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A new season of the greatest club competition in Europe, the UEFA Champions League, is finally upon us. Although rarely as nerve-wracking as knockout football, group stage fixtures give us a taste of what is to come over the course of the campaign.
Every competing football club worth their salt are desperate to start their season strongly, which translates to hard-fought opening-day clashes. We will take the opening-day fixtures into account today and give you our top five predictions for gameweek one of the Champions League 2021-22. Now, without further ado, let us get to it!
#5 AC Milan to make life difficult for Liverpool
Despite being the second-most decorated club in the history of the Champions League with seven titles, AC Milan have had to endure a seven-year absence. Now, after finishing second in Serie A in the 2020-21 campaign, Milan are back in the Champions League and are raring to go. They have been placed in a rather difficult group alongside Liverpool, Atletico Madrid and Porto. But the Italian giants are not afraid to take on the odds.
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At Anfield, AC Milan are likely to be put under relentless pressure by Liverpool, but their strong defensive record should be reassuring. With only one goal conceded in three Serie A games this season, Milan boast the best defense in Italy and are capable of shutting Liverpool out. The Reds, who have scored nine goals in the Premier League this season, will fancy starting their campaign in style against the Rossoneri.
The famous rivals have given us some Champions League classics over the years and look destined to do something special on Tuesday night as well.
#4 Messi to make his Champions League debut for PSG
Lionel Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona as a free agent in the summer transfer window. The Argentine has already made his debut for PSG, but he is yet to start a game or score a goal for his new employers. Against Club Brugge on Wednesday, Messi is set to play his first Champions League game for PSG.
Messi won four Champions League titles with Barcelona during his time at the Camp Nou. So far, he has scored 120 goals and provided 41 assists in the Champions League, and will look to improve his tally this week in a bid to come close to his eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo's tally of 134.
PSG have been waiting patiently for their maestro to make his full debut since signing him in the summer. That highly-anticipated moment could finally come this Wednesday against Club Brugge. Messi, too, will look to mark the occasion by getting on the scoresheet for PSG.
#3 Cristiano Ronaldo to score against Young Boys
Champions League record goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to Manchester United from Juventus this summer. On Saturday, against Newcastle United in the Premier League, Ronaldo made his second debut for the club. He marked the occasion by scoring an efficient brace. The Portuguese was ecstatic with the reception he received at Old Trafford and will look to keep the good vibes flowing against Young Boys on Tuesday.
Manchester United will have to vie with Young Boys, Atalanta and Villarreal in Champions League Group F. Although deemed to be favorites to progress to the knockouts, United still need to be sharp against all three teams.
The Swiss side, Young Boys, are the first team to face an in-form Ronaldo in the Champions League this season, and we expect the Portuguese to shine.
Ronaldo currently has 134 goals in the competition and we will not be surprised to see his tally improve on gameweek 1.
#2 Inter to give Real Madrid a hard time at San Siro
Inter Milan and Real Madrid went toe-to-toe last season in the Champions League group stages. On matchday three and four, Real Madrid came out all guns blazing and beat Inter on both occasions. Despite the defeats, Inter came pretty close to stealing points off the 13-time Champions League winners and will look to do the deed this season.
Real Madrid, who are at the top of La Liga right now, have started the season strongly, but they have plenty of issues at the back. Los Blancos have already conceded six goals in four La Liga games, which is concerning, to say the least. Inter, who have scored nine goals in Serie A this season, are pretty good at hitting on the break. Real Madrid, on the other hand, have been particularly vulnerable against fast counterattacks.
At the San Siro, Inter will look to make the most of their fast attackers and hit them on the break. If they strike early, it could be difficult for Real Madrid to reorganize and go for the win.
#1 Barcelona could be a tough nut to crack for Bayern Munich
Carrying memories of the 8-2 defeat, Barcelona are set to take on Bayern Munich once again in the Champions League in the 2019-20 season. Their last meeting, in the 2019-20 Champions League, saw the Bavarians record one of the biggest wins in the history of the competition. This season, Barcelona will be desperate not to give in to the old trauma and battle Bayern Munich with more aggression and zeal.
Barcelona have started the season strongly and possess a strong squad to fight Bayern. They have not lost 22 first-day fixtures in the Champions League and will look to keep their fine run going. Bayern, on the other hand, are on a record-setting away run in the Champions League, having not tasted defeat in 18 games away from home. The clash between the two European giants headlines Champions League gameweek 1, and we expect it to be a hard-fought contest.
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