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The biggest competition in club football has returned. The Champions League is set to be underway in just five days and I couldn’t be happier. This is the time of the year where fans like myself can switch constantly from football to football (haha, get it). 32 teams will chase the chance to hold Europe’s biggest trophy over the span of the next eight months. Today, I will be giving my predictions to who will get to the Round of 16 and who will get sent to Europa League. Let’s get into it.

Group A Winner: Liverpool

Now while Liverpool will be the likely favorites to go through, after winning all six games in the “Group of Death” last year, this will not be a cakewalk for the Reds. Napoli have been known to cause the English giants problems every time they’ve faced off. Ajax, the Dutch Champions, have an incredible young squad that can surprise you at any moment and Rangers are off the back of a Europa League final appearance. Ajax is coming off an amazing campaign last year but after losing Erik ten Hag, Sebastien Haller, Andre Onana, Lisandro Martinez, Antony, Noussair Mazraoui and Ryan Gravenberch they will have difficulty performing to their previous level. Napoli have discovered a new wonder-kid in Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Rangers will host Champions League matches for the first time in 12 years, so expect fireworks in the group stage. The Reds are currently very, very injured but they are slowly but surely getting back to full fitness and that will do them wonders as they embark on their European journey. The loan signing of Arthur Melo from Juventus will provide some great depth for Jurgen Klopp’s men. Darwin Núñez returns to the competition that he scored six goals for Benfica last year. I see Liverpool taking double digits from this group and moving on to the Round of 16.

Predicted order

1. Liverpool
2. Napoli
3. Ajax (Europa League)
4. Rangers

Group B Winner: Atlético Madrid

If there’s one thing that Diego Simeone knows how to do, it is reach the knockout stages of Champions League. Atléti haven’t had the biggest transfer window, but they made some signings that will instantly impact their side including Nahuel Molina and Alvaro Morata (end of loan). This group isn’t one for star power but there could be a side in here that make a surprise run in the knockout stages. Bayer Leverkusen are a side that have always been a competitor in Europe and are known to make a push in recent competitions. Club Brugge are the team that is being overlooked the most, but they are the Belgian Champions and may be good for an upset or two this year. Speaking of Champions, Porto reigned over Portugal and won the league last year even after losing Luis Diaz in January to Liverpool. Regardless of all that, I still think Simeone’s men will prevail and finish top of the group.

Predicted order

1. Atlético Madrid
2. Bayer 04 Leverkusen
3. Porto (Europa League)
4. Club Brugge

Group C Winner: Bayern Munich

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you… the Group of Death. Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Inter Milan and… Viktoria Plzen. We all know what happened when Bayern faced off against Barcelona in Champions League, but this time both sides have some new players that will take over the fixtures. Sadio Mané has arrived from Liverpool and has already scored five goals for the German Champions. Meanwhile in Catalonia, former Bayern Munich superstar Robert Lewandowski will face off against his old side as he will try to help the blaugrana forget about the 8-2 loss they suffered two years ago. While Barca and Bayern will get the most attention, Inter Milan will be lurking in the shadows trying to make it into the knockout stages for the first time since the 2011/12 season. As for Viktoria Plzen, we’ll just pray for them.

Predicted order

1. Bayern Munich
2. Barcelona
3. Inter Milan (Europa League)
4. Viktoria Plzen

Group D Winner: Tottenham

Now this isn’t the most polarizing group of all time, but all teams are solid. Spurs are obviously a club to keep an eye on considering the great business they’ve done in this window bringing in players such as Yves Bissouma, Richarlison, Djed Spence and Ivan Perišić. The look like the favorites so far but I wouldn’t be surprised if the other three clubs give them problems. Eintracht Frankfurt, last year’s Europa League champions, are definitely a team that fits that build. Despite losing Kostic, Franfkurt are still a threat with players like Kamada, Knauff and Kolo Muani in the final third. Sporting Lisbon lost Matheus Nunes to Wolves this window but the atmosphere at the José Alvalade Stadium can throw off any team. And don’t forget about Ligue 1 runner-ups Marseille. Despite losing Bamba Dieng today to OGC Nice, they brought in some quality players in the summer like Alexis Sanchez, Jordan Veretout, Eric Bailly and Chancel Mbemba.

