More previews: Group E -- Group F -- Group H
Porto (By Andy Brassell)
strong>The team: If Benfica's exploits of the 1960s made Portugal a player in European competition, Porto's continental exploits in the past 30 years have been at least as remarkable. The Cup Winners' Cup final loss to Giovanni Trapattoni's mighty Juventus in 1984 was merely an hors d'oeuvres. A maiden triumph over Bayern Munich in the 1987 European Cup final started things off and now their roll of honour reads like this: two European Cup/Champions League titles, two UEFA Cup/Europa League titles, two Intercontinental Cups and one European Super Cup. In a country which is considered one of European football's second-class citizens and which is bleeding money, it's quite an achievement.
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Coach Paulo Fonseca, who improbably guided little Pacos de Ferreira to the Champions League playoffs last season before joining Porto, may take his tips from Andre Villas-Boas in 2011 rather than Jose Mourinho in 2004. There are two reasons for this: Firstly, matching Mourinho's achievement will be virtually impossible, and secondly, at just 40, Fonseca has something in common with Villas-Boas. Like AVB, he is thought of as a bit of a punt in some quarters, despite his success with Pacos.
It's a big step up, but the first few weeks have been good to Fonseca. He hasn't deviated from club policy in recent years, sticking with 4-3-3, with early signs suggesting the tempo will be halfway between the breakneck bravery of AVB's era and the slow, grinding down of predecessor Vitor Pereira. What is certain is that the new man has plenty of options, with an immensely strong squad despite the departures of Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez.
Star man -- Lucho Gonzalez: At 32, he is the captain, talisman and dressing-room big brother who links great Porto sides of past and present, as he is now in his second spell at the club. The Argentinian fulfills a series of functions in midfield too: passing metronome, goal scorer and even No. 10, on occasion.
Porto and South American talent go hand in hand, and it appears Porto have unearthed another gem in Juan Fernando Quintero. Granted, he actually signed from relegated Serie A side Pescara, but it was the 20-year-old left-footer's authoritative midfield displays for Colombia's under-20s during the summer that convinced the champions he could be James' successor and so much more.
At the back, France's Eliaquim Mangala runs the show with strength and power. One of a number of Porto players who are good in a few positions, the 22-year-old is accomplished at centre-back and left-back. It is easy to see why Chelsea and Monaco are so keen on him.
Keep an eye out for Nabil Ghilas from the bench, too. Though he faces a battle to dislodge the highly regarded Jackson Martinez in the centre-forward position, the French-born forward (who arrived from Moreirense this summer) is quick and a natural finisher. Ghilas is also the first Algeria international to play for the club since the legendary Rabah Madjer, whose outrageous backheeled goal set up the win against Bayern in the 1987 final.
Verdict: After the miserable manner of Porto's Champions League exits under Pereira in the past two seasons, Fonseca has some work to do. On paper, Porto and Atletico should be favourites to advance, even if Zenit St Petersburg do have their share of firepower, including former Dragao star Hulk and Portugal international Danny. Yet the Dragons are formidable at home, and their versatile squad has experience and goal power. Unlike their close rivals Benfica, Porto have started the league season in rampant form so are perhaps better placed to give their best both domestically and continentally. A surprise semi-final berth is not beyond them.
Atletico Madrid (By Dermot Corrigan)
The team: This is the eighth European Cup/Champions League appearance for Atletico Madrid, who have never come closer to winning the trophy than in 1973, when striker Luis Aragones put them 1-0 ahead in extra time against Bayern Munich in Belgrade. But Bayern defender Hans Georg Schwarzenbeck scored an almost unbelievable 120th-minute equaliser from 30 yards, and Bayern won the replay 4-0.
The "Pupas" curse, which dogged Atletico for almost four decades, was born. Even bright spots such as the double Liga and Copa win in 1995-96 were followed by a disappointing exit to Ajax in the Champions League quarter-finals the following season, and relegation just three years later.
But then, at Christmas 2011, Diego Simeone arrived. The Argentine had no time for superstition and quickly transformed a bunch of underperforming individuals into a team that, in just 18 months, won the Europa League, European Super Cup and Copa del Rey, and continues to look hungry for more.
Few have accused Simeone's Atletico of being pretty to watch, but they are undeniably effective, with huge confidence in their ability to grind out results. They also have a superb goalkeeper in Thibaut Courtois; a watertight defence led by Diego Godin; a hard-tackling midfield, with captain Gabi to the fore; and an attack primed to make the most of any opportunities generated.
Star man -- David Villa: Those opportunities were being created last season for Radamel Falcao, whose exit to Monaco for €60 million last summer seemed a disaster for the team. However, Colchoneros fans have already moved on, with relative bargain buy Villa seen by many as an upgrade.
Spain's record goal scorer has settled instantly, putting concerns over his recent injury record to bed and scoring a superb goal on his home debut against his former side, Barcelona, in the Spanish Supercopa first leg.
Even more importantly, perhaps, the new man is much better at linking with teammates coming from deep than Falcao, meaning the side now boasts a more all-round threat.
