Champions League halfway point of the group stages

So here we are at the halfway point of the the sometimes controversial and irritating group stage of the Champions League. I can see where the critics are coming from the stage is drawn in way which favors the big boys, I personally think its quite interesting seeing teams who in the old fashioned knock out cups would've got knocked out early play a few times.

Uefa Champions League : Group A Table

		P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Inter Milan	3	2	1	0	10	5	5	7
2	Tottenham	3	1	1	1	9	7	2	4
3	FC Twente	3	0	2	1	4	7	-3	2
4	Werder Bremen	3	0	2	1	3	7	-4	2

Group A not looking too bad for spurs, although in the game against Inter they were outclassed they still have been gathering points against the weaker teams. I think Spurs and Inter should go through in the order they sit in now. Interesting fact of this group is the Werder Bremen's Austrian forward Marko Arnautovic has played for two of the other teams in this group in Serie A for Inter and in the Dutch First Division for Twente. Who knows maybe North London is his next port of call?

Uefa Champions League : Group B Table

		P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Lyon	3	3	0	0	6	1	5	9
2	Schalke 04	3	2	0	1	5	2	3	6
3	Benfica	3	1	0	2	2	4	-2	3
4	Hapoel Tel-Aviv	3	0	0	3	2	8	-6	0

Lyon are looking very good in Group B. I expected better from Benfica one of the more attacking teams in the tournament, but Schalke and Lyon looking favorites to go through although I wouldn't rule out Benfica with an attack made up of Pablo Aimar, Javier Saviola and Oscar Cardozo they're always a threat. Hapoel Tel-Aviv definitely the worst side in the tournament this year Israel football is starting to become Europe's whipping boy.

Uefa Champions League : Group C Table

		P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Man Utd	3	2	1	0	2	0	2	7
2	Rangers	3	1	2	0	2	1	1	5
3	Valencia	3	1	1	1	5	2	3	4
4	Bursaspor	3	0	0	3	0	6	-6	0

Well Manchester United are practically through but its looking interesting in the fight for second place between Rangers and Valencia. I think if Rangers finished their chances against Valencia at Ibrox they would've been favorites. But at the moment I think Valencia will do it by beating Rangers at the Mestalla.

Uefa Champions League : Group D Table

		P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Barcelona	3	2	1	0	8	2	6	7
2	FC Copenhagen	3	2	0	1	3	2	1	6
3	Rubin Kazan	3	0	2	1	1	2	-1	2
4	Panathinaikos	3	0	1	2	1	7	-6	1

Barcelona the former champions given an easier group this year than last year look like they will qualify. Rubin Kazan are a team that interest me they met Barcelona on three occasions and haven't lost once, but still haven't been through to the knock out stages. I'm hoping they make it through this year but I think Copenhagen's good start will be hard to overturn. Panathinaikos have been very disappointing considering the amount of money in Greek football I would expect them and rivals Olympiakos to fare better in Europe.

Uefa Champions League : Group E Table

		P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Bayern Munich	3	3	0	0	7	3	4	9
2	Basle	3	1	0	2	5	5	0	3
3	CFR 1907 Cluj-Napoca	3	1	0	2	5	6	-1	3
4	Roma	3	1	0	2	3	6	-3	3

This looks like last years Bayern have already gone through bar a collapse of epic proportions. The other three are looking unpredictable, on paper you would think that Roma should qualify but looking at Roma's history in Europe I wouldn't put your house on it. I think Cluj might do it after their fighting performance again Bayern.

Uefa Champions League : Group F Table

		P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Chelsea	3	3	0	0	8	1	7	9
2	Spartak Moscow	3	2	0	1	4	2	2	6
3	Marseille	3	1	0	2	1	3	-2	3
4	MSK Zilina	3	0	0	3	1	8	-7	0

Chelsea are looking formidable at the moment winning all three of their games without even breaking a sweat. Spartak and Marseille aren't the best sides in the competition but I wouldn't class them in any way an easy task. I was hoping Zilina would do better after knocking our Sparta Prague and Celtic in the qualifiers. I'm hoping Spartak go through, I think Russian football has had a raw deal due to the different calenders their domestic league and the rest of Europe follow and it would be nice to see them do well.

Uefa Champions League : Group G Table

		P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Real Madrid	3	3	0	0	5	0	5	9
2	AC Milan	3	1	1	1	3	3	0	4
3	Ajax	3	1	1	1	3	4	-1	4
4	Auxerre	3	0	0	3	1	5	-4	0

Well this group to me looked the most interesting just because of names involved. Real Madrid, AC Milan and Ajax, three of Europe's historical heavyweights. Ajax aren't in that league anymore but haven't disgraced themselves at all and are still in with a good shot of qualifying to the knock-outs. Mourinho's Madrid I think are looking like they will win the competition. His teams always have the habit of peaking at the right time whilst Milan are looking like they're on their way to joining Ajax in the history books.

Uefa Champions League : Group H Table

		P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Arsenal	3	3	0	0	14	2	12	9
2	Shakhtar Donetsk	3	2	0	1	5	5	0	6
3	Braga	3	1	0	2	2	9	-7	3
4	Partizan Belgrade	3	0	0	3	1	6	-5	0

Our final group look like they've got an east v west battle going on. Arsenal should qualify after scoring 12 goals in 3 games that a ridiculous 4 per game. Shakhtar are looking like they'll go through but I would rule out Braga who knocked out Seville in the qualifying stages, they really do have a penchant for the spectacular, I'd call them a Youtube team, take a look at the goal against Celtic.