Lionel Messi is considered the best forward in UEFA, and the world. (Christopher Johnson/Creative Commons)

Qualified as: 1st in Liga BBVA 

Key acquisition: Neymar  

Key departures: Thiago Alcantara, David Villa 

Best result in competition: UEFA Champions League title in 1992, 2006, 2009 and 2011

Barcelona is quite simply the most mesmerizing team in Europe. They make absolute magic with the soccer ball and have the capability to beat any team in this competition. Yet, I will concede that they are weak defensively and without making any defensive acquisitions this summer they continue to be subject to a defensive meltdown as they experienced against Bayern Munich last season. 

Prediction: Barcelona will advance out of this group without a problem. They control the game too well for any of the other teams to beat them consistently. The addition of Neymar also adds another offensive weapon to the already unmatched offensive core. The Catalan giants will simply be too much for this group. 

AFC Ajax

Qualified as: 1st in Dutch Eredivisie

Key acquisitions: Lerin Duarte, Mike van der Hoorn

Key departures: Toby Alderweireld, Christian Eriksen

Best result in competition: UEFA Champions League titles in 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1995

Ajax is an interesting team, they didn’t have much of a chance at progressing in the competition last year being seeded in the “Group of Death” with Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid. Yet, this is a solid team with a lot upcoming players looking to make an impact on an international stage. The Dutch side has a lot to prove but they could be a potential underdog team going forward.  

Prediction: I see Ajax battling it out with Milan for the second spot in this group. Whichever team can take the most points away from Barcelona will be the most likely to go through. 

Kaka returns to Milan after five years at Real Madrid. (Wikimedia Commons)

AC Milan

Qualified as: 3rd in Serie A, qualifier win over PSV Eindhoven 

Key acquisitions: Kaka, Alessandro Matri, Christian Zapata 

Key departure: Kevin-Prince Boateng

Best result in competition: UEFA Champions League title (x7)

AC Milan is a revitalized team with the addition of Mario Balotelli (who was forced to sit out Champions League last season) and the return of crowd favorite Kaka. The Italian side is exciting to watch with a number of upcoming players such as Italian playmaker Stephan El Shaarawy who doesn’t stop moving for the entire 90 minutes. 

Prediction: As mentioned earlier, I think Milan will fight for the second spot with Ajax. While Milan might have the upper hand, having beat Barcelona before it will be an interesting matchup when the Italians play in the Netherlands. 

Celtic FC

Qualified as: 1st in Scottish League, qualifier win against Shakhter Karagandy 

Key acquisitions: Teemu Pukki, Derk Boerrigter, Virgil van Dijk

Key departures: Gary Hooper, Victor Wanyama 

Best result in competition: UEFA Champions League title in 1967

This is a team that just doesn’t like to lose. Running on pure work rate and a counter attack style of play, the Scottish side has willed their way into the tournament for the second year in a row. Celtic are a team capable of grinding out a result, as they did against Barcelona last year and won’t be easy game for anyone in this group. 

Prediction: Despite the “never say die” attitude of Celtic FC it is hard seeing them advancing out of the group. This is a highly competitive set of teams and sheer work rate won’t get them past the quality of the other sides on a consistent basis. 

Reach Staff Writer Gabe Quintela by e-mail.