Champions League Preview and Predictions - Week 1

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The Champions League starts tonight and there are some cracking games in Week 1 of the competition. After Chelsea, somewhat surprisingly to some, beat Man City in the final last year, both of these teams have to be up there as favourites this season. Alongside them, I really don't think you can rule out PSG this year after their recruitment over the summer. Then there is Ronaldo at United, a very strong Atletico Madrid side riding high from claiming the La Liga title and Bayern Munich are dismantling teams in the Bundesliga. I think it is extremely open this year and it will be interesting to see how the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus do given they are not the beasts they used to be.

So let's get into my group by group preview and predictions...

 

Group A
Prediction: 1. PSG 2. Man City 3. RB Leipzig 4. Club Brugge

A cracking group to start with two of the big favourites for the Champions League this season drawn together in the same group. 

Let's start with PSG, who I think will finish top of this group. All the talk will be about the trio of Messi, Neymar and Mbappe but it is the sheer strength in depth PSG have across their squad which catapults them to the top of this group for me. They have had a fairly easy start in Ligue 1 but that shouldn't take away from the ease in which they are dismantling their opponents so far. Even without Messi and Neymar they smashed Clermont 4-0 at the weekend. And yes... it is only Clermont but this is the same Clermont that stuck three goals past Lyon earlier in the season and have started the season fairly well. I just think with the strength of their front three and the depth they have across midfield and defence, PSG are going to be a force, and that is why I predict they will finish top of this group.

Now Man City could easily finish top of this group as well. In all likelihood, both PSG and Man City will beat RB Leipzig and Club Brugge in both their games against them. That leaves the two matches between PSG and Man City being fundamental to who finishes top of this group. While I admire Man City and the way they play, I just don't think you can get away for this long without a striker. I know if anyone can do it Guardiola can but the lack of someone up top will cost them in the big games. It will be close but Man City are finishing second in this group for me. 

RB Leipzig finished second in the Bundesliga last season but they have lost a few players over the summer. They have had a difficult start to their league season playing the likes of Bayern and Wolfsburg but they haven't looked anywhere near as strong as they were in the last campaign. Club Brugge are top of the Belgian league at the moment but it has still been a mixed start. They have conceded 11 goals already including a massive six goals against Gent. For that reason RB Leipzig are coming third and Club Brugge are coming fourth for me.

Week 1 Result Predictions: Man City 3 - 1 RB Leipzig, Club Brugge 0 - 4 PSG

 

Group B
Prediction: 1. Atletico Madrid 2. AC Milan 3. Liverpool 4. Porto

For me this is the group that will be one of the closest. I believe any of these teams can beat each other on their day. Slightly biased to put Liverpool third in this group... but what you gonna do?

Atletico Madrid, on the back of winning La Liga last season, have started well and are unbeaten in their first four league games. While they haven't been totally convincing so far I still think they have the quality in their starting line up to finish top of this group. I am excited to see Griezmann and Suarez together and I reckon it is only a matter of time before they start linking up and scoring more goals. Correa has had a great start to his campaign, netting three goals in their opening four fixtures. They have a good record in the Champions League group stages, progressing from six of their last seven appearances. I am going with them to finish top but it will be mighty close.

Now AC Milan have had a perfect start to their Serie A campaign and have only conceded one goal so far in the competition. I believe, after a few years of mediocrity, that this AC Milan side could be on their way up. In Tonali they have one of the great young central midfielders and any team with a strike force that includes Zlatan and Olivier Giroud is going to do well. Again, this group is going to be super close but I think Milan could surprise a few people and sneak through in second in Group B.

Yes, I am an Everton fan and so yes this is the main reason I have predicted Liverpool to finish third. In all honesty they are probably going to make me look silly, win all their games and win this group with ease. However, I don't like them and their fans should thank me that I didn't predict them to finish bottom of this group. Porto are one of my favourite European teams and while I think they may do well in a couple of their Champions League games, I can't see them finishing above any of the other three. 

Week 1 Result Predictions: Atletico Madrid 2- 1 Porto, Liverpool 1 - 1 AC Milan

 

Group C
Prediction: 1. Dortmund 2. Ajax 3. Sporting Lisbon 4. Besiktas

This will be a very close group and all four teams should be seeing this as a big opportunity to get through to the knockout stages.

Even though I think Dortmund will finish first in this group they need to get over their shaky start in the Bundesliga. They have only lost one game so far but they have conceded nine goals in their four league games. They rely so much on Haaland outscoring their opponent that the other three teams in this group should take heart that in that if they get at Dortmund they could score a few. However, the reason I believe Dortmund will win this group is that on paper they are too strong and the other three teams are just too far away in terms of quality on the pitch. 

