Boy howdy, is the futbol schedule ever crowded.  But the show must go on, so those Qatari slave workers won’t have died in vain!

The Athletic had a pretty comprehensive preview, a snippet of which I have posted below:

1. Which group gets you most excited? 

Raphael Honigstein: A little leftfield, I know, but it’s Group D. It does feel a little Europa League-y — no disrespect to any of the team involved — but that’s what it makes it so intriguing. There’s no obvious favourite, due to Antonio Conte’s Champions League struggles, and no obvious whipping boys either. Also four proper stadiums in four proper football cities, the atmosphere will be amazing throughout.

Dermot Corrigan: Group D looks the most evenly balanced of the eight, so likely to have the best games. Group C takes the group of death tag. But Group A looks most likely to provide some memorable moments and atmospheres, while also having at least some competitive jeopardy into the final round of fixtures.

Jack Pitt-Brooke: Plenty of star quality in groups A, C and H, but I think C has to the best, just to see if the summer spending of Barcelona can bring them any sort of coherence as a team. If they don’t gel quickly, you can easily see them playing Europa League football for the second year in a row.

James Horncastle: ​​H is for Haifa but it’s also the Angel Di Maria tribute tour around Paris and Lisbon. Expect the politics and future of the game to come up when PSG and Juventus meet. Andrea Agnelli resigned as chairman of the ECA to launch the Super League. Nasser Al-Khelaifi replaced him and became UEFA’s biggest ally in maintaining the status quo. Lunch at Al Cambio in Turin should be interesting.

Below, DFO’s own shall answer this question, then pose other questions for the class!

King Hippo – I really dig Group G, some sexy football will be played.  Even Copenhagen aren’t a shit watch, though they obviously have no chance.  Bo Russia might find that away trip to the Barberz a little nervy, with the 2nd knockout ducat on the line.

Balls – I think the funnest group to watch will be Grupo B because there is no clear favourite and it will probably come down to the last Matchday to determine who gets through to the Knockout rounds.

Litre – I think group A will be dynomite. Gers go Merseyside. The other two are no pushovers unless Ajax sells all of their players to Man U. Ajax should be in the top 10 in Europ almost every year if they would keep ANY of their young stars, but alas business is business. Napoli is always a tough out and a bitch of a place to play. Ajax is an amazing away day (beer on a conveyor belt!). This group has it all, plus Hippos hated Liverpool.

Don T: Looking at your responses, I think the DFO health insurance should expand to cover glasses instead of snake medicine. I mean, look at Group C: a powerhouse (Bayern Munich). Fútbol royalty to shit on (Barcelona). Upstart with World Cup starters for country (Inter Milan – Lukaku and Lautaro Martínez), and the dark horse who could make it to the semifinals and you would be able to say “I’ve been a fan since the Shempiens group games!” (Viktoria Plzeň, Europa Semis).

A club fit for lovers of regular beer. (Via their store, they accept Czecs–save more rotting fruit for [splat]).

2. Pick a Shock Result!

King Hippo – Maccabi Haifa are going to beat somebody in the Holy Land – the name is just too g-ddamned cool for it not to happen.  Let’s call it as Juve, as that would make Hippo laugh and laugh – plus UEFA would love to see a “Super League” booster get their pants pulled down.

Balls – The biggest upset will be if anyone is able to get a point off Real Madrid. I don’t see them losing or tying until the Knockout Stage. The real upset that actually will happen is that Inter Milan will be the team that doesn’t make it out of Grupo C.

Litre: Sporting CF to win their group and then go on a bit of a run. Last 8?

Don T: Colin Farrell and Mad Eye Moody will go unmentioned during a broadcast of a Club Brugge game. Not here tho. The morbid jokes and nerdom are thicc (yeah). In fútbol terms, I see Eintracht Frankfurt going to the quarter finals on the strength of a kickass crest

Via Wiki P

3. Is it FINALLY Pep’s Year?  Why or why not?

King Hippo – Yes, but caveat emptor – I said the same last year.  But as much as I expect opponents to start kicking the shit out of Haaland, I think it will just make him HULK SMASH angry, not put him on the training table.  This is the most complete team in at least 15-20 years, I’d say.

Litre – Nope, as much as I like this mercenary team more than the others there is just something that stops them from winning it. Sevilla is not in good form, Dortmund is in superb form and Copenhagen is tough at home but not away. They will get through their group but get surprised by someone in the away leg and then get knocked out in a frustrating fashion.

Don T: Mmm… A World Cup breaking out in the middle of four toUrnaments for Guardiola makes me leery. City of Men players who also will play in Qatar may make October the 2022 Business Decision Month. That can screw up team chemistry for the whole season. Pep being a Capricorn, that could send him down a deep well of melancholy. I say no; the science is unquestionable. Right?

Via giphy

Balls – Don T is completely right in that the mid-season World Cup throws a gigantic monkey wrench on Man City’s quest for CL glory. The biggest worry is injuries. The BIG question for City is this: Do they have the depth and is Pep willing and able to use it? If City can win important games with the B team, they can do it. But in the Knockout Rounds, all it takes is one bad game and you’re

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Don’t worry, there are still Premiership fixtures today (and tomorrow).  My Toffees are just in store for a home Derby hiding, so I no want to full preview.  There will be afternoon and evening JV preview posts, though.  STAY HIPPO TUNED!!