This season’s UEFA Champions League will commence on Tuesday across Europe.
Thirty-two (32) teams will be competing for the Champions League trophy this season
They are Bayern Munich, Manchester Utd, Copenhagen, Galatasaray, Sevilla, Arsenal, PSV, Lens, Napoli, Real Madrid, Braga, Union Berlin, Benfica, Inter Milan, RB Salzburg, Real Sociedad, Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid, Lazio, Celtic, PSG, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Newcastle, Man City, RB Leipzig, Red Star Belgrade, Young Boys and Barcelona, Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk and Royal Antwerp.
The teams are placed in Groups A to H, with four teams in each Group.
On Tuesday, Manchester City will clash with Crvena Zvezda at the Etihad Stadium, AC Milan will host Newcastle United, Young Boys will face RB Leipzig, Paris Saint-Germain will clash with Borussia Dortmund, Shakhtar Donetsk will tackle FC Porto, Lazio will host Atletico Madrid, Barcelona will face Antwerp and Feyenoord will tackle Celtic.
On Wednesday, Real Madrid will host Union Berlin, Galatasaray will tackle Copenhagen, Bayern Munich will welcome Manchester United at home, Benfica will clash with RB Salzburg, Braga will take on Napoli, Arsenal will host PSV, Sevilla will face Lens and Real Sociedad will tackle last season’s runner-up Inter Milan.
Premier League Champions, Manchester City won the Champions League last season after beating Serie A giants, Inter Milan 1-0 in the final.
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Manchester City will begin the defence of their title in Group G, where they will face RB Leipzig, Crvena Zvezda and Young Boys, respectively.
Can Pep Guardiola’s side win the Champions League again this season after losing some of their key players like Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan, who left Etihad during the summer transfer window?
A football Analyst Stanley Smart says “Manchester City are the best team in the world at the moment. They did exceptionally well last season by winning the Treble – (Champions League, FA Cup and Premier League).
“I think they have dropped a little in terms of their form and also losing some of their key players like De Bruyne, who is currently recovering from injury, compared to last season, but notwithstanding, they are yet to lose a match this season.
“I feel they can go far in the Champions League and reach at least the semi-final stage this season. Obviously, they are the favourite to win the competition again.”
Manchester City are currently on top of the Premier League table with 15 points from five games. They are yet to draw or lose a match this season.
Smart added, “With their current record so far this season, I see only a few teams that can compete against them for the Champions League trophy this season. Bayern are doing well, even Inter Milan, Barcelona and Real Madrid.
“These teams are capable of giving Manchester City a run for their money this season,” he said.
Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe
