The Champions League group stage is back and already as predictable as ever | Paul Wilson
Barcelona and Bayern have already flexed their muscles and the chances of the leading lights not reaching the lucrative knockout stages are negligible, which is just as Uefa desiresIt is not exactly news that the Champions League group stage has become dull and predictable – chances are you might have heard the complaint before – but it is coming to something when the greatest spectacle as well as the only genuine surprise of the first match day were both provided by the weather in Manchester.The biggest clubs have long had it far too easy in the first phase. The competition is more or less drawn up to guarantee them safe passage to the post-Christmas knockout stage and Barcelona and Bayern...