Group B analysis: Benfica, Napoli, Dynamo, Beşiktaş
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Article summary
Two-time winners Benfica start their campaign against Turkish champions Beşiktaş, with Italian hopefuls Napoli and Dynamo Kyiv making up a competitive Group B.
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Who's in Group B?
Benfica (POR)
• UEFA coefficient ranking: 6
• How they qualified: first in Portuguese Liga
• Previous group stage campaigns: 11 (last appearance: 2015/16)
• Last season: UEFA Champions League quarter-finals
• Best European Cup performance: winners (1960/61, 1961/62)
Napoli (ITA)
• UEFA coefficient ranking: 17
• How they qualified: second in Serie A
• Previous group stage campaigns: 2 (last appearance: 2013/14)
• Last season: UEFA Europa League round of 32
• Best European Cup performance: second round (1990/91), round of 16 (2011/12)
Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)
• UEFA coefficient ranking (end of 2015/16): 26
• How they qualified: first in Ukrainian Premier League
• Previous group stage campaigns: 14 (last appearance 2015/16)
• Last season: UEFA Champions League round of 16
• Best European Cup performance: semi-finals (1976/77, 1986/87, 1998/99)
Beşiktaş (TUR)
• UEFA coefficient ranking: 62
• How they qualified: first in Turkish Süper Lig
• Previous group stage campaigns: 5 (last appearance: 2009/10)
• Last season: UEFA Europa League group stage
• Best European Cup performance: quarter-finals (1986/87)
Matchday one fixtures (Tuesday 13 September)
Dynamo v Napoli
Benfica v Beşiktaş
Key facts
• Napoli and Benfica met in the first round of the 2008/09 UEFA Cup, the Eagles losing 3-2 in Italy before taking the tie with a 2-0 home success.
• Dynamo Kyiv and Beşiktaş met in the UEFA Europa League in 2010/11 and 2011/12. Dynamo won 8-1 on aggregate in the round of 32 in 2011; the sides then traded 1-0 victories in the group stage later the same year.
Reaction to the draw
Lourenço Coelho, Benfica director
The draw produced a very even group. It will be tough as there are three domestic champions and the second-placed side in the Italian league. We always want to get through the first knockout stage. Everything is wide open.
Serhiy Rebrov, Dynamo coach
We have a very even group, just like last season, with three domestic champions and one runner-up from a top European league. We have to approach every match in the same manner and with the same commitment, and set highest possible goals. It could have been much worse. Now we have an exciting group with teams who are all equally strong, where everyone has a chances of reaching the knockout phase. I hope the lads understand that.