2022/23 UEFA Champions League: Likely winners of this season’s campaign

In 2022/23, The UEFA Champions League season has progressed steadily from the group-stages and we"re finally in the Round of 16 where we get to see unforgiving encounters. One-chance bouts where teams are eliminated and cannot be redeemed if they get balked over the course of two legs. It"s that bittersweet, tense and equally intriguing atmosphere where history is written and rewritten. Perhaps, a million times over. Records are broken, teams are made and marred.

And it promises to be special and unique as it always has been. Perhaps, even better. Whilst defending and 14-time Champions, Real Madrid take on English side, Liverpool in a remake of their 2018 and 2022 encounters, a huge one, star-studded Paris Saint Germain slug it out with German heavyweights, Bayern Munich. Chelsea meet Borussia Dortmund for the first time ever in UEFA Champions League history, AC Milan lock horns with North London"s Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City take on RB Leipzig. With a couple of wonderful fixtures down the line, who are the favourites to clinch the most coveted European trophy this season? We would look into that in this list

1.) Paris Saint Germain (Have never won the UEFA Champions League)

In terms of squad potential, the French dynasty are by far one of the greatest clubs in the Champions League knock-out stages. PSG enjoy a formidable attacking trident of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar upfront, mostly fielding all three together. In addition to this unstoppable trio, Les Parisiens have a really solid defence including Achraf Hakimi, Presnel Kimbempe and Marquinhos.

PSG are known for coming up short on grand occasions and perhaps this could be their moment.

Christophe Galtier"s men would however be without their star player, Kylian Mbappe for the first leg at the Parc Des Princes after the 24-year old picked up a hamstring injury in his club"s 3-1 win over Montpellier. What accentuates the effect of Mbappe"s injury woe is the fact that Les Parisiens don"t have reliable supporting forwards who can step in for the Frenchman. Angel Di Maria left the side for Juventus at the start of the season and Paris Saint Germain would be besting themselves up about not being able to complete Hakim Ziyech"s transfer to France at the end of the summer deal after ‘technical faults" from his club, Chelsea, saw the deal collapse at it"s very actualizing moment.

Also, Sergio Ramos who picked up a groin injury in the Montpellier clash after Mbappe had been forced off the pitch, could be some sort of doubt for the tie with Bayern, even though there a couple of chances he returns just in time for this all important PSG fixture.
It is definitely hoped he does, Ramos is by far the most experienced Paris Saint Germain defender in Galtier"s squad. The Spaniard won the trophy four times with longtime club, Real Madrid, during which he played one of the greatest roles in their season after season triumphs. El Capitano knows exactly what it takes to foil the greatest attacks in Europe and win the Champions League so his experience would come in handy for an unflagging Bayern Munich side.

2.) Bayern Munich (7-time UEFA Champions League winners)

The Bavarians have won the UEFA Champions League seven times in history. Bayern Munich are known for their characteristic ruthlessness and aggression when it comes to the European tournament and that could play a key role in the latter stages of this season"s competition. The German side most recently won the trophy in the prolonged 2020 season in which they were fantastic and in invincible form, enjoying heavy wins against the likes of Tottenham, Chelsea and Barcelona. Despite the summer departure of Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona, Julian Naglesmann"s men have a well rounded attack which includes Leroy Sane, Jamal Musiala, Choupo Moting, Sadio Mane, Thomas Muller and Serge Gnabry.

The Bundesliga giants have also gone for a bit of squad strengthening in the winter transfer window, landing Joao Cancelo on a six-month loan deal from Manchester City.

Julian Naglesmann"s men are so efficient in front of goal and are the highest scoring team in Europe"s top five leagues this season, with 89 goals in 30 games. Musiala and Choupo Moting have scored thirteen each with the rest being spread across all other players. A largely attacking-minded side, Bayern possess probably the most vivacious and ferocious frontline.

3.) Real Madrid (14-time UEFA Champions League winners)

The most decorated football club in the perspective of European honour, Real Madrid are on this list because of what they can achieve in back-to-the-wall situations not necessarily because they"re promising as a team this season. Coming off their championship triumph last May, Los Blancos have gradually hit the skids and the club could finish the season without a major silverware if the recent progression is kept up.

Carlos Ancelotti"s men are currently five points behind their rivals and league leaders, Barcelona at the La Liga summit with a couple of players sidelined. Los Blancos were recently dumped out of the the Super Copa De Espana by the same team and with a Copa Del Ray semi-final draw against Xavi"s side in March, a fruitless season is imminent.

But Madrid have a reputation for finding impossible wins and pulling stunts nonetheless when it comes to Champions League affairs. Their path to glory last season was rather shocking. Despite a relatively normal group stage performance, Madrid pulled off wins against PSG, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool, rather unbelievably.

But can Madrid repeat their feat in this season"s Champions League? The Round of 16 tie against Liverpool should be relatively easy considering Jurgen Klopp"s men are also in a similar conundrum this season. However, Madrid"s failure to strengthen their squad could hunt them in the latter stages of the Champions League. Still, they remain a favourite to win the trophy.

4.) Manchester City (Have never won the UEFA Champions League)

Ever since this shade of blue sprung into the limelight in the previous decade, The Citizens have achieved and made a lot of waves in England and Europe alike. There"s probably just one thing they have been unable to do and that is win the UEFA Champions League.

Over the course of the past five seasons, the defending EPL Champions have seen themselves get knocked out in the final, semi-finals or quarter finals. They"ve always been extinguished, sometimes right on the very brink of success.

And here"s a new era in the history of Manchester City. Guardiola knows if he must win the Champions League, he must be all out for that here and now. Already, City have lost so much ground at the top of the EPL table and overtaking Arsenal at the summit can be compared to herding cats.

So, asides the FA Cup, it would be expected that the English giants have all hands on deck when they resume Champions League action on February 14. They"ve got the firepower for this kind of tournament. Erling Haaland, their big summer signing has already racked up 31 goals in 27 appearances for Guardiola"s side including five in the Champions League.

There"s also support from Julian Alvarez, Phil Foden and Riyadh Mahrez. In total this season, Manchester City have scored 78 goals in 32 games, the third highest in Europe"s top five leagues behind Paris Saint Germain(82 goals in 30 games) and Bayern Munich(89 goals in 30 games).

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