The group stages Begin

[Denis Hard]

I am really surprised with Chelsea losing at home to Basel, I wasn't seeing it coming. No doubt Basel has a solid team, but Chelsea can't afford to be losing at home to them...

Mourinho has lost his magic touch. . .

But fine, let's be fair with him.

Mourinho is under pressure to perform as he did when he first came to Chelsea but the problem is he doesn't have a reliable striker. Torres might have been a nightmare when he was at Liverpool but he's not that kind of goal scorer anymore.

And his biggest mistake was to underrate Juan Mata. New Manager, new formations, eh? So until Mourinho is willing to have Juan Mata play more then Chelsea will keep tottering.

 

[caparica007]

I think it just might be a poor moment, Chelsea is already top of the table today and will stay there if Tottenham and Arsenal don't win their games.

As for the CL winner, in my opinion it is impossible to predict.

 

[Denis Hard]

Losing at home is embarrassing enough for a manager who employs defensive tactics more often. It would be a memorable moment for Mourinho if Chelsea get dumped into the Europa league [I'd love that] but well as you say it's still way too early.

Chelsea may have temporarily got on top of the tables but that will change today when Arsenal beat Stoke 3-0

 

[rashidckk]

I am very happy to see the confident start of Real Madrid as they thrashed Galatsaray by 6-1 with the help of Christiano Ronaldo's hatrick. My happiness doubled as my favorite player Karim Benzema scored a brace.

 

[caparica007]

@Denis Hard you were not far from the truth, Arsenal won 3-1 and it is top of the table with Tottenham...

It was a great start from Real and 3 more goals from Ronaldo, the guy is unstopabble!

 

[petersos]

Mourinho has lost his magic touch. . .

But fine, let's be fair with him.

Mourinho is under pressure to perform as he did when he first came to Chelsea but the problem is he doesn't have a reliable striker. Torres might have been a nightmare when he was at Liverpool but he's not that kind of goal scorer anymore.

And his biggest mistake was to underrate Juan Mata. New Manager, new formations, eh? So until Mourinho is willing to have Juan Mata play more then Chelsea will keep tottering.

I never get why Murinho has got to always bring so much drama everywhere that he goes. He always under rates players causing friction that was exactly the case with CR7. He has a problem if a player gets more publicity than him. However even though he has a character that I do not particularly love he has a reputation of bringing results.

 

[petersos]

W

Losing at home is embarrassing enough for a manager who employs defensive tactics more often. It would be a memorable moment for Mourinho if Chelsea get dumped into the Europa league [I'd love that] but well as you say it's still way too early.

Chelsea may have temporarily got on top of the tables but that will change today when Arsenal beat Stoke 3-0

Well you were dead right on that deduction. Ozil has been just phenomenal, I am finally getting motivated about Arsenal. They are finally going to achieve something after that drought that they have been through.

 

[Denis Hard]

He has a problem if a player gets more publicity than him. However even though he has a character that I do not particularly love he has a reputation of bringing results.

Mourinho's arrogance will eventually alienate him from most of his allies. If you remember Pepe was always very close to him but from the way he treated Casillas even Pepe wan't impressed and criticized him. I'm expecting the same to happen in the Chelsea dressing rooms. . .no mutiny but something that will make him realize that he's gone wrong.

Same way I've been hoping that Wenger fails miserably this season I also hope Mourinho fails too so the arrogant fella can get kicked out of the EPL by Chelsea's eccentric owner.

 

[Denis Hard]

@Denis Hard you were not far from the truth, Arsenal won 3-1 and it is top of the table with Tottenham...

It was a great start from Real and 3 more goals from Ronaldo, the guy is unstopabble!

But Barcelona has also got a number of wins under their belt. I'm supposing Real will not win the La Liga title again this year simply because they lost one of the guys who assist the team score. I don't know. . .

Do you think Real might cause mayhem in the CL now that they have two great goal scorers on their team?

 

[petersos]

But Barcelona has also got a number of wins under their belt. I'm supposing Real will not win the La Liga title again this year simply because they lost one of the guys who assist the team score. I don't know. . .

Do you think Real might cause mayhem in the CL now that they have two great goal scorers on their team?

My opinion on that is yes. This season with two great goal sores they will cause mayhem. As far as winning the title that is a completely other story . It is too early in the season to come to a conclusion about that.

 

[caparica007]

CL is 180 minutes, anything can happen, I'm hoping a Portuguese team or Chelsea can take it...

As for La Liga, what two great goal scorers do they have? They haven't signed any striker or have I missed it? They will miss Ozil for sure, but who knows if Ancelotti can pull it through?

 

[Denis Hard]

The two great goals scorers are Bale and Ronaldo. They may not have the best Striker in world but their wingers can handle that business [of scoring goals] well enough.

Ozil's absence may debilitate Real a little but let's assume that someone else will have to take his place and get the ball to Ronaldo, Bale or Benzema. Three men on the attack!

I'm sure if Real won't win the CL this time round then they'll certainly make it to the finals.