Blog

It has been just over two weeks since UEFA announced the groups for this years Champions League. In between that day was arguably the biggest move of this years transfer window. Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Manchester United after 12 years. And this year was, in my opinion, the craziest transfer window ever. Two of the best players ever, Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, both moved clubs, changing the course of world football as we know it. Big-time players like Romelu Lukaku, Sergio Ramos, Antoine Griezmann, and Jack Grealish have all left their respective clubs. You know what’s the one thing in common about all the players listed so far in this article? They are all playing in this years Champions League. The world’s biggest tournament is set to be one of the biggest ever and the groups haven’t disappointed. Today I’m going to point out five specific things you should be looking out for this season in Champions League. After I list those five, I will be giving my predictions to who will win the whole thing. Let’s get it.

1. How will the PSG super-team do?

Look at the picture above. Those are five players that PSG brought in this summer. Each of these players are at least top 10 best in their respective positions. DO you know how much this photo cost for PSG? $66 Million. That’s it. The only player in that picture that was not brought in on a free transfer is Moroccan right-back Achraf Hakimi, who arrived from Inter Milan in Italy for that $66 million. In addition to those five players pictured above, the club also acquired 19 year-old Portuguese left back Nuno Mendes from Sporting Lisbon on deadline day. A front three of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar Jr., and Lionel Messi. How can this team lose? This is definitely one of the greatest club teams ever assembled in world football and I can’t wait to see what they are going to do in this tournament. They have a pretty difficult group with Manchester City, RB Leipzig, & Club Brugge. However, they should still be able to top the group. I’m expecting a title run and nothing less. And I don’t think I’m the only one with those expectations. They are big shoes to fill, but these are the players you want to have in these type of situations.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo returning to the Champions League for Manchester United

Let me just break this down for you. Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Mason Greenwood, and Cristiano Ronaldo. What in the world is going on at Old Trafford? Four words… Ole’s at the wheel. Their group isn’t impossible to top, containing Atalanta, Villareal, and BSC Young Boys. With the healthy front three of Rashford, Sancho, and Ronaldo, I don’t see any back four in this group truly stopping this team. The midfield creation of both Bruno and Pogba is going to be insane. By the way, I’m a Liverpool fan. This is just true unbiased fan talk right here. I’m truly excited to see CR7 back at Old Trafford.

3. Haaland’s last dance for Borussia Dortmund

It’s well-known in the football world that Erling Haaland will leave Borussia Dortmund soon for his next biggest step. Christian Vieri recently said that Haaland to Real Madrid is “100% done”. Haaland is only 21 years old. He’s played in 16 games with 20 goals in the Champions League. On the world’s biggest stage, Haaland does not shy away at all. Dortmund will definitely have an interesting group with Beşiktaş, Sporting Lisbon, and Ajax. They should be able to top the group, especially with the addition of Donyell Malen from PSV. I expect 10+ goals in Champions League from this Norwegian beast this season.

4. How will Liverpool do in the Group of Death?

The 2019 UCL Champions have now been “rewarded” with the Group of Death this year. The group includes former UCL final opponent AC Milan, the team that knocked them out in 2020 Atlético Madrid, and the team that upset Juventus last year, FC Porto. With a now healthy squad, Jurgen Klopp & Co. will be looking to avenge their early exits in the last two tournaments. Liverpool have a deep group, but with their limited spending in this past window it’s going to be very difficult to repeat that 2018/19 UCL run to glory.

5. How will Barcelona do without Messi and Griezmann?

If you lose Lionel Messi, you’re bound to have a lot of new disappointments and challenges as a club. You’re losing one of the greatest players, arguably the greatest, of all-time. In addition to Messi leaving, Barcelona will also be without right-back Emerson Royal (Tottenham), Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid), and Junior Firpo (Leeds United). Sergio Aguero also recently picked up an injury that will keep him out for at least five more weeks. The reigns are now being handed to newly acquired attacker Memphis Depay, midfielder Frenkie de Jong, and young star Ansu Fati who was recently awarded the number 10 shirt. Their group consists of their old friends Bayern Munich, Portuguese giants Benfica, and Ukraine side Dynamo Kiev. This is a group where the Catalan club should be able to get out of, but without Lionel Messi you never know. I’m excited to see how they fare this year.

YSN 2021/22 Champions League Predictions

Group A

1. PSG
2. Manchester City
3. RB Leipzig
4. Club Brugge

Group B

1. Liverpool
2. Atlético Madrid
3. AC Milan
4. FC Porto

Group C

1. Borussia Dortmund
2. Sporting Lisbon
3. Ajax
4. Beşiktaş

Group D

1. Real Madrid
2. Inter Milan
3. Shakhtar Donetsk
4. Sheriff

Group E

1. Bayern Munich
2. FC Barcelona
3. Benfica
4. Dynamo Kiev

Group F

1. Manchester United
2. Atalanta
3. Villareal
4. BSC Young Boys

Group G

1. Sevilla
2. LOSC Lille
3. VfL Wolfsburg
4. RB Salzburg

Group H

1. Chelsea
2. Juventus
3. Zenit St. Petersburg
4. Malmö

Final Prediction: PSG vs. Manchester United: PSG wins 2-1

It’s really hard to predict Champions League knockout rounds before the draws come out because you truly don’t know who’s going to play who. However, I know for sure that this is the final that I want to see. Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Lionel Messi one more time. These are the two most stacked teams in the tournament and I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds. I obviously want Liverpool to go all the way, but it will be a very difficult journey. Until the knockout stages, this is YSN, signing out.