Europe’s grandest club competition is back, and with it come a raft of Champions League predictions. In a week in which UEFA fined several of its Champions League contenders, read on to see what the Last Word on Football team think will happen in the first week of the 2022/23 Champions League group stage.
Champions League Predictions for the First Group Stage Match
One more sleep until the Champions League returns ⏳ pic.twitter.com/KYEUkPHeD5
— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 5, 2022
Dinamo Zagreb vs Chelsea
Jamie Rooke: 1-2
Dan Hepburn: 2-2
Joe Blackburn: 0-2
Sam Cross: 0-3
Joseph Howes: 1-2
Dinamo Zagreb have started their season strongly, going unbeaten in eight in the league, as their opponents Chelsea are struggling in the early stages. In spite of this, the quality of the Blues’ squad, with acquisitions including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, should make the difference between the two.
Joe Blackburn
Borussia Dortmund vs Copenhagen
Jamie Rooke: 3-0
Dan Hepburn: 1-0
Joe Blackburn: 2-0
Sam Cross: 4-2
Joseph Howes: 2-0
Borussia Dortmund welcome Copenhagen to Signal Iduna Park, after a strong start to the season leaves them in second place. Marco Reus and Jude Bellingham have been essential for seizing control of matches, and the Danes don’t have enough in the centre of the pitch to prevent a 2-0 Dortmund victory.
Joe Blackburn
RB Salzburg vs AC Milan
Jamie Rooke: 1-1
Dan Hepburn: 1-3
Joe Blackburn: 1-2
Sam Cross: 1-2
Joseph Howes: 2-2
Stars such as Brenden Aaronson, Karim Adeyemi and Rasmus Kristensen have recently departed RB Salzburg and so the next generation has a big job on their hands. Milan meanwhile look keen to retain the Scudetto, the Milan derby being a sign of intent. Red Bull Arena isn’t an easy place to visit and Pioli’s men are set to stumble once again.
Jamie Rooke
Celtic vs Real Madrid
Jamie Rooke: 1-3
Dan Hepburn: 0-2
Joe Blackburn: 0-3
Sam Cross: 0-2
Joseph Howes: 0-4
The Scots return to the Champions League group stage for the first time since the 2017/18 season. They’ll bring everything to Celtic Park for their return, especially off the backs of their 4-0 Old Firm victory against Rangers, but the step up to this level of European competition will hit them hard. I don’t predict a cricket score, but would expect Madrid to be dominant throughout.
Sam Cross
RB Leipzig vs Shakhtar Donetsk
Jamie Rooke: 1-0
Dan Hepburn: 2-1
Joe Blackburn: 2-0
Sam Cross: 1-1
Joseph Howes: 2-1
RB Leipzig come into this match on relatively poor form, losing to Frankfurt and Union Berlin since the season started. On the contrary, Shakhtar haven’t conceded a goal in their last three matches. The German side’s quality should shine through, leading to a 2-0 win to Leipzig.
Joe Blackburn
Sevilla vs Manchester City
Jamie Rooke: 0-3
Dan Hepburn: 1-3
Joe Blackburn: 0-2
Sam Cross: 1-2
Joseph Howes: 1-3
Sevilla haven’t won a single game in the league this season, picking up just one point from four matches. On the contrary, Manchester City are unbeaten in the league, dominating the division as the top scorers by a comfortable margin. The Cityzens could win this at a canter.
Joe Blackburn
PSG vs Juventus
Jamie Rooke: 3-1
Dan Hepburn: 1-1
Joe Blackburn: 2-0
Sam Cross: 1-1
Joseph Howes: 0-0
Arguably the tightest contest of the opening weekend. The home side are in fantastic form, unbeaten in the league after scoring 24 goals in seven games. It looks like the front three have finally found their groove. Juventus also have an unbeaten start, but find themselves seventh in Serie A after a host of draws. Both sides will want to spring into action with a win here, but I can’t see either gaining enough of an advantage to run away with it.
