As the Champions League returns, Paul Higham runs through all eight groups and selects his predictions for who will make it through into the knckouts stages.
Group A: PSG, Real Madrid, Club Brugge, Galatasaray
Table
- Paris Saint-German P3 W3 D0 L0 F9 A0 Pts9
- Real Madrid P3 W1 D1 L1 F3 A5 Pts4
- Club Brugge P3 W0 D2 L1 F2 A7 Pts2
- Galatasaray P3 W0 D1 L2 F0 A2 Pts1
Fixtures:
- Wednesday 18 September: Club Brugge v Galatasaray (18:55 CET), Paris v Real Madrid
- Tuesday 1 October: Real Madrid v Club Brugge (18:55 CET), Galatasaray v Paris
- Tuesday 22 October: Club Brugge v Paris, Galatasaray v Real Madrid
- Wednesday 6 November: Paris v Club Brugge, Real Madrid v Galatasaray
- Tuesday 26 November: Galatasaray v Club Brugge (18:55 CET), Real Madrid v Paris
- Wednesday 11 December: Paris v Galatasaray, Club Brugge v Real Madrid
Verdict:
A mouth-watering clash between PSG and Real Madrid kicks off the group stages and they meet again in the penultimate round in what should be the decider of who finishes top of the group. Real haven't had the best start to the season and the French champions have injury problems, but they also have Neymar looking to prove a point after his failed bid to return to Barcelona over the summer - he does, however, have a three-game ban to sit through at the start of the proceedings and that, coupled with some injury problems means that Real may just have enough to pinch top spot.
Group B: Bayern Munich, Tottenham, Olympiakos, Crvena Zvezda
Fixtures
- Wednesday 18 September: Olympiacos v Tottenham (18:55 CET), Bayern v Crvena zvezda
- Tuesday 1 October: Tottenham v Bayern, Crvena zvezda v Olympiacos
- Tuesday 22 October: Tottenham v Crvena zvezda, Olympiacos v Bayern
- Wednesday 6 November: Bayern v Olympiacos (18:55 CET), Crvena zvezda v Tottenham
- Tuesday 26 November: Tottenham v Olympiacos, Crvena zvezda v Bayern
- Wednesday 11 December: Bayern v Tottenham, Olympiacos v Crvena zvezda
Verdict:
Two traditionally tough and hostile away days await the two big group favourites here in Athens and Belgrade - where Liverpool came unstuck last season against an inspired Red Star side that can shock anyone on their day. Bayern are still a team in transition despite bringing in Coutinho and Perisic, both of whom are on loan, and Spurs have the better squad and hold a great chance of topping the group if they can start strongly - they're 11/8 to get the better of Bayern. That final game in Munich looks tasty if top spot is still up for grabs.
Group C: Man City, Shakhtar Donetsk, Dinamo Zagreb, Atalanta
Fixtures
- Wednesday 18 September: Shakhtar v Manchester City, Dinamo Zagreb v Atalanta
- Tuesday 1 October: Atalanta v Shakhtar (18:55 CET), Manchester City v Dinamo Zagreb
- Tuesday 22 October: Shakhtar v Dinamo Zagreb (18:55 CET), Manchester City v Atalanta
- Wednesday 6 November: Dinamo Zagreb v Shakhtar, Atalanta v Manchester City
- Tuesday 26 November: Group C: Manchester City v Shakhtar, Atalanta v Dinamo Zagreb
- Wednesday 11 December Group C: Shakhtar v Atalanta (18:55 CET), Dinamo Zagreb v Manchester City (18:55 CET)
Verdict:
A familiar foe for City in the form of Shakhtar, but nothing really to worry Pep Guardiola and 9/2 on them winning all six games would only be vulnerable if they've got the group sewn up before the last couple of matches. That could well be the case with the rest evenly matched, and don't be surprised if Shakhtar upset Italian debutants Atalanta to qualify - the Ukrainian title winners have alternated between qualifying and failing in their last nine attempts - and they failed to make it through last year.
Man City & Shakhtar Donetsk finish first & second 13/8 | Shakhtar to qualify at 11/10
Group D: Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lokomotiv Moscow
Fixtures
- Wednesday 18 September: Atlético v Juventus, Leverkusen v Lokomotiv Moskva
- Tuesday 1 October: Juventus v Leverkusen, Lokomotiv Moskva v Atlético
- Tuesday 22 October: Atlético v Leverkusen (18:55 CET), Juventus v Lokomotiv Moskva
- Wednesday 6 November: Lokomotiv Moskva v Juventus (18:55 CET), Leverkusen v Atlético
- Tuesday 26 November: Group D: Lokomotiv Moskva v Leverkusen (18:55 CET), Juventus v Atlético
- Wednesday 11 December Group D: Atlético v Lokomotiv Moskva, Leverkusen v Juventus
Verdict:
Another two-horse race of a group but still a hugely interesting one with two titans clashing again after meeting in the knockout stages last season - when Ronaldo inspired a Juventus comeback victory in Turin. They meet in Madrid in a tantalising opener that could really set the tone, and Atletico will be fancied with the Italian giants struggling with injuries. If Diego Simeone's side can get an advantage they're still well equipped to see it through so could be some value in the straight forecast.
