This season’s energy rankings are going to look a bit of completely different; relatively than rating each workforce from 1-36, we’ll as a substitute be mimicking the competitors’s league part by rating the highest 24 contenders, with the opposite 12 groups left on the surface trying in.
That is to not say that none of those 12 groups will make it by – there may be all the time a shock identify or two within the knockout rounds – however this dozen are, in our view, the least possible groups to progress and proceed their European journey previous the opening spherical.
Amongst them are event debutants Sabah FK of Azerbaijan and LASK of Austria, in addition to Slovan Bratislava, who’re managed by the primary African coach within the historical past of the Champions League, the one and solely Yaya Toure.
Bodo/Glimt, who beat Manchester Metropolis, Atletico Madrid and Inter on their strategy to final season’s final 16, will do effectively to make a repeat run, although they’re not the one Norwegian aspect within the competitors, with Viking FK having certified for the primary time since 1992.
There are groups from Europe’s ‘Large 5’ leagues who additionally appear like having robust European seasons, as each Villarreal and Lens don’t look able to forcing their approach by.
GOAL’s doomed dozen: AEK Athens, Bodo/Glimt, Membership Brugge, Feyenoord, LASK, Lens, Sabah, Shakhtar Donetsk, Slavia Prague, Slovan Bratislava, Viking, Villarreal.
