Champions League Favourites and Dark Horses

The UEFA Champions League season starts next week Tuesday as the best teams across Europe battle it out to play in the Final at the Atatürk Stadium in Istanbul next year. So who are the favourites to win it and who are the dark horses that could surprise us like Ajax did last year?

Favourites 

• Manchester City 

This surely has to be their season Manchester City. They have dominated the Premier League and are in the conversation as one of the best teams in the Premier League era with four league titles in eight years. However, they have been unable to bring that to Europe. Under their current ownership, City have only reach the semifinals once in 2016 and under Pep Guardiola, have suffered defeats to Liverpool, Tottenham and Monaco in the knockout stages. The Citizens have the best squad in the competition in terms of depth and quality of the players and manager, which also includes their recent summer signings in Rodri and João Cancelo. Things should come together for them and hope for some luck this season. 

• Liverpool 

Liverpool come in this Champions League season as defending champions after winning it all last season in Madrid. The Reds have gone from strength to strength under Jürgen Klopp; they have not lost a two legged European tie under the German, Anfield has become an intimidating ground for opposition and they have reached the last two UCL finals, so their place as one of the favourites is justified. Despite no new additions to their senior squad, Liverpool has a group of players who are at their prime years from their fearsome front three and the UEFA Best Player in Europe, Virgil van Dijk. They could get far again Liverpool but they are the team to beat this season meaning more expectations from Jürgen Klopp. 

• Barcelona 

Before the start of last season, Lionel Messi spoke at the Camp Nou saying that they were going to bring the Champions League trophy back to Barcelona but was overshadowed by the humiliating 4-0 defeat to Liverpool in the semifinals despite winning 3-0 in the first leg. Barcelona haven't won it since 2015 and under Ernesto Valverde have experienced two bad defeats in Liverpool and Roma in the knockout stages. With Lionel Messi, you have a great chance of winning it and the additions of Frenkie de Jong and Antonie Griezmann have improved the Blaugrana with Luis Suárez ageing and is in decline and the midfield lacking some athleticism. For Valverde himself, he has to get things right in the UCL to win over the Barça faithful or have his time at the club remembered for those two heavy defeats. 

• Juventus

Juventus have not the Champions League since 1996 and have been in three finals since then, losing in all of them. Despite bringing Cristiano Ronaldo, who has the last three UCL titles in four years, the Old Lady disappointed as they lost to Ajax in the quarterfinals. Now they have brought in former Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri and have done another spending spree, signing Adrien Rabiot, Aaron Ramsey, Danilo and Matthijs de Ligt. Ronaldo is still the man of the show at Juventus but aside from him,  no one scored in the knockout stages for Juventus last season meaning the other attackers like Douglas Costa, Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Huigaín have to do a lot more in improving Juve's chances. With an new exciting teams to watch and Mr. Champions League himself, Juventus can fancy their chances. 

Dark Horses

• Borussia Dortmund 

Borussia Dortmund took Bayern Munich all the way in the Bundesliga last season and came top of their group over Atlético Madrid, beating them 4-0 at the Westfalonstadion. However, they were beaten comfortably by Tottenham in the Round of 16 and were quite porous in their defence. Now they are a year older from their experience and have made some big additions in Julian Brandt, Thorgan Hazard, Nico Schulz and Matts Hummels. With their attack that consist of Paco Alcácer, Jadon Sancho, Brandt, Hazard and their captain Marco Reus, the Black and Yellow can sprung a surprise this season as they look to compete in all fronts. 

• Lyon

Lyon have lost three players over the summer in Tanguy Ndombele, Ferland Mendy and Nabil Fekir but their squad still look pretty good for them to go this season. They have made some additions from Thiago Mendes, Jeff Reine-Adélaïde and Joachim Andersen whilst possessing Memphis Depay, Moussa Dembélé and Houssem Aouar, who has been linked with a move away. Last season, they got results against Manchester City and Barcelona and with a relatively easy group this season  plus a new manager in Sylvinho, Lyon look to excite many this season.

• RB Leipzig 

RB Leipzig have been on a steady rise over the past few years and are now regulars in the Bundesliga with a potential title race this season with them in the mix. Their first season in the Champions League which was in 2017/18, they finished bottom of their group which was disappointing. This season, they have brought in Julian Nagelsmann, who is one of the brightest young managers around and the young talent at their disposal plus star striker Timo Werner, who could have a great year, Leipzig could fancy their chances in Europe this year.