The draw for the first group stage of the Champions League is scheduled for 16:00 CET today in Monaco. Just like last year Ajax will be in pot three of the seedings list. This is because last season's run does not yet count for the seedings. This year's seedings are based on achievements from 1998 to 2002.

For the full seedings list, check this page on UEFA.com:
http://www.uefa.com/competitions/UC...wsId=95516.html

As you see PSV is in pot two, but two teams from the same country can not be in one group.

You can follow the draw live on UEFA.com this afternoon!

I say: let's have Bayern Munich, Panathinaikos and Anderlecht!

Just some thoughts, looking at the seeding list...

We will not get a Scottish opponent: Celtic and Rangers are both in out pot. There are three Greek teams in the draw, but Panathinaikos is the only one we can bump into (the others are in our pot). Plus - and this is a good thing - we will not have to go to Kiev in winter.

Pot 1
From this pot I have a very strong preference for Bayern Munich. It's close to Holland, so we will bring a massive support (which will include me!) and Ajax has an excellent record against German teams. My second favourite from pot 1 would be Manchester United, as I am not at all impressed with them and I definitely think they're easier to beat than the Italian and Spanish sides.
Menno's preference: 1. Bayern Munich, 2. Manchester United

Pot 2
Obviously we can not be in the same group as pee-$v. Also: please, no Inter. And no Olympique Lyon, as we've already played them. I think the 'weakest' (??) team in this group would be Panathinaikos, so let's have them. Galatasaray would be do-able also. Strangely enough, I prefer the most distant opponents from this pot (Turkey and Greece) over the 'closer' ones (Chelsea, Lyon, Inter).
Menno's preference: 1. Panathinaikos, 2. Galatasaray

Pot 3
That's ours, so no opponent from this one.

Pot 4
The team from pot 4 is supposed to be our 'weakest' opponent, so obviously you don't want Real Sociedad. That would be a disaster. Also: a trip to Moscow or Belgrade is undesirable. I really want a Belgian opponent from this pot. Out of the two I have a preference for Anderlecht (more famous club and were last season's #2 in Belgium, as opposed to Burges who are the champions).
Menno's preference: 1. Anderlecht, 2. Club Bruges

The ultimate disaster would be:

Real Madrid
Internazionale
Lokomotiv Moscow

Vak425's preference based on my wish for the easiest passage through to the second round:

Pot 1 Deportivo
Pot 2 Panathinaikos
Pot 4 AS Monaco

Vak425's preference on wanting to visit the places concerned :

Pot 1 Bayern Munich (for the beer festival)
Pot 2 FC Porto
Pot 4 Real Sociedad

If thats my wishes then we will get :

Pot 1 Real Madrid
Pot 2 Chelsea
Pot 4 Partizan Belgrade

My dream draw: Pot 1- ManU;Pot 2-Panathinaikos;Pot-4 VfBStuttgart.I think we could do quite well.

Welcome to my Nightmare: Real Madrid;Chelsea; FC Lokomotiv Moskva

No matter what...it's time to get SonicDream 2 on the blower and plan the next invasion. October in Amsterdam or further afield sounds 'bout right...and a new Ajax-related tattoo for the occasion.

Milan , Celta de Vigo and Club Brugge. A great draw to me.

We'll easily get rid of Celta and Brugge !! Way to go Ajax !!! Hurray !!!

Full draw:

Group A Bayern Munich, Lyon, Celtic, Anderlecht
Group B Arsenal, Inter, Dynamo Kiev, Locomotive Moscow
Group C Deportivo, PSV Eindhoven, AEK Athens, Monaco
Group D Juve, Galatasaray, Olympiakos, Real Sociedad
Group E (for Easiest) Manchester United, Panathinaikos, Rangers, Stuttgart
Group F Real Madrid, Porto, Marseille, Partizan Belgrade
Group G Lazio, Chelsea, Sparta Prague, Besiktas
Group H AC Milan, Celta Vigo, Ajax, Club Brugge

Well could have been worse I guess.

Comments please...

I really hate it to play AC Milan again... San Siro again... Sigh... I am definitely not going to that game. I'va had it with that place.

Celta de Vigo is not too bad, probably. I am pretty sure Valencia was better last year than Celta this year.

Club Bruges... Awesome!! Great!! And: a short ride. Even Roda JC is farther away from Amsterdam...

According to Ajax.nl Milan away is the first game. That's good. Let's get that one over with a.s.a.p.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Manneken Pis
Full draw:

Group A Bayern Munich, Lyon, Celtic, Anderlecht
Group B Arsenal, Inter, Dynamo Kiev, Locomotive Moscow
Group C Deportivo, PSV Eindhoven, AEK Athens, Monaco
Group D Juve, Galatasaray, Olympiakos, Real Sociedad
Group E (for Easiest) Manchester United, Panathinaikos, Rangers, Stuttgart
Group F Real Madrid, Porto, Marseille, Partizan Belgrade
Group G Lazio, Chelsea, Sparta Prague, Besiktas
Group H AC Milan, Celta Vigo, Ajax, Club Brugge

Well could have been worse I guess.

Comments please...

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I don't know what to say about this one....I guess we could have sone alot worse.

Club Bruges were realy good last year in CL and Celta Vigo is a good side. I still think we are, looking to the strenght of the squads, better than Bruges and atleast as good as Celta. We should be able to grab some 6 points at home to them and perhaps another 4 away. When it comes to Milan I'm happy with one point in total - but on the whole I think we can manage to come out alive of this group.

I'm already looking forward to the home celta de Vigo match. I'll probably try to make the little trip to Dam to see the match (and maybe catch some of the craziest footie fellows of this forum....). Does anybody have information about the schedule ???

not a bad group for Ajax...all they have to do is dominate the two clubs from Spain and Belgium and i think they will. We can also have a fair chance to screw AC Milan and get us some payback to ease last year's quarterfinal exit! too bad Celta did not hang on to Mido it would be really nice to see that guy play against Koeman's great tactical mind! Go Ajax Go!

I'm pretty pleased with that draw. Of course the boys still need to pick up their play if they are gonna get out of the group. If they play like they have these first few weeks Celta and Milan will have us for lunch. I know very little about Brugge, but they dion't scare me much. Sure, they beat Dortmund, but that team is in disaray this year. I see us going through.