Sam Cross
Benfica vs Maccabi Haifa
Jamie Rooke: 2-0
Dan Hepburn: 2-0
Joe Blackburn: 2-1
Sam Cross: 6-0
Joseph Howes: 4-1
Benfica sit at the very top of the Primeira Liga, winning all of their matches and only conceding three times in five. Maccabi Haifa have also gone unbeaten, but the strength of the Portuguese league makes this feel like the Israeli side could be edged out of the match narrowly.
Joe Blackburn
Ajax vs Rangers
Jamie Rooke: 2-1
Dan Hepburn: 3-1
Joe Blackburn: 2-0
Sam Cross: 2-1
Joseph Howes: 0-0
Rangers were put to shame in the Old Firm derby at the weekend and will be keen to bounce back with a performance midweek. Unfortunately for them, Ajax are in stupendous form, and I can’t see that changing at home against an out-of-sorts side. I predict a hard-fought affair, but fully expect the Dutchmen to prevail with all three points.
Sam Cross
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Sporting CP
Jamie Rooke: 1-1
Dan Hepburn: 2-1
Joe Blackburn: 1-2
Sam Cross: 1-1
Joseph Howes: 0-2
Eintracht Frankfurt are entering the Champions League for the first time ever thanks to their Europa League success. The Portuguese champions Sporting CP have lost a few key players in the summer window but their overperforming nature could well continue into this competition.
Jamie Rooke
Napoli vs Liverpool
Jamie Rooke: 2-2
Dan Hepburn: 2-1
Joe Blackburn: 3-2
Sam Cross: 1-2
Joseph Howes: 0-3
As Champions League predictions go, this is a tight one. Liverpool’s poor start to the season sits in direct contrast to that of Napoli, who are unbeaten in the first five matches of Serie A. With Liverpool appearing shaky at the back and Napoli scoring over two per match so far, this could be a goal frenzy that gives the Italian side all three points.
Joe Blackburn
Atletico Madrid vs Porto
Jamie Rooke: 1-1
Dan Hepburn: 2-0
Joe Blackburn: 1-0
Sam Cross: 2-1
Joseph Howes: 2-0
Atletico Madrid did well last season, using grit and determination to drive their way into the latter stages of the competition. Porto are having a strong start to the season, but in this Iberian clash the Spanish side has the defensive nouse to come out on top.
Joe Blackburn
Club Brugge vs Bayer Leverkusen
Jamie Rooke: 2-1
Dan Hepburn: 2-2
Joe Blackburn: 1-2
Sam Cross: 0-1
Joseph Howes: 0-0
Club Brugge sit third in the league, dropping points to the likes of Zulte Waregem. Bayer Leverkusen are on worse form, losing four of their last five in the league. However, I feel that the quality the German side has to offer could shine through, sneaking all three points against their Belgian opposition.
Joe Blackburn
Barcelona vs Viktoria Plzen
Jamie Rooke: 3-0
Dan Hepburn: 3-0
Joe Blackburn: 5-0
Sam Cross: 4-0
Joseph Howes: 7-0
This is one of the simpler Champions League predictions. Barcelona come into the match against Viktoria Plzen on top form, with Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski shining amongst their other new signings. With such depth of quality in the squad, it’s hard to see anything but a Barcelona win. 4-0 to the Catalan club.
Joe Blackburn
Inter Milan vs Bayern Munich
Jamie Rooke: 1-2
Dan Hepburn: 0-2
Joe Blackburn: 0-3
Sam Cross: 1-2
Joseph Howes: 2-1
Following on from a crushing derby defeat, it doesn’t get any easier for Inter with the visit of Bayern Munich to the San Siro. They will be keen to bounce back against the German champions who themselves haven’t had the smoothest starts to the season. A fascinating and evenly balanced encounter is incoming.
Jamie Rooke
Tottenham vs Marseille
Jamie Rooke: 2-0
Dan Hepburn: 1-1
Joe Blackburn: 1-0
Sam Cross: 1-1
Joseph Howes: 2-0
Antonio Conte’s side look secure at the back so far this season, and have enough promising talent at the top to make a difference. Marseille struggled to hold onto Bamba Dieng, only doing so via a failed medical. Morale could be low in the French camp, so I expect a narrow win for Spurs.
Joe Blackburn
