in addition to the former Tonali, many interesting teams

FOURTH GROUP

YOUNG GUYS
Third participation in the Champions League for the Swiss, always in the group stage and in last place. Both times there were meetings with the Italians: Juventus and Atalanta, which ended on Swiss soil with one defeat and one draw. Third place is the most realistic goal for Rafael Vicki’s team, who started their championship with a perfect average in English. A great performance in the playoffs, where the team clearly got rid of the Israelis from Maccabi Haifa.

Typical scheme (4-3-1-2): Von Balmos; YANKO, Camara, Lustenberger, Garcia; Ugrinich, Lauper, Imeri; Reader; Elijah, Itten. Everyone… Raphael Wiki.

Difficulty ratio: 5/10

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REAL SOCIETY
Every ten years, Real Sociedad appears in the starting lineups of the Champions League: 2003/04, 2013/14 and 2023/24. Great work by Imanol Alguacil at the helm of the Basques and a few but purposeful additions in this very important season: he said goodbye to David Silva, who succumbed due to injuries and decided to hang up his boots. The side lines of defense are changing with the arrival of Traore on a free transfer and Tierney on loan from Arsenal. Old Italian acquaintance Andre Silva is trying his hand at the Spanish club again after his experience of light and shadow at Sevilla. Beware young Russian Arsen Zakharyan, an attacking midfielder from Dynamo Moscow who is also on Lazio’s radar this market session. Finding Real in the fourth pot is not the best thing in life, the goal of the 1/8 finals is specific.

Typical scheme (4-2-3-1): Paddle; TRAOR, Zubeldia, Le Norman, TIRNI; Merino, Zubimendi; Kubo, Bryce Mendez, Oyarzabal; ANDRE SILVA. Herd of Imanol Algvasil.

Difficulty ratio: 7/10

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GALATASARAAY
Four years later, Galatasaray returned to the Champions League. And it has never been so strong, thanks to greater openness to foreigners than in previous years. The ambitions are obvious, just look at the buyout of Mauro Icardi and the purchase of Zaha and Ziyech, the latter immediately making Zagnolo forget. The existing players have the necessary international experience, coach Okan Buruk is highly respected at home and finally has the opportunity to show his worth abroad. The last time the team made it through the group stage was in 2013/14, with Roberto Mancini and bright star Didier Drogba in charge. The common thread between these two teams is Fernando Muslera. Staying in Europe, even in a smaller one, is the minimum goal. But there is a desire to pass through the groups.

Typical scheme (4-2-3-1): Musler; Boy, Nelsson, Abdulkerim, ANGELINO; Torreira, DEMIRBEY; ZIECH, Mertens, ZAHA; ICARDI. Coach Okan Buruk.

Difficulty ratio: 7/10

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CELTIC
The main task of Celtic, falling directly into the groups, is to play them with dignity. Over the last 4 performances, the team took 3 bottom places and third place, thanks to which they qualified for the Europa League. The last round of 16 appearance was in 2012/13 when Juventus arrived to destroy the rings. Among the wards of Brendan Rodgers there are no pronounced personalities who returned to Glasgow, where he left great memories. The Asian colony is interesting, between the Koreans and the Japanese: striker Kyogo Furuhashi, the top scorer of the last Scottish Premier League with 27 goals, stands out among them all.

Typical scheme (4-3-3): Hart; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, NAWROTSKI, Taylor; O’Reilly, MacGregor, Turnbull; Maeda, Furuhashi, Jan. BRENDAN ROGERS.

Difficulty ratio: 5/10

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NEWCASTLE
Without any “ifs and buts”, the strongest team among the players of the fourth tier, which, ultimately, should be categorically avoided. Newcastle’s third participation in the Champions League after the 1997/98 and 2002/03 seasons, both of which ended in the group stage. Eddie Howe has done a great job, but now the bar has been raised, we need to think beyond the championship and on this occasion there is a big shot in midfield that snatched the Rossoneri Sandro Tonali’s heart away from Milan. Definitely a good level band, but not yet ready to do great things in Europe. Such teams often pay penalties in the first year, and for this reason the return to the Champions League, the Magpies will survive almost under the motto: “Whatever happens, it will be a success.” Of course, if the taboo of the group stage can be dispelled, so much the better.

Typical formation (4-3-3): Dad; Trippier, Shar, Botman, Bern; TONALI, Bruno Guimarães, Joelinton; Almiron, Isak, BARNES. Everyone, Eddie Howe.

Difficulty factor: 8/10

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UNION BERLIN
Incredible Union Berlin escalation in sequence: Bundesliga promotion, rescue, Conference League qualification, Europa League qualification, Champions League qualification. And with the relegation of Hertha, it is now clear to everyone who is the first team of the German capital. Urs Fischer is one of the great architects of the enterprise, the tight-knit group he created showed that great things can be achieved even without leading women. However, due to a historic event, even a club that has always been frugal with its money wanted to make an exception to the rule by handing out players of the caliber of Robin Gosens (double in the second game in the Bundesliga) and Kevin Volland. As always, the team will meet this new adventure with the ease of those who are not under pressure, and this may also be their strength in the Champions League.

Typical scheme (3-5-2): Ronnov; Doehi, Knoche, Leyte; Yuranovich, KRAL, Laiduni, Haberer, GOSENS; WOLLAND, Berens. Herd of Urs Fischer.

Difficulty ratio: 7/10

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ANTWERP
Factor Mark Overmars will play in Antwerp for the first time in the Champions League. The former technical director of Ajax, after making the Dutch famous, repeats himself in Belgium, creating a team that came out in his homeland after years of anonymity: meanwhile, the title after 66 years. Now entering the top 32 great players. Another main character is Mark van Bommel, who resumed his coaching career after the failure at Wolfsburg. There is little hope of progressing beyond the group stage, but it is a shame to underestimate this team, which is capable of defeating AEK Athens in the playoffs. Captain Toby Alderweireld has many Champions League battles under his belt and even played in the final, Janssen is a striker who has returned to play after several years of exile in Mexico, Arthur Vermeeren is a midfield gem to keep an eye on.

Typical scheme (4-2-1-3): Butez; DeLae, Alderweireld, COULIBALIE, Bataille; KEIT, Vermeeren; Eckelenkamp; ONDREYKA, Janssen, Balikvisha. Coach Mark van Bommel.

Difficulty factor: 6/10

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LENS
Lance’s third participation in the Champions League after the 1998/99 and 2002/03 seasons, both of which ended in the group stage. To be present at Sang et or is already a great success, and there are no pretensions to go to the 1/8 finals. Especially since the fundamental elements of qualification were sold, such as Shoko Fofana and Lois Openda. On the other hand, the Austrian Danso has maintained, despite a large number of updates, the pace of the Napoli fans. The investment in attack is impressive: 30 million for Ellie Wahi, who scored 19 goals for Montpellier last year. He is only 20 years old, and with such numbers he is destined for great things. The symbol of this journey is coach Frank Heise, who took over the reins of the team in March 2020 with the Ligue 2 team: two games, both won, then the tournament ended early. He stayed and formed a team in his image and likeness, compact and very strong in defense. Having finished the last tournament one point behind Paris Saint-Germain and having the best defense, he conceded only 29 goals.

Typical workout (3-4-2-1): Samba; Medina, Danso, Gradite; Frankowski, DIUF, Abdul Samed, Machado; FULGINI, Thomasson; WAHI. Coach Frank Heise.

Difficulty ratio: 7/10