Ladies and gentlemen, your Group of Death.
People like to hand this title to the toughest group to come out of the draw in major soccer tournaments – and with perennial favorites Barcelona, mainstays Borussia Dortmund, Italian giants Inter, and Czech champions Slavia Prague, you need not look farther than Group F in 2019.
| TEAM | TO WIN GROUP | TO QUALIFY | NOT TO QUALIFY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona | 4-11 | 1-16 | 9-1 |
| Borussia Dortmund | 7-2 | 8-11 | 11-10 |
| Inter | 11-2 | 10-11 | 5-6 |
| Slavia Prague | 150-1 | 14-1 | 1-30 |
Group winner
Despite the pedigree of the clubs in Group F, Barcelona are undoubtedly the cream of the crop.
After a pair of epic collapses ended their hopes in the last two seasons, Barcelona are primed to make another run at Champions League glory. Manager Ernesto Valverde remains the club’s lone weak spot, but his tactical flaws aren’t typically exposed until later in the competition. He’s never lost a Champions League group stage match while in charge of Barcelona (eight wins, four draws).
While the manager has his shortcomings, attempting to find holes in Barcelona’s team on the pitch is futile. Generational talent Frenkie de Jong has transitioned seamlessly into arguably the best midfield in Europe alongside Sergio Busquets and …read more