The Champions League 2020-21 Groups are set. A few groups to eye on, but of course the biggest one of all is Barcelona placed in the same group as Juventus, Messi vs Ronaldo.
Contributors
Jaime Fernandez – @SOLOVIVESFUTBOL
Santiago Leon – @sleon
Holders Bayern Munich will face Atletico Madrid, while Manchester United were drawn in the same group as Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig, who met in last season’s semifinals.
- Group A: Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, RB Salzburg, Lokomotiv Moscow
- Group B: Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, Inter Milan, Borussia Monchengladbach. Real Madrid and Inter Milan were also paired together in Group B.
- Group C: Porto, Manchester City, Olympiacos and Marseille
- Group D: Liverpool, Ajax, Atalanta, Midtjylland. Liverpool were placed in a group which promises goals alongside Ajax and Atalanta as well as newcomers FC Midtjylland from Denmark.
- Group E: Seville, Chelsea, Krasnodar and Rennes Krasnodar is a Russian club
- Group F: Zenit, Dortmund, Lazio, Club Brugge Zenit is a Russian club
- Group G: Juventus, Barcelona, Dynamo Kiev, Ferencvaros Ferencvaros is from Hungary, Dynamo Kiev is from Ukraine. Juventus
- Group H: PSG, Manchester United, RB Leipzig and Istanbul Basaksehir
Sergino Dest, right-back, to Barcelona, thoughts?
Who takes NBA Finals Game 2: Heat or Lakers? Today 9pm EST
Jaime: Heat
Poll Question
What is your favorite homemade cookies to bake? #NationalHomemadeCookiesDay
Jaime: Chocolate Chip
Chocolate Chip Cookies- 69.2%, Snickerdoodle cookies- 15.4%, Oatmeal Cookies- 15.4%, Sugar Cookies0 0%
Transcript
Santiago Leon
the sports cast October 2 2020. If you haven’t yet, please subscribe to all our channels Periscope, iTunes, and YouTube and if you’re an iTunes, please leave a review. rating and review. It will help us out tremendously. You can now listen us on dap digital radio by going to the sports cast dotnet you’ll see the live radio on the top of the webpage on the sports cast dotnet which is our website the sports cast dotnet and also follow us on Twitter at the sports cast one this force cast one we have a lot going on in news and tonight the heat play the Lakers. This episode is brought to you by is the Bible advocate download the instant Bible app in the iOS App Store new update the Champions League 20 2021 groups are set a few groups to eye on but of course the biggest one of all is Barcelona place in the same group as event tunes, meaning Messi vs Ronaldo, one of the one of the top European players in the past 10 years. And joining us today all the way from Hollywood, Florida. Jaime Fernandez. Welcome back to the sports cast.
Jaime Fernandez
Thank you, Santiago. I’m happy to be back.
Santiago Leon
Jaime, we spent time together watching the draw. And it was very fun, wasn’t it?
Jaime Fernandez
It was it was Yeah.
Santiago Leon
And of course I didn’t know the draw to you texted me that morning. So I felt very unprepared. But I got up and I wrote and thank you for reminding me and coming over to my office to watch the match. I mean, the draw
Unknown Speaker
the draw.
Santiago Leon
And of course we found out that Kevin De Bruyne his favorite player when you grow up was Michael Owen. That was huge surprise
Unknown Speaker
you it’s he a surprise you notice that?
Santiago Leon
That either but anyways, a couple of surprises. Of course we’ll go group by group and we’ll find out what are your thoughts What are my thoughts? But let’s start with Bayern Munich on for group A. Which group it consists of Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, rb salsburg and Lokomotiv Moscow. Jaime, how about this group? Of course the Champions League like the like the champions of the Champions League?
