As another school year begins, so does another Champions League season, and with it, the hopes and dreams of fans everywhere that their team may be the victors of this famous competition. Below are our predictions for this years Champions League group stage:

Group A: PSG, Real Madrid, Galatasaray, Club Brugee 

This year’s group A seems very much like a two horse race with PSG and Real Madrid coming out on top and moving on to the elimination stages. As for who will reach the top spot, PSG seem to have a slight edge over Madrid, despite their summer spending, as PSG’s attack consisting of Neymar, Icardi, Mbappe, and Cavani seem stronger and better than Madrid’s.

Best game of the group: PSG vs Real Madrid 

Group B: Bayern Munich, Spurs, Olympiacos, Red Star

Similar to group A, group B also seems pretty straightforward with Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur moving on to the next round. Bayern seem like the stronger side overall due to their strong summer signings, and should top Group B, although there is room for Spurs to move to the top.

Best game of the group: Bayern vs Spurs

Group C: Manchester City, Atalanta, Shakhtar Donetsk, Dinamo Zagreb 

Once again Manchester City have found themselves in arguably the easiest group of the Champions League this season so it would be no surprise if they not only progressed but topped the group with ease. As for who will place second, despite it being their first appearance in the Champions League, Atalanta do seem stronger than the two other teams in the group and so should progress with a second-place finish.

Best game of the group: Man City vs Atalanta

Group D: Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen, Lokomotiv Moscow

Group D is tough to call as Juventus and Atletico are two very good teams but Bayer Leverkusen shouldn’t be counted out so early. Despite this, Atletico and Juventus should still pass through with Atletico beating Juventus to the first place spot. Although, if this years’ meetings are anything like last year’s, then anything could happen.

Best game of the group: Atletico vs Juventus

Group E: Liverpool, Napoli, Red Bull Salzburg, Genk

Group E seems pretty straightforward as last year’s champions, Liverpool, will most likely top the group with ease with Napoli following behind them. Salzburg and Genk don’t seem strong enough to best either of these European super teams.

Best game of the group: Liverpool vs Napoli

Group F: Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Slavia Prague

What seems to be the group of death this year, Group F promises to excite in all games. It’s tough to call who will go through to the next round, but the favorites have to be Barcelona as one of them. While they didn’t get Neymar back; Griezman, Messi, Suarez, and youngster Ansu Fati will lead their attack and it’s an attack to fear. Second place will either fall to Dortmund or Inter Milan, yet after bolstering their team this transfer window, Dortmund seem stronger than Inter and should get second.

Best game of the group: Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund

Group G: Lyon, Benfica, RB Leipzig, Zenit Saint-Petersburg

Group G seems like the weaker of the groups this year yet the teams are still pretty balanced. Lyon and Benfica should manage to go through yet Leipzig and Zenit are still contenders to advance to the latter stages of the tournament.

Best game of the group: Lyon vs Benfica 

Group H: Ajax, Chelsea, Valencia, Lille

Group H is another well balanced group with a young and inexperienced Chelsea going up against last year’s semi-finalists Ajax and a solid Valencia. Ajax and Chelsea are most likely going to progress to the next stage, yet Valencia may be able to surprise the two and knock one of them out. Lille however don’t seem like contenders at all.

By: Nico Vallada