We are back for another instalment of the world’s best club tournament in sports.

Man City will be looking to do a repeat, but will hopefully get some tough opposition from the best of what Europe has to offer. The final will be on 1st June at Wembley Stadium, London, England. 

Below is my group preview. I have placed teams in the position I think they will finish.

Group A

Bayern Munich
Manchester United
Galatasaray
Copenhagen

Naturally, Man Utd and Bayern, who contested the memorable 2001 final, will be odds-on favourites to go through. However, I believe Munich will comfortably finish top. 

Although United will fancy their chances to battle for the top spot, I feel they will be closer to fighting off third place.   

None of the teams in this group will relish going to Gala’s notoriously intimidating stadium, which could be a factor in this group. Copenhagen will hope their home form could help pull off a Europa League place. 

Group B

Arsenal
Sevilla
PSV Eindhoven
Lens

Given the circumstances, all four teams will be satisfied with this draw, as it could have gone much worse.

Although the group seems more difficult than most think, you would expect Arsenal back after a five year absence, and Europa League royalty Sevilla to go through, with the biggest battle being between them to finish top. 

With that said, PSV and Lens will both be looking to take advantage of this group’s recent inexperience and on any given day, they could cause a slip-up at home.

Group C

Real Madrid
Napoli
Braga
Union Berlin

You can’t look past Madrid, the most successful club side in this competition, to comfortably navigate this group.

While Napoli have been bossing Italy recently, they have flattered to deceive in Europe and have something to prove this year.

Behind them, Braga and Union Berlin will have a tasty battle for the Europa League place. Both seem to be punching above their weight but will fight tooth and nail for their European adventure to continue past the group stages.

Group D

Inter Milan
Benfica
Real Sociedad
RB Salzburg

Although Inter was last season’s beaten finalist, this is one of the most open groups in the tournament. Inter will naturally be favourites, but will not have it their own way with perennial qualifiers Benfica, who has reached the QF in the last two seasons.

This is only Sociedad’s third time in the Champions League and first in 10 years. They could be a surprise package and hope to get into the knockout stages for the second time in their history.

Salzburg are also an experienced outfit in this tournament but has only qualified from the group once in the last four seasons. So I am predicting another struggle for them. 

Group E

Atletico Madrid
Lazio
Feyenoord
Celtic

I initially thought this would be a close group, but now I believe it will be a two-horse race to finish top. I did fancy Lazio, but by way of experience, I am going with the safer bet of Atletico, who have an abundance of experience in this competition.

Feyenoord will have fond memories of their trip to Glasgow in the qualifiers, but if they are to get into the knockout stages, it will depend on their trips to Madrid and Rome.

Celtic will have a real task to get into the last 16 for the first time in 10 years. It will even be a task to finish in the Europa League places, which would be a success.

Group F

AC Milan
Paris St Germain
Newcastle
Borussia Dortmund

The group of death will be hard to predict. However, I am going with European royalty, AC Milan, to top the group. PSG have flattered to deceive in this competition and do not seem the PSG of old, but may sneak through.

Newcastle, back after a 20-year absence, will need and probably get every ounce of their home support to give them a chance at qualifying. They could be a dark horse. 

It will be hard on whoever finishes bottom, but I opted for Dortmund, who are even capable of topping the group. But may struggle in the away games.

Group G

Manchester City
RB Leipzig
Red Star Belgrade
Young Boys

I expect this to be as straightforward a group as can be. I do not see any problems for the defending champions Man City and expect them to ease their way into the last 16.

Leipzig will be their closest challenger, but not enough of a challenge to trouble City. However, I suspect too good to be challenged for second place.

The real challenge will be for a Europa League place. Red Star’s intimidating home stadium and fans could be the deciding factor. They are more capable of a home performance than Young Boys, who will need too many not to finish bottom.

Group H

Barcelona
Porto
Shakhtar Donetsk
Royal Antwerp

Another group that I think will be fairly straightforward. Barcelona are back after a season hiatus and are looking to make up for lost time. I don’t see anyone in the group troubling them.

Porto are a perennial qualifier for the last 16 and seems to always get out of the group. I expect that to be the same this time around.

If it weren’t for the war, I’d have said Shakhtar would give Porto a run for their money. But losing players and not playing in their home stadium may give Antwerp a chance at qualifying for the Europa League. So, I anticipate an interesting battle.