Predicted order:

1. Tottenham
2. Marseille
3. Eintracht Frankfurt (Europa League)
4. Sporting Lisbon

Group E Winner: Milan

While many people will automatically vote for Chelsea to top the group, I am going with the Rossoneri to top Group E. They are coming off their first Scudetto in over 10 years and their squad got even better with the addition of Belgians Divock Origi and Charles De Keteleare. Chelsea have also been spending quite a lot of money in the transfer window after losing out on multiple targets to Barcelona. However, I can’t trust a team that mainly plays Kai Havertz as their striker. If you watch Chelsea the last couple of weeks they are very inconsistent in the attack and that is concerning considering the level of Champions League play. Two more things to keep your eye on in this group is Salzburg striker Benjamin Šeško and a possible surprise upset by Dinamo Zagreb of one of the two top teams at their home stadium in Croatia. Salzburg reached the last 16 for the first time in their history last year so they will try to carry that momentum from last year into this very tough group for them.

Predicted order

1. Milan
2. Chelsea
3. RB Salzburg (Europa League)
4. Dinamo Zagreb

Group F Winner: Real Madrid

I mean, what other pick would there be? The reigning champions of both the Champions League and LaLiga dealt with an “easier” group then most in the competition. However, let us not forget that the same Madrid side that won the Champions League last year also lost to Moldovan side Sheriff. Madrid will be tasked with facing German side RB Leipzig, Scottish Champions Celtic and Ukrainian side Shakhtar. Major props to Shakhtar for being able to compete in this considering the difficulties that they have been facing in Ukraine this year. Future Ballon D’Or winner Karim Benzema will once again dominate this competition and Madrid will find themselves flying to the top of the group. I do want to see how fellow Frenchmen Christopher Nkunku does in his second year as Leipzig’s frontman, especially now alongside new signing Timo Werner.

Predicted order

1. Real Madrid
2. RB Leipzig
3. Celtic (Europa League)
4. Shakhtar Donetsk

Group G Winner: Manchester City

As much as it pains me to say, Erling Haaland is an absolute monster. However, every football fan with a working brain knew that he was going to dominate like this. In the machine known as Pep Guardiola’s team, Haaland has put himself in the best position to succeed. And after scoring back-to-back hat-trick’s in the league, it’s looking like the Norwegian isn’t stopping any time soon. As for the other teams in the group, Borussia Dortmund will be facing their former star in Haaland for the first time and perennial Europa League winners Sevilla will try to do their best to not add on to their reputation of never being able to make it out of the group stage. As for Copenhagen, I just hope that they are doing their daily prayers from now. Haaland will dominate this group but for me, I’ll be keeping my eyes on Jude Bellingham the most. Come to Liverpool son. You know it’s the best club in the world for you. We waiting on summer 2023.

Predicted order

1. Manchester City
2. Borussia Dortmund
3. Sevilla (Europa League)
4. Copenhagen

Group H Winner: PSG

Will this be the year that PSG finally win the Champions League? We don’t know that just yet but we almost know that they will guarantee to get out of this group. Carlos Soler, Renato Sanches, Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha and Nordi Mukiele have all joined the Parisians this summer. Juventus will definitely pose a threat but I don’t think that they will be able to steal the top spot in the group from them. Benfica is another solid side but they are simply not at the levels of PSG or Juventus. And Maccabi Haifa will not earn more then four points in this group in my opinion. Messi, Neymar and Mbappe will go for it all once again. This time they will hope not to choke against Real Madrid once again.

Predicted order

1. PSG
2. Juventus
3. Benfica
4. Maccabi Haifa

This is my first article in I think over a week which is pretty long for what I’ve been putting out. I started a new job this week and I’ve been going crazy on the YouTube uploads lately so you guys go and check that out. More videos and articles on the way soon, including my NFL predictions. Let’s hope for another beautiful season of Champions League football. This is YSN, until next time, signing out.