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Tuesday's release of the UEFA Cup draw leaves one English team (Tottenham) in reasonably good shape to progress, and two that will face tougher jobs (Everton, Bolton). Here is a look at the groups: (*denotes teams that will probably advance).
Group A
Teams: AZ*, Everton*, Larissa, Nurnberg, Zenit St. Petersburg*
AZ and Everton would probably be considered the favourites to progress, with AZ one of the better Dutch teams, and Everton being one of the better English clubs. Larissa knocked off Blackburn, but their league form has been spotty, and you got to think their luck will run out eventually.
Zenit St. Petersberg is currently tops in the Russian league, and Nurnberg won the German Cup last year, so both are
relatively dangerous.
Group B
Aberdeen, Atletico Madrid*, FC Copenhagen*, Lokomotiv Moscow, Panathinaikos*
Aberdeen might struggle against more battle-tested teams. Atletico Madrid is probably one of the favorites to reach the quarterfinals, if not the final. Copenhagen is a perennial Champions League team, and Panathinaikos reached the Champions League quarterfinals in 2002.
Lokomotiv Moscow is struggling this season, though they have made a few appearances in the Champions League.
Group C
AEK Athens*, Fiorentina*, Elfsborg, Mlada Boleslov, Villareal*
AEK Athens was drubbed by Sevilla in Champions League qualifying, but hasn't lost yet in league play. I think either Fiorentina or Villareal could have a spot in the final come year's end.
Elfsborg and Mlada Boleslov are probably just happy to be there, and let's be honest, both have fun names. Boleslov did beat Palermo in qualifying, which counts for something.
Group D
FC Basle, Dinamo Zagreb*, Hamburg SV*, Rennes*, SK Brann
Rennes is looking at another Top 5 finish in the French league, and Hamburg is consistently one of the better German teams. I don't know much about Basle, Brann or Zagreb, but since Zagreb is an occasional Champions League contestant, we'll go with them in the third spot.
Group E
Bayer Leverkusen*, FC Zurich, Sparta Prague*, Spartak Moscow, Tolouse*
Tolouse has been spotty in league play so far, but Elmander is a solid striker, so I think they'll move on. Leverkusen is probably the class of this group. Between Sparta Prague and Spartak Moscow it's a toss-up as to who will move on, but Spartak Moscow has two tough road fixtures.
Group F
Aris Salonika*, Bayern Munich*, Bolton, Braga*, Cervena Zvezda
As terrible as Bolton has been in the EPL, I just can't pick them to advance. Aris Salonika hasn't yet lost in league play, Bayern should be hoisting the champion's trophy at tourney's end - even if Liverpool or some other big club is knocked out of the Champions League, and Braga is probably too strong a club for me to pick Bolton over them.
With that said, the Braga/Salonika matches are at Bolton, so maybe there is some hope.
Group G
AaB, Anderlecht*, Getafe*, Hapoel Tel-Aviv, Tottenham*
Tottenham probably has the easiest going of any of the bigger clubs, as the one team that could cause them problems, Getafe, is making the trip to White Hart Lane.
Anderlecht should also advance, though a road match at AaB could be tough.
Group H
Bordeaux*, Austria Vienna, Galatasaray*, Helsingborg*, Panianos
This is arguably the easiest group, though both Bordeaux and Helsingborg have looked good this year, particularly Helsingborg with their destruction of Herenveen in qualifying. Galatasaray is one of the Turkish stalwarts, so they should be able to advance as well.
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