The 2022/23 Champions League is just around the corner and plenty of teams are dreaming about getting their hands on the prestigious trophy.
Real Madrid added their name to the Champions League winners list for the 14th time last season, defeating Liverpool 1-0 after a hard-fought final in Paris.
Vinicius Junior netted the only goal of the game in the 59th minute, while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois produced an inspired display to keep the Reds at bay.
The La Liga giants will fancy their chances of retaining the title, although several of Europe’s big hitters are capable of knocking them off their perch.
Read on as we take a closer look at the key dates for the 2022/23 Champions League, before assessing who we think will emerge victorious next June.
2022/23 Champions League Schedule
Group Stage
- Matchday 1: September 6/7
- Matchday 2: September 13/14
- Matchday 3: October 4/5
- Matchday 4: October 11/12
- Matchday 5: October 25/26
- Matchday 6: November 1/2
Knockout Stage
- Round of 16: February 14/15/21/22 & March 7/8/14/15
- Quarter-finals: April 11/12 & 18/19
- Semi-finals: May 9/10 & 16/17
- Final: June 10
2022/23 Champions League Preview
Porto’s success in 2003/04 is the only time this century that a club from outside the established European elite has won the Champions League.
Madrid have been the most successful club in the competition in recent times, lifting the trophy in five of the previous nine seasons.
Barcelona, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Chelsea are the only other teams who clinched the Champions League title during that period.
While Carlo Ancelotti’s side will undoubtedly be tough to beat this season, several other teams have an excellent chance of wrestling the trophy from their grasp.
Manchester City immediately leap off the page, with their acquisition of striker Erling Braut Haaland arguably the signing of the summer.
City were narrowly denied by Chelsea in the 2020/21 final, but now appear to have the necessary firepower to go one better.
Of the rest of the Premier League contingent, Liverpool are perhaps best placed to mount a serious challenge to be crowned European champions for the seventh time.
The Reds have shook up their forward options this summer, selling Sadio Mane to Bayern and replacing him with Darwin Nunez from Benfica.
With Luis Diaz settling in nicely following his arrival from Porto in January, Jurgen Klopp’s side should go a long way in this season’s competition.
Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are also expected to make it out of the group stage, but neither appeal as likely winners of the Champions League.
Paris Saint-Germain have been tipped by several respected pundits after investing heavily in their squad again this summer.
Their front three of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi is one of the best in Europe, but PSG have repeatedly failed to deliver in this competition.
Bundesliga giants Bayern appeal as more likely winners after making several shrewd additions to their squad this summer.
Mane’s arrival from Liverpool compensates for the loss of star striker Robert Lewandowski, while Matthijs de Ligt is an excellent signing in defence.
Ryan Gravenberch has strengthened the German club’s formidable options in midfield and they could be the team to watch on live soccer streams as the Champions League progresses.
Another team potentially worth monitoring are Barcelona, particularly if they can overcome their well-documented financial issues.
Their money woes have prevented them from registering all of their summer signings, but they will have a stellar squad if they can resolve the problems.
Juventus could emerge as dark horses in the Champions League this season, with the club making some impressive moves during the transfer window.
They have splashed the cash to sign Federico Chiesa and Gleison Bremer, while Paul Pogba has arrived with a point to prove after leaving Manchester United.
The Serie A giants have not been champions of Europe since 1995/96, but could be troublesome with striker Dusan Vhalovic leading the line.
2022/23 Champions League Prediction
Man City are worthy favourites to win the Champions League and are likely to be tough to stop with Haaland in their ranks.
Bayern are also fancied to reach the final but the German giants will probably come up short against Pep Guardiola’s star-studded team.
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