Jaime Fernandez
Yeah, they’re super champions. Yeah,
Santiago Leon
for last year, would you lost last week but what are your thoughts about this group is is an easy group for for Bayern Munich and or Madrid from Atletico Madrid are
Jaime Fernandez
well, my thoughts is that’s gonna be one of the best groups obviously. I know is it’s actually it’s actually I mean, the champion, which is by year we have also atlantico which you know, he’s been to the year qualifying for the final and they now with Luis Suarez obviously they’re they’re gonna fight for these champions league I can, I can definitely see electrical getting better with job feliks you know, it’s his second year so little by little, it’s gonna be way better. And yeah, in general. I mean, that’s, that’s gonna be the two favorites. The other two teams, they just need to pray before they play the game. But it’s gonna have fun group,
Santiago Leon
which one of the teams and Group A is Lokomotiv Moscow this year? There’ll be three Russian teams in the Champions League. And Jaime was telling me that’s the first he’s ever seen three, I think usually we see one or two, right?
Jaime Fernandez
Yeah, no, not only 300 Russian teams, also the fact that there is another Ukrainian team. So I feel like yeah, there’s a lot of representation from from the east from the Eastern Europe. Europe is there.
Santiago Leon
So who finished first Bayern Munich or athletic go? What does your what’s your gut tell you?
Jaime Fernandez
For me, I will say is going to be by your Munich first. Remember by by your Munich last year, they won every single game? That’s that’s like a red car. They are not going to be able to do it again. I don’t think so. But again, I mean, I definitely feel like the same that we saw like Real Madrid winning three consecutive years like Liverpool also, after they won last year. They were like kind of favorites. It was a surprise that I led to God that are beating Liverpool with buyers, your Munich. I think they’re gonna be in first in the group political second. And it is important that they started really good, showing that they are the actual champions.
Santiago Leon
Something that definitely look I do agree Bayern Munich will finish first but let it go had a one huge signing with Luis Suarez. We’ll see how it goes. But the seating of these things are only like the top two of each group make it to the second round. Let’s go to Group B, which is Jaime’s favorite group, of course Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, Inter Milan, and brucea. Among the back, of course, we were talking about Inter Milan, which they were in like the pot three pot four. And you were saying that they might be a dark horse, of course, they got a stack squad and they got Conte as the manager, but what are your overall thoughts over that group?
Jaime Fernandez
Well, there’s gonna be a fine group. I, I actually heard yesterday, one of the best, you know, as phonies, journalist and broadcaster. And he was analyzing that group like that for him. He’s really the death group. Why because we have a shark tank, which was they always win the league in Ukraine. And they, they actually, you know, we’re semi finals against Serbia. in the, in the Europa League that we just saw. Then you have intera, which was the final of the Europa League. And they, they lost the league against Juventus just for one or two points. And then you have monchengladbach, which is a German team, Germans are always tough, especially to, to beat them. They’re in Germany, it has to be like a serious game for real madry. Real suffer to important injures hazhar. And today, we heard about Carla Hall, which is the right back defender. And he’s kind of a wing for Real Madrid. So he’s not gonna be able to play in two months. At the same time, it’s a great opportunity for all of your Fallout, to step up and show that the he he can really gain that position for the future. He’s pretty young. But it’s time it’s time to, to show that that he can do it.
Santiago Leon
With hazard being injured. I was looking into Real Madrid’s roster formation, they’re going to play with two strikers, but no wingers What have you heard about, like their whole strategy for this season?
Jaime Fernandez
Well, I mean, you can see rheometry has been playing so far, like two or three games three so far. And he’s been changing the tactic. He’s been playing with different strategies and, and at the end of the day, what is important for sidin he always do is rotation, rotation of every single midfield rotation on general of the entire team. Making what he wants also for for his team is that everybody can prove that they can play in the 11th star. So I mean, it’s been different, completely 11 stars and different players. It was surprised that beneath us hasn’t been playing the match, but then he scored it the other day. So I feel that now they don’t have hazhar. What sidin really wants is to get essential back to what essentially used to be and if Real Madrid gets a good ascencio with beneath us. I’m Benzema. I also have a lot of hope in all the Gar I think he’s he’s ready to step up also. So of course we have Ramos and Courtois in the back. So I feel Real Madrid is going to be first in the group but it will not be a surprise. Let me say that that interested at first because also they they have an amazing team. They kept low Tato they were lukaku I mean they they they just got to the final they were appalling so that that proves that they are ready to be again fighting for another trophy like European trophy. Of course Inter Milan known for their defensive mechanism of Conte former coach of Chelsea when definitely I’m going to demonstrate that with Real Madrid. a force to be reckoned with group see a
Unknown Speaker
portal Manchester
Jaime Fernandez
group. See I just want to do a quick comment. I don’t want to forget about because this summer we solved one player to to enter which is a as Ralph Hakimi, which is he’s a he’s a really good guy. He plays for Morocco. And he used to play in Balu shadowmoon. But that was like a loan. Now Real Madrid because they have Carla Hall and Andrea fala. They ended up selling for 60 I think go for 40 million to autograph and so far, they’ve been playing two games only in Italy, and he’s been doing the best player. So he’s very offensive, more than a defensive and I will say that we need to be careful because The attacking the left side of rheometry if Marcello plays that’s I think game over
Santiago Leon
the weaknesses are going to be exposed. Group C. Porto Manchester City all our backers Mr. Say, of course Man City not doing well for these past three weeks. Weak defense ports are one of the best teams in Portugal marsay, one of the best teams in France. It’s a pretty good competitive group, isn’t it?
