Wednesday Night football will be with us again very soon. Undoubtedly the most important club competition in Europe, it is the most anticipated of every league season, pitting some of the world’s biggest clubs from Europe’s best leagues against themselves.
The group stage draw of the 2018/19 Champions League season takes a slightly different format from previous years. However, the most excitement can be felt in the result that followed the group stage draws towards the end of August. So, what do we expect from this year’s Champions League games? Which groups offer the most excitement? What are the teams to watch?
Most Exciting Groups
This year’s Champions League group stage draw does throw up some really exciting pairings. You will not have to wait until the knockout rounds to watch Europe’s top teams square off against themselves.
Group C threatens to offer the most excitement. Last year’s runners-up Liverpool have been paired with French champions Paris Saint-Germain and Serie A runners-up Napoli. This is definitely one group to follow, regardless of your personal bias.
Group H is yet another group to watch with former Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo squaring off against his previous employers. This time though, he will be arriving with Italian heavyweights Juventus, with Valencia also there in the mix.
Elsewhere, Barcelona will be facing Tottenham and a resurgent Inter in Group B, last year’s winners Real Madrid will go up against semi-finalists Roma in Group G, and Atletico Madrid will be locking horns with Borussia Dortmund in Group A.
2018/19 Champions League: Favorites
Predicting the winners of the Champions League each year is about as easy as swimming across the Atlantic, but there are certain teams to watch each year.
Premier League champions Manchester City will be looking to make a major push in Europe following their domestic success of last year. Pep Guardiola’s men have strengthened a winning squad with the arrival of Rhiyad Mahrez, while Bernado Silva has been fully blooded into an already powerful squad.
Liverpool will be looking to go one further after the disappointment of Kiev, and have strengthened their squad with the arrivals of the hardworking Naby Keita and the calm and controlled presence of former Roma goalie Allison. They remain outsiders though, with domestic success more likely to come by.
Usual suspects and perennial winners of the last three editions Real Madrid will be looking to solidify their claim as the competition’s most successful side without the talismanic presence of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Lionel Messi will be looking to lead Barcelona back to winning ways in the competition for the first time since 2015, without the stewardship of midfield talisman Andres Iniesta, but they will first have to navigate their way against Tottenham.
Juventus have been major contenders in the past few years and the presence of Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who is definitely hungry for success in Italy, has certainly moved them from also-rans to potential winners. Still, they will have to get past Manchester United first.
Paris Saint-Germain may continue to rue the absence of Neymar in the latter stages of the competition last year, but they should have him fit and firing this year. With teenage star Kylian Mbappe continuing his coming of age alongside him, they are a team to watch.
Finally, Bayern Munich– as always –will be considered contenders to reclaim the title they last won against domestic rivals Dortmund in 2013, under the stewardship of the fairly unknown Niko Kovac. While Atletico Madrid will be looking to replicate their Europa League heroics of last year in Europe’s premier club competition.
2018/19 Champions League: Leading Outsiders
Amongst the rest of the chasing pack are a number of potential leading lights. Manchester United do not look stable enough to make a major push, with Jose Mourinho’s third season blues well documented in the press. Tottenham have the misfortune – yet again –of facing Barcelona and Inter Milan in the group stages, but will fancy their chance with Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, and Dele Alli still in their ranks.
Napoli seems to have taken a step back with the departure of Maurizio Sarri and midfield maestro Jorginho, but the coming of three-time winner Carlo Ancelotti certainly bodes well. Roma will be looking to make it further than the semi-finals this time, buoyed by their victory over Barca in the competition last year. While Borussia Dortmund and Inter will be aiming to bounce back in the competition.
2018/19 Champions League: Potential Breakout Stars
The struggle for European dominance between the two most exciting players of the last decade, Messi and Ronaldo, is set to continue in this year’s competition. Messi will be looking to steal a match on leading scorer Ronaldo while leading the Blaugrana all the way. With players like Salah, Coutinho, Modric, and others also in the mix, there are lots of players to get excited about.
However, our focus will be on lesser-known players who will be looking to follow in the footsteps of PSG’s Kylian Mbappe to become household names in the competition.
Exciting midfielder Ante Coric (20) and winger Justin Kluivert (19) will aim to leave their mark on the competition with Roma. Ajax star Frenkie de Jong (21), dubbed the next Johan Cruyff, will be expected to carry his touch and vision in the Ajax’ midfield to the global stage alongside exciting teenage defender Matthijs de Ligt.
Phil Foden (18) of Man City might well be the ace up the sleeve of last year’s Premier League champions with Guardiola describing him as a gift. Former Man City starlet Jadon Sancho (18) will also be looking to make his mark with Dortmund. While Timothy Weah (18) continues his progress apace with Parisian giants PSG
Cheeky winger Malcolm (21) will fight for a place in Barcelona’s powerful frontline alongside Spanish jewel Abel Ruiz (18). And Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano (22)will be looking to make his name against rumoured suitors Barcelona with PSV Eindhoven after taking the Eredivisie by storm last year.
Conclusion
There’s a lot to look forward to in the 2018/19 Champions League season. The world’s leading players and teams will once again aim to get their hands on the most prestigious title in club football. But there is certainly more than one reason to look forward to the competition, which resumes on the 18th of September, for neutrals and fans alike.
For avid punters looking to get one over bookmakers in this year’s competition, predicting the game’s results may once again prove problematic. With top prediction sites again making permutations based on concrete data, you can certainly achieve those goals.
