UEFA Champions League 2013/14 Group Stage - Analysis and Predictions

The UEFA Champions League is an annual tournament that puts the best club teams in Europe against each other in a season long competition. It first started way back in 1955, and is one of the biggest stages for players and clubs to compete on.

The 2013 Final, between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, had a TV audience of 360 million worldwide.

The competition brings together the best teams in Europe for an incredible showcase of talent, skill, teamwork and passion.

The season will run from September 2013 through May 2014, when the Final take place, and you can see the schedule for the group stage below:

2013 UEFA Champions League - Schedule

Matchday 1 - 17-18 September 2013 - Complete - See Standings Below
Matchday 2 - 1-2 October 2013 - Complete - See Standings Below
Matchday 3 - 22-23 October 2013 - Complete - See Standings Below
Matchday 4 - 5-6 November 2013 - Complete - See Standings Below
Matchday 5 - 26-27 November 2013 - Complete- See Standings Below
Matchday 6 - 10-11 December 2013 - Complete- See Standings Below

Round of 16 - Draw held on December 16th

On each Matchday, every team will play another team from their group, earning pots for a win or draw. At the end of the group stage, the top two teams from each group with the most points advance.

The Champions League is a long tournament beginning with the group stage. We will cover here the analysis of each group, who is in the group, and offer predictions for which two teams will advance.

In the 2013 Final, two German teams faced each other for the title of Champions of Europe. In the end, Bayern Munich won, claiming the top prize.

Many of the groups this year are fairly well balanced, with a mix of well known teams and lesser known teams in each.

The Champions League provides an exciting opportunity to see clashes between the top teams in each of Europe's leagues, and below we will cover each group, with the teams, analysis, and predictions for advancement to the Round of 16.

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Below you can see each group from the Champions League with the Standings, Results as they happen, Analysis of the group, and Predictions for who will advance to the Round of 16.

Matchday 6 Complete - See Updated Standings and Points Below

Analysis: Group A consists of one major club; Manchester United. United should be reasonably pleased with this group, although qualification will be no guarantee.

Real Sociedad represents Spain in this group, and will compete with Shakhtar from the Ukraine, and Bayer Leverkusen from Germany for the second place in the group. These three teams are each very good, and will give United a run for their money if United isn't careful.

Leverkusen and Shakhtar are the two most likely to get the second qualifying spot, but it will be a tight competition that hinges on home victories, and away draws.

Predictions: Manchester United and Leverkusen will advance out of Group A.

Analysis: Group B will prove to be an entertaining group to watch, with three well known clubs competing. Juventus and Real Madrid will be the favorites, but Galatasaray, from Turkey, is a team with a fair amount of talent and desire (and a daunting home stadium).

If things follow as expected (which they don't always do) Madrid and Juventus should have no problem advancing from this group.

But FC Kobenhavn will strive to grab points where they can, and seek to keep it close with Juventus and Galatasaray.

Prediction: Real Madrid and Galatasaray advance from the group stage.

Analysis: In group C, we have PSG, from France, Benfica out of Portugal, Anderlecht from Belgium, and Olympiacos from Greece.

PSG is the obvious favorite, with the world class players they have picked up in the last few years. They won their group in the 2012 Champions League, and should do the same this season.

As for who will get second, Benfica is the most likely, but the door is certainly open to the others if something happens.

Prediction: PSG and Olympiacos will advance form the group stage.

Analysis: Manchester City will be happier with this group compared to the group they were put in last year (The 'group of death' with Madrid, Dortmund and Ajax). But it will still be very challenging.

Bayern Munich are the champions, and are the favorites to win group D, and even the final..The matches between City and Bayern will be a great test of the two teams, and fun to watch.

With City and Bayern in this group, it seems unlikely the other two teams, CSKA Moskva and Viktoria Pizen will have much chance of advancing.

Prediction: Bayern Munich and Manchester City will advance from this group.

Analysis: Chelsea are the big name in this group, but they will be well aware of their previous season's early exit, getting beat out in the group stage by Juventus and Shakhtar.

Chelsea should have no problem advancing from this group, leaving one spot for Basel, Schalke, and Steaua Bucuresti to fight for.

Schalke seem likely to second, but FC Basel will also hope to get the second spot.

Predictions: Chelsea and Schalke will advance from group E

Analysis: Group F will likely be one of the more competitive groups, with three teams who will see anything less than advancing from the group as a failure.

Arsenal, Napoli and Dortmund will all expect to move on, but with only two spots available, someone is going home early.

Borussia Dortmund were last season's runners up, and have both the quality and experience to get through this group.

It will come down to a battle between Arsenal and Napoli, with both sides containing some good talent.

But let's not forget Marseille, who would like nothing better than to spoil the day for one of the three other teams, and possibly have the team to do it.

Predictions: Dortmund and Arsenal will advance from Group F.

Analysis: While Group G lacks any 'major' European club, there will certainly be some great action, and a good fight for advancing.

Zenit, based in Russia, will hope to advance from this group with the help of Hulk and others. Porto and Atletico Madrid will also be competing with hopes of reaching the round of 16.

Predictions: Zenit and Atletico Madrid will advance from Group G.

Analysis: Group H might be the 'group of death' for the 2013/14 Champions League with four well known European clubs.

Barcelona shouldn't have trouble advancing with their star lineup including Messi and Naymar. And AC MIlan will also hope to advance, although missing recent signing Kaka to injury for the first few games.

But Celtic and Ajax could throw a wrench into the other team's plans, as we saw Celtic beat Barcelona last year in the group stage.

Predictions: Barcelona and AC Milan will advance from Group H.

After the group stage in the UEFA Champions League, comes the Round of 16 where teams play a two game serious with another team selected in a draw.

The team with the higher aggregate score over the two game series will be the winner, and advance from there.

Play will continue in this two game format until the final, on May 24th, 2014 in Lisbon.

Leave a comment below with your thoughts on the 2013/14 Champions League season - including your predictions, and who will win the Final.