Le mani di Francesco Totti e Andriy Shevchenko sono state tutto sommato abbastanza magnanime con il Basilea. Sorteggiata nel gruppo A dei gironi di Champions League, la squadra di Raphaël Wicky dovrà vedersela con Benfica, Manchester United e CSKA Mosca.
I renani cominceranno il loro percorso in Gran Bretagna contro gli uomini di Mourinho, il quale tornerà quindi in Portogallo. Qualificatisi come quinta squadra inglese dopo aver vinto lo scorso anno l'Europa League, i Red Devils sono gli unici ad aver già conquistato la Champions League. Anche il Benfica ha però nel suo palmares due Coppe dei Campioni, una in meno dello United, vinte negli anni '60.
Se la storia dice che il Basilea si trova di fronte due mostri sacri del calcio europeo, è però anche vero che dalle urne potevano uscire squadre ben più temibili. Quarta squadra del girone è invece il CSKA Mosca, che tornerà dunque in Svizzera dopo aver eliminato lo Young Boys.
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