Champions League group stage predictions and storylines

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MONACO, FRANCE – AUGUST 25: UEFA Best Player in Europe Award nominees, Antoine Griezmann (3rd L) , Gareth Bale (C) and Christiano Ronaldo (R) during the UEFA Champions League draw on August 25, 2016 in Monaco, Monaco.(Photo by Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) /

The group stage is set for the 2016-17 UEFA Champions League. Here is how we think the groups will play out

The UEFA Champions League group stage draw took place this week and it came with its fair share of surprises and shocks. It also came with its fair share of cupcake groups where one team is favored heavily or where a debutante in the competition is expected to easily advance. There are also some tasty matchups and matches with plenty of storylines leading up to them.

Let’s jump right in to the predictions for each group:

Group A

Paris Saint Germain
Arsenal
FC Basel 1893
PFC Ludogorets Razgrad

Arsenal gets to avoid one of the traditional big clubs such as Barcelona or Bayern Munich in the group stage but they still face a tough task in big money spenders Paris Saint-Germain. PSG will be without their former talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic who is currently tearing up the Premier League, but are still a dangerous squad with the likes of Angel Di Maria and Edinson Cavani.

FC Basel have done well in Europe in the past and PFC Ludogorets Razgard are just happy to be here. One of the intriguing subplots to this group is that two former Arsenal players in Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny both used to play for the FC Basel and Granit’s brother Taulant is still at the club.

This is a two horse race between Arsenal and PSG but the French side is more stable at the back than Arsenal and has more firepower up front. PSG will win the group with Arsenal finishing second and likely facing one of the big boys in the round of 16, with Basel and Ludogorets rounding out third and fourth.

Next: Group B

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