The UEFA Champions League is a special competition. There is no dethroning the World Cup,
as it is the most watched sporting event in the world. However, the Champions League boasts a
high quality of players, features clubs from several big football nations and players from around the
world, and feels like the next closest thing. Being an annual competition means while we wait for the
next World Cup, high quality fixtures between the sport’s elite are never far away. With the group
stage draw completed, let’s take a look at the 32 teams that will be competing this season and see
how they’ll fare in their quest to be one of the 16 teams to reach the knockout stage.
as it is the most watched sporting event in the world. However, the Champions League boasts a
high quality of players, features clubs from several big football nations and players from around the
world, and feels like the next closest thing. Being an annual competition means while we wait for the
next World Cup, high quality fixtures between the sport’s elite are never far away. With the group
stage draw completed, let’s take a look at the 32 teams that will be competing this season and see
how they’ll fare in their quest to be one of the 16 teams to reach the knockout stage.
Quick Glance at the Field
Group A: PSG, Real Madrid, Club Brugge, Galatasaray
Group B: Bayern Munich, Spurs, Olympiacos, Red Star Belgrade
Group C: Manchester City, Shakhtar Donetsk, Dinamo Zagreb, Atalanta
Group D: Juventus, Atlético Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lokomotiv Moscow
Group E: Liverpool, Napoli, Red Bull Salzburg, Genk
Group F: Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Inter, Slavia Prague
Group G: Zenit, Benfica, Lyon, RB Leipzig
Group H: Chelsea, Ajax, Valencia, Lille
Groups A, B, and E appear to have two big clubs battling it out for first place but most likely they’ll
both finish 1st and 2nd in some order, making it a big task for the outsiders to break that up. Group
G may appear to be the weakest group but its also the most open, and every club will likely feel they
have what it takes to advance. Group H is a mixed bag of clubs in different situations, and while
Chelsea and Ajax are favorites, Valencia and Lille are capable of causing an upset. Group C looks
like it’s Manchester City’s to win rather unopposed, with Atalanta and Shakhtar likely to fight for that
second spot. Groups D and F appear to be groups of death, particularly Group F with three big clubs
that have all reached at least one Champions League final in the last decade.
both finish 1st and 2nd in some order, making it a big task for the outsiders to break that up. Group
G may appear to be the weakest group but its also the most open, and every club will likely feel they
have what it takes to advance. Group H is a mixed bag of clubs in different situations, and while
Chelsea and Ajax are favorites, Valencia and Lille are capable of causing an upset. Group C looks
like it’s Manchester City’s to win rather unopposed, with Atalanta and Shakhtar likely to fight for that
second spot. Groups D and F appear to be groups of death, particularly Group F with three big clubs
that have all reached at least one Champions League final in the last decade.
Group by Group Predictions
Group A Prediction 1st Real Madrid 2nd PSG 3rd Galatasaray 4th Club Brugge
Real Madrid and PSG are the clear favorites to advance from this group due to their superior talent
and resources. Even without Cristiano Ronaldo, whose absence was felt through Real Madrid’s
disappointing European adventure last season, Real Madrid appear to be a bit stronger than PSG
currently and are the favorites to top the group.
and resources. Even without Cristiano Ronaldo, whose absence was felt through Real Madrid’s
disappointing European adventure last season, Real Madrid appear to be a bit stronger than PSG
currently and are the favorites to top the group.
Group B Prediction: 1st Bayern Munich 2nd Spurs 3rd Olympiakos 4th Red Star Belgrade
Like Group A, Group B features a reasonable path for the big clubs in Bayern and Tottenham to
advance. Olympiakos and Red Star Belgrade are the biggest clubs in their respective leagues,
but there’s no teams as good as the German or English club there. Spurs surprised and impressed
a lot of people by reaching the final last year, but Bayern have strengthened in the summer and look
likely to win the group.
advance. Olympiakos and Red Star Belgrade are the biggest clubs in their respective leagues,
but there’s no teams as good as the German or English club there. Spurs surprised and impressed
a lot of people by reaching the final last year, but Bayern have strengthened in the summer and look
likely to win the group.