It will be extremely close between Ajax and Sporting Lisbon for second spot in this group. Ajax have had a decent start to their season scoring 13 goals in their first four games. Sporting Lisbon under Ruben Amorim have gone 32 games unbeaten in the Portuguese league and his win percentage with the club is 70%. Both of these teams have the potential to upset Dortmund but I think they will just fall short. I am going for Ajax to finish second because of their history in the competition but with the run Sporting are on, they could easily cause a shock in this group. 

Besiktas are not a bad side and have started well this season without conceding a goal. It will be interesting to see how Batshuayi gets on, on loan from Chelsea. He scored a brace at the weekend and he will be eager to impress. That being said I think they will finish bottom of this group but like Ajax and Sporting they have a chance to shake things up a bit. 

Week 1 Result Predictions: Besiktas 1- 2 Dortmund, Sporting 1 - 1 Ajax

 

Group D
Prediction: 1. Inter 2. Real Madrid 3. Shakhtar 4. Sheriff

Like Group A, Group D contains two huge European sides and I can't see past either of them in
finishing in the top two positions of this group.

I am tentatively opting for Inter to finish top of this group. It is easy to look at Inter and think they might struggle this season due to losing players like Lukaku and Hakimi who were both instrumental in their Serie A league title winning season. They have recruited well however in Dumfries who was a standout performer for the Netherlands at the Euros and Correa on loan from Lazio who has netted a couple already. They are unbeaten in the league and they are still a very good side even with the players they lost in the summer. I just have a feeling they might do quite well.

Real Madrid are a difficult one and you can never write them off in Europe. I thought they might struggle this season (mostly because I hate Carlo Ancelotti) but they have started at a pace scoring goals for fun in La Liga. 13 goals so far in four games with nine of those coming from Benzema and Vinicius Junior. Benzema is such a key player in this Madrid side and if he can continue to bang them in, they should easily progress from this group. Carmavinga is a cracking signing and if Bale starts getting more game time then they are a scary proposition. The first game between Inter and Madrid will be interesting to see who might come out on top in this group. 

Shakhtar have started the season unbeaten with 16 points from their first seven games in Ukraine. They won't find it easy against Sheriff who are the first Moldovan team to ever play in the Champions League or European Cup. Shakhtar should have enough about them to finish third and secure a place in the Europa League knockout stage but they shouldn't be troubling the top two in this group. Good luck to Sheriff, they are going to need it, but this will be a fantastic experience for their fans at the Sheriff Stadium.

Week 1 Result Predictions: Sheriff 0-0 Shakhtar, Inter 2 - 2 Real Madrid

 

Group E
Prediction: 1. Bayern 2. Benfica 3. Barcelona 4. Dynamo Kyiv

There is a reason Bayern Munich are one of the favourites for the Champions League this season and I think this could be the year Barcelona don't make the knockout stages. 

Bayern are ripping apart opposition in the Bundesliga so far this season. They are coming off the back of two emphatic wins against Hertha Berlin and RB Leipzig. Confident is high and Nagelsmann must be very happy with the start he has had at the helm. Lewandowski is the best striker in world football, to that there is no doubt (Lukaku is close) and he has already stuck away six goals - one more than Haaland. Defensively very strong and going forward with Sane on one side and Gnabry the other, they are a frightening team. For me, they take this group and it wouldn't surprise me if they do that with a 100% record.

I will get on to Barcelona in a bit as controversially I have tipped Benfica to pip them to second place. Now considering Benfica finished third in Portugal last season and had to go through the qualifiers for the Champions League, this prediction could look ridiculous. However, in their nine competitive games this season they are unbeaten having won eight of them and scoring at least two goals in all but one of those games. They have started this season in blistering form and given they have played more games than most teams at this stage of the season, I have a feeling they will be ready to cause a few upsets. 

Any team that is managed by Ronald Koeman shouldn't be looked on particularly highly. He was dreadful at Everton and, while it isn't his fault that Barcelona are capitulating behind the scenes, I just can't see him seeing this season through. What I have seen of them so far this season, even though they are unbeaten, hasn't excited me particularly. I am a big fan of Depay, and Pedri is a huge talent, but they are reeling from the loss of Messi. I have a little feeling that they will struggle in this group and Benfica will be there to take their position. 

Dynamo Kyiv are not just there to make up the numbers and they have scored at an average of more than three goals per game to start this season. Scoring goals and winning most weeks is what they are going to get in Ukraine though and unfortunately for them they have been dealt a very difficult group.

Week 1 Result Predictions: Barcelona 2-4 Bayern, Dynamo Kyiv 1 - 2 Benfica

 

Group F
Prediction: 1. Man United 2. Atalanta 3. Villareal 4. Young Boys

SIUUUU. The return of Ronaldo at the weekend was met with huge celebrations in the red half of Manchester. He will want this so much and I can't see beyond them in Group F.

