2023-24 UEFA Champions League predictions: Winners, runners-up, Golden Boot, dark horse, best player and more

The UEFA Champions League is again with a bang as Matchday 1 takes place throughout Tuesday and Wednesday with some huge matchups. Bayern Munich vs. Manchester United highlights the week’s slate whereas all 32 groups are in motion as we return to a extra regular UCL schedule following the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the midseason 2022 World Cup. As at all times, you possibly can watch all of the Champions League motion on Paramount+ . 

However who will win every group, who will win all of it and which sides could possibly be the darkish horses or disappointments? This is what to know, our employees predictions and extra:

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UCL 2023-24 teams

• Group A: Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Copenhagen and Galatasaray.
• Group B: Sevilla, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven and Lens.
• Group C: Napoli, Actual Madrid, SC Braga and Union Berlin.
• Group D: Benfica, Inter, Pink Bull Salzburg and Actual Sociedad.
• Group E: Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid, Lazio and Celtic.
• Group F: Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, Milan and Newcastle United.
• Group G: Manchester Metropolis, RB Leipzig, Pink Star Belgrade and Younger Boys.
• Group H: Barcelona, Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk and Antwerp.

Matchday 1 TV schedule

All occasions Jap

TUESDAY, SEPT. 19	TIME	HOW TO WATCH
AC Milan vs. Newcastle	12:45 p.m.	Paramount+
Younger Boys vs. RB Leipzig	12:45 p.m.	Paramount+
UEFA Champions League As we speak Pre-Match	1 p.m.	Paramount+ / CBS Sports activities Golazo Community
UEFA Champions League As we speak Pre-Match	2 p.m.	Paramount+ / CBS Sports activities Community
The Golazo Present	3 p.m.	Paramount+ / CBS Sports activities Golazo Community
PSG vs. Borussia Dortmund	3 p.m.	Paramount+
Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Porto	3 p.m.	Paramount+
Manchester Metropolis vs. Crvena zvezda	3 p.m.	Paramount+
Feyenoord vs. Celtic	3 p.m.	Paramount+
Barcelona vs. Antwerp	3 p.m.	Paramount+
Lazio vs. Atlético Madrid	3 p.m.	Paramount+ / CBS Sports activities Community
UEFA Champions League As we speak Publish-Match	5 p.m.	Paramount+ / CBS Sports activities Community
The Champions Membership	6 p.m.	CBS Sports activities Golazo Community

Group A picks

Evaluation: On paper, this appears simple for each Bayern Munich and Manchester United which is why it could possibly be misleading as to each groups’ general probabilities of glory. The German giants have a 100% document domestically at current however are nonetheless adapting to having new star Harry Kane main the road whereas Erik ten Hag’s males have been gradual to get going within the Premier League and already misplaced in opposition to Arsenal and Kane’s former membership Tottenham Hotspur. Galatasaray and Copenhagen is not going to precisely strike worry into both Bayern or United and each side can anticipate to advance, however Thomas Tuchel has a lot work to do to show the Bundesliga giants into continental rivals. The Turks ought to safe third spot and show tough away day opponents however something apart from the Germans and the Pink Devils going by way of could be a shock. — Jonathan Johnson

Group B picks

Evaluation: In any case these years of ready to get again to Champions League soccer Arsenal discover themselves landed with a gaggle that… effectively… it’s extremely Europa League-y, is not it? PSV and Lens may each have loved distinctive home seasons in 2022-23 however each head into the brand new season shorn of their stars, the dual monetary juggernauts of the Premier League and Saudi Arabia robbing the previous of Ibrahima Sangare, the latter of Seko Fofana. Ahead expertise has additionally departed within the type of Xavi Simons and Lois Openda and though replacements have been sourced there is no such thing as a assure that these would be the identical forces on the largest stage. The early indications are, nevertheless, spectacular for Dutch runners-up PSV, who crushed Rangers on their strategy to the group levels.

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The identical can’t be mentioned of Sevilla, who staggered into their new season with three defeats of their first three La Liga video games. Jose Luis Mendilibar may need shepherded the Andalusians away from relegation final season however throughout their squad, they’ve the look of a midtable aspect who may get fortunate in a cup competitors. These is probably not the starry opponents Arsenal dreamed of on their good distance again to the highest however on the brilliant aspect, this can be a group that appears tailormade for them to safe prime spot and maybe to take action rapidly, aiding the combat with Manchester Metropolis throughout a number of fronts. — James Benge

Group C picks

Evaluation: Taking a look at this group earlier than the motion begins, it appears like a reasonably straightforward one to foretell, with Actual Madrid and Napoli anticipated to qualify for the spherical of 16, whereas Braga and Union Berlin will combat for the Europa League spot. Nevertheless, many issues modified in the summertime for the Italian workforce, and regardless of profitable the 2022-23 Scudetto, their coach Luciano Spalletti left with former Al-Nassr boss Rudi Garcia changing him. Napoli additionally offered defender Kim Min-Jae to Bayern Munich however saved the opposite stars of the workforce, Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Actual Madrid ought to prime the group, with Napoli to comply with, however Braga and Union Berlin confirmed to be strong groups up to now years and shouldn’t be underestimated. — Francesco Porzio

Group D picks

Evaluation: Inter and Benfica already confronted one another up to now season, when the Italian workforce managed to get by way of the quarterfinals after profitable 2-0 in Portugal after which drawing 3-3 at house. Many issues modified since that encounter, with the Nerazzurri that offered gamers like Andre Onana and Marcelo Brozovic in the summertime and in addition misplaced key gamers like Romelu Lukaku and Edin Dzeko. Regardless of that, the 2022-23 finalists are anticipated to prime the group with Benfica to comply with. Actual Sociedad and RB Salzburg are anticipated to combat for a spot within the UEFA Europa League, however it will not be shocking to see one thing surprising coming from this group. — Francesco Porzio

