When juxtaposed, UEFA Champions League Groups C and D show us the best and worst about the competition’s group phase, with neither group having a monopoly on the good qualities.

The difference in the groups’ depth highlights the problem Champions League accepts with four-team groups. When a tournament spreads its teams into many small groups, it risks having a very weak group when one of the teams expected to be good (say, Atlético Madrid) can not replicate the previous season’s form. Contrast that with Group C, where FC Zürich’s competitiveness in their three matches highlights the problem of using UEFA coefficients to rank teams from leagues that are not well represented in European competitions. Yes, Group C is the much more interesting group, but for reasons that may not be fair to Zürich or Marseille.

Those clubs can not feel too hard done, considering both have had their chances to take control of their destiny. To open group play, Marseille lost to a then-poor Milan. Two weeks ago, Zürich was unable to take advantage of their historic San Siro victory when they hosted Marseille.

That inconsistency has been the drawback to Group C. In any competition, league, or level of play, you want to see the good teams perform well, if for no other reason than to give credence to the product you are watching. If the good teams perform well and lose, that’s one thing. If teams are just being erratic, well (to resort to a bit of a truism) those teams may not be good.

If Group D has been anything, it is consistency. Chelsea is grinding out results, as is Porto: Two clubs that have consistently been able to get out of Champions League groups. Atlético Madrid has been terrible, though APOEL has been willing. While neither of the group’s leaders have been glamourous, Chelsea and Porto have been good, and it’s not difficult to see either club getting to the final eight.

But before we get ahead of ourselves and start looking at which clubs will still be in Champions League come early 2010, let’s look to Tuesday and the fourth match day for Groups C and D.

Alexandre Pato is the center of attention after his match-winning goal at the Santiago Bernabéu on Match Day 3.

Mamadou Niang has been one of the few bright spots for a Marseille team that was expected to compete in Ligue Un and Group C.
Club	Points	Diff
AC Milan	6	+1
Real Madrid	6	+5
Marseille	3	-3
FC Zürich	3	-3
Through three rounds.

Group C

Despite a weekend victory over Getafe getting Manuel Pellegrini’s squad back on-track, Real Madrid’s Tuesday trip to the San Siro represents another critical match for a squad that has yet to find its footing.

Describing Madrid as “yet to find its footing” might sound tame to those who are buying into the impending demise of Los Blancos – those speculating on Pellegrini’s expiration date, overlooking their place in La Liga (second, one point behind Barça) and Champions League (first, Group C). A win at the San Siro restoring Madrid to sole possession of first place in Group C would go a long way to silencing critics who broke out their megaphones after Milan won at the Bernabéu (who, in all fairness, might be extended mouthpieces of Florentino Perez).

But then there’s the other possibility: Madrid loses to Milan again and finds themselves in a fight for second. The mere appearance of a table were Madrid is even with Marseille or Zürich after four matches could have Marca writers editorializing about whether Pellegrini’s the worst coach in club history. Marseille is a former Champions League winner, but that’s not enough to comfort Madrid-supporters who have understandably high expectations.

Madrid will be without Cristiano Ronaldo, who has not played since hurting his ankle while on international duty. Without him, Pellegrini has been experimenting with Marcelo and Royston Drenthe in midfield, providing Los Blancos with a wide player in attack. Against Getafe, Alvaro Arbeloa was brought into compensate for the team’s shortcomings at left back.

Those shortcomings were on display two weeks ago when Milan won 3-2 at the Bernabéu, with Marcelo failing to mark Alexandre Pato on the match-winning goal. Arbeloa is less likely to make a similar error, and if Marcelo plays in the midfield, it will provide an element of width that will give problems to a sometimes-narrow Milan team.

At Stade Vélodrome, Marseille will have a chance to revitalize their Champions League campaign, provided they can beat Zürich. With two of their three matches remaining in France, Marseille are in a slightly better place than Zürich, who they defeated 1-0 in Switzerland two weeks ago.

Marseille is still struggling to find last year’s form (having drawn this weekend at home against a 10-man Toulouse), but if Real Madrid can win in Italy, l’OM will have a month to get their act together before a Match Day 6 fixture at the San Siro that could determine who moves on to the knock-out phase.

Porto's Brazilian striker Hulk is partnering with Radamel Falcão to become one of the best partnerships in Europe.

Bruno Alves has been the one constant for Porto during their recent successes.
Club	Points	Diff
Chelsea	9	+6
Porto	6	+2
APOEL	1	-2
Atlético Madrid	1	-6
Through three rounds.

Group D

As we play out the string until Chelsea goes to the Dragão for their group-deciding match with Porto, we are treated to another match day between the haves and have-nots. Of course, there is a statistical probability that the two haves could stumble (a probability that seems to increase every time analysis like this dismisses their chances to get points), but this gets back to the value of good teams playing well.

If Chelsea and Porto play near their capabilities, they continue rolling towards that match-up in Portugal. That will be a great affair much more anticipated than the Blues trip to the Vincente Calderon. If one of them stumbles, the group will become more interesting to some, but it would be parity at the expense of (not because of) performance.

Given Chelsea’s 4-0 win two weeks ago over the Atléti, a competitive match would be a surprise. Atlético remains one of the most talented squads in the world, but with an inability to defend and the adjustment period to new head coach Quique Sanchez Flores, Chelsea looks prime to stay perfect, even if they have to grind-out a result.

Porto did not have it as easy last round against APOEL, with an early own goal forcing them to work for their 2-1 victory. APOEL has been consistently forcing teams to beat them, losing by one goal to each of Chelsea and Porto. While it’s tempting to think the reverse fixture in Cyprus could see APOEL narrow that one goal gap, Porto seems to have hit their typical, steady stride, now unbeaten in seven straight. While their win streak was snapped with a 1-1 weekend draw against low-rung Belenenses, Porto started with Radamel Falcão and Cristian Rodríguez outside of the starting XI, presumedly saving their efforts for Tuesday.

Though APOEL has played with heart in each of their three matches, they have yet to record a goal themselves. They couldn’t even score against Atlético Madrid, a feet that would cause the jaws of Mallorca players to drop. Given the will, Porto finds a way to keep themselves on course for their November 25 shot at Chelsea’s full squad.

Richard Farley is a U.S.-based contributor to World Soccer Reader. He also hosts Inside the Six, the site’s regular podcast. He can be reached at richardfarley at gmail dot com and followed on Twitter, username “richardfarley.” And while you are at it, feel free to check out RF Football.

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