Winner, biggest flop, Golden Boot and more: Squawka predicts the 2018-19 Champions League season

The Chaaaaaampiiioooonnnnnssss!!

When you hear that music, you know what’s coming: the UEFA Champions League is back. Europe’s premiere club competition is ready to rock and roll for another season. The best players on the planet will all be on show, fighting it out to take home the big silver trophy.

Can Real Madrid win an incredible fourth consecutive title, being the first side to do so since they did it themselves in the 1950’s? Or will Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Juventus tilt the balance of power? And will Cristiano retain his spot as top goalscorer this season? Which side will flop? Moreover will any young player replicate the incredible impact Kylian Mbappé had on the tournament two years ago?

We here at Squawka answered these questions and more in our Champions League preview!

Who will win the Champions League?

Barcelona (seven votes): “This year, I think it’s time to win the Champions League,” said Leo Messi in the summer. The world’s finest spoke with terrifyingly clear ambition; and now Coutinho and Ousmane Dembélé are fully settled, augmenting Messi, Busquets, Alba and co., Barça have the firepower needed to win it all again. – Muhammad Butt, Chief Writer

Juventus (five votes): Juventus have been the Champions League bridesmaid over the past four seasons. Either making it to the final or falling short against the most successful clubs in the competition’s history, they now have the one man needed to go one step further. The UEFA Cristiano League is coming to Turin. – Jake Entwistle, Assistant Editor

Man City (four votes): Guardiola and his City squad will still be hurting from their Champions League exit to Liverpool last season. Pep doesn’t like losing and having not won the Champions League since 2011, another continental success is long overdue. City easily have enough quality in their squad to go all the way. – Chris Smith, Staff Writer

Bayern Munich, PSG (one vote each)

Which English side will go the furthest?

Man City (12 votes): Pep Guardiola’s Champions League record as Manchester City manager has been underwhelming. They threw the game away against Monaco (round of 16) in 2017 and were blown away by Liverpool (quarter finals) last season. The Spanish tactician – and his players – will have learned valuable lessons from those defeats. The same mistakes will not be made again. – Sam Long, AskFans Editor

Liverpool (six votes): Liverpool should, if anything, improve on last season’s Champions League exploits. If their league form is anything to go by then watch out Europe, not only have they improved in net but have now seemingly found the consistency that scuppered their title challenge. – James Richards, Staff Writer

Who are the dark horses?

Borussia Dortmund (three votes): In Lucien Favre, Borussia Dortmund now have an experienced manager who favours a dynamic style of play that suits both the club and it’s players. BVB should face few problems in getting through the group and with the Westfalenstadion crowd behind them in the knock-out stages anything is possible. – Dean Smith, FootballTips Editor

Lyon (three votes): Keeping Nabil Fekir was vital for Lyon this summer. With him, alongside the trio of Memphis Depay, Bertrand Traore and summer signing Moussa Dembele, Lyon have a frightening attack. They embarrassed Everton in last season’s Europa League and were unlucky to lose to CSKA Moscow on away goals in the last-16. – Chris Smith, Staff Writer

Manchester United (three votes): Love him or hate him, you simply cannot rule out a Jose Mourinho side when he is determined to prove people wrong. Lukaku looks inspired leading the line and he could be their catalyst for a successful campaign. – Thomas Rooney, Football Content Co-ordinator

Valencia, Inter (two votes each)

Atlético Madrid, Benfica, Porto, Shakhtar, Spurs (one vote each)

Who will be the biggest flops?