Group E picks

Evaluation: An intriguing mixture of groups on this one with Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid, Lazio and Celtic is definitely one for many who take pleasure in an away day at iconic soccer European venues with atmospheres to match. Arguably a reasonably even group between at the very least three of those names, Atleti’s current struggles counsel that they may make a meal out of this in the event that they labor in opposition to the likes of the Dutch and Italians. Diego Simeone’s aspect ought to, on paper, prime this group, however Feyenoord are rediscovering their continental pedigree from yesteryear and Maurizio Sarri’s aspect are an underrated pressure in Serie A. Celtic are the wildcard and have Brendan Rodgers again on the helm and can probably be aiming to steal in for third place so anticipate competitors to be as fierce on the sphere as will probably be off it from the primary recreation. — Jonathan Johnson

Group F picks

Evaluation: And not using a true “group of loss of life” this season, PSG touchdown Borussia Dortmund, Milan and Newcastle United has been awarded that honor. The French champions ought to win the group primarily based on their squad which has undergone a significant overhaul and appears way more balanced general, however the Italian aspect and the Premier League outfit are tough opponents. Saudi-backed Newcastle, particularly, is a narrative-rich recreation for the Qatari-owned membership which ups the stakes considerably forward of these two video games. Dortmund, nevertheless, are usually not in one of the best of kind up to now this season and will actually battle in what appears to be a really tough group for them. PSG and Milan are arguably the early favorites to advance and Newcastle’s early season kind has finished nothing to dispel that this could be a studying train for Eddie Howe’s males who may find yourself concentrating on third spot for an prolonged European run. — Jonathan Johnson

Group G picks

Evaluation: Any group containing Metropolis already offers a forgone conclusion on who will win it however RB Lepzig cannot be counted out. A workforce that’s accustomed to Metropolis in Champions League and getting higher by the day, they are going to make issues nearer than anticipated by the ultimate day because of Dani Olmo, Xavi Simons and Lois Openda. Leipzig can rating targets with one of the best of groups however their greatest situation might be stopping Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez from scoring targets at will. Regardless of the clear prime two, there are different groups on this group together with one of many hardest away journeys on the earth to Crvena zvezda in Serbia. If a workforce is not targeted, they will drop factors there which might decide if it is them or Younger Boys who head to Europa League.  — Chuck Sales space

Group H picks

Evaluation: This group is Barcelona’s to lose after receiving a good draw, and robust begins for the likes of Ferran Torres and Robert Lewandowski in La Liga solely bolsters their case. If anybody is to offer the Spanish champions a run for his or her cash, it could possibly be Porto with ahead Mehdi Taremi in goalscoring kind, however they continue to be the favorites for second place. Shakhtar Donetsk and Antwerp are the probably contenders to duke it out for a third-place spot that will safe a berth within the Europa League knockouts, however the Belgian aspect will achieve this and not using a key participant. American defender Sam Vines was unintentionally left off the Champions League squad by way of an administrative error. — Pardeep Cattry

UCL superlatives

Champions decide

Benge: It could be arduous for European champions to repeat, all of the extra so once they’ve bought a post-treble comedown to contemplate, however Metropolis are nonetheless by far and away one of the best workforce on the continent. Haaland will catch the headlines however one of the best variations of Pep Guardiola’s groups have elite-level defenses; the early indications are that that’s precisely what’s coalescing on the Etihad Stadium this season. That could be the essential swing issue as a result of in swapping Ilkay Gundogan for Mateo Kovacic they’ve sacrificed pictures for much more management, the type of high quality that made them the plain favorites for the Champions League till their customary meltdown. One other of these appears fairly credible however they’re nonetheless the most probably champions in an underwhelming discipline. Decide: Manchester Metropolis.

Sales space: When figuring out who essentially the most workforce in Champions League play, it is not possible to go any additional than the reigning champions in Metropolis. Each different workforce has a weak spot that may be exploited whereas the one workforce that may cease Metropolis is themselves. Even should you’re in a position to cease Haaland, Julian Alvarez is taking a step ahead in his profession to grow to be a stronger attacking pressure and including Josko Gvardiol to the protection turns them into much more of a fortress. Decide: Manchester Metropolis

Cattry: Manchester Metropolis are usually not the one workforce that boast the potential of operating rampant this season. Actual Madrid enter the Champions League with a youthful however skilled workforce, notably in midfield and assault the place Aurelien Tchouameni and Vinicius Junior are budding superstars. The standout at this early stage of the season, although, is new signing Jude Bellingham – the 20-year-old is already off to a dream begin in Spain, and could possibly be the important thing to making sure his aspect makes a deep run in Europe this season. Decide: Actual Madrid

Johnson: It’s presently tough to see Metropolis’s home and European domination not persevering with. begin to the season allied with a simple group stage for the defending champions bodes effectively forward of the enterprise half of the marketing campaign. Regardless of some key departures, Pep Guardiola’s males nonetheless look very robust throughout the board and their present setup depends much less on Haaland scoring opponents into submission. On the very least, anticipate Metropolis to make a deep run — very presumably to a closing on house soil. Decide: Manchester Metropolis

Porzio: After profitable their first ever Champions League up to now season, the sensation is that Pep Guardiola’s aspect may repeat themselves this 12 months. They signed extra gamers in the summertime switch window and so they saved most of their greatest gamers, and there’s no purpose to assume that they aren’t once more the main candidates to win the trophy. They may even have the prospect to make the again to again by taking part in the ultimate at house, in London. Decide: Manchester Metropolis