After a long summer, Europe’s premier club competition is back and did not disappoint. From Lisbon to Amsterdam, some fantastic goals were scored in the opening week of the Champions League, so let's take a look at the top five.
With a new season on the horizon, The18 felt it was appropriate to create Champions League group stage predictions for the 2022-23 season. We’ve already submitted our Champions League predictions for the rest of our league picks such as winner and top scorer. Now it’s time for each group.
The largest club competition in the world returns on Tuesday. Following the draw on Aug. 25, the Champions League groups have been made and play will begin on Sept. 6 when both games in Group G kick off.
The18 staff broke out our crystal balls to make some bold predictions for the 2022-23 Champions League season. Let us know how you feel about our Champions League predictions for 2022-23.
Corey Basciano (Client Experience)
After being told he wouldn't play a minute at Barcelona this season, Sergiño Dest has successfully engineered a move away from the Camp Nou by joining AC Milan on a one-year loan with an option to make it permanent for $20 million.
With nine successive Serie A titles followed by two campaigns where Champions League qualification seemed a shallow silver lining, Juventus’ fall from grace has been clear to see in recent years. This summer has seen several big names depart Turin, and the Bianconeri will be hard-pressed to find adequate replacements in order to once again fight for the Scudetto.
Serie A returned last week and goals came standard along with a healthy dose of drama. Inter scraped past newly promoted Lecce thanks to a 95th-minute goal by Denzel Dumfries, Dušan Vlahović and Ante Rebić both scored twice, and Napoli thrashed Verona 5-2 to go top of the league from the off.
This week, expect more of the same as most big-name clubs take on lesser-known opposition with a few exceptions, all on Paramount+.
After two games played in the Premier League season, Christian Pulisic has managed to play 33 minutes. There has been speculation Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel doesn’t trust the young American, and with a World Cup just months away, game time will be important. Many clubs have been linked with Pulisic, but finding the right fit is easier said than done.
This weekend, Serie A kicks off following a transfer window that changed the dynamic of the entire league. Former favorites have failed to impress while good investments have helped others emerge as contenders.
A relatively unassuming first weekend of games gives way to a title fight that has the potential to include as many as five clubs. Relegation will be a trap door that many will need to be aware of, including some relatively big teams.
It seems FC Barcelona may be feeling the harsh consequences of its actions this summer. After signing a multitude of players in recent months for outrageous transfer fees while already having several players tied to absurd contracts, reports from Spain claim the club may not be able to register two of its biggest signings before the season and could lose them for free as a result.
European soccer leagues are back and the Serie A will definitely be one to watch. This season in particular will be perhaps the most competitive in the last decade. With Juventus being kicked off its nine-year Scudetto winning streak by Inter Milan in 2021, AC Milan winning its first league title in 11 years last season and AS Roma coming off its historic European trophy winning season, the Italian calcio is making a comeback. So what better time for some Serie A predictions?