UCL Predictions: Group E and F

The Champions League kicks off tomorrow with Group E starting proceedings. Let’s dive into the action as we predict the standings in groups E and F of the 2022/23 UCL group stages.

GROUP E

AC Milan, Chelsea, RB Salzburg, Dinamo Zagreb

Seven-time UCL winners AC Milan will look to make amends after their disappointing return to the Champions League last season where they finished bottom of their group. The Serie A champions will take the experience gained from last year, and with some fresh faces in the squad, they will look to fare much better this time around. Fresh off of their derby win against Inter, Milan should be buzzing with confidence.

Chelsea will look to go a couple of steps further in this campaign, after their quarterfinal loss last season against eventual champions Real Madrid. They will however need to put their wavered league form aside and start afresh in Europe. The 2020/21 champions will start as favourites to finish top of group E, but must ward off stiff competition from Milan who will challenge closely.

Meanwhile, Austrian league leaders RB Salzburg are in great domestic form and will hope to translate that into the Champions League group stage games. They qualified for the knockouts last season finishing 2nd. But, in what is a tougher group this season, they will need their steely defense which has conceded just thrice all season to step up if they are to harbour any hopes of going beyond the group stage.

Back in the UCL group stages after 3 years, Dinamo Zagreb continue to dominate domestically as they sit atop the Croatian league entering into matchday 1. The Balkan-based club is capable of causing upsets, as they beat Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League 2 seasons ago. However, the best they can hope for this season is to challenge Salzburg for 3rd place as the competition might just be a bit too much for them.

Final predictions:

1. Chelsea

2. AC Milan

3. RB Salzburg

4. Dinamo Zagreb

GROUP F

Real Madrid, RB Leipzig, Shakthar Donetsk, Celtic

Champions Real Madrid will unsurprisingly start off their title defense as favourites of group H. Currently leading La Liga with a perfect start to the season, Los Blancos will hope Karim Benzema can continue where he left off from last season with his goalscoring heroics which saw the club lift its record 14th Champions League title. The favourable draw should see them top the group phase.

RB Leipzig have had a disappointing start to their league campaign, having been thumped 4-0 by Eintracht Frankfurt at the weekend. The German club will however look to change their fortunes in the Champions League by trying to match their performance from the 2019/20 season. With CL pedigree in Christopher Nkunku and Timo Werner up top, Leipzig will have a stronger attack this time.

Shakthar Donetsk and Ukrainian football as a whole has been through a turbulent time in the last year. It is a commendable effort that a club of this stature has still managed to participate in the Champions League despite all the turmoil in their homeland. This is a depleted Shakthar team that has lost quite a few players because of the situation in Ukraine, so it could be an uphill task for them to avoid finishing 4th. However, they won’t be any short on spirit, and could well spring a surprise.

Scottish giants Celtic qualified for the group stages for the first time since 2017. Having had a good start to their domestic league title defense, Ange Postecoglou will have his first taste of the CL as he’ll look to guide the Hoops into the knockouts after a decade. With 2nd position seemingly up for grabs, it wouldn’t be a surprise if prolific forward duo Furuhashi and Abada can inspire them to go through.

Final predictions:

1. Real Madrid

2. RB Leipzig

3. Celtic

4. Shakthar Donetsk

Also read: UCL Predictions: Group G and H