Group C Prediction: 1st Manchester City 2nd Atalanta 3rd Shakhtar 4th Zagreb
Not only will Manchester City win this group, I don’t expect it to be close. Atalanta and Shakhtar
Donetsk will likely battle it out for second place. Though Dinamo Zagreb is capable of springing an
upset, they are certainly punching above their own weight. Although Atalanta are unlikely to defeat
Manchester City, there’s enough good energy and momentum following their terrific Serie A
performances last season that as long as they avoid injuries, they can handle the extra rigor of
Champions League and advance.
upset, they are certainly punching above their own weight. Although Atalanta are unlikely to defeat
Manchester City, there’s enough good energy and momentum following their terrific Serie A
performances last season that as long as they avoid injuries, they can handle the extra rigor of
Champions League and advance.
Group D Prediction: 1st Juventus 2nd Atlético Madrid 3rd Leverkusen 4th Lokomotiv
This is a very challenging group, with even the least well known side Lokomotiv Moscow presenting a
challenge. However, it is a challenge I expect at least two of their three opponents to overcome and
advance at their expense. As Juventus is led by former Real Madrid and current overall legend
Cristiano Ronaldo, there is no love lost between Juventus and Atlético Madrid. This is especially true
considering the Italian giants knocked out the Spanish side in last year’s Champions League. Another fun storyline between the two is the battle between Portugal’s present (Cristiano Ronaldo) vs Portugal's future (Joao Felix). Regardless of how that battle pans out, I predict they'll advance (with Juventus finishing top) and despite Bayer Leverkusen's efforts, they'll come up just short.
challenge. However, it is a challenge I expect at least two of their three opponents to overcome and
advance at their expense. As Juventus is led by former Real Madrid and current overall legend
Cristiano Ronaldo, there is no love lost between Juventus and Atlético Madrid. This is especially true
considering the Italian giants knocked out the Spanish side in last year’s Champions League. Another fun storyline between the two is the battle between Portugal’s present (Cristiano Ronaldo) vs Portugal's future (Joao Felix). Regardless of how that battle pans out, I predict they'll advance (with Juventus finishing top) and despite Bayer Leverkusen's efforts, they'll come up just short.
Group E Prediction: 1st Liverpool 2nd Napoli 3rd Salzburg 4th Genk
Defending Champions Liverpool have a lot to prove as their manager Jurgen Klopp has put his trust
on the same core of players while many clubs around them have added to their squads. An example
of that is Napoli, with additions such as Kostas Manolas and Hirving Lozano being expected to help
them close the gap against Juventus in the Serie A front while avenge their Group Stage exit last year
in this competition. RB Salzburg and Genk are scrappy underdogs with some interesting attacking
talents, but Liverpool and Napoli are still favorites to advance, with Liverpool coming out on top.
on the same core of players while many clubs around them have added to their squads. An example
of that is Napoli, with additions such as Kostas Manolas and Hirving Lozano being expected to help
them close the gap against Juventus in the Serie A front while avenge their Group Stage exit last year
in this competition. RB Salzburg and Genk are scrappy underdogs with some interesting attacking
talents, but Liverpool and Napoli are still favorites to advance, with Liverpool coming out on top.
Group F Prediction: 1st Barcelona 2nd Dortmund 3rd Inter 4th Slavia
Many fans consider this a group of death because in terms of global name recognition and reputation,
Barcelona, Dortmund, and Inter trump just about any other trio from any other group in this year’s
Champions League. Between Lionel Messi, Jadon Sancho, and Diego Godin, there’s a lot of world
class players in this group. Barcelona have the most of them though, so I think despite the challenges
the others (not named Slavia Prague, who look dead and buried before a ball’s even been kicked)
present to the Catalan side, they should ultimately pass them. Dortmund and Inter both have a good
chance to advance, but ultimately Dortmund’s just a step above the Italians at the moment.
Barcelona, Dortmund, and Inter trump just about any other trio from any other group in this year’s
Champions League. Between Lionel Messi, Jadon Sancho, and Diego Godin, there’s a lot of world
class players in this group. Barcelona have the most of them though, so I think despite the challenges
the others (not named Slavia Prague, who look dead and buried before a ball’s even been kicked)
present to the Catalan side, they should ultimately pass them. Dortmund and Inter both have a good
chance to advance, but ultimately Dortmund’s just a step above the Italians at the moment.
