German giant and 2013 Champions League winner Bayern Munich headlines Group F with huge expectations. The Bavarian outfit has begun Bundesliga in typical steamrolling fashion, tallying seven goals in two games.
It's the Champions League, however, where the big boys come to play.
Last season's semifinal elimination at the hands of eventual winners Barcelona rankles the Allianz Arena faithful. Manager Pep Guardiola's never replicated the popularity he had during his hugely successful stint in Catalonia at Bayern. In four seasons on the Spanish coast, Guardiola won 14 trophies; in two seasons at Bayern, he's collected five.
Bayern Munich will enter the competition as one of its strongest favourites.
Following the German club out of Pot 2 is Bayern's biggest challenge. Arsenal was left ruing a humiliating first-leg 3-1 home loss to Monaco in the last campaign, which eventually led the Gunners to an exit at the Round of 16 stage on away goals.
Arsenal has never been a European Champion, narrowly finishing as runners-up in 2006 to Barcelona despite playing with ten men for the vast majority of the tie.
The Gunners strengthened their goalkeeping situation with the signing of Petr Cech, and Alexis Sanchez is an influential figure with plenty of pedigree in the competition. Failing to advance into the knockout stages is unthinkable for Arsene Wenger's men.
Olympiacos and Dinamo Zagreb are likely to battle for the third spot and qualification into the Europa League. The former brought in many recruits for the new season, most notably in the midfield with Luka Milivojevic and Esteban Cambiasso operating in the centre, and Colombian winger Felipe Pardo joining after a fine two years at Braga.
Predicted finish
- Bayern Munich
- Arsenal
- Olympiacos
- Dinamo Zagreb