Koke -- a winner at June's under-21 European Championships in Israel -- has now played in Spain's last three senior internationals. Under Simeone the midfielder, 21, has developed into a top-class all-rounder, tactically astute and hardworking. Next in line is 18-year-old Oliver Torres, a more classic No. 10 who could be used from the bench if Atletico need inspiration late on.
Verdict: Atletico executive Clemente Villaverde was quietly confident after getting Porto, Zenit St Petersburg and Austria Vienna in August's draw, and fans will feel their side should top Group G.
Zenit St Petersburg (By John Brewin)
The team: There was a point, five years ago or so, when it seemed Zenit would join the ranks of Europe's superclubs. Yet it never quite happened. But winning the 2008 UEFA Cup in Manchester, and the subsequent Super Cup triumph, are the highest watermark for Russian clubs in recent years. CSKA Moscow achieved the same feat in 2005, and have similarly failed to make the breakthrough, but they did wrest the Russian title from Zenit last season.
Zenit conceded the title in controversial circumstances when a game they played with Dynamo Moscow was stopped and eventually awarded to Dynamo when a firecracker thrown from the stands hit Dynamo goalkeeper Anton Shunin. Zenit also had to play two home games behind closed doors, from which they gained only two points. Their punishment was taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but their appeal was denied.
CSKA won the title by just two points, which meant Zenit had to qualify for the Champions League, which they achieved by beating Portugal's Pacos de Ferreira in the third qualifying round. They return to a competition in which they never quite did themselves justice back when they were coached by Dick Advocaat and then Luciano Spalletti, the Italian coach who has made St Petersburg his home since succeeding the Dutchman in 2009.
Before last season's reverse, Spalletti's team had won two straight Russian titles. They now also feature two stars of the Advocaat era after the returns of Andrey Arshavin and Anatoliy Tymoshchuk. Arshavin came in from the cold of four years at Arsenal that ended in an embarrassing exile. Tymoshchuk returned from Bayern Munich, where he had won the Champions League and been a favourite of Jupp Heynckes but was not set to be a selection under Pep Guardiola.
Zenit also have the benefit of Hulk and Axel Witsel, who have been with the club a year after their very costly additions in the 2012 summer transfer window. Both took time to settle and acclimatise to life in Russia, and had been expected to move on. Instead, they have been retained, though this was perhaps not what Hulk wanted. Spurs gave up on a loan move for him because of the eye-watering loan fee Zenit wanted to charge.
Star man -- Danny: In the months that followed their UEFA Cup win in 2008, Danny was bought from Dynamo Moscow at a cost of €30 million. He had moved to Russia from Portuguese football, where he had starred for Maritimo on loan from Sporting Lisbon, in 2005. His winning goal against Manchester United in the Super Cup in Monaco that year showed his abilities as an attacking midfielder, and he has been a Zenit mainstay ever since.
He had been team captain until a cruciate knee ligament injury wrecked his 2012 and forced him to miss that summer's Euros. But he has returned to form, topping the scoring for Zenit in the embryonic weeks of the campaign.
Verdict: Despite the presence of Atletico and Porto in their group, there is confidence that Zenit can go further in this competition than the last 16 place they reached in 2011-12, when they were beaten by Benfica. However, a quick reacquaintance with the Europa League looks most likely.
Austria Vienna (By Kevin Palmer)
The team: European Cup semi-finalists in 1979, losing to Malmo, Austria Vienna can hardly dare to dream of a repeat of that famous run -- but Nenad Bjelica and his team have achieved so much just by getting through to the group stages.
A battling 4-3 aggregate playoff victory over Dinamo Zagreb secured the Austrian champions their place as they made the most of their first domestic title in seven seasons.
The departure of title-winning manager Peter Stoger to FC Koln ahead of the new season was hardly ideal preparation, but new coach Bjelica appears to have steadied the ship and was confident as his side's group opponents were revealed, despite their somewhat indifferent start to the domestic season.
"I was hoping for a Spanish opponent, so I'm looking forward to facing Diego Simeone and Atletico Madrid," the former Croatia international midfielder said. "Porto are attractive opponents as former Champions League winners. Zenit perhaps aren't as attractive, but they are certainly very strong and we know we have to be at our very best to have a chance. Despite this, I like our chances."
Bjelica is likely to employ a 4-5-1 formation designed to make his side tough to beat and allow them to use their threatening pace on the break. Wide players Tomas Jun and summer signing Daniel Royer will look to provide the ammunition for goal scorer Philipp Hosiner.
Star man -- Philipp Hosiner: There was fear that 24-year-old Austria international, hero of Austria Vienna's title-winning side last season, would be whisked away from Vienna during the summer after his 28 goals last season.
"As a young boy I watched the stars in front of the TV, and now we have made it, so playing in the Champions League is a dream for me," he said. "We are in the Champions League because of our passion, because of our fighting spirit.
"Can we achieve success? No one will expect us to do anything, but this team has worked so hard to get to this position and we cannot let it go now without giving everything. This is not just about enjoying the Champions League. We want to do well and get some points."
Verdict: Austria Vienna lack the class and experience to excel in the Champions League, and even though the group stage draw offers them encouragement, they would be delighted to finish ahead of Zenit and claim a Europa League spot in the first half of 2014.