It is that time in the footballing calendar, where the football elites find out who they are clashing against in this year’s Champions League. Will it be a 3rd in a row, for current champions Real Madrid or will a new team take the crown from the reigning champions.
Last years runners-up Liverpool, have made use of the recent transfer window and boosted their defence between the sticks by replacing the villian of the 2018 final Loris Karuis and replacing him with former Roma and current Brazillian No.1 keeper Allison Becker. Could this change take Liverpool all the way to the final again this year? We shall soon find out.
This years Champions League draw took place in Monaco, with the UEFA Player of the Year going to Real Madrid’s Luka Modrić and Gongs handed out to fellow teammates Keylor Navas, Sergio Ramos, former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo and Women’s Player of the Year Pernille Harder. Then it was time for the draw.
Group A consists of the Europa League champions Athletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Monaco and Club Brugge. My prediction for the two teams to go through are Athletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund
Group B consists of Spanish La Liga Champions Barcelona, Englands Tottenham, PSV and Internazionale. I predict that Barcelona will finish comfortably in first place while Tottenham takes second.
Group C consists of French Ligue 1 Champions PSG, final runner-ups Liverpool, Napoli and Crvena Zvezda. This group is without a doubt the toughest in this year’s Champions League and to be honest it could go either way with the top three teams. So I’m predicting PSG and LIverpool going through the group.
Group D consists of Lokomotiv Moskvva, Porto,Schalke and Galatasaray and frankly the least exicitng group in this years Champions League but none the less I’ll give my prediction. Porto and Schalke are my two teams to go through.
Group E contains German Bundesligas Champions Bayern Munich, Benefica, Ajax and AEK. With Bayern Munich’s consist presence in the knock out stages each year gives me the confidence to say that Bayern Munich will top the group and it would be between Benefica and Ajax for second.
Group F contains English Premier League Champions Manchester City, Shaktar Donetsk, Lyon and Hoffenheim. Guardiolas team was a formidable force in the premier league last season but fell short against Liverpool but I see them going through their group and mounting a challenge this season. Manchester City and Lyon are more likely to go through.
Group G consists of the current champions Real Madrid,Roma, CSKA Moskva and Plzen. With the experience Real Madrid have in the champions league its no doubt they are strong contenders this season even without their star man Cristanio Ronaldo. Even though he didn’t really do much in the last final. Real Madrid and Roma will probably progress
Last but not least Group H which consist of Italian Serie A champions Juventus, Manchester United, Valencia and Young Boys. Its a return for United favourite and Juve new boy Cristanio Ronaldo at Old Trafford, its alsoa fixture that will reunite Paul Pogba with his former employers and team mates.It should be an exciting game. However United form at the start of this season has come into question and I doubt they will make it through to the knock stages.But you can’t underestimate the “Special One”. Saying that ill give Manchester United the benefit of the doubt, so I predict it will be Juventus and Manchester United who progress to the next phase
Looking forward to this seasons Champions League because I think this years winner could be any team.
