⛅️ Champions League forecast: Ajax to shock Liverpool? Fati's night? | OneFootball

Crack open the Gazprom because the UEFA Chaaaaammmppppiiooonns League (proper) is back!

Here are our predictions for the group stage openers.

🤩 Game of the Week

Bayern Munich v Atlético Madrid

Just 57 days after winning the 2019/20 Champions League, Bayern take to the field to defend their title.

A nice and easy welcome back awaits them, as perennial underdogs Atlético Madrid get to play the role of underdogs to the extreme.

It will be a battle of two completely contrasting styles – Hansi Flick’s love for gung-ho attacking and a high line has produced 17 goals in their four Bundesliga games so far this season.

Atleti have made an unbeaten start in LaLiga, conceding just once in their four fixtures and now have a motivated Luis Suárez in their ranks who has hit the ground running with three goals to his name.

Both sides are likely to cancel each other out for long periods of this game but Bayern’s firepower should be enough to get them over the line in the end.

📊 Fun fact: Atlético knocked Bayern out at the semi final stage in 2015/16 on their way to finishing runners-up.

🔮 Our prediction: Bayern Munich 2-1 Atlético Madrid

Too close to call 🤔

PSG v Manchester United

It’s fair to suggest that Manchester United’s win over PSG in the last-16 of the competition in 2019 played a huge part in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer getting the manager’s job full-time.

Question marks surround the future of the Norwegian currently but it can’t be forgotten that he has guided United back to the promised land for the first time since 2018/19.

A difficult opener against last season’s finalists awaits them on their return and you wouldn’t be surprised if Solskjaer manages to summon the ‘spirit of Paris’ once again.

Expect two vulnerable defences to be exploited as we could be in for a cracker at the Parc des Princes.

📊 Fun fact: Manchester United have won only one of their six group games away in France, against Bordeaux in 1999/2000.

🔮 Our prediction: PSG 2-2 Manchester United

Potential upset 😰

Ajax v Liverpool

For the first time since he arrived in January 2018, we are about to witness what a Liverpool side looks like without Virgil van Dijk marshalling the defence.

Joël Matip and Joe Gomez are quality defenders but the loss of the Dutchman could have a detrimental effect on Jürgen Klopp’s hopes for a Premier League and Champions League double this season.

Liverpool are a good enough team to be able to deal with Van Dijk’s absence in the long term but Ajax might have the potential to strike while the iron’s hot.

The hosts have started the Eredivisie season strongly, currently lying in second place, and with Dušan Tadić in form, Liverpool could be in for a difficult night in Amsterdam.

📊 Fun fact: Ajax have won only one of their last seven home games against English clubs in the Champions League.

🔮 Our prediction: Ajax 3-2 Liverpool

🤩 Star Man

Ansu Fati

Barcelona may be a club in crisis right now but that shouldn’t stop Barcelona’s Ansu Fati doing bits in the Champions League.

The 17-year-old already has three goals and an assist to his name in LaLiga, while he also recently netted for the Spanish national side for the first time.

Fati’s ability to run with the ball at speed which can take opposition defenders out of the game makes him a frightening prospect on the European stage.

The winger didn’t start in the 1-0 defeat to Getafe on Saturday and is expected to start against Ferencváros.

We wouldn’t be surprised if he is making the headlines in Catalonia on Tuesday.