Roundtable: Which perennial powerhouse will miss the knockout stages?
The Champions League is finally back underway, and theScore’s footy editors debate one of the most talked-about pre-tournament topics ahead of every new season: Which European giant will be the one to struggle and, against all odds, crash out in the group stage?
Manchester United
Carlo Campo: When Manchester United was drawn alongside PSV Eindhoven, CSKA Moscow, and VfL Wolfsburg in Group B, supporters of the Red Devils had a right to be pleased with their group-stage opponents.
After all, PSV was among the weakest clubs from Pot 1, Russian clubs aren't viewed as an enormous threat despite the traveling required, and Wolfsburg no longer possesses its assist machine, Kevin De Bruyne.
However, with the exception of its Champions League play-off versus Club Brugge and the second half of its victory over Liverpool, United has looked like a club that is still a shadow of what it was in 2007-08, and that is nowhere near where it should be considering the money it spent during the summer transfer window.
Of course, Louis van Gaal's attempt to revive United is a work in progress and by no means can anyone realistically expect the club to compete for the title.
That being said, it should come as no surprise when the knockout stage kicks off without United.
Juventus
Gordon Brunt: An appearance in last season's final is in danger of being followed by a shocking absence from this year's knockout stage for Juventus thanks to the tough group facing the Italian side this time around; Manchester City, Sevilla, and Borussia Monchengladbach each pose a major threat.
With Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez, and others from last season's squad now plying their trade elsewhere, Juve has looked shaky early in the season - the club has unimaginably failed to register a win through three league games and sits just above the relegation zone with a single point.
Even the Old Lady's surprising victory over Manchester City on Tuesday was far from convincing, as the English club created a handful of gilt-edged chances, while Juventus scored twice from just three shots on target. Had Raheem Sterling brought his finishing boots, the match would have been decided long before Alvaro Morata's curling winner.
Things could very well come down to the club's final group match against Sevilla in December, and a scenario in which the Spaniards prevail - and reach the knockout stages as a result - is far from outlandish.
Chelsea
Gianluca Nesci: Go big or go home, right?
On paper, the Blues' group is comprised of FC Porto and a pair of cupcakes - no disrespect to Dynamo Kiev and Maccabi Tel-Aviv. In truth, though, Chelsea doesn't have the luxury of underestimating anybody at the moment, considering the atrocious manner in which the club has started the new campaign.
Branislav Ivanovic can't run, Cesc Fabregas looks roughly 80 years old, Diego Costa - though still snarling - isn't scoring, and Eden Hazard isn't the all-conquering wizard of last season.
Chelsea, sitting in 17th in the Premier League, has big issues at the moment, and despite Jose Mourinho trying every jedi mind trick in the book to eradicate them, those problems will follow the club into the Champions League.