Champions League Group G Preview: Ageing Messi and Ronaldo rekindle rivalry
The penultimate group of our countdown is perhaps the most interesting, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi drawn against each other at this stage for the first time in their career.
After only managing second place in La Liga last season, Barcelona are a Pot 2 team and were drawn in Group G with Ronaldo's Juventus. Both teams have endured sweeping changes over the summer and it will be diffcult to split them for top spot.
With Dynamo Kyiv and Ferencvaros completing the group, we have bookmarked all the key men to watch and predicted were we expect each side to finish.
JUVENTUS
Key Player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo’s age and wages may prove a problem for Juventus in the near future but for now he remains the Old Lady’s main man. The 35-year-old has hit the ground running with three goals and one assist in two league matches. After returning four goals in the Champions League last season – his worst haul since 08/09 – you can bet on Ronaldo being even more motivated this time around
One To Watch: Dejan Kulusevski
Finally at Juventus after a deal was struck with Serie A rivals Atalanta in January, Dejan Kulusevski has slotted straight into Andrea Pirlo’s immediate plans. The 20-year-old is even being picked ahead of star attacker Paulo Dybala at the moment, which tells you everything about his potential. He scored on his Juventus debut and has 11 goals and eight assists in Serie A since the start of last season. Group
Group Prediction - 1st
There may be question marks around rookie head coach Andrea Pirlo but Juventus simply have to take advantage of Barcelona's upheaval to secure top spot. They have not made it based the quarter-finals in the last three seasons and first place would, at least in theory, set them on the right path
BARCELONA
Key Player: Lionel Messi
It doesn't take a genius to recognise Lionel Messi is Barcelona's star man. Though this season is perhaps most interesting given he tried to leave in the summer. A return of three goals in last season's Champions League represents his worst return in a single European campaign since 2006/07 and for Barcelona to have any chance of winning it this time around they will need him to be at his best.
One To Watch: Ansu Fati
The Not much good has come from Barcelona's academy in recent years but Ansu Fati's emergence has certainly bucked the trend. The 17-year-old has made a devastating start to the season, with three goals in as many league starts, and even has a higher WhoScored rating (7.65) in La Liga than Messi (7.55). Barcelona are in disarray as a club but must do everything to stop Fati from leaving.
Group Prediction - 2nd
After bombing out of the Champions League in sensational fashion (again), the pressure will be on Barcelona to do better this time around. After such a tough summer on and off the pitch, however, it's difficult to imagine vast improvements, particularly as their squad is actually much smaller compared to last season
DYNAMO KYIV
Key Player: Georgiy Bushchan
Drawn with Juventus and Barcelona, Dynamo Kyiv know they won't see much of the ball in the Champions League this season and they will need some heroic performances from goalkeeper Georgiy Bushchan to have any chance of success. Bushchan should, however, be high on confidence having kept a clean sheet in Ukraine’s 1-0 win over Spain earlier this month, claiming the WhoScored Man of the Match award in the process
One To Watch: Ilya Zabarnyi
Ilya Zabarnyi iss impressively a regular for club and country at the age of just 18. Zabarnyi's first three caps for Ukraine remarkably came against France, Germany and Spain and now the teenager is gearing up for his Champions League bow in the space of three months. The rookie defender will be thrown in at the deep end in Europe up against the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi.
Group Prediction: 3rd
As a Pot 3 team heading into the draw, Dynamo Kyiv know best case scenario is finishing third. Bank the Champions League money and then try to mount a serious challenge for the Europa League. Dynamo Kyiv just need to accumulate more points than Hungarian side Ferencvaros to do just that
FERENCVAROS
Key Player: Myrto Uzuni
Determined to qualify for the Champions League proper for the first time in 25 years, Ferencvarosi turned to the transfer market to increase their chances and broke the £1m mark for the first time in their history to sign Myrto Uzuni. The 25-year-old Albania international almost hit 20 goal involvements for Lokomotiva Zagreb in the Croatian first-tier last season and a lot will be expected of him this season
One To Watch: Oleksandr Zubkov
Deemed surplus to requirements by Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk, Oleksandr Zubkov now finds himself at Ferencvaros and the Hungarian outfit are all the better for it. After impressing on loan last season with nine league goals and a handful of assists, Ferencvaros made the switch permanent and the 24-year-old even made his Ukraine debut earlier this month. The Champions League is another platform for the winger to impress
Group Prediction: 4th
Ex-Tottenham striker Sergiy Rebrov has guided Ferencvaros into the Champions League for the first time in 25 years after the Hungarian outfit went through four rounds of qualifying, defeating the likes of Celtic along the way. They're here to enjoy the occasion, as there is little chance of any success
