UEFA Champions League Midway Report: Groups A – D

Group B:

Similar to Group A, it’s not shocking that Real Madrid is 1st. After Real, it’s all over the place. Liverpool has struggled in all three Champions League games and their 3-0 loss to Real is the next layer on the cake of failure for Liverpool.

The biggest surprise in the Champions League has to be Ludogorets. Once an amateur team a decade ago and qualifying for the group stage by having to win a PK shootout with a defender in goal, Ludogorets have been laying it all out on the line. They were robbed of at least a point in both the Liverpool and Real Madrid games and finally got their win against a 10 man Basel team. Ludogorets scored in the 92nd minute and took the three points. Because of goal differential, they are in 2nd place in a tie with Liverpool.

Standings:

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Ludogorets is the shock of the group by being in 2nd. Real Madrid is long gone and should clinch 1st. Liverpool has been struggling and they need to find something quick. Some blame it on the injury of Daniel Sturridge. Quite honestly, Sturridge isn’t a defender so even if he comes back, they’ll still struggle on defense.

Predicted Finish:

1. Real Madrid – 17 points
2. Ludogorets – 6 points
3. Liverpool – 5 points
4. Basel – 5 points

Real Madrid is all but in the knockout stage. They should make quick work of Liverpool and Basel. The other three teams in the group will all cancel each other out and draw resulting in a tight fight for 2nd place.

Here is where it gets interesting and where you’ll see the shock of the group stage. Ludogorets is going to draw Real Madrid and break the deadlock between them, Liverpool and Basel to advance to the knockout stage. Real Madrid and Ludogorets is on matchday six and Real will already have the group sewn up long before then. Yeah, their reserves will be more talented than Ludogorets but Real won’t have much to play for while Ludogorets will be trying to advance. Ludogorets gets the draw and the Cinderella story will continue for another round.

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About Phillip Bupp

Producer/editor of the Awful Announcing Podcast and Short and to the Point. News editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. Highlight consultant for Major League Soccer as well as a freelance writer for hire. Opinions are my own but feel free to agree with them. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @phillipbupp

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