The draws for the group stages were announced on 24th August 2017
There are a number of mouthwatering clashes ahead
Group A
Manchester United have returned back to the Champions League after a year's absence and have been drawn into Group A. Their manager is going to relish a return to the CL whose target would be to win the competition. They are looking the most likeliest team to win the group.
However, current Portugal champions Benfica will be lurking around who met United way back in 2011 and the Red Devils will face a tough away leg in Portugal.
Swiss side FC Basel have also been drawn in Group A and who can forget the 2011 season when Basel knocked Manchester United out of the Champions League group stages.
Russian side CSKA Moscow may look an armature side but they are talented especially at home where all teams would find difficult to win in Russia.
Prediction
1st: Manchester United
2nd: SL Benfica
3rd: CSKA Moscow
4th: FC Basel
Group B
The 2013/14 Champions League winners Bayern Munich have drawn Group B. The Bavarians have invested well this summer and are favorites to win the competition. But they will face a tough task from a French side who wish to create their own CL history.
French giants PSG look a totally different side after their heavy investment this summer. The arrival of Dani Alves & Neymar, both former CL winners have brought a huge impact to the side. They may ultimately be the team to win Group B.
Scottish Champions Celtic have once again been drawn in a difficult group to progress into the Round of 16. They will give the European giants a tough task when they visit them in Glasgow.
Belgian side Anderlecht who finished in the final 8 of the Europa League last season have a daunting task ahead of them to even manage to finish 3rd.
Prediction
1st: PSG
2nd: Bayern Munich
3rd: Celtic
4th: Anderlecht
Group C
2016/17 Premier League Champions Chelsea once again mark their return to the Champions League after drawing Group C. They have invested well this season by signing CL winner Alvaro Morata to bring goals to the team and the squad has a good chance to win the group.
Gunning to finish as Group winners or as runners-up behind Chelsea are Spanish side Atletico Madrid. They have been banned for signing any players until Jan 2018, so their prime objective this season would be to just qualify for the Round of 16 and then invest well in January.
Italian side AS Roma have been drawn into Group C, a group they would find very tough to qualify for the next round. They have a very good squad but have lost a number of key players but they still have all the credentials to beat Atletico to the runners-up spot.
Qarabag FK are making history by being the first side from Azerbaijan to feature in the Champions League. They face tough opposition in their debut campaign, so the players and the fans of the club need to enjoy every moment they spend in the stadium.
Prediction
1st: Chelsea
2nd: AS Roma
3rd: Atletico Madrid
4th: Qarabag
Group D
Group D looks straightforward as to which two teams will progress into the Round of 16. But which team will top the group may be the toughest prediction.
Last season's CL finalists Juventus have had a productive transfer window this season but the accolade of the Champions League still awaits. They almost seem to lose it when it really matters in the end but this season may just be their year.
Who did Juventus beat in the semi final last year; FC Barcelona and now both have been drawn into the same group. They were 2nd best to Juve's attack and defense last season and after losing Neymar, the team are looking to come out strong and make a challenge for the CL title this season.
3rd place may be difficult to predict between Olympiacos and Sporting Lisbon as both have evenly matched squads.
3rd place may be difficult to predict between Olympiacos and Sporting Lisbon as both have evenly matched squads.
Prediction
1st: Juventus
2nd: Barcelona
3rd: Olympiacos
4th: Sporting Lisbon
Group E
On their Champions League return, Liverpool wouldn't have wanted a tough group with big European clubs and they may have got the perfect one. The look like the most likeliest candidate to win the group especially with the talent in attack that they possess.
However, they face Spanish side Sevilla who beat them in the Europa league final back in 2016 when the two sides faced each other. Sevilla CL campaign last season, have invested well and will want to qualify for the group stages
There is tough competition for 2nd place as Russian Champions Spartak Moskva have also drawn Group E. If they play well, they can win a spot to the CL Round of 16 or to the Europa league.
NK Maribor are a Slovenia side who have also drawn Group E this season. They need to try and put up a fight for 3rd place and need to make it difficult for away sides to win points.
Prediction
1st: Liverpool
2nd: Sevilla
3rd: Spartak Moskva
4th: Maribor
Group F
Manchester City look like the outright winners to win Group F and qualify for the Round of 16. Their manager Pep Guardiola has previously won Champions League trophies and would want to continue the same with City. They look dangerous contenders for the Champions League title this season with their star-studded squad.
However, for 2nd place, there is competition from all the 3 sides. The most likeliest candidates seem to be Napoli after they recently won their qualifier against Nice. If they add a few more names to their squad and keep everyone fit, they have a great chance to qualify for the Round of 16.
Current Dutch Champions Feyenoord make their long awaited return to the Champions League and have a great chance to move into the Round of 16. Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk are serious contenders in this group. 2nd position is entirely open to any of the 3 sides.
Prediction
1st: Manchester City
2nd: Napoli
3rd: Shakhtar Donetsk
4th: Feyenoord
Group G
Group G is another one which is entirely open for both spots. Last season's CL semi-finalists AS Monaco will once again want to put in a fierce European challenge. Although, they have lost a number of their star performances, they are still favorites to win the group.
Newcomers RB Leipzig surprised everyone by finishing 2nd in last season's Bundesliga ahead of Borussia Dortmund. They need to be taken a serious contender this season to qualify for the Round of 16.
However, the best team on paper to finish 2nd in the Group are Besiktas especially after the number of arrivals they have brought in this window. But former CL winners Porto have qualified every single season for the Champions League group stages.
Prediction
1st: AS Monaco
2nd: Besiktas
3rd: FC Porto
4th: RB Leipzig
Group H
Group H can be referred to as the Group of Death this season with the 3 horse race for quallifying for the Round of 16. The strongest contenders are by far the reigning Champions Real Madrid and look like the team to beat this season. They will finish as group winners without any doubt.
For 2nd place, it can go either way; German giants Borussia Dortmund & English club Tottenham Hotspur will fiercely battle it out for 2nd place. Both sides have young talented players and there could be a surprise name when the group stages conclude.
APOEL may have unfortunately found themselves in the Group of Death but need to make their home matches count and make it tough for the opposition to come away with points.
Prediction
1st: Real Madrid
2nd: Borussia Dortmund
3rd: Tottenham
4th: Apoel
1st: Real Madrid
2nd: Borussia Dortmund
3rd: Tottenham
4th: Apoel
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