The Champions League is back this week for the 2021-22 season. In this post I've given my predictions for the group stages and how far each team will roughly go.
GROUP A:
Club Brugge
The Belgian champions will be massive underdogs in this group as they haven't got the quality of the other teams. They never do well in this competition because of that and I can see that being the case for them again.
VERDICT: Group Stage
Man City
City will be desperate to win it this year after losing in the final last season which will surely give them the hunger and desire to go for it again. They'll be in and around there again this year but without a top class striker in their side, I think they'll fall short again.
VERDICT: Semi Finals/Final
PSG
The Parisians probably had the best transfer window out of all the clubs in Europe because of the players they brought in with Messi being the main standout. They look solid at the back with the experience of Sergio Ramos and keeper Donnarumma plus with Messi in a front three with Neymar and Mbappe, they're 100% favourites.
VERDICT: Winners
RB Leipzig
Leipzig have caused upsets in this tournament for the last two seasons and got out of a tough group last season. But with Julian Nagelsmann gone alongside Marcel Sabitzer, defying the odds could be difficult for them this season. Especially with two of the teams looking very strong.
VERDICT: Europa League
GROUP B:
Atletico Madrid
Atletico will be the favourites in this group having won La Liga last season and are looking really strong this season. Especially with Antoine Griezmann back at the club. They look strong in all areas like they usually do under Diego Simeone and with that they should reach at least the Quarters. But not quite the Semis.
VERDICT: Quarter Finals
Porto
Porto never really go far in this competition but they usually have enough to get out their group. As they're in a really tough group this time round, I can't see them making it out the group.
VERDICT: Group Stages
Liverpool
The reds may not have made too many signings during the summer, but they will still fancy their chances due to their record in this competition. They may have the toughest draw out of all the English sides, but they should have enough quality to go beyond the last 16.
VERDICT: Quarter Finals
AC Milan
The seven time winners are back in Europe's elite competition after a tough few seasons. It's good to have a club of their stature back in this competition but I think their return will be short lived as there are two teams better than them.
VERDICT: Europa League
Group C:
Ajax
Ajax have been disappointing in this competition for the last two seasons since reaching the semi finals back in 2019. They have been in tough groups for the last two seasons but with their quality they should've qualified from them. They should qualify from this group as it doesn't look very strong and they look stronger than at least two of the teams.
VERDICT: Last 16
Besiktas
The Turkish champions are the underdogs in this group but they do have a couple of proven Champions League players in Miralem Pjanic and Michy Batshuayi who are both on loan at the club. This group may not be the strongest, but I still think Besiktas will go home early as they don't have the quality of the other sides in their group.
VERDICT: Group Stage
Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund may have lost Jadon Sancho during the summer, but they still have Erling Haaland who will once again be crucial to their chances. They should have enough to get out of the group but going beyond the last 16 is a big ask as they don't look watertight in defence at all.
VERDICT: Last 16
Sporting Lisbon
Sporting only lost once during their Primeira Liga title win last season as they only conceded just 20 goals. They never go far in this competition so we should expect the same from them again this season. They're solid defensively but going forward there are two teams better than them.
VERDICT: Europa League
Group D
Inter Milan
The Serie A champions haven't fared well in this competition since their return in 2018 as they've gone out at the group stages in each of the last three seasons. However things should be different this time round as they're in a easier group. They may have lost Romelu Lukaku, but they still have a decent team and because of that they should get of this group. But not quite beyond the last 16.
VERDICT: Last 16
Real Madrid
Real haven't been the same team they were for a few seasons and have been dealt a massive blow in defence following the departures of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane. They do have enough quality in the other areas which should see them out the group but the loss of their two best centre backs will be a assive blow to their chances of going far.
VERDICT: Last 16
Shakhtar Donetsk
Shakhtar never go far in this competition and that's normally the case for Ukrainian sides. It will be the case for them again this season as there are two sides better than them in their group who will go through. They'll get a place in the Europa League knockout stages but reaching the last 16 looks unlikely.
