GROUP A

REAL MADRID
PARIS ST GERMAIN
GALATASARAY
CLUB BRUGGE

Naturally, this group will be all about PSG and Madrid battling out to finish top. However, although their games will obviously be the important ones and intriguing matches in their own right, I feel the key games will be how both clubs perform away at Galatasaray.

A notoriously intimidating place to travel, both will need their most experienced of players to perform as anything less than a win could cost them. Brugge seem to be the also ran in this group but they have finished third in their group in the last two seasons.

Galatasaray also finished third in their group last season, which was their first appearance in three years. No doubt the two will have an epic battle for a Europa League place.

GROUP B

TOTTENHAM
BAYERN MUNICH
RED STAR BELGRADE
OLYMPIACOS

I feel with Bayern on the slight decline, Spurs, now comfortable in their new home could capitalise and top this group.

They seem to save their best performances for the Champions League, and with the experience of playing in the competition for the fourth time in a row now, they could make a statement. Bayern however, are seasoned and Spurs will have to be on top of their game to win the group.

Last season Red Star beat eventual champions Liverpool and drew with Napoli at home and that home form will be needed if they are to snatch a Europa League place as their away form in Europe is poor. Olympiacos missed out on this competition last season and will do well to get out the group.

GROUP C 

MANCHESTER CITY
SHAKHTAR DONETSK
ATLANTA
DINAMO ZAGREB

Everyone connected to Man City know their dismal run in this competition has to come to an end and nothing less than a final appearance will suffice.

They will be aided by a fairly straight forward group where I expect no real issues, barring a tricky away game in Donetsk. However, for me, the key battle will be between Shakhtar and Atlanta.

Although Shakhtar will be slight favourites for second place due to their superior experience in this competition, Atlanta are my dark horses, they will certainly give as good as they get and could ruffle some feathers. Zagreb missed out on this competition last season and have never made it out the group in their history so that is task ahead of them.

GROUP D

JUVENTUS
ATLETICO MADRID
BAYERN LEVERKUSEN
LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW

This will be one of the more straight forward groups in the competition. Although Atletico will push Juve, I cannot see them getting the best of the Italians and even if they finish on the same points, I cannot see Madrid finishing with a better goal difference.

I expect Juve to win the group, although they need to get over their recent poor history with two QF exits in the last two years after being runner up in 2017 which was their fifth final defeat in their last five final appearances.

Leverkusen return to the Champions League after a three year absence and I doubt they have enough to trouble the top two, although they’ll give both a good game at home. Moscow finished bottom of one of the easier groups last year and I expect no change this time around.

GROUP E

LIVERPOOL
NAPOLI
SALZBURG
GENK

This will be another fairly straight forward group. Holders Liverpool will want to improve on last season where they lost all three away games.

They will renew rivalries with Napoli where they both won their home game 1-0, however I see Liverpool topping the group. Napoli missed out on the knockout stages following their defeat at Anfield, which saw them go out on goals scored.

This year they are expected to advance and will fight Liverpool for top spot. Salzburg and Genk will embark on an intriguing battle for Europa. This is only the second time Salzburg are playing in the group stages and the third for Genk, the last was 2012, neither have been out the group so history looms for one of them.

GROUP F

BARCELONA
INTER MILAN
BORRUSIA DORTMUND
SLAVIA PRAGUE

This group is the closest to a group of death. Although Barca do not seem to be the force they once was, I am still tipping them to top the group, however, they will not have it all their own way and will be pushed.

I believe Inter & Dortmund will both push Barca but Inter could surprise a few. Although they missed out on the knockout stages last year to Barca & Spurs, this year they will be stronger with experience and some new additions.

However, many maybe surprised at me predicting Dortmund to miss out, although they topped their group last year, but It will be very close. This is Prague’s first time in the group stages in 12 years and they will do well to not end the group with zero points.

GROUP G

BENFICA
LYON
RB LEIPZIG
ZENIT ST PETERSBURG

For me this is the most even looking group and extremely hard to predict. I liked the look of Benfica, even though they missed out in the group to Bayern & Ajax last year.

I believe their experience could just edge them to top the group. Although Lyon will have a say, they finished second in their group behind Man City last year and beat the English champions away, which was the only game they won, as they drew the other five.

This is only Leipzig 3rd season ever in Europe and second in the Champions League, their first season they also finished 3rd and I am expected them to repeat this. However, Zenit return after a three year absence and will hope to take advantage of notoriously cold home fixtures.

GROUP H

AJAX
CHELSEA
VALENCIA
LILLE

This is another group where I expect to be a fairly tight one. Although Ajax have lost a few of their hero’s from their semi final run last season, many remain and it would be hard to not back them topping the group as they seem to be a team on the up.

Behind them the battle will be interesting,  I am tipping Europa League winners Chelsea to finish second but losing Hazard, with a team full of young inexperienced players could go either way. If that’s the case, Valencia will want go one better than their third behind Juve & Man Utd last year and I’m sure they fancy their chances.

Lille return to the Champions League after a seven year absence and although clearly the underdog could cause a few problems.