Do I think Ronaldo is what Man United need to win the Premier League this season? No. Do I think they will be a better team with him? Yes. It was interesting to hear Neville and Carragher debate this last night on MNF. I have to say, I sided more with Carragher (even though it pains me to say it). Ronaldo is one of the greatest players of all time and there is no doubt he will win games by himself this season. Yet, I still think this team lacks a central midfielder and I do think they are still a tad weak defensively. That being said they should walk this group and easily make it to the knockout stages. They are a strong outfit and as long as Pogba and Greenwood stay in form then I think they could do well. Is it easier to win the Champions League than the Premier League? I think it is. I don't think they will finish above Chelsea or Man City in the league but I do think this team could be a dark horse for the Champions League. If you can call a team with a Ronaldo a dark horse.

I am a big fan of Atalanta but they have had a pretty poor start to their Serie A campaign. I am taking a punt on them finishing second due to their performances in Europe over the past two seasons that has seen them qualify from their groups. Villareal have had an equally poor start to La Liga, drawing all three games so far. The Europa League winners would love to use the Champions League as a catalyst in getting their season fully started but I can't quite see them making it through this group. Dropping down to the Europa League isn't necessarily a bad thing though and they would love to have the chance to retain that trophy should they finish third in this group.

Young Boys are just not strong enough and will find this incredibly difficult. However, they could play a big part in who finishes second between Atalanta and Villareal. Any points they are able to take from these two teams could really make a difference.

Week 1 Result Predictions: Young Boys 0-3 Man United, Villareal 2 - 2 Atalanta

Group G
Prediction: 1. Salzburg 2. Wolfsburg 3. Sevilla 4. Lille

Yawn. This is a weak group. Now I have said that, watch this be the most entertaining. Given that all four teams will think they can get through, it might just be a cracker. 

Salzburg are an entertaining team to watch and they have made a perfect start to the season winning all seven of their league games. Not only that they have now won 15 competitive games in a row and they will hope to bring that form into the Champions League. Of clubs that have played more than two campaigns in the Champions League they have the highest totals goals per game at 3.7. Whatever happens, I can see a lot of goals in this group. I am going for them to finish top as more of a wish than a prediction but if they can get Adeyemi firing as he is in the league, then they have got a real chance. Side note, he is my young player to watch this season. He won't be at Salzburg for long.

As I have said, any of these teams could qualify from this group. I am opting for Wolfsburg to join Salzburg merely because of their start to the season. They are top of the Bundesliga with a 100% record and they are a dangerous opponent on their day. Sevilla will arguably be the most confident of progressing in this group, given their record in Europe and there would be no surprises should they finish top. I think it easy to predict them to win this group which is why I have shaken it up a bit in my predictions here. Lille may have won Ligue 1 last season but they have not had a good start in their defence of that trophy. Eight points from five games so far and they may need to concentrate more on their league form rather than worrying about a competition they have no chance of winning. 

Week 1 Result Predictions: Sevilla 2-2 Salzburg, Lille 0 - 1 Wolfsburg

 

Group H
Prediction: 1. Chelsea 2. Juventus 3. Zenit 4. Malmo

Finally in Group H we have the team I think will win the Champions League. For me, Chelsea are going to retain the trophy.

I like Lampard but he was out of his depth at Chelsea. When they hired Tuchel I have to say I was one of the doubters. Yet, the difference he has made to this team is nothing short of incredible. Had he been the manager at the start of last season I think we could have been looking at not only the Champions of Europe but the Premier League Champions as well. In Lukaku they have secured one of the most lethal strikers in world football. The work he has done on his game since he last played in England is sensational. At Everton we thought he was fantastic but needed to work on his touch and overall work ethic, he has certainly done that. It was the one thing Chelsea were really lacking last season and with Lukaku I think they are the strongest outfit in Europe at the moment. They should comfortably win this group and Chelsea fans should be very excited for the season ahead.

Juventus are not the team they once were. They were miles behind in Serie A last season and only just qualified for the Champions League. Their form from last year has carried over into this year and they are winless in the league with only one point from three games. Luckily for Juve, aside from Chelsea they should feel confident in beating Zenit and Malmo but if you are looking for a shock exit in one of these groups, it might just be here. 

Zenit being based in Russia means that they are already ahead of most other teams in Europe in terms of match fitness. Their season started in July and they have made a decent start, unbeaten in their eight games and winning six of them. They could push Juve for the second qualifying position and I would not rule them out. Malmo are the most successful side in Sweden but I can't see much success from them here. Although, any shock results for them and they could have a say on who finishes behind Chelsea in this group.

Week 1 Result Predictions: Chelsea 3-0 Zenit, Malmo 0 - 2 Juventus

 

Let me know what you think of my predictions and how you think teams will do as the Champions League kicks off tonight.