VERDICT: Europa League
Sheriff Tiraspol
The Moldovan champions are in this stage of the Champions League for the first time ever and are also the first club from Moldova to reach this stage. With their lack of experience at this level and the teams they've got to face at this stage of the competition, they'll surely be going home early.
VERDICT: Group Stage
Group E
Barcelona
Barca have a tough season ahead of them following the departure of Lionel Messi. They have made a couple of good signings in Memphis Depay and Sergio Aguero but the loss of Messi will and has hit them very hard. They'll still get out the group but I can't see them going very far.
VERDICT: Last 16
Benfica
Benfica have always had a good set of players over the years but haven't had the quality that the so called big teams have. They're once again in a difficult group and because of that they're going to have to settle with a place in the Europa League knockout stages.
VERDICT: Europa League
Dynamo Kiev
The Ukrainian champions are massive underdogs in this group like they are pretty much every season in this competition. They've never had the quality to compete in this competition and I can see that being the case for them again.
VERDICT: Group Stage
Bayern Munich
Bayern have one of the best squads in the competition and have plenty of quality in their attack. They'll have more than enough to reach the Quarter final stage, but new boss Julian Nagelsmann's young age and lack of experience at a top club could well cost them in the latter stages of the competition.
VERDICT: Quarter Finals/Semi Finals
Group F
Atalanta
Atalanta have been a surprise package since making their debut a couple of seasons ago as they've made it out the group stages on both occasions when not many expected them to. I can see them do that again because of their underdogs mentality which I can see them using once again this season.
VERDICT: Last 16
Man United
United have a strong squad this season and the return of Ronaldo will give them the belief that they can go far in this competition. They'll definitely get out the group because of the quality they have but I don't think they'll reach the semis as there are a few teams still better than them.
VERDICT: Quarter Finals
Villarreal
The Europa League winners haven't been in this competition for roughly 10 seasons and will want to give it a proper go after winning the Europa League last season. But as their squad isn't really Champions League quality, I think they'll fall short of a place in the knockout stages.
VERDICT: Europa League
Young Boys
The Swiss champions will be the underdogs in this group like they are every time they enter the competition at this stage. They never get past the group stage and I can see that being the case for them again this season.
VERDICT: Group Stage
Group G
Red Bull Salzburg
Salzburg will be underdogs in what seems to be the weakest group in the competition. They never seem to get out the group and I can see that being the case for them once again this season.
VERDICT: Group Stage
Lille
Lille were the surprise champions of Ligue 1 last season finishing above PSG which is some achievement. They have some good players in their squad and with their group not looking the strongest they should have enough quality to progress to the knockout stages.
VERDICT: Last 16
Sevilla
Sevilla will be seen as the favourites to get out of this group because of the experience they have in European competitions. They've been a regular in this competition over the last few seasons despite the odd success they've had in the Europa League and with the experience they have along with their quality they should top the group.
VERDICT: Last 16
Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg haven't been in this competition for a number of seasons and they surprised a few last season by finishing in the top four of the Bundesliga. Their current squad has very little experience in this competition and because of that I think they'll fall short.
VERDICT: Europa League
Group H
Chelsea
The defending champions will without a doubt be in contention again this season because of their strong squad and the fact that they won it last season. They look solid defensively, well drilled in midfield and with a quality striker up top in Lukaku, they'll surely be in and around the latter stages again.
VERDICT: Semi Finals
Juventus
Juve have been disappointing in this competition for the last two seasons as they've gone out at the last 16 on both occasions. They should get out the group because of the quality they have but they won't reach the latter stages as they always fail to deliver when they're at that stage of the tournament.
VERDICT: Last 16/Quarter Finals
Malmo
The Swedish champions will be the underdogs in this group and haven't played in this competition for a number of years. With their lack of experience at this level and lack of quality compared to the other team in their group, it looks like they'll be heading out early.
VERDICT: Group Stage
Zenit
Zenit never seem to do well in this competition as they always seem to bow out at the group stage on most occasions. That is often the case with Russian sides and I can see that being case once again this season. But they should still get a place in the Europa League knockout stages.
VERDICT: Europa League
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