Champions League: Aston Villa, Arsenal, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Man City, Celtic, Barcelona, ​​​​Bayern Munich – who will win?

Phil McNulty, Chief Football Editor, BBC Sport: The signing of Kylian Mbappe Real Madrid’s Given their weak positions in the table, it is difficult to look beyond a 16th tournament win for them and the sixth for coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Man City will be their biggest rivals but Real just have an incredible habit of getting this particular job done even when they are nowhere near their best and they have successfully completed this route and distance so many times before.

Julien Laurens, French football expert from BBC Sport:

It’s getting boring because real Madrid win the Champions League every year and I don’t see any different result this season.

The Spanish master has the experience, the know-how, the tradition, the “money-time mentality” and the talent.

Imagine keeping the same coach and practically the same team (although Toni Kroos is of course a big loss) and signing the best player in the world, Kylian Mbappe!

Guillem Balague, Spanish football expert from BBC Sport: Imagine teams like Real Madrid and Manchester City in the semi-finals and there too there are many things that influence the result (a referee decision, an injury, a mistake) that are not so easy to predict.

However, I am convinced that City has what it takes to win both the domestic long-term competition and the cup competition, the Champions League.

They are very strong in both penalty areas and have the maturity to understand what is required in every part of the pitch and every minute of the game.

Constantin Eckner, German football expert at BBC Sport: Real Madrid won the cup in May and has since strengthened its attack with Mbappe.

The Spanish giants are once again the team to beat and it is entirely possible that they will win the title for the 16th time.

I wouldn’t pay too much attention to their performances until January, as Carlo Ancelotti’s team excels in the knockout stages while other teams struggle to perform at their full potential in the later months of the season.

As for the challengers to Madrid’s throne, Man City and Bayern Munich have what it takes to win the competition.

Mina Rzouki, Italian football expert at BBC Sport: I am always reluctant to bet against Real Madrid, especially considering that they now have the best player in the world, Kylian Mbappe, but I think this year is one of Manchester CityWith Erling Haaland one of the few players to have enjoyed a real rest over the summer and a team still brimming with creativity and experience, they are certainly the team to beat this year.

Most of the other giants have good reasons to bet against them. Bayern Munich and Barcelona have a new manager and need time, Arsenal could or should focus on the league, while Manchester City continues to grow and has learned to win in different ways. If even your goalkeeper can provide assists, I can’t look past Pep Guardiola’s men this season.