Jaime Fernandez
Yeah, it’s very equal. Especially for Olympiakos mercy. I think they’re gonna find them. They’re gonna have the chance to qualify. I think CD definitely they are going to be first. And, you know, they, they’re just signing some players Ferran Torres, as I told you, if he has minutes, he’s gonna show up. And if the I think this past week, we just saw like, he has scored one goal and he gave one assists to stairlift so I totally feel Man City, you know with water, viola, they, they are gonna be, you know, fighting again for the Champions League this year. He really need to prove that with so much money spent, he can definitely fight for the trophy.
Santiago Leon
How about this portal team? Were they the best team in Portugal last season?
Jaime Fernandez
They they were the best they were the best. But again, they I think they are selling their right, the left bag or the right back to Manchester United. They’re also you know, they’ve been selling a couple more players. So that’s the thing of Porter is always been like a selling team. Like he always sell his best players his stars. Really the Portuguese lease is is either when FICO Porter, really. So I mean, they’re, they’re gonna be there, they’re gonna be five for a second position because they they actually qualify. They were in port number one, but I totally I totally see Marcee the other day they were able to beat PSG in the league. So I see Marcee fighting for that second position. I think it’s gonna be a tough one for a second for his Man City is the favourites for Group C, let’s go Group D Liverpool, IX, Atlanta, and MIT Ilan from Denmark first time and the Champions League. Good group for Liverpool. Yeah, I think that’s my favorite group actually. Because Atlanta also proof that they they are not gonna you know, scare off any rival last year they weren’t scoring so many goals against everybody. They ended up getting defeated but you know, they they’re gonna fight again these champions league so be careful ix because they probably gonna be fighting for that second position. I think Liverpool they’re easy gonna make it for number of one in that group is going to be also a challenge. Because people are expecting a lot for for Liverpool, but I totally feel like club. You know? He he proves that he can win Champions League and league. So Now be careful because Liverpool fans, they won. They won the double double trophy.
Santiago Leon
Liverpool is definitely looking good. Of course. They acquired Thiago. From from Bayern Munich so definitely be a good addition to the squad. A group he Seville Chelsea crossing the door and Stein. Venice from Spain. Of course Chelsea. Um, they’re not having a good start of the season. What are your thoughts over this group? It’s which is also another good competitive group as well.
Jaime Fernandez
Well, yeah, I mean, that’s a that’s a nice group. We’re gonna see a great football between rands Chelsea and Serbia. I feel that favorite sort of bat group is, is Serbia, they actually won the Europa League, they are starting very strong in La Liga with two wins. And, you know, Chelsea The thing is, they spend so much money on new players. So, you need to be able to put these players together and they need to start working Little by little, but I feel I mean, Champions League is going to start in 20 days. So I feel they have time to do a lot of training and and to be there with with all the additions that we see. I mean, Tiago, we see you know, Timo Bergner a lot of a lot of different players hovered, so I feel Chelsea’s gonna fight for these champions league in general. I think lampada can definitely fight for that.
