https://qwenu.com/2018/09/18/imho-three-bold-uefa-champions-league-predictions/

The world is highly elated as the UEFA Champions League kicks off today. The UEFA Champions League is a seasonal European competition that is keenly contested amongst top-division European clubs, the best of the best. It is one of the biggest football tournaments in the world and the most watched annual sporting event worldwide. This year’s tournament will feature top teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, PSG, Monaco, Juventus, Napoli, Inter Milan, AS Roma, Bayern Munich, Dortmund, amongst others. Traditional teams like Arsenal, AC Milan, and Chelsea will not be part of this year’s event because they did not qualify through their leagues. Nevertheless, here are my 3 bold predictions in this season’s UEFA Champions League.

Real Madrid Will Not Win This Year’s Champions League.

For three consecutive seasons, Real Madrid under the guidance of Zinedine Zidane aka Zizou has won the Champions League trophy. This has nothing to do with being a fluke event. Although, when Zidane first won the Champions League for Madrid, most people attributed his success to sheer luck until he won it again and again.


Besides Zidane’s ingenious tactics, he arguably had the best players including CR7, Modric, Toni Kroos, Bale in the world, also blessed with a squad that could interpret and execute his instructions to perfection on the field. Zidane and Madrid enjoyed their fantasy relationship and European conquests until his shock resignation which led to critiques claiming that “he doesn’t know how else to improve the team”. On critical examination, Zidane’s resignation was probably a great decision knowing how Florentino Perez, Madrid’s President can sack a coach if he fails to win a trophy in a season. Zidane was wise to quit when the ovation was loudest if not, a sack might have dented his highly deserved records in Madrid.

Will Real Madrid Win this year's Champions League?
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No sooner had Zidane left Real Madrid did Ronaldo announce his move to Juventus. Ronaldo whose move to Juventus also shocked the world and broke Madrid fans’ hearts was instrumental to Madrid all through their seasons of European conquest and dominance. Zidane’s and Ronaldo’s departures have definitely weakened Madrid. Put differently, Madrid will no longer be as strong as they were when they were coached by Zidane and when the team was built around Ronaldo. What this means is that Madrid will not win the Champions League this season.

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Cristiano Ronaldo Will Not Be The Highest Goal Scorer

For a while now, Christiano Ronaldo has proven to be the G.O.A.T. He has broken and set new records both in domestic and Champions League competitions. He currently tops the chart as the all-time goal scorer in the Champions League with 120 goals (which is crazy to even start to comprehend). During Madrid’s three seasons of unstoppable victory in Europe, Ronaldo topped the highest goal scorer chart for each season.


For instance, in 2015-2016, he scored 16 goals, in 2016-2017, he scored 12 goals while in the 2017-2018 season, he scored 15 goals. Despite this towering feat, Ronaldo left Madrid for Juventus. Since joining Juventus, he has struggled to find his form in the front of goal, at least until last Saturday when he scored a brace. Going by these signs, Ronaldo will not be the highest goal scorer in Champions League this season because he has changed team and it is not easy for a player (even the great ones) to adapt quickly to a new team. Moreover, Ronaldo will not get the same kind of services that were rendered to him by the world-class midfielders that surrounded him in Madrid. Juventus style of football is completely different from Madrid’s, and we are yet to establish if Juventus will build the team around Ronaldo. All these factors will limit his chances of topping the chart again this season in the Champions League as the highest goal scorer. In fact, Ronaldo will flop at Juventus this season.

Will Christian Ronaldo Flop in this Season's Champions League?
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An English Team Will Win This Season’s Champions League.

Spanish teams (Real Madrid and Barcelona) have won the Champions League back to back for five seasons. Chelsea was the last English team to win it in the 2011-2012 season. Given the fact that Ronaldo’s and Zidane’s departure has weakened Madrid, and Barcelona is gradually rebuilding with new players that are yet to gell, the door has been opened for an English team to win this year’s competition.


The English teams are stronger and are in the best position in recent past to top the UEFA champions league. PSG with their petrodollar mega star-studded teams does not yet have what it takes to win it. PSG will become inconsistent and overconfident at the climax of the season and this will hinder their chances of lifting the trophy. Bayern Munich is currently also weak and trying to build on the ideas on their new coach, and Juventus cannot match up with any English team this season. Of all the English teams in this year’s competition, Manchester City will most likely win it going by their readiness, consistency and the experience of their Coach, Pep Guardiola.