The highly anticipated Champions League draw is set to take place today, determining the group stage matchups for Europe`s elite clubs. Italian football fans are eagerly awaiting to see who Napoli, Inter, Atalanta, and Juventus will face in the competition`s opening phase.
Inter Milan, last season`s finalists, have secured a spot in Pot 1, while Juventus and Atalanta find themselves in Pot 2. Napoli, the reigning Italian champions, are positioned in Pot 3. Each team will be drawn against one club from each pot, excluding those from their own country.
Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport has provided a comprehensive rating of all participating clubs, assigning between one to five stars based on their perceived strength. Let`s examine how the Serie A representatives stack up against their potential opponents:
Pot 1 Powerhouses
The top-seeded teams include European giants like PSG, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Barcelona, and Manchester City – all receiving the maximum five-star rating. Chelsea and Inter Milan follow closely with four stars, while Borussia Dortmund rounds out the group with three stars.
Pot 2 Contenders
Arsenal leads this group with five stars, followed by Atletico Madrid with four. Atalanta and Juventus are both given three-star ratings, on par with teams like Bayer Leverkusen, Benfica, and Villarreal.
Pot 3 Challengers
Tottenham and Napoli stand out in this pot with four-star ratings. They`re joined by several three-star teams including Marseille, PSV, and Sporting CP. The pot is rounded out by two-star rated clubs like Ajax and Olympiacos.
Pot 4 Underdogs
Newcastle United emerges as the strongest team in this pot with a four-star rating. Athletic Club follows with three stars, while most other teams in this group are rated at two stars or below.
As the draw approaches, fans and pundits alike are speculating on the potential “groups of death” and analyzing which Italian clubs might have the best chance of progressing to the knockout stages. The mix of established European powerhouses and emerging contenders promises an exciting Champions League campaign ahead.