Santiago Leon
Of course, they’ll get things put together. pollicis should be hopefully healthy in a few weeks or not. Let’s go into also groupie has crossed the door another Russian club so definitely keep an eye on these Russian clubs group f z neat Berisha Dortmund. Which I think they’re a dark horse last to include Brock from Belgium. How about this group F is this a Dortmund when
Jaime Fernandez
I see doormen winning there, Bethenny, also a, they’re gonna fight they have good team, they just won the league in Russia so I feel like it’s gonna be a good fight because also, I mean, I didn’t have the time to watch last year but they ended up number three or number four in in the Italian league came out teams like Roma or Milan out of out of the champions. So that proves that they need to be careful with that team. Nobody wants to play against Italian teams, they’re always you know, tough. And for a brute, I mean, is the best team in Belgium. So they should prove that they also can have chances. I feel that’s going to be a group that that we’re going to have a couple of surprises, but
Santiago Leon
maybe, yeah, group F is definitely a little competitive group g everyone’s looking at group g Juventus, Barcelona, Kiev, and Fennec Kavos Of course, Juventus and Barcelona means Ronaldo vs. Messi is the hype there. Hi, man. Are they too old or they’re still hype
Jaime Fernandez
left? They are not. And we’ve been we’ve been waiting long but we have again, the big bottle Cristiano against Messi. I’m excited as you know, as a Madrid fan and also excited because, you know, it’s beautiful to see two of the best players in, in football history, playing against each other, again, fighting for the Champions League fighting for the most top scorer, that’s gonna be their free two games that if I was used to I will not miss those games. And hopefully watch it with you. Yeah, hopefully.
Santiago Leon
So who will be first plays who has a better squat Juventus or Barcelona.
Jaime Fernandez
I mean, I totally feel that that’s gonna be pin of the third on the fourth team, because one is one is from Kiev, again to the other Ukrainian that I was telling you, and is difficult to play there. So I feel if either Juventus or Barcelona if they win in Kiev, and they win at home, they are going to ended up being first. Usually when we have a big fight between two teams in Champions League in the before we’re going to ascend the next round. In the first round, they usually you know, they don’t want to show all his cards. So they usually ended up tying one game or maybe you went to win and then Barcelona wins the other game. Usually they don’t show all their cards, but I feel because they’re Ronaldo, Messi. bado they’re gonna go with they all lean, and they’re gonna it’s gonna be a nice nice game. Of course this is the first year I would say maybe first Barcelona but you can never get here
Santiago Leon
guys it’s it’s a tough call. Of course it’s the first year for pillow as manager as agile ventouse Barcelona It’s been three weeks in for La Liga has things calm down there.
Jaime Fernandez
They’re there, you know, they, they were doubting with the Messi now doubting also, they were doubting with a coach even before he start. But now he proves, I mean only two games. They are gonna have a big game this weekend in Serbia. But so far, I mean, zero goals and zero goals in their, in their sorry, in their net. And they score actually seven goals in two games. So that proves that ansu Fati is ready, that proves that, you know, Messi he’s again part of that team and he’s adapt to anything. And you know, they they have kind of like new signings that they’re already working. They brought oltenia back and go to he’s amazing when he plays like that. He’s really one of the best players in the world. And then we will see what surprises with grassman. I mean, I don’t understand how a champion of the world like, like he won the World Cup, he did such an amazing seasons with Atletico, but in Barcelona, he’s is his second season and the other day, they substitute him in, in the first in almost at the beginning of the of the first of the second half. And he’s not finding their connection with messy so I feel maybe then Bella is gonna ended up playing for grassman
Santiago Leon
which I have my doubts him going to Barcelona maybe like he had different thoughts of going there. Real quick before we go on to group h Serginho desk to Barcelona, what are your thoughts he’s the American Dutchman going to bars the first American in barsa
Jaime Fernandez
for summary gun Yeah. And I’m happy to have an American guy in La Liga I feel so genius. He has the talent definitely I just saw a couple of videos I haven’t even see him in action in an entire 90 minute game. But I totally feel like it could be you know a good good write back for Barcelona because Barcelona fans they appreciate when when they have right back or left back in the wings in general. Not only they go all the way to the end, they also have that skills, you know, that dribbling skills and I feel Serginho has that blas just today when when he got you know, in the presentation, he he said he wants to be as good as Danny Elvis. So if you’re putting yourself right there in your presentation, I mean, that proves that you trust in yourself a lot. So that’s good. That’s a
Santiago Leon
real deal there of course if he wants to be like Danny Alvin’s huge group, ah, Paris Manchester United RB Leipzig and it’s the ball Buster carrier from Turkey. I’m pretty tight group as well where your thoughts
Jaime Fernandez
Yeah, is gonna be a pretty pretty very tight game between Paris and Manchester final mistake and I think they play like two years ago in Champions League also. And he was amazing bottle I remember. I think man you ended up winning in parties or parties ended up winning him in Manchester, I got a check. But I remember it was a very good game between those teams. And what I like about these rubies is they totally feel they’re gonna make it to the next round. But we have lightspeed which they prove they’re ready to to be there like they ended up being in semi finals last year of the Champions League. The coach is still the same Nagas man and also I have really good players. So let’s see it’s gonna be it’s gonna be a good definitely a good group and we have also Istanbul which the final is going to be an instant boost also that’s a team that they don’t have a Burnley chances to make it but they probably gonna have you know, all the passion that they need.
