Liverpool, City Get Rough Champions League Draws | OneFootball

This morning marked that time-honored tradition of the Champions League tournament draw. Combining elements of a bloated awards show, church-hall bingo, and Zlatan Ibrahimović (utterly hilarious cameo, FWIW), the draw determines which teams will play one another in the eight game Group Phase. It’s basically a lottery that ordinary folks do not watch and also cannot win. The only money from these rolling balls goes to the clubs themselves (and UEFA).

Of course, for supporters of the thirty-six clubs that qualified for the Champions League, the schedule matters. There are plane tickets to buy, hotel reservations to book, match tickets to secure, etc. Everyone is praying they don’t draw Qarabağ or Bødo/Glimt away, particularly in winter. But savvy travelers have crossed fingers for Pafos away in January, to squeeze in some Cypriot beach time amongst the soccer.

Still, there are objective club winners and losers within the draw. Hooligan Soccer analyzed each team’s opponents, cross referenced that with the UEFA club co-efficient score, calculated an average, and determined the five toughest draws.

Toughest Draws

1. PSV Eindhoven

Source: UEFA.com

Combined co-efficient average: 78.3Club co-efficent: 69.25Biggest tests: Liverpool and Newcastle away. Both are hostile stadiums with enthusiastic supporters.

2. Galatasaray

Combined co-efficient average: 78.0Club co-efficent: 38.25Biggest tests: Aside from the two PL teams, Frankfurt and Ajax away will be rough. How lucky to play Bødo/Glimt at home!

Source: UEFA.com

3. Bayer Leverkusen

Source: UEFA.com

Combined co-efficient average: 77.5Club co-efficent: 92.25Biggest tests: It’s all tough. With the exception of Copenhagen, none of these fixtures is an easy tie.

4. Manchester City

Combined co-efficient average: 77.1Club co-efficent: 137.75Biggest tests: Though the math places City in the “tough” group they should be able to handle this. But I thought that last year too, and they barely skated by.

Source: UEFA.com

Oh, and somebody had to play Bødo/Glimt at home…

5. Liverpool

Source: UEFA.com

Combined co-efficient average: 76.8Club co-efficent: 125.25Biggest tests: They play both Madrid teams and Inter Milan. Woof.