Champions League: Five things to excite the senses

Jose Mourinho will be eager to get off to a winning start
As this season's Champions League gets underway, Christian Crowther salivates over some of the treats lying in wait...
Group D
Unless you happen to be a Manchester City fan, the potential drama which could emanate from a group including the champions of Europe's top three leagues is a truly mouth-watering prospect. Real Madrid against Manchester City, where the Premier League's finest are attractively priced at 4.67/2 to earn a point, is a tie worthy of a final, while double Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund areintent on avoiding successive early exits. And then there's Eredivisie champs Ajax, who will not be there just to make up the numbers.
Watching English teams
Whether you support Chelsea or Chesterfield, most football fans enjoy following the fortunes of those teams which represent the so called best league in the world. The Premier League has produced three of the last eight winners and another five finalists in that time, so English interest right to the juicy end is almost guaranteed. Those neutrals who found themselves involuntarily leaping from the sofa when Fernando Torres' goal induced Gary Neville's orgasm, can back Chelsea at a whopping 17.5n/a to retain their trophy.
Watching Lionel Messi
For those who are not regular watchers of La Liga, the Champions League provides the best primetime viewing of the master silk-weaver himself. Messi is simply mesmerising and always offers goals galore when playing against the continent's finest. The Argentine has finished as the competition's top scorer in the last four editions and is available at 2.68/5 to prosper once more.
Paris St-Germain
Much like Manchester City, enormous overseas investment has resulted in some of Europe's top stars arriving on Parisian shores. Paris St-Germain have plucked Zlatan Ibrahimovic from AC Milan, who comes complete with an ego to match his goal tallies, along with Thiago Silva, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Marco Verratti and Gregory van der Wiel. With this kind of investment there is always a fascination involved with whether the team will flourish or flop. Those who think the latter can lay them to qualify from Group A at 1.282/7.
Barcelona's evaporated air of invincibility
When Barcelona followed up their first embarrassment of Manchester United in a final with a second impersonation of a cat playing with tortured pray in 2010/11, it seemed like the cup would be wrapped in Barca colours indefinitely. However, thanks to Chelsea's Nou Camp heroics and the subsequent departure of their all-conquering coach Pep Guardiola, it just feels like Barca have taken a step back towards mortality. The Catalans are still favourites to win the trophy though at 3.55n/a