Group B includes three renowned Champions League teams, Real Madrid, Juventus and Galatasaray. Together with Copenhagen, this group also features three reigning victors of last year's national competitions in Italy, Turkey and Denmark. With Juve-Real we can expect an international classic, while Galatasaray will be seeking revenge for their loss against Madrid in the previous Champions League quarterfinal.  Let's see how the teams match up.

Real Madrid

Qualified as: Second seed in La Liga

Key additions: head coach Carlo Ancelotti (Paris Saint-Germain), midfielder Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur), central midfielder Asier Illaramendi (Real Sociedad), attacking midfielder Isco (Màlaga), defender Daniel Carvajal (Bayer Leverkusen)

Key losses: head coach José Mourinho (Chelsea), attacking midfielder Mehmut Özil (Arsenal London), striker Gonzalo Higuaín, defender Raùl Albiol, right winger José Maria Callejon (all SSC Napoli), Kakà (A.C. Milan)

Biggest achievements in Europe: 9x Champions League winners ('56-'60, '66, '98, '00, '02)

Real Madrid, as always, will be vying for national titles in 2013-14. Following a season which in Real terms has been disappointing, finishing second in the league behind arch rivals Barcelona and being eliminated in the Champions League semi-finals through Borussia Dortmund, the squad underwent a major transformation this off-season. As head coach José Mourinho reached a mutual agreement with club president Florentino Pérez to leave the club, after what he described to reporters as his "worst season" of his career, Real decided to go a new way. 

With the signing of Welsh super star midfielder Gareth Bale and unhappy Mourinho replaced by veteran coach Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid come off a busy but successful summer break. The record transfer of Bale amounted to something between € 91m and € 100m. Bale scored 42 goals in 146 games for Tottenham and could start at the attacking midfield position previously earned by German key player Mehmut Özil, who announced his departure from the club soon after the deal. 

Only a handful of soccer clubs in this world could afford dropping a midfielder like Özil, who evolved into a world class player in Madrid. Real Madrid may be one of them. Together with the addition of  21-year-old Spanish star midfielder Isco and world star Cristiano Ronaldo, the team is equipped with enough offensive firepower and brains to reach for the stars again this season. This is complemented by French international striker Karim Benzema, who might see an even more vital role in Madrid's game with the departure of Gonzalo Higuaín. Meanwhile, the defensive side will be strengthened by former Bundesliga defender Daniel Carvajal. Furthermore, by letting Kakà return to Milan and agreeing to sending Mourinho back to Chelsea, Real Madrid avoided potential conflict within the squad. This season, Real have won their first three La Liga games so far and appear to be in good condition early on.

Prediction: There is a good chance that the losses of a world class coach, striker and midfielders will turn out to be more than compensated by a hungry and restructured Real squad which mixes young talent with veteran super stars. Coached by a fresh Ligue-1 championship-winning coach, Real Madrid are bound to win this group and could go as far as the Champions League final. However, as previous years against Dortmund and Bayern have shown, Germany's budding teams will give Madrid tough fights.

Juventus

Qualified as: Serie A national champions

Key additions: striker Carlos Tévez (Manchester City), defender Angelo Obinze Ogbonna (Torino)

Key loss: striker Manolo Gabbiadini (Genoa), winger Emanuele Giaccherini (Sunderland)

Biggest achievements in Europe: 2x Champions League winners ('85, '96), defensive midflieder Felipe Melo (Galatasaray)

Juventus haven't been in a Champions League final since 2003, when they lost an all-Italian matchup against A.C. Milan. However, they are slowly getting back on track. They managed to win the national championship this year finishing with a significant margin top of an up-in-coming SSC Napoli team. Juventus also stayed undefeated in the group stage of last year's Champions League competition, leaving favorites Chelsea and Ukrainian champions Shakhtor Donetsk behind them. They also eliminated Celtic Glasgow in the round of 16 but were powerless against a superior Bayern Munich team that had little trouble knocking 'Juve' out. 

While many things are looking up for Juventus, there are also some challenges ahead. Whereas the signing of Argentinian striker Carlos Tévez was sensational news, it also came at some risk. Known for causing controversy at times, Tévez already outraged some 'Juve' supporters for demanding jersey number ten, formerly worn by club icon Alessandro del Piero. It remains to be seen whether Tévez will feel more at home in Turin than he did at Manchester United, West Ham and Manchester City. Adding Angelo Ogbonna to the team was a good move to strengthen the team's defense. Coming off leg injuries, he may need some recovery time though still. 

Prediction: Juventus will battle with Galatasaray for the second seed. Their impeccable national and Champions League group performance last year suggest them a slight edge in direct comparison with Galatasaray. Juventus will advance but probably face elimination as early as in the group of 16 or the quarterfinals.

Galatasaray

Qualified as: Turkish national champions

Key additions: left winger Bruma (Sporting Lisbon), defender Aurélien Chedjou (OSC Lille), defensive midfielder Felipe Melo (was on loan from Juventus)

Key loss: defender Tomas Uifalusi (Sparta Praha)

Biggest achievement in Europe: Champions League semi-finals '89, UEFA Cup champions '00

The Turks proved last season that they can be serious contenders in Europe's prime competition. After eliminating Schalke in a nail-biter second game in Gelsenkirchen last year, 'Gala' were stopped by Real Madrid. They want to take revenge. As defending champions of the Turkish national league, the team looks like it's in good shape. 

The roster encompassing star players such as Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder, was curbed with the purchase of the services of Portuguese left winger Bruma, who has been projected by ESPN to be one of the potential shining newcomers at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The 18-year-old winger could complement a powerful, fast flanking attack with Sneijder, feeding veteran super star striker Didier Drogba. The club's defense has been strengthened due to the arrival of Cameroonian Chedjou and defensive midfielder Felipe Melo who will be facing his former employer Juventus whom he had been on loan from to Galatasaray for the last two years. What is more, midfielder Hamit Altintop and defender Emanuel Eboué have proven to be reliable constants in Galatasaray's system with remarkable perfomances on the international and natinal stage alike. 

Prediction: Galatasaray advanced the furthest they have in over a decade last year. If they want the upward trend to continue, they will have to get past Juventus. If Bruma turns out to be the talent that many expect, while veterans Drogba and Sneijder have a good season, 'Gala' can cause some damage. However it will be hard for them to advance. 

F.C. Copenhagen 

Qualified as: Danish national champions, won play off qualifying round against Olympique Lyon 

Key additions: defender Olof Mellberg (Villareal)

Key losses: striker Andreas Cornelius (Cardiff City)

Biggest achievement in Europe: Champions League group of 16 (2010-11)

After being eliminated in the qualifying play-off matches in the last two seasons, Copenhagen has finally made it back into the European spotlight. The squad has drawn attention to their talent before in the Champions League with a notable 1-1 draw against the eventual champions Barcelona in the 2010-11 season and a 2006-07 1-0 victory against Manchester United.

Thanks to the addition of Swedish defender Olof Mellberg, the defensive side of the ball was upgraded with an internationally experienced veteran who will bring stability and serenity to the team. Meanwhile, the loss of striker Andreas Cornelius could not be sufficiently compensated. The 20-year old up-in-coming shooting star netted 18 goals in 34 games for Copenhagen in the last season.

Prediction: While the Danish have been able to create some upsets in the past, this year their national record indicates that it is unlikely that they will be able to repeat that. Going 1-3-3 to start the season, the team has been struggling and will probably be eliminated in the group stage. 

 

Reach Staff Writer Alexander Wowra here.