Group stage draw has been published on the top post of this topic - you can also see the game schedule for the group stage. So tomorrow morning, you can start setting up your games. Please try to send invites as soon as possible, so teams are not blocking the free slots for next weekend.
Here is a preview of the group stage.
GROUP A: U.C.SAMPDORIA (BUL), MSK_Profirol (SVK), St. Wange (BEL), LT Athletic (LIT)
U.C.SAMPDORIA is a clear favorite against the three new joiners of SPCL. I don't expect a big drama in the fight for the top position in this group, however the fight for second place can be very interesting. I expect MSK_Profirol to go through to the Quarterfinals, but the other two teams are not without chances.
GROUP B: Lucky Spike FC (NED), SAMPDORIA (BUL), Red Bull FC (CZE), FC Rovinka (SVK)
This seems to be much more dramatic group. The fight for the first place will have no clear favorite - Lucky Spike FC has slightly better chances than SAMPDORIA, but Bulgarian team has a good chance for a revenge - these two teams were fighting for the promotion to A division in last SP season. At the end, Dutch team took the 2nd place just two points ahead of SAMPDORIA. Red Bull FC has also solid chances to fight for the Top 8 - they won last season's C division with 83 points. So here I can say, the draw was not very lucky for me - I'll try to do my best to get FC Rovinka to Quarterfinals, but it doesn't look very promising
GROUP C: El Pandos Brutos (NED), BALKI (SVK), FC Kaima Brakonieriai (LIT), FCB Eruveo (CZE)
In their first appearance, El Pandos Brutos should make it through - but the fight for the first place will not be easy. BALKI was the most positive surprise of last SPCL season - as a team seeded from the lowest pot (they also went through qualification round), Slovak team managed to get 4th place. The other two teams can also surprise - Lithuanian team was just promoted to B division (they'll play the same division as BALKI) and FCB Eruveo stayed just one point behind the second place in last season's C division.
GROUP D: The Last Mohycan (SVK), Viastore (CZE), SC Rotterdam (NED), Noldor (SWE)
Probably the most difficult group of this season. I think all four teams have chance to get through to the Quarterfinals. I expect that The Last Mohycan will get the first place, but it will be a difficult fight for them for sure. This is the only group with two teams from A division, in addition to that we have a fresh winner of C - SC Rotterdam, and another very perspective generation of Noldor. Despite they only played E division last season, the team is already now packed with a huge power. This season it might not be sufficient to get a medal, but I wouldn't underestimate them. Three teams already played past SPCL seasons and as I wrote last week, Slovak and Swedish teams are the only teams who won two trophies (in a row) - Noldor won 2nd and 3rd season, while The Last Mohycan was on top of SPCL season 5 & 6.