Santiago Leon
Yeah, of course, that motivation may be final there. So like I said, like we were talking about yesterday, the Turkish league isn’t La Liga or anything like that. Say again, sorry, the the Turkish league is not La Liga or, or the Premier League, no.
Jaime Fernandez
Turkish League, he doesn’t but they they qualify, they qualify.
Santiago Leon
Yeah, they made it so who will finish the top two in group H.
Jaime Fernandez
The top two for me is going to be PSG and united.
Santiago Leon
Which which will be within that order. PSG mega PSG First United second, we’ll see how united is I know united has been struggling these past couple of weeks but maybe they’ll put things together with poke Bob. So tell me as of right now, October 2 2020 who will win the Champions League
Jaime Fernandez
I said right now you always need to bet for the actual champion which is by a Munich but again i mean this is a year that there is a lot of teams that are rebuilding their their entire squad. So I I see maybe you know like we we can get a surprise with teams like Chelsea inter like teams that maybe they people don’t expect they’re gonna make it but they have really good coaches. I also feel you know, Juventus is ready for for winning another Champions League and they they all their fans, a Champions League they haven’t winning in a in a while. So I don’t know we’re gonna see a beautiful Champions League I’m I’m so excited. You saw me yesterday. Like how how excited I get when I see the symbol
Santiago Leon
as excited as if you’re in the final. So
Jaime Fernandez
yeah, the one with most titles so I feel
Santiago Leon
so Real Madrid, do you think they’ll go deep this year?
Jaime Fernandez
For Madrid, what
Santiago Leon
you think Madrid will go deep this year?
Jaime Fernandez
Let’s see I feel like the market did the transfer window is no close but I feel I can wait for the next transfer window because Real Madrid we definitely gonna need players and I hope in in 2021 Santa bring us the striker we want
Santiago Leon
it exactly. We’ll see how things mash up there. Of course he had Benzema the 10 year old striker from Madrid. Hopefully he’ll continue to score goals and maybe bring someone else I don’t know. We’ll see who’s available. Anyways, your final thoughts over the Champions League before we head on to predictions?
Unknown Speaker
I mean,
Jaime Fernandez
just is the best competition the best club competition My thoughts are if you never watch these competition Be ready because the sun as I told you yesterday, I feel like with no fans, we definitely going to see players you know, performing their best and showing us all the skills they have. And I totally feel is gonna there’s gonna be a lot of surprises, the same way that we have surprises with Let’s be then you know, with the buyer Munich scoring so many goals against barsa I feel we’re gonna have surprises also in these in these leaks. Because I mean, just in the in the previous round, we have some surprises already. So I feel it’s gonna be a beautiful Champions League.
Santiago Leon
Me too as well. I do agree Juventus is my favorite to win at all. And I’m thinking barista dorm is gonna have a good run top four. That’s my prediction right there. Um, let’s go into tonight’s prediction for the NBA champions championship game to heat or Lakers. Who do you got for tonight?
Jaime Fernandez
Well, I definitely got I definitely I mean Miami he needs to win.
