the one trophy that has eluded the club since Roman Abramovich’s takeover, things will not be easy in 2011-12, as Bayer Leverkusen, Genk and Valencia represent no pushovers in Group E.
Andre Villas Boas won the Europa League last year in his first year in European competition and will look to follow in the footsteps of former Porto and Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho by winning Europe’s top tournament. Chelsea lost out to Premier League rivals Manchester United last year at the quarter finals stage, but with a new coach and a number of new signings, 2011-12 has much promise.
One of the new men at Stamford Bridge is Spain international Juan Mata, who will go head to head with the side he has just left in the group stages. Valencia will be spurred on by the attacker’s departure, and will look to prove to their former captain that leaving the Mestalla will not help him in his search for silverware. Unai Emery’s outfit will provide stern opposition, and despite Mata’s departure have a number of excellent players in their first XI. Roberto Soldado proved himself as a formidable striker last term, and will look to punish any lapses in the Chelsea rearguard, whilst Ever Banega has matured into an exciting ad internationally recognised playmaker.
Bayer Leverkusen had a strong 2010-11 and almost recaptured former glories by deservedly finishing as runners up in the Bundesliga. Despite this, the German side have lost some their potency over the summer, as coach Jupp Heynckes has left to join Bayern, and star player Arturo Vidal packed his bags and made the trip to Juventus. That said, the BayArena side still have a number of Germany internationals in their team, and former Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack may face up against his former employers.
Genk won the Belgian Pro League last season, and although they are the weakest side in the group on paper should not be underestimated, as they beat the likes of Anderlecht and Club Brugge to their domestic title last term. Mario Been’s outfit have a star midfielder in their midst in the form of Kevin De Bruyne, who was a supposed target for Chelsea earlier in the year. With a passionate following at the Cristal Arena, The Blues would be foolish to expect easy victories against the Belgian side.
Chelsea in all honesty will expect to progress through the group and avoiding any real shocks should make the knockout stages after the six games. The away fixtures will not be easy, but the London team will fancy their chances at home, and should progress to the latter stages of the tournament based on this.
Gareth McKnight writes for Soccerlens.com.
