Chris Maduewesi
Member
The 2014/2015 UEFA Champions League season will commence today amid so much expectations from all and sundry.
It is with bated breath that it has been anticipated,and spectators will be keenly waiting to see their respective teams in action.
Defending champions,Real Madrid last season got their much longed for(La Decima title) but will they be able to become the first team to successfully defend their title?
The Champions League is a lucrative competition that all the big boys want to take part in,maybe because of the heads that it turns in its wake.
Manchester United will be getting a feel of what it means not playing in this competition having failed to qualify,finishing seventh last season.
While a relatively unknown Bulgarian team,Ludogorets took everyone by surprise and qualified for the group stages of the competition
Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard admitted that he has been "craving" for Champions League football during their five-year absence from the competition.
"There has almost been a jealousy and an envy that we weren't involved," said the Liverpool captain. "Watching the likes of Chelsea and Man United in it when we were finishing outside the top four was tough. I've been craving it."
No doubt the big allure for the clubs will be the big money on offer in the competition.
European football governing body,UEFA announced that each of the 32 clubs who made the group stages will take home a minimum of £6.8 million irrespective of results.
Every win during the group stage will earn the clubs a bonus of £795,000, while a draw will be worth half that amount.
The club who ends up winning the competition will receive £8.3m just for winning the final.
Champions League fixtures,Tuesday 16 September 2014
Liverpool v Ludogorets
Real Madrid v FC Basel
Borussia Dortmund v Arsenal
Juventus v Malmö FF
Olympiakos v Atletico Madrid
Benfica v Zenit St Petersburg
Monaco v Bayer Leverkusen
Galatasaray v Anderlecht
It is with bated breath that it has been anticipated,and spectators will be keenly waiting to see their respective teams in action.
Defending champions,Real Madrid last season got their much longed for(La Decima title) but will they be able to become the first team to successfully defend their title?
The Champions League is a lucrative competition that all the big boys want to take part in,maybe because of the heads that it turns in its wake.
Manchester United will be getting a feel of what it means not playing in this competition having failed to qualify,finishing seventh last season.
While a relatively unknown Bulgarian team,Ludogorets took everyone by surprise and qualified for the group stages of the competition
Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard admitted that he has been "craving" for Champions League football during their five-year absence from the competition.
"There has almost been a jealousy and an envy that we weren't involved," said the Liverpool captain. "Watching the likes of Chelsea and Man United in it when we were finishing outside the top four was tough. I've been craving it."
No doubt the big allure for the clubs will be the big money on offer in the competition.
European football governing body,UEFA announced that each of the 32 clubs who made the group stages will take home a minimum of £6.8 million irrespective of results.
Every win during the group stage will earn the clubs a bonus of £795,000, while a draw will be worth half that amount.
The club who ends up winning the competition will receive £8.3m just for winning the final.
Champions League fixtures,Tuesday 16 September 2014
Liverpool v Ludogorets
Real Madrid v FC Basel
Borussia Dortmund v Arsenal
Juventus v Malmö FF
Olympiakos v Atletico Madrid
Benfica v Zenit St Petersburg
Monaco v Bayer Leverkusen
Galatasaray v Anderlecht