As European’s elite begin preparation for another season of shocks, surprises and the inevitable media-circus around Jose Mourinho’s long-awaited return to the Champions League, two of the leading performers have already stolen the show by making history. The heroes and villains of Champions League football usually arise as the latter stages progress, but Anorthosis Famagusta and FC BATE have already acclaimed success by remarkably reaching the Group Stages for the very first time.
FC BATE Borisov provided a breakthrough in Belarusian football by becoming the country’s first ever representatives in the Group Stages of the Champions League. It is rare that a club, let alone a new country, advances as far as the last 32 in Europe’s biggest club competition as the usual faces normally occupy the positions. The reigning champions of Belarus can savour an infamous trip to the Santiago Bernabéu and welcome Italian giants Juventus and UEFA Cup holders Zenit St Petersburg - a metaphoric eternity away from entertaining the likes of Iceland‘s Valur in the First Qualifying Round. Some teams claim to always have the ‘luck of the draw’, but BATE have stamped their authority in European football by overcoming established clubs and their Group Stage place is fully deserved. Many expected BATE to fall at the second qualifying hurdle against Anderlecht of Belgium but the apparent underdogs won 3-4 on aggregate. Levski Sofia too failed to halt BATE as they were defeated 2-1 across both legs, allowing them to break history and advance to the promised land. As BATE’s position in the Group Stage had already been secured, the draw awaited them and the hopes of their players were realised. Midfielder Sergei Kryvets declared "It would be nice to bring Europe's finest to Belarus. Personally, I want to face Real Madrid.” As the draw was made, the Belarusian outfit found that, almost by fate, they had been placed in arguably the most difficult group against Real Madrid, Juventus and Zenit St Petersburg in Group H. While they have provided some of the surprises of the tournament so far, it would take a miracle for BATE to make it out of their group.
BATE’s coach Viktor Goncharenko is remaining cautious, declaring “To tell the truth, we're not ready. We weren't looking too far ahead and we concentrated only on the Levski date. As a matter of fact, I can't imagine how we'll be come mid-September.” For a team that only has an annual budget of £1.2m, Champions League prize money will boost BATE significantly and they have already received 1 million euros for becoming the first club from Belarus to break into the Group Stages. Even if they lost every match, the club now has European recognition that nobody had ever deemed realistic and it will place them on a financial footing that will see them dominate Belarusian football for many years to come.
In similar fashion, Anorthosis Famagusta became the pride of Cyprus by progressing to the latter stages for the first time in the club‘s and nation‘s history. They defeated Greek champions Olympiacos, who made it past the Group Stage last season.
Losing finalists Chelsea will encounter Roma, Bordeaux and Romanian debutants CFR Cluj in Group A, while Fernando Torres returns to his former club Atletico Madrid with Liverpool in an intriguing set of matches. In Group D, Liverpool have also been paired with PSV Eindhoven and Marseille, who they met at the same stage last season.
Holders Manchester United will face Celtic in a ‘Battle of Britain’, a repeat of the 2006/07 Group Stage where both sides won their homes matches as Gordon Strachen faces his former boss Sir Alex Ferguson. They will also face Spanish runners-up Villareal and Denmark’s Aalborg in Group E.
Arsenal were drawn alongside FC Porto, 2007/08 quarter-finalists Fenerbache and Dynamo Kiev of Ukraine in Group G.
In Group B, Inter Milan will play Werder Bremen of Germany while Anorthosis Famagusta hope to claim another Greek scalp in Panathinaikos.
Barcelona entertain Sporting Lisbon, FC Basel and Shakhtar Donetsk in what appears to be one of the easier draws in Group C.
Group F witnesses the clash of the champions from France and Germany as Lyon and Bayern Munich entertain Steaua Bucharest and Serie A outfit Fiorentina.
The ‘Group of Death’ in Group H sees two former victors Real Madrid, 9-time winners and the most successful team in the history of the tournament, and Juventus face UEFA Cup holders Zenit St Petersburg and Belarus entrants FC BATE Borisov.
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