Champions League 2016 draw results: Leicester City takes on Porto in Group G

In a Champions League group stage full of interesting matchups, the toughest group to predict might be Group G. Leicester City shocked the world last year when they won the English Premier League, but now they face a much different challenge as they’ve been drawn against Portuguese powers Porto, defending Belgian champions Club Brugge and Danish upstarts København. This group could end in a lot of different ways, and it’s not going to be an easy road for anyone involved.

Porto may not be the megapower of Portugal they once were, but they’re still an excellent side and they proved that in how they got to the group stage. They took on a tough opponent in Roma and absolutely steamrolled them, utterly outclassing their Italian foes in a 3-0 win in Rome to earn their place in the Champions League proper. The scary thing? They didn’t look like they were playing at their best. If they can maintain that intensity and play at the level they’re capable of, it will be tough for anyone in this group to beat Porto.

While manager Claudio Ranieri is familiar with the Champions League, his squad is not, and that presents a challenge that might be tough for the Foxes to overcome. Even without the step back many are expecting from Leicester this season, bettering a team with the experience and drive of Porto is a tricky task for them, but getting out of the group is definitely realistic and perfectly acceptable considering their lack of experience at this level.

This would be something of an upset considering just how much of a fringe darling side Brugge became last year, but the defending champions of the Danish Superliga are a tough side who have a surprise or two in them before everything is said and done. With how tight this group looks like it’s going to be, it could take just one upset for København to snag the group’s Europa League spot, and København have shown an aptitude for opening eyes.

One of the teams that emerged as a neutral darling thanks to some brave Champions League performances a year ago, it would be sad to see them finish at the bottom of this group. They’ve had a tough summer, though, losing a few key players and with their replacements looking uncertain as sufficient to improve the team. That might not be enough for them to take a step up in Champions League play this season, and in such a tight group that could spell doom.

Arguably the biggest and flashiest star on the Leicester roster, Mahrez doesn’t have much high-level experience yet -- but now the whole world is going to see just what he can do on the biggest stage around in the Champions League. It’s going to be fun to see what he can do around Europe, especially against some of the teams Leicester will be facing, and big teams all around Europe will be watching him closely.

No matter where this match falls in the sequence of the group, seeing how Leicester respond to the long trip to Portugal and the high-pressure hostile environment of the Dragão will be very telling as to how “ready” they are to compete at this level. If they rise to the occasion, the Foxes can go far -- but if they struggle and look like they’re not the team we’re used to seeing, then they’re simply not ready for this kind of competition quite yet.