In last season's UEFA Cup campaign, Bordeaux Blancos gave Roma, led by Jose Mourinho, an unprecedented challenge with their unique tactics and resilience. The two teams not only faced each other in the group stage, but also in the knockout stage. Although Roma had the last laugh, that 0:6 defeat away at the feet of Bordeaux Shine has undoubtedly become a major attraction of the whole season.
Group B: Dynamo Kyiv, Rennes, Fenerbahce, Larnaca
Dynamo Kyiv, a perennial Champions League powerhouse, has suffered to a certain extent from its performance in the domestic league and the soccer environment. Rennes from Ligue 1, on the other hand, is undoubtedly one of the favorites to go straight out of this group.
Group C: Roma, Ludogorets, Real Betis, Helsinki
Serie A giants Roma should have qualified for the UEFA Champions League by virtue of their strength in last season's Serie A. However, the charm of soccer sometimes does not depend entirely on strength. The performance of Roma coached by Jose Mourinho in the UEFA Cup has broken the Serie A team's traditionally cavalier attitude towards European tournaments, and even in the third-tier UEFA Cup, they went all out to fight for the title.
In this group, Roma will naturally face a strong challenge from Real Betis from La Liga if they want to take the first place in the group.
Group D: Braga, Malmö, Union Berlin, St. Gilos
Group D is probably the least talked about of all the groups, as even a second-tier European powerhouse gets little attention.
Group E: Manchester United, Real Sociedad, Sharif, Omonia
Group E is undoubtedly the world of Manchester United, while La Liga powerhouse Real Sociedad is right behind them. Sharif's away win over Real Madrid in the Champions League group stage last season has made them a strong contender for the "dark horse" spot.
Group F: Lazio, Feyenoord, Midtjylland, Storm Graz
Lazio are undoubtedly the strongest team in Group F, but they may not be as committed to the UEFA Cup as city rivals Roma.
Group G: Olympiacos, Qarabag, Freiburg, Nantes
In Group G, despite having teams from the Bundesliga and Ligue 1, Freiburg and Nantes are not as well known. However, Freiburg came close to qualifying for the Champions League last season and should not be underestimated.
Group H: Red Star Belgrade, Monaco, Vruntsvaros, Trabzonspor
In Group H, Monaco is afraid that it will be difficult for the other three teams to compete with them if they want to get out of the group.