Group E: Liverpool, Napoli, FC Salzburg, Genk
Fixtures
- Tuesday 17 September: Napoli v Liverpool, Salzburg v Genk
- Wednesday 2 October: Genk v Napoli (18:55 CET), Liverpool v Salzburg
- Wednesday 23 October Salzburg v Napoli, Genk v Liverpool
- Tuesday 5 November: Liverpool v Genk, Napoli v Salzburg
- Wedesday 27 November: Liverpool v Napoli, Genk v Salzburg
- Tuesday 10 December: Napoli v Genk (18:55 CET), Salzburg v Liverpool (18:55 CET)
Verdict:
A tough opener for the reigning champions of Europe with a return to Naples where they were poor and deservedly lost last season, so they could already be lagging behind the Italians from the first game. Away at Salzburg will not be as easy as people expect, and Jurgen Klopp will be wary of taking any road trip too lightly after losing all three in their group last season. Napoli will be desperate to get through after almost dumping the Reds out at Anfield in the final group game last year, but there's not enough competition from the other two to seriously threaten the big guns.
Group F: Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Slavia Prague
Fixtures
- Tuesday 17 September: Inter v Slavia Praha (18:55 CET), Dortmund v Barcelona
- Wednesday 2 October: Slavia Praha v Dortmund (18:55 CET), Barcelona v Inter
- Wednesday 23 October Inter v Dortmund, Slavia Praha v Barcelona
- Tuesday 5 November: Barcelona v Slavia Praha (18:55 CET), Dortmund v Inter
- Wednesday 27 November: Barcelona v Dortmund, Slavia Praha v Inter
- Tuesday 10 December: Dortmund v Slavia Praha, Inter v Barcelona
Verdict:
A tough group to call with Inter Milan the real wild cards from pot three providing a stern examination for Barcelona and Dortmund. Barcelona are big favourites to top the standings, although they'll kick off their campaign without Lionel Messi and it's worth monitoring his fitness throughout the group stages. Away in Dortmund is also not the ideal start for the Spanish side, who then also face Inter in their second game, so a home win in Germany would throw the group wide open. Inter made a perfect start to the season with Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez in their ranks and will fancy making a winning start in their opener. It's almost unthinkable that Barca won't go through but the second spot is up for grabs and maybe Antonio Conte's side can spring a slight surprise.
Barcelona & Inter Milan both to qualify at 11/8 | Inter Milan to qualify at Evens
Group G: Zenit St Petersburg, Benfica, Lyon, RB Leipzig
Fixtures
- Tuesday 17 September: Lyon v Zenit (18:55 CET), Benfica v Leipzig
- Wednesday 2 October: Zenit v Benfica, Leipzig v Lyon
- Wednesday 23 October: Leipzig v Zenit (18:55 CET), Benfica v Lyon
- Tuesday 5 November: Zenit v Leipzig (18:55 CET), Lyon v Benfica
- Wednesday 27 November: Zenit v Lyon (18:55 CET), Leipzig v Benfica
- Tuesday 10 December: Benfica v Zenit, Lyon v Leipzig
Verdict:
Drawn out of pot four but 7/4 group favourites, RB Leipzig lead the way in a puzzle of a group with some more recognised Champions League names around them making it look perhaps a tougher task than it is. Zenit can thank UEFA's league rankings for being a top seed, and Lyon look stronger despite losing Tanguy Ndombele, Nabil Fekir and Ferland Mendy from the team that stunned Man City last season. Benfica will always be strong at home but they still look more of a Europa League team, especially after losing Joao Felix, so that final fixture between our fancies could even be a draw-suits-all scenario.
Group H: Chelsea, Ajax, Valencia, Lille
Fixtures
- Tuesday 17 September: Chelsea v Valencia, Ajax v LOSC Lille
- Wednesday 2 October: Valencia v Ajax, LOSC Lille v Chelsea
- Wednesday 23 October Ajax v Chelsea (18:55 CET), LOSC Lille v Valencia
- Tuesday 5 November: Chelsea v Ajax, Valencia v LOSC Lille
- Wednesday 27 November: Valencia v Chelsea (18:55 CET), LOSC Lille v Ajax
- Tuesday 10 December: Chelsea v LOSC Lille, Ajax v Valencia
Verdict:
Where to start with this one! Chelsea looked vulnerable at the start of the season before the goals started flowing, but Frank Lampard's youngsters will still have questions to answer on the Champions League stage, especially with three lively away days in store. The fact that semi-finalists Ajax had to qualify was a bit of a nonsense, but now they're in they'll provide a big test and look the value for group winners as 11/4 second favourites - they've lost two big players in Matthijs de Light and Frenkie de Jong but we expected more of their stars to depart. Valencia always look lively, especially at home, and will be good on the ball but they've lacked cutting edge in recent years. This could be close but the top two should squeeze through.
Ajax to win the group at 11/4 | Chelsea and Ajax to go through at 2/1
Odds correct as of 1217 BST on 16/09/19