Look out for smaller teams in the UCL!

Small vs Big

I always enjoyed supporting smaller teams against giants, and this season of the UEFA Champions League is really offering me this opportunity. I will focus on three teams in this article: Malaga CF, Borussia Dortmund and Shakhtar Donetsk.


Malaga CF - was bought by a Quatari business man and billionaire in 2010 and I think we can see the results now. The team qualified from first place to the next phase of the competition, in a group with AC Milan, without losing. Although they did not have the same expensive transfers as Manchester City, they have a strong team with names like Julio Baptista, Saviola, Roque Santa Cruz, Toulalan and Demichelis.

Although they showed excellent football they will have a hard time getting close to the reputation Real Madrid and Barcelona have in Spain but according to many sports betting sites they are on a good road and Pellegrini will continue to move the team forward.

My prediction for the Champions League: they will knock-out at least another giant team.


Borussia Dortmund - this teams plays one of the most beautiful football I have seen in recent years, and they managed that under Jurgen Klopp, the man that single handedly managed to raise the quality of German football by creating a team that forced Bayern Munchen to invest more than they were used to.

With a young and creative team, they look like Arsenal from a few years back, but with a little more pragmatism. They won a group with Real Madrid and Manchester City, without loosing!!

My prediction for them: if the young and talented players that Borussia has can keep their calm in the later stages of the competition I think they can reach the semifinals quite easily.


Shakthtar Donetsk - are another team that plays beautiful football and that is the result of years of investing in young players, keeping them and having a manager that knows how to mold them into stars.

Coming second in a group won by Juventus, and with Chealsea in third place, they seem like a team that can beat anyone if they have a good day. One of the best things they have is the manager, Mircea Lucescu having so much experience in so many different leagues that I'm sure he still has some aces in his sleeve.

My prediction for them: knocking out another team.


Photo by becaro.