Group F is one of the most exciting groups to come out of the Champions League draw, with Barcelona, Paris-Saint Germain and Ajax all set to meet. Pity the unfortunate fourth team, Cypriot minnows APOEL.
UEFA Champions League draw results: Barcelona in difficult Group F
Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Ajax were all drawn together in the Champions League’s mouthwatering Group F.
Topping the group - Barcelona
Last season Barcelona finished second in La Liga and reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League. That their season was considered to be a disappointment tells you all you need to know about their incredible dominance in European football over the last few years. Sure, their old stars like Xavi and Andrés Iniesta are no longer capable of crushing teams like they once were, but in Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Neymar, they have the strongest, deepest attack in all of world football. Their defence may not be good enough to win the thing overall, but they should still get through the group.
Sitting second - Paris Saint-Germain
With Paris Saint-Germain now one of the richest clubs in the world, it’s quite remarkable to think they’d only won two French titles in their history prior to 1994. They’ve now stormed to the Ligue 1 title two season running, and their outstanding squad means they should be able to make it three. They’ve found European success a little harder to come by, but Laurent Blanc’s side have all the ingredients to be a genuine challenger in the Champions League this time around. With the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimović, Thiago Silva and Edinson Cavani in their ranks, it wouldn’t be surprising if they even topped Barcelona in this group.
Heading for Europa League - Ajax
Ajax are one of the most storied clubs in European football history, having won the Champions League four times. However, they’ve not tasted victory in this competition since 1995, and they no longer look like a genuine challenger. Nevertheless, under the stewardship of bright young coach Frank de Boer, the reigning Eredivisie champions have introduced a host of talented young players into their ranks, including Dutch World Cup stars Jasper Cillessen and Daley Blind. They’re less likely to progress than Barca and PSG, but they may well feel quietly confident of pulling off an upset and squeezing through.
Finishing last - APOEL
Cypriot side APOEL will be the whipping boys of Group F, and will be lucky to pick up any points at all. It was only back in 2012 that they defied all odds to reach the Champions League quarterfinals, only to be knocked out by Real Madrid, though since then they've lost coach Ivan Jovanović and several star players and have struggled to make a dent in continental competition.
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