UCL UEFA Champions League 2009/10: Draw, Preview and Odds – Groups G-H

For groups A-C, click here.

For groups D-F, click here.

Group G

Sevilla (33/1) – Sevilla find themselves eleventh in betting, some distance behind their main two domestic opponents. They qualified for this seasons competition via a third placed finish in La Liga, avoiding the need to enter in the play-off stages. The Andalusian side have had some European success of late, winning the Uefa Cup in consecutive years (2006/2007) under ill-fated Tottenham coach Juande Ramos. At home, they have only one La Liga title to their name – dating back to 1946.

Rangers (125/1) - Rangers are the sole Scottish side in the group stages of this years competition, having seen fierce rivals Celtic knocked out by English opposition in the play-off round – a fate that Walter Smith’s team suffered last year. Although the two teams share almost every domestic honour, European success has been harder to come by. Rangers, the current Scottish Champions have fifty-two domestic league wins – a world record – but they are twenty-third in betting at 125/1.

Stuttgart (50/1)- Joint in betting with German Champions Wolfsburg, Stuttgart finished last season third in the Bundesliga. Former German international Markus Babbel will take his side into their third Champions League campaign in six years, after they successfully negotiated the play-off round at the expense of Romanian side FC Timisoara.

Unirea (2000/1)- Unirea are the third and final team to have odds of 2000/1 to lift the Champions League trophy – and are arguably the side most deserving of those gigantic odds. The Romanian side won last seasons Liga 1, a huge feat for a team who only progressed to the division in 2006. This Champions League campaign is only Unirea’s second foray into European football – having been knocked out in the first round of the Uefa Cup last year.

Group H

Arsenal (9/1) – Arsene Wenger’s side begin the Champions League program as the bookies fifth placed favourites, despite having only finished a lowly fourth in their domestic league. The London team have lost a number of high profile players over the summer, but have confounded their critics by making a strong start to the new season. This began with a Champions League play-off match against Celtic – Arsenal winning the ‘Battle of Britain’ with a comfortable 5-1 aggregate scoreline. Arsenal were the first London Club to reach a Champions League final – beaten by Barcelona in 2006 – but have just one Cup Winners Cup to show for their European exploits.

AZ Alkmaar (100/1) - Alkmaar stand joint twentieth in betting, the Dutch side having qualified by virtue of winning the Eredivisie for the second time in their history. This season will represent their first entry into the Champions League group stages, having previously made just the one appearance in the old European Cup in the early eighties. Following the departure of Louis Van Gaal for Bayern Munich (for whom Alkmaar now serve as a feeder club), former Dutch international Ronald Koeman was appointed head coach for the current season.

Olympiakos (125/1) – Greek Champions Olympiakos are ranked joint twenty-third by the bookies, at 125/1 along with Scottish side Rangers. The biggest side in Greece are the countries only remaining team in this years competition, after fierce rivals Panathinaikos were eliminated in the play-off round. Their best showing to date in the competition has been a quarter final spot in 1999, when they were knocked out by Juventus.

Standard Liege (150/1) – The Belgian First Division winners are one spot below their Greek rivals in the betting order, commanding odds of 150/1. With ten Belgian Championships and five Belgian Cup successes, they are one of the most highly decorated teams in the country. Despite this, their best European showing to date was as defeated finalists in the 1982 Cup Winners Cup.