Santiago Leon
Okay, so you bring in the heat
Jaime Fernandez
I for sure I mean, they have to do it today if they don’t do it today that’s it that’s over because we to zero now not gonna be able to come back but I feel they’re gonna fight today. I hope not by you.
Santiago Leon
Yeah, which going down to nil in a series is like going down three goals and leg one Champions League. Yep. All right. Anyways, random question. What is your favorite homemade cookies to bake chocolate chip? snickerdoodle cookies, oatmeal or sugar?
Jaime Fernandez
Chocolate Chip?
Santiago Leon
Chocolate chip is winning a 69% What about you? My chocolate chip cookies man hands down. There’s no other cookie. But chocolate chip? Yeah, the other ones are good. But chocolate chip does nails it. Have you had ever had seat salt on your like, um, with like, with your chocolate chips?
Jaime Fernandez
No, no? Good.
Santiago Leon
It’s It’s interesting, but it’s pretty good. I’m snickerdoodle at 15 four point percent Thai with oatmeal at 15% sugar cookie zero percent.
Jaime Fernandez
I have a question for you. Go ahead. Where? Where did you get all these random questions like I love it.
Santiago Leon
Um, because today is National homemade cookies day. And I pull it from a website. So every day there’s like a national Hot Dog Day or national day so I’d say okay, so I choose the like, you know,
Jaime Fernandez
Yeah, I know. I know. This week was a the national coffee label.
Santiago Leon
Yes. Coffee. Would you get a free coffee at Dunkin Donuts right? Anyways, Jaime, what’s the best way to reach and tell us about I don’t know if you’re gonna talk about it. But tell us about your project.
Jaime Fernandez
Well, the project you’ve seen right here Yes, we’re about to launch a very excited project with my best friend from a Spain is called damn Ebola podcast, which is gonna be you know, one of the best podcast platform that you can listen and enjoy. We’re gonna definitely talk about football is gonna be in Spanish. I’m sorry. But that’s what it is. Is is the mother language. And yeah, we we will be launching during this month of October so I’m pretty excited. And I will definitely do some some sponsors here
Santiago Leon
very soon and how can people find out when that podcast will launch?
Jaime Fernandez
You will find out either through Twitter or through Instagram we are you know, like fixing fixing the last moments doing the little touches and and yeah, we will definitely releasing during this month and I know I come with you for that Santiago
Santiago Leon
Exactly. Once the show’s launch we’ll definitely post it on the on like the sports cast websites and nounce it all you guys that like lovely guys, not just La Liga. But it’s primarily La Liga. And of course La Liga is growing here in the States, not just the Premier League, but I know that little ego wants to expand to America so if you guys want to know more about that Liga Jaime is a very knowledgeable soccer person. He knows way more than I do this guy new nose like Tony me Oh, like Casey Keller that’s, that’s really rare. Exactly, so definitely follow him. And what is your Twitter handle?
Jaime Fernandez
They Twitter is is kind of difficult solo Beavis x, y. A ir a football?
Santiago Leon
Yes. And of course, you could look at our show notes to get that link on Twitter. And you can follow us on Twitter at the sports cast one or on our website does sports cast dotnet Of course we do cover soccer in the sports cast, primarily Champions League and some major Premier League games, and of course other sports but when it comes to soccer, we do definitely cover it. That’s why we have Jaime and we definitely keep the most important stuff when it comes to soccer on the sports guys. But looking forward to soccer. Almost every sport is playing right now. NBA soccer NFL, NHL so I can’t go wrong. And always Jaime Any closing words before we enjoy the weekend.
Jaime Fernandez
Not just say enjoy these rain, these beautiful rain.
Santiago Leon
Enjoy the rain Champions League begins October right
Jaime Fernandez
October 20 October 20. Enjoy the Miami Heat today.
Santiago Leon
Enjoy them and hopefully they win anyways Jaime, always a pleasure.
Jaime Fernandez
Thank you Santiago for the invitation.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Santiago Leon is the Founder and CEO of the Sports Cast. He covers NFL, NBA, and world soccer. He’s also founder of sleon productions, which he specializes in technology and serves clients with solutions to make their business grow.