Group G Prediction: 1st RB Leipzig 2nd Benfica 3rd Lyon 4th Zenit
On the surface, this should be the worst group. After all, how many jerseys of these clubs do you see
on the streets? Probably not many unless you live near their respective home grounds. However, the
possibilities of this group are very open. This is the only group where the Pot 1 team (Zenit, champions
of Russia) are not really favorites by any means. In fact, they are the least likely to advance because
they haven’t performed well in the Champions League in recent attempts. RB Leipzig are off to a good
start in the Bundesliga with Benfica and Lyon also giving other teams hard times in recent Champions
League journeys, but with Lyon losing some key players this summer, I think RB Leipzig and Benfica
advance.
on the streets? Probably not many unless you live near their respective home grounds. However, the
possibilities of this group are very open. This is the only group where the Pot 1 team (Zenit, champions
of Russia) are not really favorites by any means. In fact, they are the least likely to advance because
they haven’t performed well in the Champions League in recent attempts. RB Leipzig are off to a good
start in the Bundesliga with Benfica and Lyon also giving other teams hard times in recent Champions
League journeys, but with Lyon losing some key players this summer, I think RB Leipzig and Benfica
advance.
Group H Prediction: 1st Chelsea 2nd Ajax 3rd Lille 4th Valencia
Unless your team was in the latter stages of the Champions League last season, there was a good
chance you were rooting for Ajax. They were the underdogs that made an impressive Cinderella run
last season, but don’t tell them that. They are Davids that play like Goliaths. And even though
Matthias De Ligt and Frenkie de Jong left the club for Juventus and Barcelona respectively last
season, there’s still a sense of confidence and optimism about them. The same can be said about
every club in this group, but particularly Chelsea. Christian Pulisic, Tammy Abraham, and Mason
Mount are tasked with picking up where Eden Hazard left off, but so far they’ve proven capable.
I give Chelsea the slight edge over Ajax but both should advance, though Lille and Valencia will
make them work.
chance you were rooting for Ajax. They were the underdogs that made an impressive Cinderella run
last season, but don’t tell them that. They are Davids that play like Goliaths. And even though
Matthias De Ligt and Frenkie de Jong left the club for Juventus and Barcelona respectively last
season, there’s still a sense of confidence and optimism about them. The same can be said about
every club in this group, but particularly Chelsea. Christian Pulisic, Tammy Abraham, and Mason
Mount are tasked with picking up where Eden Hazard left off, but so far they’ve proven capable.
I give Chelsea the slight edge over Ajax but both should advance, though Lille and Valencia will
make them work.
Bonus Trivia
Number of clubs per country
England (4): Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham
Germany (4): Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig
Italy (4): Atalanta, Inter Milan, Juventus, Napoli
Spain (4): Atlético Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Valencia
France (3): Lille, Olympique Lyon, Paris Saint-Germain
Belgium (2): Club Brugge, Gent
Russia (2): Lokomotiv Moscow, Zenit St. Petersburg
Austria (1): Red Bull Salzburg
Croatia (1): Dinamo Zagreb
Czech Republic (1): Slavia Prague
Greece (1): Olympiakos
Netherlands (1): Ajax
Portugal (1): Benfica
Serbia (1): Red Star Belgrade
Turkey (1): Galatasaray
Ukraine (1): Shakhtar Donetsk
Early Pick to Win
In my opinion, the contenders this season for the Champions League are Atlético Madrid, Barcelona
, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Real Madrid,
with the likes of Chelsea, Napoli, and Tottenham on the outside looking in. As of now, I think the team
best position to win the title is Juventus. They have some defensive issues still to sort out, but if
Matthias De Ligt plays as well for Juventus as he did for Ajax last season, Cristiano Ronaldo can
continue to produce like he has virtually his entire career, and the rest of their talented team with
players such as Alex Sandro, Giorgio Chiellini, Miralem Pjanic, and Paulo Dybala stay fit and in form
as well, they’ll be very difficult to stop. However, this is a tough competition and a lot can change
between now and May.
, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Real Madrid,
with the likes of Chelsea, Napoli, and Tottenham on the outside looking in. As of now, I think the team
best position to win the title is Juventus. They have some defensive issues still to sort out, but if
Matthias De Ligt plays as well for Juventus as he did for Ajax last season, Cristiano Ronaldo can
continue to produce like he has virtually his entire career, and the rest of their talented team with
players such as Alex Sandro, Giorgio Chiellini, Miralem Pjanic, and Paulo Dybala stay fit and in form
as well, they’ll be very difficult to stop. However, this is a tough competition and a lot can change
between now and May.
With all that said, you should be prepared to follow the UEFA Champions League Action Tuesdays
and Wednesdays through TNT and Univision (Spanish), with complete coverage provided by the
Bleacher Report Live streaming service.
and Wednesdays through TNT and Univision (Spanish), with complete coverage provided by the
Bleacher Report Live streaming service.
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