UEFA Champions League group stages brings interesting match-ups but the toughest group to predict might be Group G. Leicester City shocked the world last year when they won the Premier League. But now, they face a much different challenge as they’ve been drawn against Portuguese power-house Porto, defending Belgian Champions Club Brugge and Danish upstarts København.

Leicester’s Premier League title-winning tactics will face a severe test. On the other hand, Brugge and København will be happy to have avoided the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid. This group could end in different ways, and certainly won’t be an easy road for anyone involved.

Predicted finish: FC Porto (1), Leicester City (2), FC København (3) and Club Brugge (4).

Clubs

Leicester City

Leicester City is making its debut in the competition. While manager Claudio Ranieri is familiar with the Champions League, most of his squad is not, and that presents a challenge which could be tough for the Foxes to overcome.

Manager Claudio Ranieri, has held onto his stars of last season, aside from N’Golo Kante. Flying forwards Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez remain along with Leicester’s style of play. The pace of counter attack after defending deep might just cause as much trouble for continental opposition as it did last season in England. While Porto will be expected to give them a tough test, there’s no way Ranieri could’ve got a better draw.

Leicester are not setting their targets high but there will be cautious optimism around the club after a draw that could have been a lot worse. Leicester need not have much to fear against Brugge or København, however they need to be tactically sound against Portuguese powerhouse.

Arguably the biggest star on the Leicester roster, Mahrez doesn’t have much high-level experience. The whole world is going to see just what he can do on the biggest stage.

Last season: N/A

Best European Cup performance: N/A

FC Porto

Porto are in the middle of what is for them a terrible title drought, having not won the Primeira Liga in the last three seasons. The last time they went longer than that without a domestic championship was in the early-1980s.

They have a new manager in former Valencia boss Nuno, but their Champions League prospects might depend on keeping hold of key players like Yacine Brahimi.

Porto may not be the mega power of Portugal they once were, but they’re still an excellent side and they proved that in how they got to the group stage. They also have a pedigree for European Cups.

Porto took on tough opponents, Roma, and absolutely destroyed them to earn their place in the Champions League. If they can maintain that intensity and play at the level they’re capable of, it will be tough for anyone in this group to beat Porto.

Last season: UEFA Champions League group stage, UEFA Europa League round of 32

Best European Cup performance: Winners (1986/87, 2003/04)

Club Brugge

Brugge were runaway Belgian champions last season, winning both the regular season and championship playoffs in the Jupiler Pro League, and are coached by goalkeeping legend Michel Preud’homme.

Young defender Bjorn Engels looks to be the latest off Belgium’s production line of talent. One of the teams that emerged as a fan-favourite thanks to some brave Europa League performances in 2014-15 campaign.

They’ve had a tough summer, though, losing a few key players and with their replacements looking far from sufficient to improve the squad. That might not be enough for them to take a step up in Champions League this season and in such a tight group that could spell doom.

This would be something of an upset considering just how much of a favourite Brugge became last year. The defending champions of the Belgian Pro League are a tough side who have a surprise or two in them before everything is said and done.

Last season: UEFA Europa League group stage

Best European Cup performance: Runners-up (1977/78)

FC København

Overcoming what was looking like a hex for Danish teams against APOEL Nicosia (it was fourth time lucky in the qualifying rounds), FC København made it into the Champions League by beating the Cypriots with a late goal.

Stale Solbakken remains in charge, and they’ll be looking to repeat the 2010-11 competition when they surprisingly qualified from the group.

With how tight this group looks like it’s going to be, it could take just one upset for København to snag the group’s Europa League spot, and København have shown an aptitude for crucial games.

Last season: UEFA Europa League third qualifying round

Best European Cup performance:  Round of 16 (2010/11)

Key fixtures

Match Day 6 (7th December 2016) : FC Porto vs Leicester City FC

Foxes fans did not quite get the glamorous trips to the likes of Paris, Munich or Barcelona they might have liked, but a trip to Europe’s Atlantic coast is not to be taken lightly. Porto, a club with ever-changing personnel, due to their policy on cashing in on talent to survive, have proved themselves tricky, canny opposition down the Champions League years.

Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester playing their debut Champions League should advance to the knock-outs in spite of the stiff competition from København and Club Brugge. But whether they top the group will depend on how they fare on their trip to Porto in the final game week.

If they rise to the occasion, the Foxes may go far but if they struggle and look like they’re not the team we’re used to seeing, then they’re simply not ready for this kind of competition quite yet.