Spurs (four votes): They are in a tough group and the lack of summer arrivals could leave them really short. This and the delayed completion of White Hart Lane are the main reasons why I think Spurs might flop. – Vedran Ostojic, FootballTips Contributor

Bayern Munich (three votes): I believe an unfavourable draw will see Niko Kovač’s ageing side knocked out before the quarters for the first time since 2010 – that equates to a disappointing return for a club of Bayern’s stature. – Sam Long, AskFans Editor

Napoli (three votes): Napoli are conceding goals all too easily in Serie A so far this season and with Liverpool, PSG and Red Star in their group it could be a hard campaign even with Champions League “expert” Carlo Ancelotti in charge. – James Richards, Staff Writer

Manchester United (three votes): Manchester United are a squad bristling with talent but face a hellish group featuring two teams capable of dismantling their cobbled-together-at-the-last-minute malarkey. This dysfunction could be fixed by a quality coach, but unfortunately José Mourinho is a faded force in the manner of Carlito Brigante. A once-was, no longer a killer. – Muhammad Butt, Chief Writer

Inter (two votes): Despite making a number of big name signings in the summer I still don’t feel that Inter Milan have the strength in depth to progress far, especially given how tough their group is. – Tom Green, Social Media Manager

Real Madrid, Juventus, Roma (one vote each)

Who will be the top goalscorer?

Cristiano Ronaldo (eight votes): No one in the Champions League has more goals than Cristiano Ronaldo (120) or finished top scorer more than Cristiano Ronaldo (7) or scored more in a single season than Cristiano (17). That level of absurd dominance won’t stop just because he’s put some black stripes on his white shirt. – Muhammad Butt, Chief Writer

Leo Messi (five votes): Every season since 2007-08, either Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo (or both) has been the Champions League top goalscorer – for the most obvious of reasons. Ronaldo may find it harder now he has joined Juventus and that could leave the way clear for Messi to regain the Golden Boot. – Jon Wilde, FootballTips Contributor

Neymar, Edinson Cavani, Sergio Aguero, Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino (one vote each)

Who will get the most assists?

Kevin De Bruyne (three votes): I see Manchester City progressing deep into the tournament this season and it stands to reason that Kevin De Bruyne will continue to be their creator in chief. He topped last season’s Premier League assists chart and only three players managed more than him in the UCL last term too. – Dean Smith, FootballTips Editor

Roberto Firmino (three votes): Firmino is the very definition of a selfless striker, always looking drop deep and give Mane and Salah license thrive in front of him. He incarnates Klopp’s high-octane football, registered seven assists in Europe last season, and will likely top that statistics given the current form of Liverpool’s attacking trident. – Ben Green, Staff Writer

Neymar (two votes): It’s time for Neymar to inspire PSG to the latter stages and as well as goals, he can do this by setting up the prolific Cavani and Mbappe. He managed four last season as they crashed out early. He could double it if they reach the semi-finals. – Thomas Rooney, Football Content Co-ordinator

James Milner (two votes): Milner already has two assists to his name this season and broke the record for the amount of assists in last seasons competition (9). His set piece delivery always causes real problems for the opposition and he has a habit of getting into great areas to provide Salah, Mane and Firmino. – Jack Sear, Staff Writer

Benjamin Mendy, David Silva, Antoine Griezmann, Kieran Trippier, Kylian Mbappé, Miralem Pjanic, Sadio Mané, Thomas Muller (one vote each)

Who will be the breakout star?

Jadon Sancho (five votes): Sancho has only only clocked up just over 90 minutes for Dortmund so far this season but has already provided 4 assists for his teammates. If he continues his promising start to the campaign then he could be a crucial part of Lucien Favre’s side in the Champions League. – Jack Sear, Staff Writer

Hirving Lozano (three votes): PSV themselves are an exciting addition, but Hirving Lozano will prove he can be a nightmare for the most elite defenders. Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho is another to watch, but the Mexican will start every game. Should Chucky deliver, he may end up being cup-tied for Bayern for the knockout round. – Jake Entwistle, Assistant Editor

Angel Correa, Donny van de Beek, Frenkie de Jong, Gedson Fernandes, Goncalo Guedes, Kasper Dolberg, Mariano, Phil Foden, Pietro Pellegri, Tanguy Ndombele (one vote each)

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