European Draw

PSV Eindhoven faces champions in the Champions League, with Inter Milan as the most renowned opponent. CSKA Moscow and Fenerbahce are the other two clubs in PSV’s group.

The other groups in the CL:

Groep A Groep B Groep C Groep D
Liverpool Chelsea Real Madrid AC Milan
FC Porto Valencia Werder Benfica
Ol. Marseille Schalke 04 Lazio Roma Celtic
Besiktas Rosenborg BK Olympiakos Shakhtar

Groep E Groep F Groep G Groep H
Barcelona Man United Inter Arsenal
Lyon AS Roma PSV Sevilla/AEK
VfB Stuttgart Sporting CSKA Moskou Steaua
Glasgow Ran Dinamo Kiev Fenerbahçe Slavia Praag

My prediction for the CL group-stages: Liverpool, Olympic Marseille, Chelsea, Valencia, Real Madrid, Lazio Roma, AC Milan, Benfica, Barca, Lyon, Man United, AS Roma, Inter, CSKA Moscom, Arsenal and Sevilla….. EXCITING!!

FC Groningen gets all excited with big name Fiorentina as opponent. AZ Alkmaar faces the Portuguese Pacos de Ferreira (huh?), Heerenveen meets Swedish Helsinborg and FC Twente plays Spanish side Getafe. Ajax Amsterdam is the only club that couldn’t feel any excitement after having missed out on the CL. Dinamo Zagreb is their next opponent.

Henk ten Cate: “I gave the players some days off. They can get rid of their frustration. Come Saturday I want to see smiling faces again.” In Amsterdam, the atmosphere has come down below zero, with the hard-core fans demanding the resignation of their coach. “I understand that people react emotional. But if they come to their senses, they’ll see the reality. That I’m held responsible is part of my job. But I don’t plan to quit.”