Predicting The Last 16 Of The Champions League 2014/15

By Tom Skinner /

Group F

Predicted Table: 1. Barcelona 2. PSG 3. Ajax 4. Apoel Nicosia Group F is another tough group and could be one to provide an early upset in this year€™s competition. Barcelona and Paris Saint Germain (PSG) go into the group as clear favourites yet the other two teams, Ajax and Apoel Nicosia, could quite conceivably cause problems for the European giants. With Luis Enrique at the helm, Barcelona welcome Luis Suarez and will be hoping that he fits into the side quickly and continues to produce the performances we grew accustomed to seeing at Liverpool. They had a disappointing season last year, failing to pick up and major trophies, but with Lionel Messi still in their ranks they are one of the favourites to bounce back and lift the title this year. PSG€™s Zlatan Ibrahimovic faces his former clubs in Barcelona and Ajax so will be out to make a point. The talismanic Swede is part of a strong PSG side that should be looking to push Barcelona all the way for top spot. Having only lost to Chelsea in the quarter finals on away goals last season, they will be looking to take that experience and improve this year. The top two ranked teams are expected to ease to qualification in this group; however Ajax will certainly have something to say about that. The Dutch giants have failed to qualify from the group stages since the 2005/06 season but they have such a strong European pedigree that they can never be discounted. They earned a good 1-1 draw with PSG in their opening fixture; just highlighting that Group F will not be a walkover for Barcelona or PSG. As for Apoel Nicosia, the Cypriot side could prove to be a banana skin in this group. Having made their Champions League debut in 2009 they have already caused numerous upsets. In the 2011/12 competition they surprised everyone by reaching the quarter finals before being knocked out by Real Madrid. They will undoubtedly still prop up the rest of the group at the end of this stage, however their narrow 1-0 defeat at the Camp Nou shows that they will not be afraid of the European giants in this group.