Manchester City: Champions League Group F

Only a few hours after Manchester City were drawn away from home in the Carabao Cup to a Premiership side, we sat down again to watch yet another draw. With the 4:15 am League Cup draw providing yet another away tie, it is fair to say City fans were feeling a little 'same old'.



Away from China, our attention turned to Monaco, and speculation as to who we would face in the Group stage of this seasons Champions League. Concerned we could face Madrid, Bayern or Juventus from Pot A I was not optomistic. But we did manage to avoid those big names, and get a decent group.

In all reality, our group is not all that bad. Certainly winnable and most definitely not progressing would be seen as a failure. So, who do we play in the Champions League Group Stage?


Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR):

Ukranian side, one of two Ukranian sides to have won European competitions in their history. Managed by Paulo Fonseca, the side also boast two Brazilian's by the name of Fred and Bernard!

It will be a 4,000 mile round trip for the fans but certainly is a winnable game for Pep's Blues. Although Shakhtar have not actually faced Manchester City in European competition, but Ukranian sides in general do not come out that well when they play English sides.

Chelsea lost to them in the Group stage in the 2012/13 season. Meanwhile Manchester City also have a little history with Ukranian sides. In 2011, Dynamo Kiev put us out of the 2010/11 Europa League 2-1 after two legs at the knockout stage.


Napoli (ITA):

Yesterday I had said that one of our youth prospects could be heading to Napoli. Now they are in our group I think, if the move does happen, he probably will not take place in two of the Group games.

Head to head City have faced Napoli twice, finishing with no wins. It was in the group stages of the 2011/12 Champions League. Alekz Kolarov leveled up the scores at the Etihad after Edinson Cavani had opened for the visitors.

The return fixture saw us on the wrong side of 2-1. It was Cavani, again, to put the hosts ahead twice after Super Mario (Balotelli) had drawn us level.


Feyenoord (NED):

Again it's another first for us. Twice UEFA Cup winners they have a great pedigree in European football. European Cup, Intercontinental Cup and five times InterToto Cup winners.

Never played Feyenoord competitively but they did win 1-0 against Manchester United in last seasons Europa League.


Looking at the draw I think City fans have to be satisfied with how the draw turned out. So when do they play?