Champions League 2012-13: The week-end before Champions League Day 2

While Wayne Rooney is still missing due to his injury, Alex Ferguson’s team has shown yet another pale performance, though took three points from Merseyside. Liverpool, struggling to get their first win in the season, controlled the game during all 90 minutes, even after being reduced to 10 men in the first half. Manchester United had to recover after an early goal in the second half. The ball appeared in Liverpool’s net twice - after a beautiful shot by Rafael and a controversial penalty converted by Robin van Persie – the Premier League topscorer with now 5 goals.

Champions League 2012-13: BATE Borisov and CFR Cluj

BATE Borisov, Belarus

UEFA Ranking: 55

Champions League participations: 2 (2008-09, 2011-12) - - best result - 3 points (2008-09)

Total transfer amount of all players: 20,2 mln €

The most expensive players:

Champions League 2012-13: The week-end after Champions League Day 1

There is a chance for us to talk about Champions League matches, but let’s wait with this until we are closer to the second matchday. Before that we’ll make the traditional week-end round-ups and talk about the two big surprising teams at the Champions League – BATE Borisov and CFR Cluj. So don’t miss the next-week post about Belorussian and Romanian champions. 

In the week preceding the Champions League group stage kick-off Arsenal

Champions League 2012-13: The last week-end before the group stage kick-off

In the week preceding the World Cup qualification matches, there was, as always, plenty of interesting action going on in the European pitches.

In the first clash involving two Champions League participants

Champions League 2012-13: Group G, Group H and Ranking

                                             Group G

SL Benfica – Portuguese runners-up

UEFA Ranking: 13

Transfer amount of all players: EUR 174,0 mio

3 most prolific players: Maxi Pereira, Oscar Cardozo, Gaitan

Ambitions for the season:

Champions League 2012-13: Group D, Group E and Group F

                                            Group D

Manchester City FC – English champions

UEFA Ranking: 20

Transfer amount of all players: EUR 489,3 mio

3 most prolific players: Kompany, Silva, Aguero

Ambitions for the season:

Champions League 2012-13: Group A, Group B and Group C

Now when the Champions League 2012-13 participants are allocated into groups, it is time to compare them by means of some interesting facts and figures.

                                           Group A

FC Dynamo Kyiv - Ukrainian runners-up

UEFA Ranking: 22

Transfer amount of all players: EUR 132,0 mio

3 most prolific players: Miguel Veloso, Kranjcar, Yarmolenko

Ambitions for the season: