Our Sport360 team picks their suggestions for 2016/17 Champions League winners, surprise package and disappointments.
Who do you see claiming glory next May? Who will flatter to deceive?
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WINNERS – Manchester City
If Pep Guardiola can get City to play the kind of football they delivered in the first half against Manchester United, they will be hard to stop. Bravo needs to raise his game but otherwise the squad is strong and deep enough and the confidence boost Guardiola brings can take them all the way.
SURPRISE PACKAGE – Leicester City
Everyone expects them to fail which means there is absolutely no pressure on Claudio Ranieri’s men. If they can rediscover the fighting spirit that won them the EPL title, there is no reason they can’t progress in the competition.
FLOPS – Paris Saint-Germain
A team in transition with a new manager Unai Emery, new players and a huge void created by the loss of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Luiz. They are off the pace in Ligue 1 and will fall short in Europe.
Set to disappoint?: PSG.
WINNERS – Bayern Munich
If Carlo Ancelotti can maintain the hunger at Bayern once the Bundesliga title has been sewn up around early April, they look to have the best balanced squad. Mats Hummels should dramatically improve a defence that has wilted too often in the latter stages.
SURPRISE PACKAGE – Monaco
It’s a stretch because the principality club have so many young players but on their day they will be a joy to watch. This season can be a shop window for so many of their better players and the quarter-finals are a real prospect.
FLOPS – Leicester City
It’s unclear what they’re expectation levels are but in such an open group, with a team of such little Champions League experience, the Foxes could well miss out on the last 16.
Champion quality: Bayern Munich.
Winners – Juventus
Signing Gonzalo Higuain and Miralem Pjanic was seen as bully-boy tactics in Serie A terms but it means Juve are formidable on a European front. Ending two decades without European success is their sole aim.
SURPRISE PACKAGE – Benfica
Gave Bayern Munich a real fright in the quarterfinals last season. They have an easy group, are hard to beat and the Estadio da Luz is a fortress. Last four is not beyond them.
FLOPS – Paris Saint-Germain
The Ligue 1 giants look to have a soft underbelly. Losing star man Zlatan Ibrahimovic cannot be underestimated either and it’s difficult to see how they progress beyond the last 16.
Greater firepower: Can Higuain fire Juve to success?
WINNERS – Barcelona
It is a boring choice, but an attack featuring Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi will win this tournament most years. The addition of France’s Samuel Umtiti should also shore up the defence. Don’t hit the panic button after the shock loss to Alaves.
SURPRISE PACKAGE – Napoli
A generous group should provide a springboard to the knockout stages, where the retention of Kalidou Koulibaly and addition of striker Arkadiusz Milik can see them aim for at least the quarters.
FLOPS – Arsenal
Their work in the transfer market was both underwhelming and belated, with the exception of Granit Xhaka. It will not be enough to stop the perennial round-of-16 exit after they make hard work of a forgiving Group A.
Key to Success: MSN.
WINNERS – Atletico Madrid
Beaten in two of the last three finals but, under the absorbing Diego Simeone, will be even hungrier to succeed rather than scarred by their experience. Defensively sound, Los Rojiblancos have added star quality and pace up front and are a formidable prospect.
SURPRISE PACKAGE – Leicester City
The Foxes might find joy on their first foray into Europe for 16 years. Have a favourable group and, with the fact they won’t be in the Premier League title race, can concentrate on really making a mark in this competition.
FLOPS – Sevilla
Lost a host of stars over the summer and could be in danger of a young, hungry Dinamo Zagreb team or Alexandre Lacazette-inspired Lyon usurping them to second place.
Ready to repeat the trick?: Leicester City.
WINNERS – Barcelona
After last season’s quarter-final exit, the Catalan giants will be determined to prove themselves again. When Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar stay fully fit, they can beat anyone.
SURPRISE PACKAGE – FC Copenhagen
The Danish champions are very solid and possess a particularly strong defence. They could end up winning a weak group and maybe even progress to the last eight.
FLOPS – Leicester City
The Foxes’ shock title triumph last season only showed how poor the Premier League had become. They are an average team and won’t make the knockout phase.
Dark horses: FC Copenhagen.
WINNERS – Bayern Munich
With Carlo Ancelotti’s European pedigree, Bayern will find a way of getting past the semi-final stage, something they failed to do under Pep Guardiola. The Italian can help deliver big-game performances that are needed in the latter stages and manage the workload and motivation of his key players, especially if they tie-up the Bundesliga title early.
SURPRISE PACKAGE – Leicester City
If the Foxes can recapture their rock-solid defensive form and play on the break like last season, then they could have a formula that works against Europe’s best. Leicester have a favourable group and Ranieri might just prioritise the competition over the Premier League.
FLOPS – Real Madrid
No team has ever won the Champions League back-to-back and beyond an incredible 15 or so world-class first-team stars in their squad, Real’s strength and depth doesn’t look strong.
